Johnny's going to take a moment and pay tribute to one of the truly great hockey players

Nothing to do with the Devils or Rangers, sorry, Johnny's an unapologetic Red Wings fan. Tonight Red Wing fans are going to do what we do best, celebrate our own greatness as a franchise. The number 5 will retire to the rafters in the cathedral of hockey tonight, Joe Louis Arena. Nicklas Lidstrom, the Perfect Human, St. Nick, or however you know him will receive the ultimate sports honor tonight in Detroit. His number 5 will be retired in a ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm (NBCSports Network and NHL Network) and will join such legends as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel, Terry Sawchuk, Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman. Johnny could start some mess with Bruins fans and come right out and say Lidstrom was simply THE best defenseman ever to play in the NHL and there are quite a few numbers that would back that up. For now we'll just say that NHL fans now have their top all-time defense pairing set with Bobby Orr and Lidstrom.

So a heartfelt THANK YOU to St. Nick from a Red Wings fan. You have played with great distinction, honor, and pride. Steve Yzerman said you were the best played he'd ever had the chance to play with. High honors indeed. Now enjoy your evening and your hockey immortality.

Here now every playoff goal by Lidstrom is all his Stanley Cup winning seasons with the Wings, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008.