The Detroit Red Wings made it to the NHL Finals the last two seasons, but are presently sitting in the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with a host of teams nipping at ankles. Injuries have played a big part in the disappointing play in Detroit, but it certainly isn’t crazy to wonder if something is amiss with the Red Wings. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterburg have both been healthy all season, but losing Johan Frazen and Valterri Filppula for long periods of time definitely have hurt them this season. Considering the strength of the Western Conference the Red Wings are in real danger of not being involved in the postseason. The sports fans in Detroit already have to deal with the clueless Lions in the NFL and the slumping Pistons in the NBA, but if their dear Red Wings don’t make the playoffs it will be one dark day in the Motor City. Head coach Mike Babcock might have nabbed a gold for Canada at the Olympics, but if he doesn’t turn the season around for the Red Wings he’ll have a lot of answering to do in Hockeytown.

This weekend I decided to get my 2009 Stanley Cup playoff tickets. I had decided earlier in the weekend to take a look at the playoff race and this is what I found. The playoff setup seems to be really taking shape in the last week or so. We can finally see that some teams have clinched something and other teams have been eliminated. Let’s start in the Eastern Conference. Boston, Washington and New Jersey are in. This is quite a coup, especially for Washington, as they have struggled more in recent years, so making the playoffs at position #2 is an especially exciting event for them. Philadelphia, Carolina and Pittsburgh will have to mess up big-time to get bumped from the postseason. In the West, San Jose and Detroit are for sure in, but Calgary, Chicago, and Vancouver are looking very good too. It’s going to be a great postseason!

The new NHL rankings prove several things about the NHL nowadays. Hockey is an interesting sport right now. The CBS writer I’m reading now says that it proves that this kind of balance that we’ve always wanted to have in the sport. You can see that there are a few teams that are way out ahead, including Detroit, Boston, New Jersey and San Jose. Boston is an interesting case because they have fallen off the cliff the last month or so, when they’ve been playing under .500. They are going to have to work hard to get back on the mark, although they don’t need to worry about making the playoffs. But there aren’t any eliminated teams from the playoff hunt quite yet, even though the last month is well underway. Keep an eye on this race, because it’s going to be very exciting.

Before NHL fans are treated to an intense hockey battle between the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, they’ll receive a complementary mini concert by one of the greatest record-selling rock bands of all time. This October 9th, the home-opener for the Detroit Red Wings will feature a special performance by Def Leppard.

Def Leppard will take center ice and play their new hit single “C’mon C’mon” moments before the Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony begins. The Detroit Red Wings, who were the best team last year and arguable best team this year, wants to treat their loyal fan base to a full night of entertainment that includes the banner raising ceremony, a hockey game, a Def Leppard performance, and a performance by a secret guest star.

The Red Wings return this year with many of the players from last year’s championship roster hoping to defend their crown. Def Leppard returns to rock.

The successful hockey coach of Detroit Red Wings Mike Babcock will soon be signing a new contract to be the coach of the team for next year and further. Babcock during the Stanley Cup final against the Pittsburgh Penguins revealed his intention of staying with the Red Wings and the contract terms are almost through. The Red Wings management is waiting for the playoffs to get over and as soon as the season gets over the contract will be mutually signed. The Detroit Red Wings hockey fans will be queuing to book their NHL tickets well in advance after the spectacular show by their team this season.

Even after posting an NFL-best score of 12 goals in 11 games, Johan Franzen was struck by a stroke of bad luck. The Detroit Wings forward has been told to rest since May 8 due to a series of headaches which many concurred that it might be a bad case of migraine. The wait is finally over however, as Franzen was given the green light last Friday to play. He is now back with a vengeance and despite being barred from Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup finals. Franzen managed to play for a little over 16 minutes in the morning and scored three hits. He grimaced as he recalled how his face was hit by Gary Roberts’ arm minutes before they won 3-0.

The Detroit Red Wings have found themselves in familiar territory in the Stanley Cup, as they have qualified to play in the finals for the 23^rd time in their NHL history. They are looking impressive for winning their 11^th championship and have last won the Stanley Cup final way back in 2002. They will be hosting Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit in Game one of the Stanley Cup finals. Detroit coach Mike Babcock is pretty confident of his team’s chances of lifting the cup this season and his only worry for game one is that he will not be able to utilize the services of forward Johan Franzen, who is out with concussions.

How do you, personally, get your morning started?

Mark Hartigan, a professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings, eats his breakfast from the Stanley Cup. When he appeared in one playoff with the NHL champion Anaheim Ducks previous season, one day with the Cup was guaranteed. So, he flew to his father’s house in Fort McMurray, Alberta in late August and paraded the Stanley Cup all over the town. After this Mark held a hush-hush party lasted until around 5 a.m. Waking up the next morning, he puts some Froot Loops and milk into the Cup and enjoys the Champions’ breakfast with his newborn daughter Ava.