VM1138

Honestly, I don't really feel strongly one way or the other. Gus has been fine, but we might as well call up Mrazek. Eventually he has to make the jump and every goalie has to start as a backup so the whole "get starts in the AHL vs. sitting in the NHL" doesn't hold water. If they want to go with a healthier backup, I approve. If they bring back Gustavsson that's okay, too. Backup is not our issue. Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

I get the caution but if he's considering playing tomorrow, which he hasn't ruled out, I'd say Game 5 is a pretty good probability. Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

Ansar Khan tweeted two interesting things: "Babcock said Zetterberg filling in for Datsyuk on the line. Was vague on whether he might play tomorrow. Said if he's ready he'll go. and "Zetterberg said today was his first real good practice. Doesn't sound like he;s playing tomorrow but wouldn't completely rule it out." So yeah, tomorrow's game is probably a long shot, but neither Babcock or Zetterberg is ruling it out. But if he's that close, I'd say a Game 5 appearance is pretty likely.

Exactly. Also, at the risk of sounding callous, a player lives for the playoffs. There's no point saving himself. This is it. No point waiting for the second round if we never make it there. I'd rather him rush back early at the risk of hurting himself so we can get to the second round. In my mind, no other round other than the finals will be as tough as this round. If Z can help us survive, he needs to come back. I have faith he will do whatever he can, even if he pushes himself. Having him back, even with reduced minutes, would be huge.

They're shook. If you can, rewatch their reaction shots during and after the game. Tatar especially after his give away looked completely near tears. They can't be feeling that emotional in a Game 3. They will learn, no doubt, but for the here and now it's worrying. Nyquist, too, is moving without much confidence out there.

Good, good good. Players always seem to have kids this time of year, haha. Guess they get busy in the off-season doldrums. This is encouraging for us if Babcock is willing to make a change. Oullet literally couldn't be any worse.

It's not that. There's a lot to be hopeful for in the future. But the point is you don't just sit and wait for players to develop in sports. If you can do something to make your team better now, you do. We're improving and we're doing alright, but obviously there's room for improvement anywhere. We cleary, clearly, clearly need improvement on defense. We need a puck-moving defenseman. He doesn't have to be the greatest defender, but we need a Top 2 defenseman who can move the puck, play smart with it and score (or assist). A bottom pairing shut-down guy is secondary but would help us greatly since the bottom pairing is always a glaring weak link. We could theoretically run with the forwards we have, but if Holland can improve in this area he should. A big guy would come in handy here, so long as he has a knack for getting to the net. Nyquist and Tatar have that attack mentality that we needed, but they're not big enough. As for Howard, chances are we keep him. He's not terrible like some say. But again, Holland would be wise to at the very least inquire about possibly replacing him with someone better, only after everything else is fixed. I'm just suggesting we should get away from assuming Howard is untouchable and say we'll only go as far as he takes us. So far, we haven't gotten out of the second round. If a better option presents itself, we should take it.

If Zetterberg is back in, and Ouellet replaces Kindl or Lashoff, we're back in this thing. At least it'll be competitive. Even if Zetterberg isn't 100%, having another talented player for Boston to cover potential frees up Nyquist or someone else who is being smothered. Z could be useful even just as a distraction for Boston's best shut-down guys.

If Kronwall is out, we're done. Hopefully he's just resting and Oullet is up to replace Kindl or Lashoff.

I'm changing my opinion on Franzen. I really thought he turned a corner earlier this year, and he's still a decent defensive forward, but I'm beginning to think he's just a really good third liner. Babcock needs to change the roles of some players. Smith has earned a spot. He has grown into a reliable defender, although he could always pull a Kindl. Layoff, Kindl and Quincey should be gone. We still need a top tier defender and a solid shut down guy for the bottom pairing. Call up one of Oullet or Sproul for the year to round off the D. On offense it's clear we need to get more creative and bigger. And despite it not being all Howard's fault, I'd be willing to see a change made. It's reminiscent of Osgood pre-Hasek. He's good but we could get better. I'd feel differently if he had ever taken us anywhere but we just don't play good in front of him. I know we can't use Gus as a replacement, but it's hard to explain why we win with him and not with Howard. Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

I just can't believe that Weiss will be injured forever. It's been so long he's got to recover. I'm not willing to give up on him yet. His cap hit hasn't hurt us yet, since we had so many injuries this year, and expect good things from him next year. I can't wait for a healthy roster next year. Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

I agree. We've been down before, but this is the first time I really have no hope. I think it's because they look beaten in their demeanor. I've never seen the Wings look so defeated so early in a series. I thought the kids would be all determined and relentless with their never-say-die attitude. But they look completely opposite of the way they looked in the season. Also, I'm really tired of them shooting weakly from bad angles, or intentionally missing the net from the point. It doesn't work if no one is there to grab the bouncing puck. They're not just playing badly, they look like an entirely different team than the past month and that worries me. Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

I really hate to be the realist and pessimist here, but... In that Anaheim series the Wings scored 6 goals in the first two goals. Sure, they were shut out in Game 3 but they had already demonstrated they could score and compete in the series. The Wings have yet to do that. Hence the feeling that they haven't shown they have the ability to come back against Boston. Game 1: Detroit 1 Anaheim 3 Game 2: Detroit 5 Anaheim 4 OT Game 3: Anaheim 4 Detroit 0 Very different series.

Was Tatar crying? Jesus that's not a good sign. These guys don't have the same heart that last years did. Last years team never stopped playing and grinding. These guys have no confidence.

The brutal combination was the fact that the team flat out sucked, but on top of that suckage, they got nothing but unlucky bounces. No passes go through, open nets missed, just terrible. I'd at least like it if the team would score another goal this series before they're brutally wiped out.

Pulling a goalie when your team hasn't been able to hold the puck for longer than five seconds all game is not a great idea. But I guess it was a desperation move. How humiliating.

A team just can't win a series if they can't score on the powerplay.

Honestly, at this point, all we can do is throw the puck at the net and crash. Forget the passing, setting up in their zone and all that. Just throw it on net, crash and hope for a rebound. And no more intentional missing the net to set up something. No Wing will ever get that particular kind of rebound. Hit Rask. Nothing else.

This is the most momentous moment yet. If they score, they can pull this off. They'll lose all their enthusiasm if they don't score.

What about something drastic, then? Split Kindl and Lashoff up. I'd say Lashoff is the more reliable of the two, so what about something like: Kronwall-Smith Dekeyser-Lashoff Quincey-Kindl And then Babcock just keeps Kindl off the ice as much as possible?

If we win, it could be a huge turning point for the series and build confidence. We have to beat Boston to feel like we can beat them. If we lose, I feel like this could be a repeat of the 2001 LA series. We're not the higher seed or anything, but in a "last straw" sense. Howard could be gone (I'm not a Howard hater) for a proven playoff performer. The rest of the roster was going to change anyway in the summer. But is Babcock really playing Kindl and Lashoff as much as I think? Or does it just seem like they're out there all the time because they're screwing things up really bad?

Mick's angry. At one point he called Ken out for being "too kind" and saying they were just bad.

And what makes me more angry is that even though Boston is the President's Trophy winner, this should still be competitive. I mean, even sweeps look more even than this. They have to at least not embarrass themselves. Boston is thinking that this is easy, and Detroit looks like Boston is camped out permanently in their heads as some insurmountable wall. Forget the cute passes. Crash the effing net.

Horribly embarrassing. I don't think I've ever seen the Wings play this badly. Stupid is the only word. No-look passes, terrible goaltending, bad decisions. I hope the boos don't mess with the minds of the rookies who were all amped up before the game started. They need to be resilient. But holy hell this is bad.

Since you quoted me I might as well point out that I have never, ever called for Howard to play the puck in my entire life that I can remember.