VM1138

Cole is done for the playoffs. He's probably just trying to get some exercise in and trying to stay part of the team.

If we don't get so many penalties we should be okay. Start skating and stop blind passing and they should also be okay.

I just hope Ericsson stops blind passing in his own zone. He did it nearly every time he was back there.

Just think, in a few years the entire league could be nothing but former Wings as GMs, coaches and VPs.

Good thing Bishop isn't great, and neither is their defense. I don't think offense will be a problem for us. Keeping leads will be.

It's just one game. Every few years there is a game like this and it seldom indicates the outcome of the series. If they win the next game they can get in Tampa's inexperienced heads.

Don't get too pissed at the Wings for this. It's getting late in a one goal game. Of course the refs will keep calling penalties against the winning team.

Need another goal. Maybe put Tatar with Datsyuk and Weiss with the kids to try and balance things out?

Haha, good one.

The drop pass in their own zone the Wings keep trying is going to backfire soon. They need to stop that.

But Babcock will keep playing the hell out of them. He's become too conservative with his tactics.

DeKeyser and Marchenko are having great games. As are Mrazek and Datsyuk. Everyone else looks like they don't even care.

Lots of turnovers and interceptions for both teams. Not a lot of space to maneuver.

I can't help but feel that Babcock is missing an opportunity to ice the best team. There's no one better than Ferraro to call up? Having Andersson in the lineup is also pretty questionable when it forces Weiss to the wing.

Caps in 5.

Chicago is weaker this year, Nashville should be able to take them. Will probably be a long series, though.

He hated working under him, but Babcock is a great coach and there's no reason Shanahan wouldn't try to hire him. He doesn't hate Babcock personally.

He did get time on the PP this year. He couldn't keep the puck in the attacking zone.

I hope for the best, but weren't we one of the worst teams in the league in even strength scoring? That could be a problem.

Even if he was joking, Smith really is dense.

Man, we talked about this but now that it's happened in real life, Babcock must have lost all faith in Howard. He's basically trying to replace him with a rookie. Ferraro being in. Is a wasted roster spot though.

I like those defense pairs.

Bill Roose made a point the other day that it'd be easier to start with Howard and go to Mrazek if Howard falters than the other way around. But why would that be the case? I just don't see any reason to think that. I'd say it's better to start with Mrazek early, so if he does drop the ball the team won't be too far in the hole. I'd hate to switch from Howard to Mrazek when we're down 2-0 or 3-0 on the series, and put all that pressure on Mrazek. While I don't think Howard will be a winning goalie, I'd feel more comfortable going with the veteran presence in a playoff crunch if it comes to that. So I say start Mrazek and run with him until he falters.

Sens are the most likely team to upset, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get swept, either. They just aren't that good, and Hammond will come back to earth soon.

Isn't it possible for teams with more points to miss out simply because of the stupid wild card rules? Either way divisional seeding is dumb.