The face of a man who just had six points in one game

A relaxed week, as the Red Wings only played twice. They went 1-1, which is OK when you consider the alternative. Can you envision the lockout still going on, everybody working on a month and a half with no hockey for the second time in eight years? Good thing people came to their senses and didn’t mutually decide to lose millions of dollars for each other.

Because of them, we got to witness perhaps the greatest game ever from Bob Probert. Probert had two goals and four assists against the Devils on Wednesday. He was involved in every one the Red Wings’ six goals and really is the complete package: a big power forward who isn’t reluctant to mix it up a little bit, has a scoring touch and can see the ice well.

HOWEVA, a source told me he parties pretty much every night and deals with illicit drugs. While it’s impressive what he’s doing, the external factors eventually have to catch up with him, right?

Looking at the Red Wings other players, I’m glad they heard me on defense. I called for more scoring from the blue line and defensemen contributed two goals in two games. I’m taking credit for the transformation.

This power to change fortunes merely by calling for them in this space is fun. My newest demands:

(Side note: I once had a fake Uncle Ben who was really an actor that told me, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ That’s boring. Screw Uncle Ben. I’m using my power purely for entertainment.)

1. Win more games.  Detroit will be in the playoffs because the Blues are horrifying to watch, but a .500 record with nearly 25 percent of the season gone has started to drift the Red Wings into ‘They may not be as good as we thought’ territory.
2. Find another goaltender. I’ve lost confidence in Greg Stefan and the trust bus left a long time ago for Glen Hanlon.
3. Finally, on the off chance this season isn’t actually proceeding in real time and comes in some sort of alternate dimension as a way to distract people from an ongoing lockout that has no indication of concluding and lacks leadership on either side: at least make sure Steve Yzerman continues to rack up points. That man is going to be a legend.

RED WINGS POINT LEADERS

Steve Yzerman, C: 21

Bob Probert, LW: 17

Gerard Gallant, LW: 13

Petr Klima, RW/LW: 10

Four tied with eight

RED WINGS GOAL LEADERS

Steve Yzerman, C: 13

Petr Klima, RW/LW: 9

Bob Probert, LW: 7

Brent Ashton, LW: 6

Gerard Gallant, LW: 4

Shawn Burr, LW: 4

RED WINGS ASSIST LEADERS

Bob Probert, LW: 10

Gerard Gallant, LW: 9

Steve Yzerman, C: 8

Doug Halward, D: 8

Darren Veitch, D: 8

GOALTENDING STATS

FULL RED WINGS STATS

Forwards                             GP          Goals     Assists  PTS

Ashton, Brent    LW          16           6              2              8

Barr, Dave           RW         8              0              4              4

Bridgman, Mel  C             9              0              1              1

Burr, Shawn       LW/C     16           4              4              8

Chabot, John     C             16           1              4              5

Gallant, Gerard LW          15           4              9              13

Graves, Adam   LW          8              0              0              0

Higgins, Tim      RW         7              0              1              1

Klima, Petr         RW/LW 16           9              1              10

Kocur, Joe          RW         9              1              1              2

Kumpel, Mark   RW         6              0              2              2

Martinson, S.     LW          5              1              0              1

Murphy, Joe      RW         14           2              4              6

Oates, Adam      C             14           0              5              5

Probert, Bob      LW          16           7              10           17

Yzerman, Steve C             16           13           8              21

Defense                               GP          Goals     Assists  Points

Delorme, G.       D             15           1              0              1

Halward, Doug  D             16           0              8              8

Lewis, Dave        D             6              0              0              0

Norwood, Lee   D             11           2              0              2

O’Connell, Mike D             15           1              5              6

Sharples, Jeff      D             7              0              3              3

Veitch, Darren   D             13           0              8              8

Zombo, Rick       D             12           0              1              1