Wingsallwin

No line change I think. If it works, we win. If not, screwed up. I believe the result must be the former.

I am not going to lose my faith on the Wings. I am gonna trust them until the last second of the game. If I can say myself being comfortable about this game is that because if the Wings do not win this game, we are not going to win this series. Every Wings players have to wake up and turn around to play their best hockey of the year. So far, we have looked very bad each game of this series and now is the time to wake up. There will be no excuse and no place to move back. The Wings have to play this game as the last game of the best of seven series of the Stanley cup.

I do not particularly think Babcock will put any of kid there into today's line up. The only thing that can be changed is our 3rd defensive pair, throw out Chellios from the line up and put any of them; idealically Kindl. Leino, for sure, I want to watch him but putting him on the 4th line is absolutely dead wrong concept. Our 4th liner who can be replaced at this point is Kopecky and if I put Leino, I would scratch out Samuelsson from the third line and if it is working, I would put Abdelkader on Kopecky's spot. That is all I can think of now. Putting Leino on 4th line is not gonna work at all

First of all, I do not know the issue is suspectful my English skill or it is your mistyping, but what is the point of saying bold part? Second of all, you are missing the point there about top 4 D men. Nidermayer, Pronger, Whitney, and another D-man(cannot remember the name), but these guys have been neutralizing all our offenses. Besides, while you only point out the assumption of one of Ducks top 4 D-man is out, you forget Rafalski is out and our 3rd defensive paring has been absolutely atrocious.

As much as I agree with 'Outsider', I also agree with you. If there is no spark on our first line, something is going wrong. That is the job what Babcock has to do as the head coach, not a random assistant coach or whatever. Sure, the result can come up different because Malkin is Malkin and Hossa or Pavel are themselves, not Malkin. However, if the things have not gone for 3 GAMES, not only 1 game, it is gotta be in trouble. As the series goes farther, each team's best players have to be on their head. At that time, our depth will show its own bright because we have better 2nd and 3rd lines. However, the fact which kills us right now is that our 1st line is being overplayed by the Ducks' first line while our 2nd and 3rd lines are not that productive either. One of option have to be done but neither happened so far. I seriously do not know why Babcock keeps using Datsyuk and Hossa together; I also do not understand why he keeps using Samuelsson on PP unit. These two things make me very irritated. If something is going wrong, it is there to be fixed up. If it is not fixed up, do I have to say more?

I do not know why you mentioned the bold part but you are dead wrong in this part. the Ducks does not have equal depth against the Wings but their depth is surely competitive against us. If their depth is horrible, why did they beat us? The Wings fans here have to realize the genuine fact in front of us. The Ducks are the 8th seed but their level is not 8th seed. I said this in my mind that the winner of this series will win the West and go to Stanley cup and do not know what happens in the Final. If you still think the Ducks are pencakes, find the truth. I highly doubt that fact. The Ducks have way better roster than the Canucks and the Hawks out there.

I am going to respect Babcock's decision whether to call up some of Griffins or not. I do not mind we senddown our poor performer like Samuelsson to GR and get Leino from GR if it is possible. However, as 'Outsider' mentioned, the Wings have to find a way to win by current roster. From my view, there will not be remarkable change even though some GR comes to the Wings and play the playoff because they have ZERO PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE. It does not matter to call them up at this point because tomorrow's game is do or die game. If we lose game 4, we are f***ed up. But if we game 4, the Wings have more chance than the Ducks to win the series.

I cannot believe on Varlamov this kid.. looks very stable even though he is a rookie

I really hope the Wings can play how the Canes play right now.

If it happens, I think it will be game 5. Leino is not a big deal we are falling behind the Ducks in this series. Every Wings ******* have to wake up. Playing heartless and not playing hard enough EVERY PERIOD is the reson why we are down right now.

I do not think so. When I heard the Babcock said he would put Dom in the net, I was "what?" because I though Osgood would get a job because both goalies have same much of experience. The thing is, while Datsyuk looks to step up to his playoff level, Hossa is not doing any effective work. That is why we need the line change here. As YoungGuns said the Ducks' best line is playing with too much comfort again ALL WINGS LINES, there is no way we can win the series unless either way happens: our top lines suddenly burst up and play awesome hockey, or we test other line combos to change the chemistry.

I think you are right but isn't it too obvious that Babcock must know more than us about the Wings' locker-room But, regardless of what I just said, the Wings have to wake up and the core of ringing up players is coach, Mike Babcock. The thing I really do not like about his stragedy this season is he does not test any other line combo but he consistently uses only SAME COMBO. For example, we have seen Datsyuk and Hossa have zero chemistry when they play on the same ice time by watching three games. However, what I was complaining is that Babcock's interview: "I am a big believer if you keep something blah, the result will come out" <<<--- he does not seem to change anything. If we see the last season, he was stubborn of keeping Hasek on the net. What happened? After the series was tied up, he changed to Osgood. Samething happened to 2007. He was stubborn of line combo both offense and defense; and at the end, he realized it is serious and changed and the Wings scored. Same thing.

I think you are right but I seriously think the occassion happened to 'Shanahanman' is correct because I already experienced that the 2 Canucks fans threw water bottles to my head. And I believe you think Shanahanman is not lying. For sure, if other teams' fans come to your team's home game, your first impression must be "they are our enemies.. chicken s*it!" However, I hope and believe there are more educated fans than uneducated fans in Anaheim. Besides, I think how you HockeytownRyan acts is not proper which I acted exactly. TheSupaFly is a good dude even though I acted rudely toward him. Let's get it right. It is not good to say he has to "letsgosharks.com" because he is the Sharks fan. Besides, if you like the Wings from outside of Michigan, you may experience some other dumb fans who respect only their teams, not other teams. The peak of that idiocity is Vancouver; that is why I hate the Canucks but I have nothing against my friends who truly like the Canucks and have respects toward other teams' fans.

The thing is, if Detroit is better than the Ducks, the Wings have to take the series lead. I know the ref surely screwed up the game plan but the Ducks played better than the Wings in every first period. In fact, as we play this kind of sloppy hockey in the first period, it really hurts. It does not matter how we can respond in the 2nd and 3rd periods because there are totally different situations; trailing or leading. The Wings, however, they always have to trail the Ducks except for once. Everyone seems to forget the fact that the Ducks have also experienced players, not only Wings. Being too optimistic does not help at all. The genuine fact is that, the Wings do not find any way to win. The key for the series was being physical against the Ducks, which is built for the playoff action. However, while we can HIT HARD, we do not play to WIN THE GAME. In you last paragraph, you misunderstand the series. If the Wings keep playing hard, yes they will win the series but if you say keep doing what they are doing right now, we are gonna be f***ed up again. The Wings cannot do anything on 5 on 5 play while the Ducks score many even strength goals. Something has to be done before the start of game on Thursday. Wings' now playoff playing level is absolutely brutal. It does not matter who shoots more and more because it is not the regular season. There is not a lot of tomorrow and there is surely no back in the playoff. There must be urgency on this team right now. If we do not win the game 4, we will not come back this series. Some people can bring up the example of Caps-Rangers series but the Caps dominated the most of series; but the Wings are not DOMINATING the Ducks at the same time. If you still think the Wings are better team than the Ducks by only name value in front of the roster, you are on a wrong way

Start this crappy thread after we lose the series. We are not done yet.

Perfect post. Even though Helm is playing great hockey by the amount of expectation, he is not a quality of 1st line with Datsyuk. I would call up Leino if we need some change in our 1st liner and send down Samuelsson if it is possible. Helm has provided the great amount of energy we were looking for before going into the playoff and there is no wrong in our 4th line indeed. However, the bottom line is, if our 1st line has not been clicking FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES, and still not working, this issue is solely on the fact Babcock has been too stubborn in his choice. Besides, I agree with one guy who posts Holmstrom cannot do anything without two skilled players' great performances. We knew ZDH line is working is Hank and Pavel have crazy chemistry together and Nick and Rafalski who can shoot hard from the point through the screen made by Homer. However, for Hossa and Datsyuk line, that play has been dismissed and killed the Wings. I know Holmstrom has not been bright but Hossa has been just SUCKS so far even though I am not bashing him that severely. If we lose game 4, this series is over. We can win game 5 but this level of play now will be dead in game 6 if nothing is seriously changed.

I can understand you 'ShanahanMan'. I got a hit from the Canucks fan when I attended the game between the Wings and the Canucks last year. Remember the score was 3-2 for the Wings but the last suspectful call made the Canucks fans irritated. I was coming out from the stadium and tried to get into the car but two Canucks fans threw the bottle to me and hit my head and say "you ******* loser". I did not respond it because it is GM place, the home of the Canucks but some fans are really uneducated. Just think it is a part of the life even though I can realize your shocking emotion.

Babcock screwed up the game.

I agree but the ******* fact is that CHELLIOS AND LEBDA PAIRING HAS BEEN NO DIFFERENT THAN INJURED DEFENSIVE LINE UP.

I highly doubt that. The situation is more serious than we think right now. If we do not split the games on Thursday, we will be f***ed up again. We mentioned again and again that this team can be better than this but never happened. If the team can be better but they do not become better, there is no point of saying how the things go. Besides, it is not just one game. It is the PLAYOFF. If we lose ANY GAME IN THE PLAYOFF, we have to take it seriously. I know the Wings are good on road but something has to be done. If we lose this series with this much amount of talent, huge amount of problem is on babcock. He has done nothing this series so far. What the f*** is the point of keeping the line which has zero chemistry?

The reason we have looked lost in this series; let me summarize. Our 5 on 5 is absolutely brutal at this moment. It is good to see our special team is clicking but if we cannot score on equal strength, we do not deserve to win this series. Besides, we are not losing this series because of lack of playing physically. We have hit the Ducks more than they hit us. However, my view is on the fact that the Wings play to physical level but they do not play to win the game. Before the series starts, everyone worried about Ozzie because not everyone was sure about Ozzie's real performance. On the other hand, while Ozzie has been really good, our key players have been DEAD. Datsyuk looked to be back on his track of his own game but Hossa and Homlstrom look really lost still. Make two good lines is far better keeping normal three lines. I thought Babcock is a good coach but now? I highly doubt. He has been too stubborn not changing any line combo; he never tested ZDH line in the playoff. We all saw Hossa and Datsyuk have zero chemistry together and what is the point of using that line again and again? Besides, it is the story on the other end part but I think ref has been a *** toward us even though I really do not blame ref when we got f*cked up by refs in the past. I will keep cheering for the Wings but I was never fan of the NHL since the first time I watched hockey; the time was around 1998. f*** this league. The worst league in North America

It happened to me when I went the Canucks-Wings game last season. We won the game 3-2 but the last call was suspectful as I remember; then I was coming out from the stadium toward the parking lot, two guys came to me and my friend and threw something. Relax, some fans are uneducated

I did not watch the 3rd period so I could not watch his shift with Filp and Huds but it does not look good to me. ZDH Hossa-Franzen-Cleary(or Filppula) Huds-Samuelsson-Filppula(or Cleary) Maltby-Kopecky-Helm <<<-- cannot complain for these guys, have been better than our thoughts. The thing is, I would rather call Leino than Samuelsson now. Samuelsson is a GARBAGE now. Maybe for a long time but his stats hided it a bit. The bottom line is that, DATSYUK-ZETTERBERG-HOLMSTROM SHOULD BE REUNITED. The most important fact is though, BABCOCK IS AN IDIOT.

HUH? WHAT? WHEN DID YOU START TO WATCH HOCKEY? YESTERDAY?

Let me grade the line: Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan(or Selanne) : A Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom : A- Zetterbetg-Cleary-Franzen : B Datsyuk-Hossa-Holmstrom : B- or C+ -------------- It is better to have 1 perfect line, 1 good line, 1 normal line than to have 3 normal lines. The thing is, Babcock is drugeed so he does not know what is going on.