xtrememachine1

I believe that nothing that's happening now will impact our chances for a Stanley Cup. The Wings were the hottest team in the league in March and April in the regular season, then went back and forth with the Coyotes for 7 games and knocked out by the Sharks in 5. That strong play and winning streak didn't help in the playoffs last year, why will poor play and losing game this March affect our playoff performance this year? Its cliche, I know, but its true... the playoffs are a whole different game. Especially in the NHL. There's always more intensity, more line matching, more willingness to block shots or give that extra effort because you don't want to be the guy that costs your team the season. I still believe in this team, always have, always will. You can't say this about every team, but you can never count them out.

Pros: The Wings got a point. Proved that no lead is safe against them. I have more confidence in Joey MacDonald now. Exciting game. Darren Helm... holy hell is this guy good. Scoring on that SH opportunity would have been the perfect ending. Cons: Jimmy Howard was TERRIBLE. All that matters is that he's hot for the playoffs, but I hope a bad game like this doesn't hurt his confidence. Lost to the F'N Penguins, which means I'm going to have to listen to "We beat your Wings in Detroit without Crosby, Malkin, Orpik or Fleury! Derrrr" UGH!

I noticed that too. He's too injured to play in the most important game of his life, but he's okay to pick up a 35 pound trophy and skate around, holding it over his head. Hmmmm I know you hate the Pens, a lot of people do, but if Yzerman and Lidstrom taught us anything, its to always take the high road. Chanting "Crosby Sucks" tonight would be just as ridiculous as Chicago fans chanting "Detroit sucks" when they're playing someone else.

This is almost like a playoff game for me. I'll have that same kind of intensity while watching it. If the Pens beat the Wings in Detroit without Crosby and Malkin, I'll never hear the friggin end of it. It'll be my birthday in a couple weeks (I know, lots of birthdays around now for LGWers), sure wouldn't mind a Wings blowing out the Pens-butt kicking as an early present

I wonder what you were thinking a few years ago (2008) when they lost 10 out of 11 games. I bet the sky was falling then too. I seem to recall that losing streak in February not mattering when Nick was hoisting the Cup in June.

"Detroit is going to be going into a rebuilding mood soon" is typically what is heard right before we win the Stanley Cup... again.

Well they have a lot going for them. They are 8 points out of the last playoff spot, but are playing in the East after all. They have a ton of easy games coming up like Ottawa, Atlanta, the Isles, the Jackets. I could see it happening. They only need to pass Buffalo (or NYR), Carolina, Toronto and Atlanta. I would bet money on them passing those last three for sure.

I sure am glad he's on our side.

The Wings were 3-1 against the Avs in the regular season in '96 and we lost to them in the playoffs. Then the Wings were 1-3 against them in the regular season in '97 and we won in the playoffs. If the only time the Wings can beat the Hawks, Sharks, Stars and Preds is in the playoffs... I'm fine with that.

I knew after this game against Phoenix that this post would explode with pessimism. First off, this game has nothing to do with the playoffs. When Game 1 of the first round starts, blowing a 4-1 lead to the Coyotes won't matter. Second, pointing at this saying this is why they won't win the Stanley Cup is ridiculous. The Wings do this all the freaking time. If they have a 3-1 lead, they keep putting the pressure on and try to get another goal. As soon as they go up 4-1, they quit playing and sit back on defense. The strength of this team's defense isn't sitting back, breaking up passes, blocking shots, etc. Its puck possession and keeping the puck down at the other end. I remember them blowing a game like this in 2003 against Vancouver with Cujo. 3-0 lead, quit playing and Van came back and won. It happened in the 2008 playoffs against Colorado. Wings are up 4-1 and it comes down to Osgood making a huge save on the doorstep in the final seconds to secure the win. It unfortunately happens, but that doesn't make them less likely to win the Cup. They don't need to play their best hockey till April-May-June. They were red hot last March and got knocked out in the 2nd round. How well they're playing now is irrelevant.

The playoffs are a completely different game. Nothing we've seen this season can give us an idea of how good or bad somebody will be in the playoffs. Everyone plays better defensively, Howard is very capable of just getting on a hot streak like he did last year and dominating. Philly is really good and most likely going to take the East, but Boucher and Bobrovosky have little to no playoff experience. I wouldn't be surprised to see them get bounced. Vancouver hasn't shown anything in the playoffs yet. I'll worry about them more when they get past the 2nd round. I like the Wings chances this year to win it all. Nobody has more depth or experience. We have the best coach and the better players. Instead of focusing on what we don't have, focus on what we DO have.

They should watch Game 7 of the '09 Finals over and over again if they need motivation. That should give them an endless supply of motivation and pissed off energy.

This is the same guy that gave up a ton to get Dustin Penner. He's just pissed because he thought he built the Kings to contend for the Cup this year and that were getting killed by one of the best teams in the West and it showed just how far the Kings still have to go before being a serious contender. "Its Detroit". Whatever. How about, "why are the Kings losing?" "Well it's the Kings".

The cap should go up again next year, so the cap increase should make up for the difference between what we're paying Ozzie now and what Howard will make next year. As long as the cap keeps going up, I'm alright with paying more for a position as long as its relative.

That sounds about right. I heard a conversation between a couple guys in November with one saying, "He's kinda like Paul Coffey, except better because he can shoot." Yeah, Coffey wasn't a good shooter

For the Blackhawks, its overpayment. They already dismantled half their team because of the big contracts that have with Toews, Kane, Keith, Campbell and Hossa. Now add Seabrook to that list. The Hawks clearly don't realize that the reason they won the Cup last year was because they had depth.

I fixed up your post a bit. Yes, Kovalev WAS good when he was on the Penguins, but do you realize that was 8-9 years ago? He's steadily gotten worse since then and while I think he'll be better than he was in Ottawa, he's not going to be the "one man team" that he was in 2002. Its nice to be excited about a player at the deadline, but you should be more excited about Neal than Kovalev.

I know how you feel. I get really frustrated with him too, but at the same time I see flashes of what he could be someday. I have this feeling that he's going to be one of those defensemen that struggle early on and then gets his game up to speed and becomes dominant. Zdeno Chara wasn't very good in the beginning either. By 2014, I think leaving Ericsson off the roster will be unthinkable.

If we have a long playoff run that ends with a Stanley Cup, I think he'll retire. That will be more than enough "experience".

Red Wings shouldn't be able to get him. Columbus would be stupid to trade him. He's struggling, but he's still only 22 and he won the Calder. He was the reason they made the playoffs.

I've always thought so too. I would be really interested to see how he does on the Wings. He's very talented athlete, but his form isn't good. If he had a good goaltending coach, he could be an all star, but he's more of a project than a potential right now back up. The Flyers would be nuts to trade him. There's no way to tell how Bobrovsky will do in the playoffs. I wouldn't have a problem with this. I don't think Minnesota would trade him to us cheap though. Ehh, I could do without the Moose. It would almost be like getting Manny Legace back. I think Conklin is the way to go here. He's not doing very well this year, so he should be easy to trade for. His salary is almost the exact same as Osgood, so if Ozzie goes on LTIR it would fit perfect. Really is the perfect type of goalie for the Wings. Like others on this board, I was sad to see him go after '09. He's great at controlling rebounds and handles the puck well. That would take some of the pressure off our defense.

I needed a good laugh. Thanks!

What I don't understand about the Neal trade is why him? I would understand if they were unloading Richards, he's making a ton of money and is a UFA after this year. I mean, if they are rebuilding why trade a 23 year old sniper that's relatively cheap? He'll be a 30 goal scorer or better in the near future. Its a very bizarre trade. Cross the Stars off the list of contenders in the West.

At least we won't have to put up with him anymore (.931 sv% last year vs DET).

Wow! That is pretty amazing. It seemed like we were in control of the entire game. TB got a surge in the second when they scored those two goals, but aside from that, it felt like we were on their end the whole night. So happy I got to see this game. Thank God Center Ice was doing a free preview this week (although I can do without seeing Crosby score on Howard every single freaking time there's a commercial break. "If Crosby lights the lamp in Pittsburgh, will anyone in the rest of the world give crap?"). It was a fun game to watch. My three year old was up at 5am watching the replay.