Nev

Well ain't this just great. An evening game (for me), Wings up 2-0, and no stream to be had anywhere

LOL, I thought exactly the same thing And may I join with all my Soft Euro brethren in celebrating the beauty of the afternoon matinee Pav had his best game of the season when we played in Dallas a few weeks ago, lets hope for the same today.

The problem with trying to trade for him this season is that almost everyone with a chunky cap hit has a NTC. Given that we'd need to clear $7M+ in cap space, by default the only players left that fit that criteria are Filpulla + Kronwall, plus random skater. Plus either Hudlers rights and/or a 1st rounder. And then we have to fill all those roster spots with yet more 500k players (something Holland has already bemoaned this season)

xxx needs to shoot the puck to be an effective player we gotta be way better at xxx xxx is a big body Having said that, I love Babs. I just wouldn't want him as my boss or dad! As for my favourite Babcock moment - its game 2 of the 1st round against Nashville during the 08 cup run. Dom had just allowed 2 goals in 2 minutes as we blew a 2-0 lead. The Joe had its collective head in its hands as it groaned "oh no, not again". LGW was in complete meltdown. The players looked demoralised. Babcock called a timeout, and he didn't do what most fans wanted him to do, ie rip them a new backside. No, he stood there, hands in pockets calm as you like quietly talking to them. An oasis of confidence and serenity in an ocean of panic and doubt. Detroit scored quickly after and won the game, the series and the cup. This is the game - looked for a bit of video with the timeout but couldn't find one.

QFT. The number of times I've watched him over the years and thought "damn he'd make a great Redwing" I fantasise about Abdelkader turning into a Langenbruner.

Kudos to Cleary for manning up after he knew he crossed the line. He looked quite apologetic after the fight and seemed to be saying something to Setoguchi.

Yeah, I thought he might struggle points wise given he was coming back from a wrist injury but it just looks like he's collectin the points that his play deserved before his injury. Gotta be honest, I'd have been chuffed with a point from this game, but 4-1 is better than I dared dream of. 6 of 8 pts on the trip, must make it 8 of 10 against NYI. Continuing to love the play of the Helm line. Forechecking hard and taking it to the net

Classic ESAD misdirection. Neither of the posters between your 1st and 2nd posts claimed to be Bettman era fans, or said anything that indicated they are Bettman era fans. Neither of them asked for more penalties. Neither of them asked for more goals. And neither of them asked for fighting to be got rid off. The first mention of fighting was - shock horror - by yourself. Poster #1 theorised that the number of penalties called may have declined, leading to lower goal totals Poster #2 theorised that this season may not be a valid statistical sample based upon the number of league wide injuries and Olympic-induced compressed schedule. Neither of them disagreed with the original premise that overall goalscoring has been trending downwards since the lockout. Yet again, you are starting an argument where there is no disagreement. And then making fighting an issue, where it isn't. Again.

This game is MUST WIN for the wings. Currently 5 points back of NSH in 8th and LA in 7th. If we lose this in regulation we'll be 7 points behind the Kings and slipping dangerously far from the playoff positions. Regulation win Detroit. Nothing else will do.

Thanks PWF!

I think he is probably the best coach in hockey right now. Things I love about him The Babcockian Death Stare That he used to play in Britain in the 80s for Whitley Bay (wish I could remember something - anything - about him) That he praises players in the media when they play well. Don't recall Bowman doing stuff like that. That when players aren't playing well, he will criticise them in the media. Its never personal or nasty, its straightforward and honest. That he transformed Datsyuk from an undersized euro with tricksy stickhandling to the best all-round player in the game. Things I don't like about him. That he never ever looks happy. OT goal or winning Stanley Cup it doesn't matter. Shake hands with assistants and stalk off with face of granite. Its OK Mike, you can smile! Things that worry me In all sports, with coaches who are so relentlessly demanding the players can start to turn off after a few years - especially if they've had a lot of sucess. I actually began to worry that that was effecting us last season, and the start of this. In a bizarre way, the injuries have helped in this regard as all the new players haven't been desensitised to his message. Thats my theory to the improvement in defense & PK anyway....

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I remember that. It was in Edmonton IIRC and Homer was out so Kopecky found himself on the top line and 1st PP unit, and shocked everyone with his performance. It didn't last long mind.

Lidstrom - if he doesn't retire, expect he'll be back at around $5M Homer - again, if he doesn't retire, probly back at around half the price Maltby - probly not resigned and will retire Miller & Eaves - have both done enough to earn 1 or 2 year deals for 750k. They've helped transform our PK. Bertuzzi - probly get a 2-3 year deal for similar money. Lilja - will not be resigned & may have to retire Meech & Lebda - hopefully let go. As to who we well go for, I saw a list of potential FAs a few weeks ago, and it wasn't very impressive. Barring buyouts, Volchenkov was about the most exciting name on that list.

You bastard, I've just spewed my breakfast all over my keyboard! Personally, I blame Leino.

1) Chris Crosby 2) Sydney Pronger 3) Chris Pronger 4) Sydney Crosby 5) Darcy Tucker

Not seeing any video here.... Thanks - glad I wasn't imagining it

To be fair, he does admit himself that Howard has been playing better than him and with our aenemic offense at the minute, Howard's great play - as opposed to Ozzies "ok" play gives us the best chance to win every night. I do have sympathy for Ozzie in that since he got the flu a few months ago he hasn't had a chance to get some games under his belt and find some real form. But calling Babcock out in the media is never going to work out well.

Well since this is turning into something of a Wings top-10 of the decade, how about these Flip against the Pens Zetterberg against Phoenix There was also a goal Datsuk scored, I'm pretty sure it was his rookie season. We were down something like 4-0 or 4-1 and stormed back to tie it in the 3rd on an end to end rush by Pavel. It was the first time I went "whoa, this kid can really play". Can't find it on youtube though Think it might have been against the Canucks.

One thing I always liked about Sammy over the years were his interviews. His answers were always more interesting than the average hockey players coached to say "they're a good team/we gotta get pucks in deep/we gotta get more pucks on net" and very little else *points to sig* For all the comments in this thread about "he's got plenty of money", you're missing the point. He WANTS to play for his country and win another gold medal. And why would they leave him out? He's on course for another 20 goal season. He's a solid, versatile player, who for all his infuriating play, is clutch.

Congratulations kid, you get it. As I've said before, if we manage to scrape in the playoffs, and we're healthy, no-one but no-one is going to want to play us, 8th seed or not.

I don't care how many times I've seen that pic, I don't care how depressed I am, it always always always makes me cry with laughter Pens announcers = idiots

Kopecky (although people on here were way to hard on him for a dirt cheap 4th liner). At least Leino has the potential to be a genuine NHL player and put up points. Right now his confidence is lower than a snakes belly.

True, but at least we'll have a genuine 2nd liner on our 2nd line, instead of a bunch of 4th liners. And even when he's back, Flips wrist will be quite weak, so don't be expecting him to be firing them in, top shelf (not that he ever did that before...) Zetterberg will be back very soon after, and then we'll have something resembling a proper 2nd line.

lol, I'm like "WTF was Mike Vernon doing on the Wings in 87????????"