wings_fanatic

Nope I hate Franzen with Pavs... just a waste of space for Dats to work with. I would rather: Homer- Dats- Modano Hudler-Filpulla- Franzen Cleary- Abdelkator- Bert Eaves- Helm- Draper/Eaves Lidstrom- Rafalski Kronwall- Stuart Ericson- Salai - These are the best lines IMO for the duration that Hank is out - that first line could become really good because Pavs has the moves, him and Modano can both pass really well, and Pavs and Modano have great shots; plus Homer in front of net - Franzen seems to always work well with Fil - 3rd and 4th lines would be good at their job - Lidstrom and Rafi need to play together, nuff said.

I love how negative you are... Where were the injuries this year? Modano, Datsyuk, Cleary, Filpulla, Stuart, Osgood, Homer were all out for a significant duration in late december, early january. Losing a guy like Pavs especially would hurt the stats of any team... especailly with all those other players going out too. Yes, the Wings play has been inconsistent this year, but so too has that happened in other years, such as 2009 where they were also TERRIBLE defensively, but amazing offensively. Come playoff time, the Wings will be fine and when they are doing good, you will be one of the first one's on here preaching about how good they are.

You are mixed up my friend. Kronwall was a beast in the 2008 playoffs... the year the Wings won the Cup. In the 2009 playoffs he was quite a disappointment as he did not hit as much, and turned the puck over far too much. Also, Lilja and Lebda played together in the 2008 playoffs... Lilja did not play the 2009 playoffs because of the concussion he had. Furthermore, Lidstrom is playing very well still, no one can deny that he is the core of this team, and can still shut anyone down on any given night, and still produce huge points. Rafi almost averages a point per game this year, and Kronners has been a great all around Dman this year. I think the Dmen are better on this team then the 2009 team, and you are getting mixed up with our Cup run in 2008 and the year they lost in 2009... I will, however, agree with you about the pairings. I have stressed this all season... Babcock needs to quit being a god damn hard head and put together Lidstrom an Rafalski, and then Kronners and Stu... Those 2 pairings ALWAYS work very well.

We had better Dmen 2 years ago!? I would love to know how you can justify that one... We had Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stu, Ericson and LEBDA! We now have Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stu, Ericson, Salai/ Kindl. If you ask me, I would say our D is better now than it was then. Kronwall is a much better Dman than he was 2 years ago, and he is going to be a big part of the playoffs for the Wings imo. Also, you seem to forget that the Wings have been battling injuries all year this year too, just like last year. The difference is that Howard sucked big time from about early December to just recently when he started playing better... You are overreacting my friend... the Wings will be fine and, while Nick may be 40 years old, he too gets tired of the regular season and he too will kick it into another gear come playoffs... he has done so for 20 years...

Yah, 2009's was worse and yet they came within 1 win of the Stanley Cup that year. As soon as the playoffs began, the team flipped the switch... I don't care what anyone says that much is obvious. You don't go from having a 2.91 Goals against average a game in the regular season, to a 2.14 goals against average in the playoffs without some kind of switch that was flipped mentally. This is a veteran team, full of players who are capable of elevating their game when they have to, and they seem to do so every year in the playoffs. The thing I am angry about is Babcock's continued need to waste Pavel's time with Franzen... I have and always will hate those 2 together... I would be all for Modano playing with Pavs or reunite Cleary- Pavs- Hudler... The only other problem I have is not playing Lidstrom and Rafi together. It is no coincidence that the TERRIBLE team defense began this year; the first year where they almost never play together.

Pavel has looked great every single game this season EXCEPT for the games he played with Franzen. It is no coincidence that Pavs is not as effective when he is with Franzen... I dunno what it is with Franzen, but I no longer want him wasting the time of our top line. I like the idea of Modano with Pavs, but whatever Babs does as long as he takes Franzen off that line... put Franzen with Fil they usually mesh well.

The more I watch all these games and other games around the league, the more I am mad that we chose Franzen instead of Hossa. Hossa is MUCH better on the D side, and he seems to be trying every single game I watch for the Hawks. Perhaps more significantly is the fact that Hossa has only played in 65 games and has 26 goals, meanwhile Franzen has played 76 games and has 28 goals. Also, Franzen plays lazy half the time, while Hossa is a factor even when he isn't scoring, though it is still impressive for him to almsot have 30 goals. I am just very disappointed with Franzen and think we should heave kept Hossa. Regardless, babs better take Fraznen off of Datsyuk's line.

Thank you refs for making Howard play the puck otherwise that goal would have never happened. Lets hope the boys can come out here in the 3rd and get back in this game... Though I still hate these lines.

I am really wishing right now that Kenny and the Wings are all lying about the Hank injury and he is secretly going to be ready for game 1... that would be so damn epic !

81 games into the season and Babcock is still being retarded! I am sick and tired of seeing Stuart be slow with Lidstrom and Ericson be s*** with Rafi... for God's sake put together Lidstrom and Rafalski!!! It is no coincidence that the team's BRUTAL defense we have seen started THIS YEAR (when since the beginning Babs refused to put them together). I don't know what it is, but the team plays together when they are together, and Stuart is just too damn slow to play with Nick. Also, take Franzen off the line with Datsyuk it is just a waste of freakin time. I think Babcock should try putting Modano with Datsyuk because we need all cylinders going with Hank out and Modano could become very effective with Pavs; something Franzen seems incapable of doing. Homer- Datsyuk- Modano Hudler- Filpulla- Franzen Bertuzzi- Abdelkator- Cleary Eaves- Helm- Miller/Draper Homer is just useless unless he is on Pavs' line, so might as well put him there. Franzen is is too slow for Pavs... Modano could be a nice fit and since they are down 3-0, they got nothing else to lose imo

Actually Dan O is one of the most consistent refs in the league IMO... he calls games fairly and does not favor certain teams. Sure, in the past he has called off goals against the Wings, but I have seen him call of goals against other teams in a similar manner showing his consistency. Also, this past season and a half, he has not really called off many goals against teams, and like I said has been very consistent. You are hating on the guy for calls he made 3 years ago when the Wings WON THE CUP, get over it. Also, he was the ref tonight who called the other officials over to take the play to review... so again, not his fault.

Not too suprised here... the NHL is all about making money and they want the Hawks in the playoffs to make them more money so expect all calls to go in the Hawks favor in this game and both games against the Wings. I saw in the first period the Hawks had a 1:30 min 5 on 3 Powerplay, and then this terrible call on the Hossa goal... shows us what the NHL wants. Babs might as well rest all the boys in the remaining 2 games because the refs will secretly be wearing Hawks jerseys anyways

After 2 I think the Wings are just taking it easy this game, especially after Hank leaving the game. Howard has been solid, but I did not like the rebound that led to Skinner's goal, but I am sure he would be the first to admit that; other than that he has been solid. Also, I HATE Franzen with Datsyuk...this 2nd period should be a clear vision for Babs to NOT waste Datsyuk's time with Franzen because Franzen is unable to do anything. While Hank is out (which should be the last 2 games for rest since he has played all season) I would like to see Babs go back to: Cleary- Datsyuk- Hudler Homer- Filps- Modano Bert- Abdelkator- Franzen 4th line.

Hell it looked as though when he fell down on that hit his leg bent oddly

Hank had a limp while leaving the ice, but I bet they are just going to take him out of the game to be safe. At this point of the season, there is no need for Babs to take any chances with Hank, Pavs and Nick because if the Wings are to win the cup, they need them to be healthy.

That is a good point above; I too think that was a problem last year. However, there is a massive difference between a good opponent to face in the first round and the Ducks. It isn't even that the Ducks are overly good, it is just that they play dirty and get away with it all the time, and even though the Wings would for sure win, it would tire them out. Look back to 2009... that series against the Ducks took a toll on them and, to this day, I believe if not for the Ducks tiring the Wings, they would have won the cup against s***sburg. That is why I also want to face a good team in the first round, but not the Ducks. I would like Chicago for my reasons mentioned above, plus I don't think Crawfard will be consistent for them in the playoffs.

The thing that fears me most about the Ducks is that the refs always seem to favor them in every game against the Wings... especially in the playoffs. Example, Hossa scoring a in 2009 playoffs in Anaheim and the dumb ref waiving it off for no reason. Personally, I would like to play the Hawks in the first round because I do not think that they can match up against a healthy Wings team at all, and more importantly, it is significently less travel. Ideally, the Wings could, and probably would, beat them in 5. But, obviously we will not know until next Saturday or Sunday who we will play in the first round.

I think he means on the call that led to the 4 on 4... interference on Eaves... if that was called on the Wings I would have been pretty pissed too. Great period by the Wings though... and that is without Kronners and Modano. This game tells me that Babs needs to keep this top line together I don't think there is any opposing line in the league that can contain a line of Z- Pavs- Cleary. Also, nice to see Pavs score in his game back (I am almsot 100% sure he deflected that shot)

Another thing Howard has to really practice in the off season is playing the puck... there are so many times where teams shoot the puck around our boards and he just lets it go by, making it difficult for the players to retrieve the puck. If he could just go out and stop the puck behind the net it would add a lot more time for the Wings to possess the puck IMO, which is key to the Wings success.

Great game by the Wings, but is is still unfortunate to think the Wings are losing still because of that terribly officiated first period... I would say the refs owe the Wings a couple calls in the 3rd. Also, Jimmy Howard has got to have that 3rd goal it is goals like that that can kill us in the playoffs. Overall, great game by the Wings hopefully they can complete the comeback and win in the 3rd

No their goal was not legit. There should never have been a 5 on 3 penalty because Abby's hit was completely clean. The reffing in this league DISGUSTS me. Do yourself a favor and watch how many dirty hits the Preds get away with against the Wings, meanwhile the Wings get a penalty for everything they do and get a legit goal called off. The refs are the only reason the score is not 1-0 Wings after one period. Pathetic.

I am starting to question Babcock a bit here. He is a great coach, no doubt. However, after this embarassing loss, he STILL refuses to put Pavs and Hank together! Instead he has Pavs playing with Franzen which is always a big waste of time for Pavs because Franzen slows him down. The Wings were playing amazing in the first 2 months or so, which is when Pavs and Hank were playing TOGETHER. Simply put, if Babcock wants this team to start playing good and play to their full potential, then Pavs should be with Z. He needs to establish permanent lines for the playoffs, no more of this switching every single game. Zetterberg- Datsyuk- Homer Franzen- Filpulla- Bertuzzi Cleary- Modano- Hudler Abdelkator- Helm- Eaves/Draper/Miller Lidstrom- Rafalski Kronwall- Stu Kindl- Salai IMO these are the lines to go with; they worked great at the beginning of the year, and they will sure as hell work better than Datsyuk and Franzen together. I would like to know why he is so damn hard headed.

Guys I don't know what you expect Nick and Babs to say after this game. First off, both have spoken out in post games before saying words like "embarassing" "disgusting" "pathetic" "humiliating" "unacceptable" several times this season. The result? Still playing extremely inconsistently. So I do not fault either for their interviews at all because they have already said all they need to, and more than once. As I said earlier, I think it is time Kenny has a meeting with the team. We know what this team is capable of.. they have the potential to be leaps greater than any team in the NHL if they would just put their minds to it and maybe Kenny just needs to remind them of this, along with his expectations. I think this will get the room moving in a positive direction, and then Babs can work out his changes for the team and have them ready for Saturday. As a Wings fan, I am not worried at all because the year they won the cup they got blown out something like 3 times in the span of 3 weeks and ended up being fine. It is a group of proven veterans who will come together and play like they need to to win the Cup. And, the biggest plus, Pavs will be back and better be playing with Hank. Quite frankly, I think that a lot of success will be in the near future for this team after this game.

You know, all year we have been hearing Babs preach the same thing, over and over again. We need to be better, we need to play better at home, that performance was unacceptable, blah blah blah. Well, it isn't working. I think it is time that Kenny himself holds a team meeting and demands more out of them; If Babs can't do it, then perhaps a meeting with Kenny will.

You know what, as pathetic as this is, this may be the one thing left that can wake this team the hell up. With this loss, and more importantly, the way they will lose, and with Pavs coming back, this can impact the Wings in a pretty good way from here on out. Regardless, I want changes made ASAP and Babcock better play Pavs with Hank and Nick with Rafi or his job should be questioned because nothing else is working