GoWings1905

They've had four games to solve Rinne and build momentum. Rinne is too damn good, even better when your strategy to beat him is focused on shots from the perimeter and lots of passing. The Predators don't care if they get outplayed -- they have in three games and are about to advance. Babcock made the perfect observation in his presser: the Red Wings make mistakes in this series and it goes in the net; the Predators make mistakes and you don't notice because Rinne bails them out. I'm not really mad at Jimmy with the lack of goal-scoring, but he's let in some deflators in the past two games. The Red Wings control the puck an entire shift, Hudler hits the post, the Predators come down ice and Howard badly overplays Erat and kills all of the momentum. The Red Wings have no margin for error against Rinne and the Predators know it and have implemented their style of play accordingly. Props to them for executing and equally disappointing the Red Wings haven't taken advantage and forced them to open the game up.

Yes, indeed. Worst mistake Holland has made. Well, it might be second now after standing pat for three seasons while Nick Lidstrom's career winds down.

I would love to convince myself otherwise, but I think Nashville ends it on Friday. I'm mostly going to just try and appreciate watching Nick Lidstrom for maybe the last time ever. Franzen needs to step up or I wouldn't care if it's his last game in a Red Wings uniform too.

I feel so bad for Henrik Zetterberg. Z has played his heart out every shift and been the Red Wings best player by far. Both him and Datsyuk have been major victims of inadequate top-six linemates. That's especially costly considering the Wings are getting nothing from the bottom-six. I think that's somewhat fixable going forward with Helm and Eaves around, but even still no fourth line center and very little size and physical presence to forecheck and wear on a team's defense. Humbling series so far. I doubt the Red Wings quit on Friday, but they have to be deflated.

So glad we have that clutch playoff goal scorer in Franzen locked up for another decade. The Predators are better. I didn't want to believe it, but my head told me it all along. The Red Wings are stale and have been for years. Holland sat on his hands and now Nick Lidstrom just played his final home game because of it.

"We like our team."

Babcock again waiting way too long to mix things up.

Datsyuk - Z - Cleary in the third please. Three best forwards by far and probably the only hope of scoring a goal judged by the effort/performance of the other forwards. I'm so nervous. This has all the makings of 1-0 Nashville on a fluke goal.

Time for Nick to get one here. The Red Wings just need a break. They are controlling the play so bad.

Strong period overall. Cleary's hustle is really noticeable. It would be nice if some of the other forwards took the lesson and played harder. Franzen, Filppula and Bertuzzi looked brutal out there. I think it might be time to get Pavel and Z together to start the second. The Red Wings need a goal and the lead in the worst way. The longer Nashville lingers, you know they will get a fluke bounce and that might be the deflator.

The game starts in 30 minutes. Please do the same team in red. 60 minutes of relentless hockey. Let's Go Red Wings!

We're immature for laughing at Bertuzzi's stunt, but this clown comes here and says "enjoy your thriving economy". Go back to the Preds board. I'm sure all 12 people there will like your act more.

Were they using Trotz's head as the ball? Nice work Bert. Now go take the series back tomorrow.

Where was any forward not named Datsyuk and Zetterberg? Cleary has been just fine in a third line role.

I know the start on time theme has been discussed frequently and rightfully so. While I would be thrilled with a full 60 minute effort, I also believe the Red Wings lack of engagement in games is due to the officiating so far. Game 1 was a disaster and today the Red Wings were killing penalties most of the first and half of the second including the 5-on-3. Once the refs laid off, the Red Wings took over the game but by then the hole was already 2-0. The more even strength play this series sees, the more it swings in Detroit's favor. The PK has been really good, but on the ice too much and it disrupts any momentum. I hate to blame it on the refs because Nashville came out more ready to play, but having so much time on the powerplay certainly enhanced their ability to establish a lead.

The offensive side is the only thing I'm really hoping to see pick up from Nick. A vintage point shot on the PP that finds it way through in Game 4 would be excellent. Between the ankle and age, I think it is a given Nick is probably going to look slower now. His defensive positioning is still flawless. He breaks up so many passes and potential scoring chances just from instinct and being in the right spot. I understand the concern, though I think on the list of Red Wings problems in this series, Nick is pretty low IMO. My biggest concern is the lack of offense from anyone not named Datsyuk or Zetterberg, particularly top-six forwards like Filppula, Franzen and Hudler.

Yup, exactly. If Mule would channel his anger into driving the net and using his size instead of retaliating all of the time, it would help the Red Wings cause greatly. I said previously that Mule has had more jump than the regular season (he isn't a statue), but he still isn't doing enough of the things consistently that made him successful in the playoffs before. Against Rinne, flicking a wrist shot from near the face-off dot isn't going to work ever. If the Red Wings want to win this series, they need ugly goals off rebounds and having a presence directly in front of Rinne. 43 SOG is fine and all, but volume alone isn't going to beat Rinne.

No picture, however I can attest the glow sticks looked sweet before the game started. They really served no purpose after that point, but the pre-game festivities were really well put together as usual by the Red Wings. The crowd was buzzing the entire time. I don't know if more younger people are going to games the past two years or so, but the atmosphere at the Joe is noticeably louder and more engaged in my experience.

Crowd was electric, playoff games at the Joe are the best. The result was disappointing -- another game the Red Wings control the play for large stretches and don't get a win. My biggest concern going into the playoffs was the offense after Pav and Z. The streaky/inconsistent play of the top-six worried me and so far these three games have confirmed that fear. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are carrying the team entirely up front (which is fine and expected), but they are getting minimal support. I will say Franzen is playing harder (though how couldn't he?) though I'm still frustrated with his inability to use his size and drive the net. He got a fluke goal off his skate and hasn't done much of anything else besides take retalitory penalties. Filppula needs to shoot the puck -- he's way too tentative still and blows the scoring chances he creates with his skill by passing the puck or staying to the outside. Hudler loses every puck battle because of his size. I think Babcock needs to load up and put Pavel and Z together at least for Game 4 at home. Get them away from Weber/Suter with last change and see if they can take over. I hate the officiating in this series so much. It is obvious their agenda is to call it tight with plenty of penalties and that does not favor the Red Wings at all. They have dominated Nashville at even strength for a substantial majority through three games. However, again today the Red Wings could never get into a flow because the refs put them short-handed for a large portion of the first 30 minutes. I wish they would just ease up and let the players control the outcome. Call the blatant penalties, but the Red Wings being short-handed six times every game is just excessive for a disciplined team. The waved-off goal at the end of the second probably was the difference. Pretty confident the Wings prevail if it is 2-2 instead going into the third. Well, Tuesday is now the season at stake. I still feel like the Red Wings can very much win this series. I hope the offense can somehow breakout in Game 4. Rinne is excellent, but can be beaten if a few bounces around the net go in Detroit's favor or they can cash in on some of the open nets that they missed today. Rinne does flop around quite a bit after the initial shot. Get some more traffic to the net and score some ugly goals. He's going to stop the first shot almost every time.

No kidding, same here. What the hell is a glow stick going to do when the lights are on during the game? The towels look awesome during the playoffs.

Shocking Nothing But Cleary hasn't returned to the thread. Cleary has been very strong the first two games. Killing penalties, skating better, going into the tough areas and winning battles, playing physical. Everything that has made and continues to make Cleary a valuable piece of the Red Wings. Cleary always ramps it up for the playoffs, even more impressive on one knee this run. Cleary is a warrior and plays his heart out every shift. If you are going to rip him non-stop, at least have the courage to come back and give him praise when it is deserved.

I liked how the White Sox fans got all upset at Cabrera. Were they expecting the Sox to not hit in this game? Cabrera has the combination of talent and smarts I have never seen watching baseball. How awkward was Delmon Young playing that double by Rios? Haha wow, I can laugh at it now because it didn't hurt the team but my goodness what an awful defender. I think in meaniningful games later this year if V-Mart isn't back, Young has to DH and start Raburn/Dirks in left.

I'm not worried about Raburn -- the Tigers are 5-1 and he's still better than Brandon Inge over the course of 162 games. To call him worthless is hysterical when you consider what Inge did last season. 19 AB's is enough to say he can't hit? Inge hasn't hit save for one season in over a decade with the team. Though I suppose we could always go over the Inge excuses again. Clete Thomas has no long-term value to the Tigers and they already have enough bodies in the outfield. Raburn would be claimed on waivers (unlike Inge) in a second. I'm sorry, but it's clear you hate Raburn because he's a road block to .197 playing more often. The double standard with Inge supporters is insane. They will root for other players to fail just to see Inge get another chance and ultimately show yet again why he needs to go away for good. 19 AB's is enough to run someone off, but hey Brandon Inge gets endless opportunities because he's a nice guy and could play defense well five years ago.

The experience factor is a huge advantage in the Sharks favor obviously. My biggest doubt about San Jose in this series was if Niemi could come anywhere close to matching Halak and Niemi was excellent tonight. If Niemi keeps playing that well, it's the Sharks series to win because the talent gap is still pretty wide between the two teams. Hope it goes seven either way.

Nice call. I personally plan on cheering as loud and as much as possible on Sunday at the Joe whether it is 2-0 or 1-1. Did you miss last season when the Wings were down to the Sharks? That building was electric in Games 4 and 6. It's the playoffs. The Red Wings deserve our support and thankfully I don't think any of the 20,066 on Sunday will follow your advice.