dat's sick

No, Nashville outplayed the Wings in the 3rd. The first two periods were owned by Detroit, no question. They could have had an even bigger lead. Franzen scored the GWG btw. So much negativity around here. This is a very good team we're facing and if not for a couple of fluke bounces in Game 1 this would be a 2-0 series lead for the Wings. But no one can expect us to just roll over a team as solid as Nashville. Just be glad we're not Pittsburgh or Vancouver right now.

Pens-Flyers is a competition of who has the worst defense and goaltending. Don't mistake high-scoring with high-quality.

Intermission.

Wings have played awesome in this game. Actually they've been good in both games, definitely the better team so far in the series. Hopefully they can come out on top in the end.

I also think it might be a good idea to load up Hank and Pav on the same line. Pav is not 100% and needs some help out there, especially with Weber/Suter against him most of the time. We played well enough to win in Game 1 though, and if we play like that tonight we WILL win. Hopefully the refs will let them play more 5-on-5 because we have an advantage there. This is not quite a must-win, I still think we could lose tonight, hold home-ice and then beat them in 6 or 7, but a win would be huge. Put the ball firmly in our court. LGW!

LA dominated the Nucks in that game. Much deserved win, and I hope they can keep playing like that.

Absolutely. Wings PK handled the Preds PP, Jimmy was great, they just got fluke goals. They're a good team but Wings are more than able to take this series. Gotta say though, Emmerton is a waste of space. Get Nyquist in there. And talk some sense into Stuart. Hopefully Datsyuk wakes up, I hate to say it but he's gotta step up. Doesn't look like he's 100%. Good effort by the Wings and hopefully they take Game 2.

He had the right idea when he knocked two Nashville players into eachother and took the puck right to the net. He has it in him. Just gotta get in that confident zone where he does that all the time.

What game are you watching? The Wings have been just as good or better than Nashville all game, except that Nashville's gotten a few more PPs that have given them momentum. For a while in the 2nd the Wings were playing keep away.

Sucks to be down because of that garbage goal. On the other hand, it could be worse. We killed off a bunch of penalties and Jimmy saved us a few times. We looked pretty good 5-on-5 imo, but obviously the Preds got some momentum from being up a man. They are a tough team, they're not giving the Wings much time with the puck. But I'm hopeful they can regroup and come out strong in the 2nd. Really, really hope the refs won't call things like this all series. Ruins the enjoyment playoff hockey and doesn't favor the Wings.

He actually set-up the 2nd goal by sending good vibrations onto the ice from the bench. NHL.com will write an article on that after the game. I NEED the Wings to start playing now so I can turn off this horrible Pittsburgh winning.

I hope that's not how the Wings think.

I went to the gym today in my Datsyuk t-shirt and my Red and White training shoes with a text that say 'Lidstrom' on one shoe and 'Yzerman' on the other. I will be wearing my Datsyuk jersey that is signed by Lidstrom while watching the game. My hype is reaching critical levels. Win or lose, I love the playoffs and I love my Wings. No predictions, no hopes or fears, just faith. And hype. Soooo much hype. Let's do this.

Dan Cleary has had some money goals in the playoffs before. I wouldn't be so quick to sit him.

11 out of 13 is pretty crazy though. I'd think it was equally crazy if 11 out of 13 picked the Wings, and even then that would have more basis considering the Wings haven't lost in the first round since 2006. These two teams are pretty evenly matched. The season series was 3-3, they're 4th and 5th seperated by almost nothing. Either team could win in 5 games, but more likely is a 6 or 7 game grind-it-out kind of series. With the high-end talent and experience of Detroit you'd think people would give them more credit despite their lackluster final 3rd of the regular season. But it seems Nashville has, for some reason, sailed up as one of the big favorites to win the West. Can't wait for the series to start. After the first 2 games we'll have a decent idea of whether Nashville deserves all this faith given to them.

VAN/LAK: 4-1 STL/SJS: 4-2 PHX/CHI: 4-2 NSH/DET: 4-3 NYR/OTT: 4-3 BOS/WSH: 4-1 FLA/NJD: 4-2 PIT/PHI: 4-2 WC Champion: St.Louis Blues EC Champion: Pittsburgh Penguins SCF Champion: St.Louis Blues

This will be a hard-fought series. Nashville has slowly acquired more and more playoff experience and is definitely a threat to any team. I have faith the Wings though. When they're at their best, no team can beat them in a 7-game series. Even though they've been up and (mostly) down in the last month or two, they have a habit of cooling off at the end of the season, like they're waiting for the playoffs.. and then they flick the switch. Wings in 6.

I'm not gonna give the Sens as little chance in this series as others. The Rags have been so-so in the last weeks of the season, and I think they like being underdogs better than being the favorites. The Sens love having the puck and attacking, and the Rags will let them do that a lot. In the end, I do think Lundqvist and the overall team-defense and work ethic of the Rags will make a difference, but it won't be a quick series. Rags in 7.

Gotta expect the Bruins will take the series with ease. However, you can't completely count out Washington, they just got Backstrom back and Ovie can turn it on at any time. If those two play at 110% (doubtful, Nicky seems rusty) they could steal a game or two and make a series out of it. However, looking at the goalie-matchup, the defenses, the depth, the coaching.. if the Caps take this it will be the biggest upset of the 1st round, no matter what else happens. Bruins in 6.

Zetterberg has been nothing short of amazing in the 2nd half of the season. If not for his god-awful first 20 games or so, this would be maybe his best season since 07-08.

Nyquist is here to stay. This team is relatively short on speed and skill and he has both. He is creating chances, producing points, backchecking.. there's literally no reason he shouldn't be a Red Wing instead of a Griffin.

We don't need PPs anyway, they are just 2 minutes where we absolutely won't score. Atleast 5-on-5 there is a small, small chance we can get a goal.

Yes please. I'm tired of Babs putting the laziest players with Dats in the hopes that he will magically turn it into a good line, which often he does. Z and Flip and Nyquist look really good though. Nyquist needs to keep playing.

Pav is not having his best game, no wonder when he has Bert AND Hudler to carry around. Give him some help Babs, please. Atleast Nyquist or Miller.