I’ll be the first to admit I have not been the best Red Wings fan I can be this year. They have not shown me much to this point and instead of unrivaled positivity and belief that the boys will turn this thing around, I have mostly just bashed them. I’ve cried about contracts, denounced our defense, and mocked management. But in the Wings’ past two games they have defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins in a convincing manner and shut out the Atlantic Division leading Montreal Canadians 1-0 at home.

And suddenly, there’s hope.

Now there could be a few reasons for this uprise, rookie goaltender Jared Coreau is playing out of his mind and making the big saves at the right time. Andreas Athanasiou is racking up points left and right after his loosely explained benching. And Anthony Mantha is showing signs of potentially becoming Detroit’s next super star.

But even with all of these uplifting notes this small turn around can be credited to one thing. And that’s me.

Now, half of the roughly eight people who are actually reading this probably just clicked out so I want to thank you for sticking around. Make no mistake about it, the turn around has begun, and it has begun with two things that I have done to lead the charge.

January 14th, 2017- I, Frank, attended my FIRST Red Wings game of the season (I told you I’d been a shit fan). That game happened to be the against defending Cup champs Pittsburgh. My buddies and I joked before the game about what to bet on- A Wings loss in overtime, or just regulation. Well it turns out when your boi who hasn’t been alive a year on earth where the Greatest American Hockey Franchise has missed the playoffs enters the Joe, the boys in Red turn it on. When you’ve been in attendance for games like…..

those, just to name a few. There is a certain belief you carry with every game you attend, that every game you attend just might be a historic one. And I think going to that game, seeing the boys destroy my most despised team in sports up close in the house that Stevie built was the just the kick I, and the team, needed to turn this season around.

But what about Monday’s game, asshole?

Monday. Yes. Monday, January 16th, 2017. Many people probably recognized that day as MLK day- which is great, that should take precedent over what the day meant to me. BUT, as a Wings fan you should mark January 16 in your calendar because it serves as an adrenaline shot for the Red Wings playoff streak.

The Red Wings have made the playoffs every year since 1991. Making that 25 years of playoff make-er-y. With the 26th year currently hanging in the balance.

I have been on this earth since 1991, until this past Monday turned me 26. The same day Detroit shut out Atlantic Division leading Montreal with a rookie goaltender in net. Coincidence?

In addition, some bonus magic- I received a day late birthday present yesterday  which happened to be this:

Thank you @sarahgulino (IG)

For anyone struggling (and sweet lord you shouldn’t be)- that’s a Steve Yzerman jersey. I received that on January 17th, which if we look back 11 years on that date in history…

Are you a believer yet? You should be. There’s magic in the air and tonight’s game vs Boston is absolutely huge. If the Wings can push this winning streak to three with two wins within the division, you can bet your sweet ass the boys will push for 26.

And if you watched the Yzerman 500th goal video, you may have seen this as the first comment:

And in all seriousness, sabresman31, nobody cares about you. Or your piss shit last place no pants dancing Buffalo Sabres. You suck, and will always suck.

Dominik Hasek belongs to us. Forever.

#LGRW