GoWings1905

That's not an excuse -- it's the absolute truth. Zetterberg plays against the opponent's top line both regular season and playoffs. Which center was out there every shift against Nash in the first round, then the Getzlaf line, Toews/Kane in the WCF and shutdown Crosby in the finals? Datsyuk was invisible during the playoffs, injury or not. I reckon that was because of his linemates right?

So really you just don't want to give Z any credit and make excuses for Datsyuk?

You just proved the reason why the Red Wings can't play Z and Datsyuk together. They don't have the depth up the middle to play their two best centers (and offensive talents) on the same line. When Filppula comes back, they have quite a bit more flexibility to adjust the top six. If you take both Homer and Bertuzzi off the top line, then I assume you want Datsyuk - Z - Cleary as the top line? What is the second line then? Helm and Abdelkader can't jump up and play center in that role. Holmstrom is bad at even strength, but he becomes completely useless without one or both of the Euro Twins. Throwing him on the fourth line would be a disaster.

So the excuse you are making for Datsyuk isn't acceptable for Z? Zetterberg is on a line with Cleary and Leino for God's sake. Leino would never be in the top six if the Wings were healthy and neither would Bertuzzi. It's a wash to me if you really want to evaluate the wingers Pavel and Z are currently playing with. What exactly is your point? Are you making more excuses for Datsyuk or is this just more of a personal vendetta against Z?

Good post. There's always an excuse for Datsyuk it seems.

This is so laughable. I thought the only reason Z ever produced was because he played with Datsyuk? Z doesn't exactly have quality finishers as linemates either. I love Danny Cleary, but he isn't a sniper and Leino hasn't done anything this season. Quit blaming Datsyuk's issues on his linemates. The entire team (especially the big guns) needs to step it up when the circumstances right now are less than ideal. The Red Wings are working hard and they just need to grind out some wins until Fil and Franzen come back and fill out the top six. We're lucky to have both Pavel and Z. Why do we always need to pit them against each other?

Ahh, gotcha now. Yes, the Red Wings have done quite well with the officiating this season.

I somewhat agree, but what other options do the Wings have right now?

You mean "proper" like phantom interference and early whistles?

Thanks a ton for posting this. I checked BCSN earlier and was disappointed to see they weren't showing the game tonight like usual. I don't even know what the hell this channel 69 is, but thank you!

I like Rafalski, but to me he is the most frustrating and overpaid player on the team. $6 million for a very talented offensive d-man, but one that is very weak in his own zone. Brad Stuart is completely underrated on this team and Rafalski is just the opposite.

Friday: New Jersey @ Boston Buffalo @ Philadelphia Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders Colorado @ Minnesota Chicago @ Anaheim Atlanta @ Carolina Calgary @ Detroit NY Rangers @ Tampa Bay Toronto @ Florida St Louis @ Nashville Dallas @ Phoenix San Jose @ Edmonton Saturday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey Ottawa @ Boston Carolina @ Buffalo Washington @ Montreal Philadelphia @ Atlanta Calgary @ Columbus NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh Detroit @ St Louis Florida @ Nashville Tampa Bay @ Dallas Minnesota @ Colorado Edmonton @ Vancouver Chicago @ Los Angeles Sunday: Phoenix @ Anaheim San Jose @ Vancouver

Sure would be nice to have Mule around with Pavel and Homer. Oh well, gives us something to look forward to.

Lidstrom - Ericsson Lebda - Stuart Meech - Rafalski In no case whatsoever should Meech and Lebda be paired together.

Good lord. And you think the Datsyuk line has trouble scoring now...

Of course GMR.

Once again, had Brad May even been dressed last night, it wouldn't have mattered. First, he would have had to been on the ice when the incidents happened. As I stated, he wouldn't have been because the Helm/Draper/Eaves line was out there. Second, we have people that assume May would have went after Laraque for a routine high stick and therefore Kronner never gets injured. It's not a matter of liking/dislking enforcers. I love Brad May on this team. To say he could have prevented Kronwall's injury though is a complete stretch to further trigger the "Wings aren't tough enough" BS.

What? The knee happened on the same shift as the high stick. Helm, Eaves and Draper were on the ice. Which one of them is going to fight Laraque over a high stick? Teams don't start fights because of a high stick in that situation, which was blatant but hardly intentional on Laraque's half. Nice attempt at saying the injury was somehow preventable with more toughness. Kronner was going to get hurt regardless of who the Red Wings had dressed last night. Enforcers don't prevent injuries.

I fail to see how being "tougher" could have prevented Kronner's injury.

Then he has to send up Shanny and Chelios by that logic.

Don't hold your breath. Mr. Ilitch isn't going to send 91 to the JLA rafters.

Still an attention-starved prima donna. Get over it Sergei. You wouldn't have won anything without the Red Wings. EDIT: Sergei couldn't hold Stevie's jock as a player or especially as a human being.

Friday: Montreal @ Washington Boston @ Buffalo Florida @ Detroit NY Islanders @ Minnesota Colorado @ Vancouver Philadelphia @ San Jose Saturday: Calgary @ Los Angeles Washington @ Toronto Detroit @ Montreal Buffalo @ Ottawa Florida @ NY Rangers Tampa Bay @ Carolina Pittsburgh @ Atlanta NY Islanders @ St Louis Columbus @ Nashville New Jersey @ Dallas Philadelphia @ Phoenix Chicago @ Edmonton San Jose @ Anaheim Sunday: Tampa Bay @ Atlanta Chicago @ Vancouver

Unfortunately, I think you hit it right on with Kelly. I always read about Kelly's sketchy past, but I can never find exactly what the issues were. All I know is that if Notre Dame can't find anything significant that would affect the program negatively, he has to be the next head coach. All the guy does is WIN everywhere he goes -- with far lesser talent than Weis has been blessed with at Notre Dame. The thing is ND has to get it right this time. Willingham wasn't the first choice (or second, or third...); Weis only got the job because the adminstration thought they had Meyer locked up. Brian Kelly can make this football team relevant again like you mentioned. It's just a matter of Kelly actually wanting the job and Notre Dame making sure they get him before settling on another coach like Weis. Your point on Gruden is great. I don't understand the hype either. Gruden is about the last guy of "potential" replacements I want. We tried the NFL route and it stunk. Gruden has said himself before that he dislikes having to develop talent. I'm pretty sure that is the premise of being a head coach in college. Paul Johnson is interesting as well. I'm so impatient though right now and it would take another 2-3 years for Johnson to get his players and the option system in place.

That's a credit to how damn good Z is defensively too.