Ann Arbor

There's optimism, and then, there's blind optimism.

The former is often a helpful thing.  When you think positively, positive things often happen.

However, the latter is often a hurtful thing, when you expect only positive things to happen, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

At this point, it is a little unclear as to which of these is responsible for the belief that the Red Wings will make the playoffs this season.

Jussi Jokinen is arguably one of the greatest shootout performers in the league. He is also a skilled guy currently playing on Carolina's top line. Carolina is in the basement of the Eastern Conference, and while they have been winning as of late, they are one of the few clear sellers at the deadline.

In the first round of the 2001 NHL playoffs, the No. 2 seed Detroit Red Wings were matched up against the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Kings.

Heading into Game Three in Los Angeles, the Red Wings had a 2-0 series lead and were on their way to what most thought was a sure-fire series sweep.

The Kings won Game Three.  Then Games Four and Five.  They were down by three goals in Game Six at home at the Staples Center, but came back to tie the game and send it into overtime.

On December 31, 2009 a couple of things happened that haven't in quite a while.

The Detroit Red Wings beat the Colorado Avalanche and Ville Leino scored a goal.

In fact, Leino's goal turned out to be the game winner.

After being benched for the third time this season on Monday against the Blue Jackets, Leino returned to the lineup solely due to forward Patrick Eaves being out with the flu.

Leino made the most of his opportunity, playing a more desperate, determined game, going to the tough areas and battling for the puck.

It's what the Red Wings hoped he would be when they signed him this summer.

A clutch scorer, a difference maker, a go-to guy.

After all, this is what Todd Bertuzzi has been for most of his career.

However, the post-2004 Todd Bertuzzi has been more underachiever than difference maker.  That is, when he's been able to play.

Injuries, surgeries and the ghosts of the Steve Moore Incident have reduced the former offensive juggernaut into a shell of himself.

The Detroit Red Wings have out-shot their last two opponents 80-42 combined.

They've been outscored 5-0.

The last time the Wings were shut out twice in a row at home was 32 years ago.

Yes, I believe this is what addicts refer to as "rock bottom."

A strange thing happened to me as I watched the Wings' latest exercise in futility against the visiting Calgary Flames Friday night.

There were a lot of familiar things about Friday's game at Joe Louis Arena.

For the fifth time this season, the Detroit Red Wings gave up a goal less than one minute into the game.

For the eighth time this season, the Detroit Red Wings out-shot their opponent but lost the game.

For the second game in a row, the Detroit Red Wings were shut out.

And, for the second time in as many weeks, the Detroit Red Wings had a perfectly good goal denied by an NHL on-ice official.

The Florida Panthers have been floating at the bottom of the standings for a long time. It’s not the players that are losing these games, it’s the management. If you were to ask me, I would consider the Panthers to be the worst managed team in the NHL.

As you probably know, the Florida Panthers now have two new owners that have said that they are committed to winning and are going to hold people accountable. That’s exactly what the team needs. They need an owner who will stop at nothing to win games.

This Day in History: November 19^th

Colorado record on November 19^th : 8-3

- 1892 – Denver Athletic Club – L 42-6;

- 1921 – Colorado State – W 10-0;

- 1927 – Colorado State – L 39-7;

- 1949 – Nebraska – L 25-14;

- 1955 – Iowa State – W 40-0;

- 1960 – Oklahoma State – W 13-6;

- 1966 – Air Force – W 10-9;

- 1977 – Kansas State – W 23-0;

- 1983 – Kansas State – W 38-21;

- 1988 – Kansas State – W 56-14;