First, a little bit of backtracking. From "Olympic Handshake Thread?":

"Sorry Ehrhoff, make it up to you someday. Now get out there and make me remember you." --GoodKeith, 10:14 AM, 3/1/2010

Flash forward to OT, Canucks @ Blue Jackets, 3/2/2010. Who scores the winning goal? Christian Ehrhoff. I'd like to think he was watching that  handshake thread and got pissed off some sad American didn't know his name. Much like Grant Clitsome is today after everyone now knows HIS name.

ANYWAY, tonight the Red Wings (8) host the Canucks (3) at Joe Louis Arena. Tickets are still available. The most interesting storyline is Roberto Luongo against his coach in the Olympics, Mike Babcock. How much attention did Babcock pay as far as Luongo's style, what he likes/dislikes and such and stuff during the two-week Olympic Tournament? Will they make notice of one another before the game and perform a secret handshake? Probably not. Will the Red Wings pay tribute to Olympians before the game? Definitely not. Will the Red Wings start a rookie goalie? Yes they will.

Meet Jimmy Howard. He's from Syracuse, New York, went to college at UMaine, is left-handed and is the only thing in the way of the Canucks and two more crucial road points. Howard looks like he's finally found out how to be an NHL goalie after a couple of years as starting goalie at Grand Rapids. .921 SV percentage, 22-13-8, 2.28 GAA. He gets a stiff test tonight, that'll be for sure.

For the Red Wings, hey, everybody wave at Todd Bertuzzi! Seriously though, they'll be playing with a desperation. The Canucks? Just looking to finish this amazing road-stand with a winning record. If they win 3 of their next 5 it can be done. And that's all we wanted from the Olympic Road Trip, right? Oh, yeah, also a gold medal for Canada. Some of us still get reminders of that event. Frequently. From co-workers. Goodness.

Enjoy the game and have fun tracking the trades as we come to the trade deadline!

--GoodKeith