GoWings1905

I hate to use devastating, but this sure feels like it. The bottom six is awful without Helm. Abdelkader hasn't shown any development to be able to fill Helm's role effectively. The Red Wings lose their fastest player and best fore checker at the time he becomes most valuable. I've seen enough of Emmerton too. Fil - Z - Hudler Mule - Pav - Nyquist Bert - Abby - Cleary Miller - Sheahan - Homer I would throw Conner in over Sheahan, but sadly depth up the middle is already extremely thin without Helm.

Ericsson was great tonight and has been since returning. Stuart and White were the worst d-men by far. I'm not suggesting either of them should sit, but to say E should is completely unfair. I don't know what more Ericsson could do lately. This is some of the best hockey in his career.

I know it is a loss, but I feel better about the Red Wings chances now than before the game started. I have no words for the officiating. That was the most frustrating part tonight. Red Wings controlled the play at even strength (all 8 minutes of it) and won the special teams battle too. I am concerned that this resembled many of the games against the Sharks the past two years in the playoffs, but I'm pretty optimistic the Red Wings can even it up on Friday. Datsyuk's line has to be better. Franzen and Bertuzzi were invisible. Wouldn't mind Nyquist back up there for Game 2 at all. Also, I know the penalties played a role, but playing with the lead again sometime this season would be nice. I think that's seven consecutive games now the Red Wings have never led. Weber is a clown. There's no reason to do that. Your team just won the game and you slam a player's head into the boards there? What a moron. I hope Z is alright -- he was easily the best player on the ice.

The NHL is such a garbage league. I love the Red Wings enough to watch, but this is disgusting. How can the least penalized team suddenly become undisciplined and take excessive penalties three years in a row now in the playoffs? All I want is some consistency. They didn't call most of those penalties throughout the regular season. Let the players decide the outcome -- that wasn't hockey, it was a special teams contest. Bettman being there has to be affecting these officials. Rooney usually sucks, but this atrocious. Another San Jose series has started.

2-0 leads just aren't working out for Verlander. No decision from a blown save on Opening Day and looking like an improbable loss here today. Takes a one-hitter into the 9th and can't finish it off. Just goes to show you a lot of things went his way to win 24 last season. Daniel Schlereth is still completely useless. Why is he on this team? Leyland deserves blame too for bringing Schlereth into the game tied at 2. Nothing good comes from Schlereth pitching, especially in a close game. Can't throw strikes for s*** and when he does they get drilled. Toledo please, forever.

Now this thing about how we're fading away? Well, we'll see about that. We'll find a way to make it happen. I don't know how. I just know we will. - Mike Babcock It's time. Let's Go Red Wings! :octo:

Thanks for doing this again NFM! VAN/LAK: 4-1 STL/SJS: 4-3 PHX/CHI: 4-2 NSH/DET: 4-2 (This is my heart picking; head says otherwise) NYR/OTT: 4-1 BOS/WSH: 4-1 FLA/NJD: 4-2 PIT/PHI: 4-3 WC Champion: VAN EC Champion: PIT SCF Champion: PIT

The charity thing is nice and all, but why would a Red Wings fan just suddenly decide to like the Predators? That's like a doctor leaving to serve fast food.

Miguel and Prince strike again. Tigers still unbeaten. How fun is this so far?

Well, this is it! The final weekend of the season. Thanks to all that participated; hope it was fun for everyone involved. A special huge thank you to Dan Bylsma for all of his efforts and weekly scoring updates. Everything definitely runs smoother because of his involvement and help. Looks like a two-person race here for the championship between hooon and Juice71285. Should there be a tie still following the completion of the games, hooon does hold the tiebreaker from the Winter Classic contest. If someone else makes a jump into first, I will post the other tiebreaker results on Sunday if necessary. Good luck! Weekend Picks

I was hoping for another "how to be a real fan" discussion. Because anyone that doesn't think a 5th seeded Red Wings team that is scuffling into the playoffs can win it all isn't worthy to be a part of the fan base. Look, I'm all for supporting the team and always will be. I will attend the games and cheer on the Red Wings like always. That being said, you can be a realist and still be a loyal fan. I don't think the Red Wings are built to win the Stanley Cup this season. They probably have a shot if literally everything goes in their favor. If that makes me a negative nancy or a lesser fan to those that judge this type of thing, then that comes with the territory. Everyone has an opinion and the great thing about LGW is being able to discuss that including differing ideas. I don't want to come here and read nonstop about blind support for the Red Wings. I don't care if there are fans that predict the Wings to win it all -- you're entitled to that -- but just remember so is everyone else that disagrees. Best time of the year is finally here. Go Red Wings!

12 AB's is enough to bench Raburn but Inge can hit .197 for an entire year and you still want him to start? Sorry, I don't agree at all. Brandon won't hit .270? That's pretty obvious considering he can't even clear .200 and how impressive that he hit a whopping 3 HR's. Definitely a clutch player if you ignore the 873 K's with runners on base. All I hear are excuses for and from Inge. I don't care if Inge struck the ball well. That doesn't mean a damn thing. Raburn hit over .300 in the second-half last season and Inge was in Toledo. It's funny you say Leyland is in love with Raburn. I think 99% of the Tigers fanbase would say that's more the case with Inge. It isn't a coincidence Inge got booed during the intros on Opening Day. People are tired of his s*** and want him to go away. Raburn, Santiago and Danny Worth are all better baseball players than Brandon Inge. The only people that think differently are Inge himself, Leyland and his eight remaining fans.

I'm not trying to be rude here at all, but you're OK with Inge playing but not Raburn? Inge hasn't hit anything in years. Trust me, I'm not too fond of Raburn at second either. That being said, it's a little early to write Raburn off after three games. He destroyed the ball in the second-half last season and all of Spring Training. Raburn's best position is left field, but it's not happening since Leyland wants to play Young in left most days. The Tigers defense is horrid no matter what. Raburn will hit enough to compensate over time. How about today's game? This team is unbelievable at the plate and so fun to watch. Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter in baseball. He's going to be the MVP with Fielder behind him. Jackson looks completely different and Avila came up clutch again. It's only three games and wins, but you just get the feeling this team is special. There's just the look like they know they are going to win most days. Scherzer's outing concerns me a lot. He has to be way better than that with Fister out. Oh, Daniel Schlereth is still beyond horrible and should never pitch in games where the margin is less than ten runs either way.

Congrats to Juice for winning this year's version of Weekend Picks! Impressive victory and pretty exciting that it took the final games of the season to determine a winner. Nice work to hooon as well! Clearly one of the best to play finishing first last year and second now. Fun season, everyone. See you back next fall.

Series starts Wednesday in Nashville. Game 2 is Friday with a quick turnaround for a Sunday afternoon game in Detroit. I hate those stupid matinees during the playoffs. That's all I have seen on Twitter so far with the schedule.

Rooting and being realistic can occur together as a fan. There's nothing wrong with predicting the Predators to win the series. It doesn't make anyone less of a fan. This nonsense about always having to praise the Red Wings and anyone that says otherwise is not a fan is ridiculous. We all want the same thing. People react in different ways as fans.

No, I never said that. Rinne is a better goalie. However, you stated the gap was massive between the two and it's not at all. The Red Wings gave up fewer goals as a team. Stats don't always tell the full story, but just to further prove my point... Rinne: 2.40 GAA, .923 SV% Howard: 2.13 GAA, .920 SV% Why again are the Predators on another level in goal?

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. The Red Wings scored more goals and gave up fewer than the Predators. I'll give you special teams, but I'm not buying the defense and goaltending being on another level. Jimmy Howard was in Vezina contention until his injury in February.

Why? Have you read this thread? I don't think there's much confidence floating around most Wings fans right now.

I have a feeling this whole Cabrera/Fielder 3-4 combination might work out alright. My goodness, what a display of hitting. It was like they were trying to outdo the other one in a good way. Bad news on Fister, however. Placed on the 15 day DL and from what I have read so far, it sounds like he could be out upwards of a month. This is a serious blow. Besides JV now, the four other starters are inexperienced and typically inconsistent. Scherzer and Porcello have to be reliable. Smyly got roughed up starting in Toledo today as well. Hopefully the offense can keep slugging until Fister gets back.

Haha Edzo. Penalties are completely one-sided and have been all season in this series and he still whines. Come on Pav, Huds and Bert. Pull out the tricks.

Nashville no matter what. No travel and can still get home ice. Need the extra point now. Great desperation in the third. Datsyuk and Zetterberg willed this team to get even.

Nyquist got hooked the entire way to the net. If Edzo thought it was a penalty too, it definitely got missed.

Yes! Come on now. Please don't tease us again and lose 2-1.

The disparity in penalties when the Red Wings play Chicago is sickening. That was definitely a slash, but every game the Blackhawks get way more PP chances than the Wings.