GoWings1905

McGeough is a terrible ref, but anyone is better than Bill McQueery.

I would say the Wings no longer have a true rival, since the end of the Avalanche era. I just don't understand how Nashville can be a rival when they NEVER beat the Red Wings at anything. Maybe if the two teams meet at some point in the playoffs this season then maybe that will create more of a rivalry. But until the Predators prove they can compete and beat the Red Wings at something significant, then this is not a rivalry.

I have a number of playoff superstitions, although none of them have seemed to help the past couple of seasons. One, I go with the traditional no-shaving rule, which is dreadful, but lately hasn't amounted to much agony due to the early exits. Two, I always sit in the same spot at my house to watch the games on TV. Third, I wear the same clothes regardless of previous outcomes during the game, and lastly, I have a cologne called "Wings" which I spray exactly three times before the start of each game. I started doing this in 2002 and it worked, so now it has become a part of the playoff tradition.

To say Nashville cannot draft and develop players is way off. They have an advantage typically that the Red Wings don't which is higher and earlier draft picks, whether it be through trades or the Red Wings regular season success. However, even with the lack of high picks, the Red Wings have done a remarkable job developing and keeping players selected in later rounds. This is why so many people despise Detroit's success, because even with limited draft picks, the Red Wings scouting department always seems to thrive. On behalf of the rivalry argument, there should be none because Nashville is not a rival. I think true rivalries in all cases do not involve one team constantly abusing the other team, which the Red Wings always do to the Predators. Three seasons of limited success for Nashville does not make them a threat to the Wings. Nashville hasn't won the division, playoff series, or even a regular season series from the Wings yet. Maybe Nashville is dying for someone to be their rival, but to the Red Wings the Predators are just another team.

Red Wings in six - Lidstrom will not let this team go down in the first round again. For all of the well-deserved talk about Datsyuk and Zetterberg, the most important player on the Red Wings is still #5. Maybe Lidstrom gets slightly overlooked because we all just expect greatness from him, but his play and leadership will dictate how long this playoff run lasts. Go Red Wings!

I don't know how to feel about this series with Calgary. In one respect, I always expect and believe that the Red Wings are going to win, but a part of me also feels that the Flames could give the Wings big problems. The thing that concerns me most is the Red Wings HAVE to get scoring production from multiple lines. They cannot rely on Zetterberg and Datsyuk for all of their offense, especially with Kiprusoff capable of stealing this series on his own. That being said, it appears this Red Wings team is more playoff built than previous years. Guys like Calder, Franzen, and Cleary will be huge factors if they can work hard down low and get some ugly goals. This should be a terrific playoff series. Let's Go Red Wings!

Hart: Crosby Norris: Lidstrom Calder: Kopitar Vezina: Luongo Lady Byng: Sakic Selke: Pahlsson Adams: Babcock (homer pick)

With Chicago beating Nashville tonight in the shootout, the Wings need just a point to clinch their 6th straight division title. This would mean the Wings finish no worse than the second seed for the playoffs. This really doesn't call for a celebration, but finishing ahead of the Predators is always nice. Hopefully, the Wings can somehow find a point against the powerful Blackhawks.

There was talk that the new arena would hold somewhere between 30-35 thousand, which would be awesome. The area around Comerica Park/Ford Field would be a great location. I really love going to JLA, even though it isn't anywhere near state-of-the-art, there are so many great memories in that building. Plus, whatever they name the new arena will sound nowhere as cool as saying "I'm going to the Joe."

Hopefully, the Red Wings goal differential will go up about +8 after playing the Blackhawks.

That was pure sarcasm about the Blackhawks, the Wings have only lost once to them in the past two seasons.

I'm done trying to predict who would be "best" for the Red Wings to play after last year's series with Edmonton. Fact is, all of the playoff teams in the Western Conference are very good, and all capable of going to the Finals. However, for the sake of the thread, I will say Dallas is the team I would be most pleased to see, and at all costs I want the Red Wings to avoid San Jose.

This doesn't look too promising for Kronwall, considering Lebda should be back any game now. However, I am going to pray that if Kronwall doesn't come back soon that Quincey plays so well that he stays in the line-up instead of Lilja. I know this will likely never happen, but just the thought of not having Lilja on the ice makes me smile.

Samuelsson should be the one to sit, considering he really provides nothing to this team. However, sadly, it will be Hudler that is left out. There is no chance that Filppula is not playing in the playoffs.

As much as I love the Red Wings, there are a few players they would certainly be better off without. I want to know which player(s) aggravate you the most throughout each shift of every game. For me, it's Mikael Samuelsson. I want to punch something everytime he steps on the ice because I know he will do something dumb. The worst part with Sammy is all the shots he takes, and the lack of them never finding the net. Hopefully, he is the one left off the playoff roster because he is downright awful. I know many of you will say Robert Lang, but at least playing with Calder and Hudler makes him look somewhat decent lately. Let's pray Samuelsson doesn't see the ice in the playoffs.

First off, comparing Hasek to Theodore is insane. Second, if Hasek retires (again), Osgood is a much better option in goal than Theodore. Besides, the Red Wings only need to get by probably another year before Jimmy Howard takes over. Jose Theodore is right where he should be, a back-up. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dom play again next season, depending on how far the Wings go in the playoffs.

Judging solely by match-ups, the Wings would be much better off facing anyone but San Jose in the first round. Dallas and Minnesota would be the most ideal, but it will work itself out. Hopefully, the Wings finish the regular season strong, get/keep everyone healthy and then play into June. I think this team can beat anyone when they play well, so I am not going to worry who they draw in the first round. To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Detroit has to be among the best, if not the best sports city in the country. The Red Wings have sold out every home game since December of 1995, which is a tribute to the team, but also to the passionate fans. The Pistons have sold out around 150 straight games and counting, the Tigers are extremely popular for good reason again, and people go to Lions games just because it is the NFL. It's amazing that some cities can't sell out an arena for one team, but Detroit does it all winter at the Joe and Palace. As much crap as Detroit gets as a city, no one can deny we have terrific fans.