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I don't know what game you're watching, but Yzerman just scored on a beauty of a pass from Fedorov in the game I'm watching.

tatar has been our best forward

I don't know why I really bother anymore, but... allowed to leave? He had a decent season during which he had stretches of brutal inconsistency and ended up being most productive on the 3rd line. He nevertheless demanded good money and top-six minutes, which no team was willing to give him until New Jersey started scrambling and decided to give him a chance. In no way did Cleary figure into this, and nothing could be done about Samuelsson or Bertuzzi. Brunner was replaced by Alfredsson, who has thus far been vastly more effective. Sometimes it seems that you invent fantasies to justify complaint.

I'm not blaming the Senators' lead on Cleary, but it would really benefit the team were he to be given a persistent seat in the press box. He contributes virtually nothing of on-ice substance to the team.

Ultimately.......

I don't know why anyone is suprised with our play this year..we are a very simliar team to last year. We will have 4 game winning streaks..we will have 4 game losing streaks..until we get faster ( Gus and Tatar ) this is the way it will be..we are a good team that will have to get hot at the right time of year again.

The D should be pulled before the goalie it seems tonight.

Bad period, but imo not as bad as the score indicates. The penalty on Kronner was awful, Turris held on to Kronner's stick more than it was hooking. 2nd penalty was legit but kind of a lucky deflected shot into the net. Howard wasn't too sharp but still 100% success for Ottawa in their scoring chances. This team should be able to come back from this, we're deep enough and considering we now need only 2 goals to tie it up it should be possible. Time for 2nd and 3rd line to produce, though I won't be surprised if it's yet again Dats or Z that put the team on their backs and scores. Just please, please fight back in this game. I couldn't stand it if Ottawa breezes to a win.

Bertsyuk!

Good to bring in Gus. They're hanging Jimmy out to dry and he doesn't look to sharp tonight either. Get them next time Howie! Let's Go Gus!!!

In an effort to salvage this game, I think Babs should shuffle the lines at least two or three more times in the third. Other than Pavs, Hank, and Kronwall, every player is just as good as every other players. Our entire team is interchangeable from game to game.

RAFALSKI! Oh, did I say that out loud? I've decided to watch this game in my head.

Hrmph. That 4th goal just killed us. Looked like it was reasonably likely we could come back before that. Ottawa haven't had enough chances to warrant 4 goals, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Defense has been sloppy, kind of an expected risk with new d-pairings. What's worrying is the extreme difficulty we have lately with creating any sustained offensive pressure. If our 1st line isn't pulling magic out of the bag we're not doing much.. Nyquist + Helm will help, but will it really solve things? I hope Weiss can soon become someone we see more consistently on the scoresheet, we need 40-50 points out of him..

Count me in as another one who is OVER the Brunner discussion. I wanted him back more than most, but I think some people are rewriting history in their head. He was given multiple offers by the Wings, and CHOSE to move on. End of story.

Compete level. wasn't that the excuse for not getting Ryan? Who btw has 5 goals in 8+ games, is 26, RHed, makes 5.2 million and has 1 year after this on his contract. Versus Alfie, Cleary, tatar, and Nyquist who combined have 2 goals and cost us about 8.5 million this year. I am not one that thinks Holland makes a lot of mistakes, but this is a big one. We are a scoring challenged team, and Ryan puts in 30+ every full year.

It's fitting that Weiss is wearing the same number Modano wore here.

gonna need the boys to turn this one up to 11 Let's Go Wings!!

Take it in and bang it in!

Come on gus. Get us back in here.

OMG you have failed these fans in the stands! You SUCK tonight!!!!

I think they're two of our more offensive defensemen, but that kind of thing, like anything, comes in different shades. With Almqvist, I see him becoming (and he already strikes me as being) a Rafalski-type. Which I guess makes mentioning Sproul sort of pointless, in light of the original question. But I feel like he, along with Almqvist, could possibly complement DeKeyser really well. From what I've seen of him (and, admittedly, I've not seen a ton), he's more of a "pure" offensive defenseman, if that makes any sense. I guy who can rush the puck; lay the body on if, say, he activates himself on the forecheck (big frame); really, really fire the puck, etc. They're both gonna be big for us, IMHO. "Good for them, better for us."

I just want to see Helm centering Tatar and Nyqvist.

I feel pretty conflicted today. Never been a huge Leyland fan because I think his in-game managerial skills are poor, but it's hard to argue with the respect his players have for him and that's probably the most important part of the job. He's a class act too and loves the city of Detroit. The Tigers window is closing with this current group. Next season might be their best shot to win it all before payroll issues really become a factor, so the next manager has to be someone with experience. In my dream scenario, the Tigers would lure Mike Scioscia away from the Angels. Will not be pleased if anyone on Leyland's coaching staff is promoted to manager. Also, don't even bother interviewing Dusty Baker -- that would be a nightmare.

Sorry for being a broken record, but how are people saying that Flip wasn't good on the boards? Not only was he always battling for the puck when it was on the boards, but he often won it.