This game is soooo huge.

You have a pissed-off Red Wing team that doesn't lose too often and damn sure doesn't want to lose 2 in a row. They will be on their "A" game. Count on it.

The Note have been playing very solid hockey and giving 100% effort most of the time. But let's also be realistic. They are clearly out-gunned against the Red Wings. They will have to play a very, very physical and tight-checking game, in order to win. If they get into an end-to-end, shootout, they will lose 5 or6 to 2 (if they can even get 2). There is no way they can keep pace with Datsyuk, Hossa, Zetterberg and the like.

If you want to see telling stats, go look at the +/- of the Red Wings top 10 players. Now go look at the top 10 for the Blues. The Red Wings have 9 players that are +10 or better (Datsyuk is +28 !!!!!) and the Blues have 2. More importantly, The Blues have 20 players that are "minus" and the Red Wings have 6.

The Blues can win this game and they need to get at least a point out of it. But it will be a tough, to be sure...

Go Blue!!