VM1138

Bertuzzi must have realized the team had a need that he could fill and stepped into the breach. Glad to see he's thinking about his role on the team and trying to help however he can. I liked the name chant because it's always a boost for the players and we need to support them however we can. Plus, "Let's go Red Wings" gets old after a while, singling out players for good play can only help, and it might have a psychological affect on the opponent.

Nothing negative to take from this, everyone stepped up, all lines firing and making things happen. Love the composure of everybody. -Love that Bertuzzi is playing physical, recognizing the team has a need and he has the skill set to provide. -Love that Datsyuk and Franzen are stepping up like they usually do but maybe some of us worried about (at least with Franzen). -Love that Howard was great, except for the first goal. -Love that Hudler got a goal. Not sure if this will start a trend but it's a good start. -Love that the Wings are trying all sorts of shots: wraparounds, blue line shots, one timers, don't over-rely on one move like they have at times this season. Man, what a great game, I really truly hope they keep this up. This was the Wings team we've all been waiting to see, that we've all been hoping would show up in playoff mode.

I know Draper-Helm-Eaves is a great line, but why can't Helm get a crack at the second line center?

So...your idea is to remove a soft, lazy player who scores in favor of a soft, lazy player who doesn't?

Well, looking back, he's mentioned a few times about not being totally in it to win. He's always sounded a little like he wished he would have retired and was just going through the motions, plus the baggage from Dallas fans mentioning he had become lazy. I don't know, it's a bust. He may have been a 3rd liner but we all hoped he would be that veteran we needed to win in the playoffs. He's no Dallas Drake, or even a Hossa, if he can't even justify being in the lineup. Him being in the lineup all season has really hurt some of the line juggling, I think. The Wings didn't want to bench him because there wasn't as much on the line, we were hoping he'd kick into higher gear, and all the other things that go along with it. Maybe this will give Babcock the freedom to go with some really dynamic lines.

No mercy, 60 minutes (or extra if needed), everyone bust their ass working hard, don't take Phoenix for granted. We the fans don't want to hear any excuses or regrets in the morning.

In Modano's interviews he gives off this vibe of not really caring or trying, focusing more on not having the passion anymore, he says (to summarize). I'd take that as a big alarm bell going into a grueling second season if I were Babcock. Talent or no, in the playoffs I'd rather have someone like Miller who will give his all and wreak havoc in the other team pressure-wise.

But wait...the Wings are terrible at home, so wouldn't Phoenix being a home game for the Wings be a bad thing?

You know what would help Minnesota? Realizing you have to score goals to win hockey games. Defense is nice and all, but not JUST defense.

My thoughts exactly. We need to cleanse this thread of bad mojo.

Sharks in 5, unfortunately.

Haven't seen Phoenix really at all this year, but I haven't heard anything at all about them, so I assume they haven't done much. They knocked us around a little bit last year, but the Wings have been hitting a lot more lately. I think depth is going to be key here, and in that case I predict Helm's line is going to absolutely tear it up and tilt this series. I hope for a sweep because the WIngs need to get going and then rest up for the later rounds.

St. Louis is the answer to our second line problems. Get it done, Kenny!

Agreed. Six OTs each game sounds about right. Honestly, I'm not sure where Nashville's PP ranks but Anaheim is going to give them so many PPs that Shea Weber is going to make them pay. I'll predict right now that penalties will cost Anaheim this series.

I never notice the Wings "call up" the coaches, medical and equipment guys, too. How does that work?

Anaheim can't overcome Rinne with their lack of depth. Nashville is one of those teams that always plays better than they have any right to, so I expect Nashville to take this in 6.

The ref defenders are missing the point. Most of the complaints aren't simply "hindsight is 20/20" situations. The outrageous ones are the ones that are obvious WITHOUT a replay, and then the replay just confirms it. Those are what we are seeing a lot of, and it's ridiculous that so many things are not called one night and called the next. I still can't understand how Franzen getting high sticked and bleeding wasn't AT LEAST a 2 minute minor instead of the whole automatic four minute double minor for blood. That sort of stuff is blatantly obvious, even before the replay. And how can you explain when they are looking right at a violation like that where someone gets hurt or is behind the play and doesn't call a thing? Obviously they saw it and decided NOT to call it, it wasn't a "mistake." Most likely it was a "Oh, I didn't call it right that second so now I can't call it at all" situation. Garbage.

I noticed this, too. It's not just that Eddie O. (or was it Milbury, I always get them mixed up) disagreed that Lidstrom should win it, but that he immediately and categorically dismissed any idea that Lidstrom had a decent season, and then when he almost had a smirk on his face when saying "Nobody wins a Norris with a negative rating."

The trick is to make as few moves as you need to make an impact. Trading Franzen, Flip and Cleary would be utterly ridiculous. Cleary was leading the team in goals until he was injured and is renowned for his hard work. Franzen had a bad year after several years of insane awesomeness. The weak link is Flip. Every year we all talk about how it'll be his breakout year and it never happens. He's a servicecable 2nd or 3rd line center, but not a game-changer. He's good defensively and can occasionally wow with a slick move on offense, but the Wings really need to improve the second line, starting with Flip. He would also have the highest trade value, I'd think. Again, it's not that Flip sucks, but that he's good enough to have trade value and not good enough to really matter if we traded him for another good center, or traded him for a wing and a wing for a center to replace him. EDIT: I think if we're talking ruthless big-name trades for the Wings, it'd be Kronwall and Filppula to strengthen defense and offense. They are the only real movable parts of significant roles.

I don't like to pick playoff teams to play, but let's just put it this way. I don't want to play Nashville first round. Sure, the Wings can dominate anyone if they want to, but they're simply not as scary to other teams as they have been in previous years. Nashville plays us hard and would be a physically draining series.

Clearly it took a year or three to get back on track after he left, but it wasn't devastating. The Wings are a really stable organization. As far as him being with the Hawks, isn't he just an advisor? I think the Hawks success has come from a combination of sucking for years and winning the draft lottery, combined with adopting the well-known Red Wings model that most teams should've adopted by now. EDIT: Oh, we're taking about Bowman's advisor role here in Detroit, not coaching. I don't see that hurting us, honestly. He was an advisor in a small role. Right now we're rolling with players we drafted before he left, and since he wasn't a defensive coach or a goalie coach I don't think we can pin the struggles of the last two seasons or so on his departure. Clearly it took a year or three to get back on track after he left, but it wasn't devastating. The Wings are a really stable organization. As far as him being with the Hawks, isn't he just an advisor? I think the Hawks success has come from a combination of sucking for years and winning the draft lottery, combined with adopting the well-known Red Wings model that most teams should've adopted by now.

On the one hand, I see the Wings winning this game on skill. On the other, I see that they have nothing to play for, and it just doesn't seem like Babcock is all that concerned with winning. Didn't he basically admit that their concern is the playoffs, not the rest of the games this season? That's all well and good but this would be a good statement game heading into the playoffs.

Early game! Sucks that we'll have to wait til later this week to start playoffs. I'm psyched, even if I'm not as optimistic as usual this time of year. I still have faith that despite this garbage of a season the Wings will find the switch and win it all. As a fan, I can never suppress that hope.

Flyers in 5.

It's a stretch to think Tampa could win this, but stranger things have happened. Maybe Tampa will pull an Edmonton and ride to the finals.