GoWings1905

Congrats to Pavel on another Selke nomination! This is Bergeron's year to win, though. I would be quite surprised if he doesn't.

I can barely tolerate one Franzen, let alone another. Parise is a no doubter. I hope the opportunity to play with Pavel really entices him to Detroit. I feel like the Red Wings are the team to beat, but that's purely a hunch and a lot can happen before free agency even starts. I would love Suter, though I think that hinges on whether Nick returns. If Nick retires and Stuart indeed goes West, then Suter may become more of a necessity than Parise. I think there's a fairly decent chance Suter stays in Nashville too. More playoff games is additional revenue. The impact players drop off a lot after Parise and Suter. The Red Wings really need to come away with whichever one they deem a bigger priority.

Imagine if the second round consists of teams including Florida, Ottawa, St. Louis, Nashville and Phoenix. Enjoy your parity Gary. I'm glad the Penguins are out as much as anyone, but these non-traditional markets all advancing in a watered-down league isn't entertaining. Hope all those casual fans really enjoy 1-0 slop games that resemble hockey before the lockout.

Clowe would be such a welcome addition. He brings everything the Red Wings don't have enough of currently. Obviously still need that goal-scorer like Parise, but Clowe's size, physical play and chippy demeanor would be a real different look from what we usually see. Parise - Datsyuk - Nyquist Filppula - Z - Clowe It won't happen like you said, but I would be stoked with that top-six.

This Brandon Inge return is going very smooth. Is he still hitting the ball hard?

That's nice. We all know what the Red Wings have accomplished and despite the judgment, almost all of us fans appreciate it. That being said, the Red Wings haven't advanced beyond the second round in three seasons. That isn't good enough - the players said it, Mike Babcock said it and you presume Kenny Holland will too. I get winning a cup isn't feasible every season, but I do expect more than one single postseason victory. I think emotions get the better of people after a tough loss and it might be overstated that Nick was screwed by the organization. However, I do think Ken Holland messed up by not being more active in what he knew were Lidstrom's final years. Realistically, why should Nick come back right now? This team isn't a cup contender and unless Holland can convince Nick this summer will bring major changes, I see him walking away. He isn't going to put himself through the physical demands to play in the first round again.

Babcock has known this team is flawed for years. You can hear him hint at it and show some frustration by the lack of action from management. I don't agree with anyone that says Babcock needs to go. He has some flaws for sure, but he's a hell of a coach and could do damage with a team better constructed. Holland is entering a make or break summer. "We like our team" after three early exits will not be acceptable to anyone. It shouldn't have been two straight years, but he has to come out aggressive for once. He already wasted the end of Nick's career and Pavel and Z are not exactly young either.

I hope Franzen enjoys the nice long rest he has earned. His body must surely be exhausted, his arms especially from those clutch playoff goals he had.

Humbling. I don't know what else to say.

Franzen on the 4th line in an elimination game. "Wait until the playoffs start."

Why did Stuart pursue Bourque so hard in the neutral zone? He overcommitted big time and that got everyone out of position. That stings. Now they need two to beat Rinne and that feels impossible with the way things have gone.

Great work by Hudler and Fil going to the net. The next goal obviously may be the season.

Z and Jimmy care. Everyone else looks like a December game in Minnesota.

Between the Predators style of play and the Red Wings lack of substance, this is the most boring playoff series since the lockout that Detroit has been involved in. I also don't quite understand why the coaching staff seemingly can't adjust. These lines are stagnant and Babcock keeps them the same. The PP has been atrocious for months and nothing has changed. Defensive coverage breakdowns and turnovers keep happening repeatedly. Put Pavel and Z with Nyquist or Cleary for starters. Franzen has no desire to show up - quit wasting Pavel alongside him.

Boy that first rounder for Quincey is looking brilliant.

The Red Wings defensive coverage and structure compared to the Predators is alarming. They spend 30 seconds in the Wings zone and cause more havoc than the Red Wings do in 57 minutes in Nashville's end.

Really? I could have swore Game 6 was on Sunday. Let's hope there is one ether way.

Win for Nick. Win for Helm. Win for Stuart. I don't care what the motivator is but just please win and keep the season alive. Take the first period with a lead and go from there. After Game 4, I thought Nashville would end it tonight. Maybe I'm in denial, but after a couple days away I'm feeling good about the Red Wings chances in Game 5. There's too much pride and ability in that locker room to just quit. Regardless of what happens, I will be proud to be a fan of this team. Though I would love to cheer them on again this Sunday at the Joe especially. Let's Go Red Wings!

Daniel Schlereth is really good.

I love watching Chicago tie it late only to lose in overtime. If the Red Wings go out, I want the Penguins and Blackhawks right there with them.

Yeah, not sure the opponent would have mattered. The Red Wings can't score goals. Look at the teams ahead in all four series in the West. The team with much better goaltending is leading the series. Mike Smith maybe isn't on Rinne's level, but he is very good and Chicago's shortcoming isn't lack of offense. It's easy to play hypothetical pick your poison, but the Red Wings weakness doesn't translate well to playoff success regardless of the opponent.

Franzen, absolutely if anyone will take that contract. Pavel and Z no way. Those two are the only forwards that have done anything in this series. The Red Wings have ample cap space and a solid foundation. It's up to Holland to make the necessary moves this summer to address the shortcomings.

I'm with ya on the outcome of the series, but I disagree with the crowd part. It was electric on Sunday and the fans were behind the Red Wings even when Nashville went up 2-0 in the game. I didn't leave early, but I don't blame people that hit the exits with a two goal deficit and only a couple minutes remaining. Let's be honest too: there hasn't been much to cheer about in this series. I think last night it was probably just a lot of nervous energy in the building. I was a little surprised to hear the boos, though they aren't completely unwarranted either. If the players take offense, there is a solution.

The Predators have gotten their fair share of breaks/bounces, but it is pretty clear by now this group of Red Wings isn't good enough to overcome adversity. The Sharks won a bunch of close games too the past two playoff years before this one against Detroit. The Red Wings talent and depth could pull them through in some of their deep runs after the lockout. The league has caught up and surpassed the Red Wings. Every year we keep relying on bounces and luck is another year other teams in the NHL have adjusted and gotten faster and bigger. The excuses have to stop this summer and the Red Wings organization has to acknowledge that complacency has run its course here. Don't get me wrong, the Red Wings are still a good team as is, but if the Predators win this series, three early playoff exits screams for some major changes.

Very true, good points all the way around. I think you are right in saying the combination of the Predators team defense and the Red Wings lack of forwards able to score ugly goals is a major contributing factor to Rinne's success. I hate to harp too much, but this is a spot where you would expect Franzen to be a difference maker. Hudler is small and always gets knocked off the puck, but I've seen him go into those hard areas/front of the net more than Franzen this series.