5-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs?

These are different times we live in.

I'll try to play the eternal optimist for Red Wing fans who may be disgruntled following the Leafs' blowout victory last night during the Hockey Hall of Fame weekend festivities in Toronto.

During the opening stanza, the Red Wings were taking the play to the Maple Leafs and were buzzing around the Leafs' goal. Ultimately, this loss was truly a case of goaltending winning a game for Toronto and losing a game for Detroit.

Rookie Jonas Gustavsson continued his strong play with an impressive 35 save outing to give Toronto their first back-to-back victories of the season. The "Monster", as he is dubbed due to his immense frame (6'3"), regularly made key saves bailing out his teammates on several occasions.

Meanwhile, Chris Osgood was unable to duplicate his efforts from Thursday night vs. San Jose and failed to do the same for the Red Wings on this occasion. On the opening goal, Kris Draper falls in the neutral zone, leading to an odd man rush for the Maple Leafs and their opening goal. However, the Wayne Primeau shot is one Osgood has to stop. Granted two of the Maple Leaf goals were on deflections, the other three markers were all goals that left you shaking your head.

Once again, the Red Wings struggled to find the back of the net and the news that winger Jason Williams fractured his right fibula near his ankle certainly won't help matters. Williams is likely out for a minimum of 8 weeks. With Williams joining Johan Franzen and Valteri Filppula on the injured list, the Red Wings will continue to face an uphill climb producing enough offense on nights where their goaltending is not up to par. Who knows? Maybe Jimmy Devellano might be on to something with his prediction of it being a miracle for the Red Wings to hold home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs based on Saturday night's outcome. With that result, the draft lottery appears more likely.

Speaking of goaltending, I wonder if Ken Holland and Devellano watching Swede Jonas Gustavsson shine with the Maple Leafs in the early going of this young season, has them pondering if the Red Wings should provide Daniel Larsson deserving of such an opportunity. Considering he did win the Swedish Elite League's Honken Trophy (Top Goaltender) in 2007-08, is it inconceivable to think he too could one day have a similar type of impact in the NHL as Gustavsson has made early on? Then again, former Red Wing prospect Stefan Liv also won the Honken Trophy in 2001-02 and that obviously didn't pan out in Detroit.

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I will share some of my favourite Steve Yzerman moments on Monday when he is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside Brian Leetch, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille and Lou Lamierello.

But I wanted to provide an opportunity for both Red Wing fans and hockey fans alike. What's your favorite Stevie Y moment, play, goal, etc.? There are so many to choose from, but I am certain there are a few that stand above and beyond the rest during a phenomenal 22 season career with the Detroit Red Wings.


mark.spizzirri@hockeybuzz.com