Red Wings

Last Tuesday I attended a Red WIngs game, my first in a couple years. Pretty decent seats--just inside the goal line, but midway up the upper bowl. We could hear the click-click-click of puck hitting stick but not the shush of skates carving the ice.

Atlanta Thrashers' Marian Hossa scored the first three goals of the game, my first live attendance at a natural hat trick. Only one hat thrown onto the ice. Very exciting for me, though Wings fans were upset--more so with the play of the Wings than with Hossa. The Wings did not have their best game though they outshot Atlanta about 2 to 1. Even so, Atlanta continued to "stick it to them" with the Wings scoring a late goal to avoid a shutout--5-1 Thrashers.

I had heard attendance was down at JLA and it was noticeable. Bud Lynch announced throughout the game tickets were still available for Thursday so it was not sold out either. Word on the street is fans are discouraged that the Wings increased ticket prices at the same time the players agreed to a salary cap--understandable.

[There's talk about replacing JLA? Entrances are poor (the main one is outright dangerous in snow and ice), concourses are narrow, decor is concrete moderne. It's still functional. And should taxpayers finance a facility that they cannot afford to use or do not want to? It is a huge cost for so few people. (Pittsburgh is planning one at $225 million and Forbes values the franchise at $137 million. Put the franchise up as collateral--isn't that what most businesses have to do for capital investments?)]

All in all, a great night!!!