Merry Christmas from Us to You

Casey, J.J. and I wanted to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas (for those celebrating), and seasons greetings to the rest of you. We hope that you and your families have a safe and happy holiday.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Joe

  The fans were getting happy, even old Mo (Cheese);

The banners were hung in the rafters with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas would raise another one there;

The players were stretching their hamstrings and thighs,

While thoughts of Wing goals danced in the fans' eyes;

  With my wife in her shirt, and I in my jersey,

We were getting all riled for the game against Crosby,

When out in the stands there arose such a cheer,

I realized then that the players were near.

The tension in the air could be cut with a knife,

I had not been this nervous at all in my life.

The lights in the rink seemed to suddenly crash

 and we knew that the moment would come in a flash ,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But all the Wing players in full hockey gear.

With a battle-scarred coach, steely-eyed as a rock,

I knew in a moment it must be Babcock.

More rapid than eagles his players they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Pasha! now, Helmer! now, Jimmy and Lidstrom!

On, Kronwall! on Zetter! on, Franzen and Holmstrom!

To center ice, go! fly over the wall!

Now skate away! check away! score away all!"

So out to the faceoff dot, the Circus they waited,

the game would begin soon, we watched with breath baited

And then, in a twinkling, the game had begun

The Wings brilliant skating leaving their opponents' heads spun

As Pavel took the puck, he started to dance,

The opposing defenders began to pee in their pants.

He came down the wing, and then stopped on a dime,

Homer went to the net, creating space and time;

Hank came down the middle, took the pass from Datsyuk

With the puck on his stick, we all shouted "shoot"!

His eyes -- how they twinkled! he wanted a goal!

He looked at the goalie, who had pooped out a coal!

He blistered a wrist shot, it was headed top corner,

The roar of the crowd could be heard past the border;

The Circus all gathered to celebrate the score,

And then came the second line, looking for more;

Bert passed it to Flip, who then fed the Mule,

Their skating and checking depleting the Pens' fuel.

The third line came on and I marveled at Helm's speed,

a goal by this line would mean a great lead;

The Pens had their chances, but we had nothing to dread,

For Lidstrom was out there, and he plays with his head;

He never plays flashy, but does the right things,

He's simply the greatest, and not just on the Wings,

With Jimmy making saves and Wing pucks filling the net,

The fans danced in the stands, but it wasn't over yet;

  We counted down time, right to the final gun,

And when it was over, the home team had won.

And we heard Pavel exclaim, after two goals and a fight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."