NGKEIB

Sorry, but this isn't going to happen. Even if Draper and Datsyuk are able to play the next game, it would make no sense to play a line of Holmström-Hudler-Samuelsson. While I agree that Holmström could stand in the net, Jiri could find Samuelsson etc., it wouldn't be that good from a defensive point of view. None of them can skate very quickly, and are all mediocre defensive players. Babcock can't put waste 6 of his best two way players on two lines. So I would say that either Datsyuk or Filppula would need to switch with Holmström, or put Holmström on the fourth line and move Helm up etc. I wouldn't mind seeing (assuming everyone is healthy): Franzén-Zetterberg-Hudler Hossa-Filppula-Holmström Cleary-Datsyuk-Samuelsson Helm-Maltby-Draper. That set-up would allow Cleary to do get to the net and play a physical style, Samuelsson could just shoot and hopefully take out a few defenders/panes of glass and maybe score a couple, and Pavel would be able to run the show. That said, he hasn't played with these guys so there might be no chemistry. I just think that Hossa and Filppula are clicking at the moment and there is no reason to break it up. Franzén and Zetterberg have been solid, and Hudler has shown chemistry with Franzén, and his mediocre skating and defensive play is made up for by the other two.

Priceless... Milbury & co. were pointing all of this stuff out too. Bobby Orr revolutionised the way defenders played offensively. However, Brian Campbell's contribution towards changing the way defensemen will play in years to come cannot be overlooked. 20 years from now, we will look back and say that the move from positional play to a free-flowing, formless defensive game, where unpredictability is valued over sound positional play, was thanks to Mr. Campbell. Keep it up, we're pulling for you and the new 'Chicago school' of defending.

In a scrum along the boards earlier in the game (can't recall which one), Franzén was in the thick of it, and Kane was on the outside and it looked like he was jabbing Franzén with his stick. Could have been payback. Or it could have been Dr. Franzén helping Kane get out of his Freudian oral fixation. Or he was saying 'I'm the mule, I get the bit (the thing that goes in a horse's mouth)'.

We should have dressed Probert...

I think that you're thinking about Alexandra Semin and her amazing bongo concert (using the well known M. Staal drums): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7PnpWfDJpY

It was for holding. I downloaded the French feed, which I believe was showing the VS picture, and it didn't show a replay. I don't remember thinking it was that big a deal. The refs missed a lot - apart from the bad call on Kronwall and then some possible 'compensation calls' or ignored penalties in favour of the Wings, I recall there was one PP where Cleary was trying to clear the puck and was clearly hooked/tripped, and later one Kane was tripped pretty obviously. Apparently, Byfuglien also high-sticked Stuart, who needed stitches (no penalty).

There is a difference between discriminating against American players, and letting a Swedish star know that he should be focussing on the game...

Whereas Lidström really meant for it to go off of Påhlsson's foot!

Abdelkader and Maltby are players with a similar, gritty style, which is why they're replacing one another. Leino is more of a 'skill' player, and will only be brought in to replace 'skill' guys (even though he will probably be starting on the fourth line). He hasn't had a chance to play until tonight, since no one in his mould has been out until now (though Datsyuk may play, one never knows...). I look forward to possibly seeing him play - his deflection goal was great, but what about his spin-around goal? I believe it was against New Jersey; he showed great patience there.

Datsyuk will be missed from a defensive/offensive point of view, but it's equally a shame that the Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson line will be broken up, as someone mentioned above. I wouldn't surprised, though, to see Babcock switch the lines around. If Leino starts out playing very well on the fourth line, I see no reason to believe why he won't end the game on a higher line, with perhaps Helm taking his spot on the checking line. And even if he does stay there, he should give our fourth line a bit more zip, and they'll need to take it a bit more seriously. It will be interesting to see how Maltby plays. I thought that he was having a good post-season (especially compared to the regular season) already. When Babcock sat him in the regular season, his play improved afterwards. I hope to see the same thing tonight! I'm not sure what to make of Datsyuk's injury. I have a recorded version of the game, which I skimmed through, and couldn't see any sign that he blocked a shot and was in pain. He took a hit that didn't look too bad, and was apparently in pain on the bench - I'm sure that that is what has led to the 'broken ribs' rumours that are floating around. Hard to say when we should expect him back, as both Draper and Rafalski were 'day-to-day' for quite a while. I hope his really is 'day-to-day' and nothing more serious.

Hmm, I wish I had watched the same Game 7 against Anaheim as you, it seems much more exciting than the one I saw which didn't go to OT. Though I'm not sure how he helped set up the OT goal in Game 2, considering the forwards on the ice were Filppula, Hudler and Samuelsson. If Sammy continues to get the GWG for all of our games and we win the Cup, then he has a chance. He's been great this series, but wasn't huge in the first 2. No way he'll get the Conn Smythe, even though I think he's playing great. I agree that Ericsson has stepped up admirably, but not MVP-calibre by a long shot. Osgood would get my vote, but I don't think that he will win the Conn Smythe. If things continue as they are now, I suspect that Lidström or Franzén will be the most likely Wings to get it, even though they may not be the most deserving. Pavel has played great defense, but I think he's pretty much put himself out of the running, along with Hossa. Zetterberg and Cleary have chances (Zetterberg more so than Cleary, if only because he's more famous), but I think that if Franzén keeps on scoring like he did against Anaheim, and if Lidström keeps playing the way he is, they're locks. I think that Ozzie is very deserving, but as usual all of the credit will go to the team in front of him...

I hope it starts on the 5th! My exams start the 1st and finish on the 8th, so that would mean I could watch most of them live!

http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/piche.php Looks like he had a great season, and might be in GR next year. Good stuff.

I'm not sure if that's a totally fair way to look at it... Orr dominated his era more than Lidström does this one, and revolutionised a position. You need to see the players in their contexts...

I think it's based on a saying from Hávamál. But that doesn't really matter... Maltby is definitely playing, and probably Leino too (over Abdelkader). I don't mind Leino starting on the 4th line with Draper and Maltby, so that he can be eased in, but I suspect that Babcock will give him some action on higher lines. Though the best case scenario will be that Datsyuk returns.

Assuming Datsyuk doesn't play, and Leino replaces him, and that Maltby is in for Abdelkader: Franzén-Zetterberg-Cleary (not touching this one) Hossa-Filppula-Holmström Hulder-Helm-Samuelsson Leino-Draper-Maltby (then once Leino has been eased in give him some time on higher lines) Lidström (let's learn how to spell our captain's name, boys)-Rafalski Stuart-Kronwall Lebda-Ericsson Osgood Conklin

I think he learned his mistake, no? That one time he collided with Toews? I thought that he lost a couple teeth since he was chewing his mouth-guard and not using it as it should be used. I could be wrong. Edit: he also looked pretty lazy on the OT goal. He was pretty much level with Samuelsson, but then couldn't keep up. I guess Slow Patrick couldn't keep up with Mikael 'Fastest boule-player in Mariefred' Samuelsson.

Hmm... That doesn't follow. He earns around as much as Lidström, that means they're both at the same level no?

Surely a Roy hat-trick has to involve the 'Statue of Liberty' somehow...

Random Swedish woman who gets lucky at a night club hat-trick: 1. Lilja 2. Huselius 3. Tallinder except then she accused them of rape, and they were temporarily banned from playing in the national team. I guess they party hard in Florida - I'm sure I read somewhere that Peltonen and Eddie 'Red Cheeks' Belfour got arrested for being plastered in Florida somewhere.

Jim Balsillie hat-trick 1. Fail to get the Pens 2. Fail to get the Preds 3. Time will tell about the Coyotes? Tomas Sandström hat-trick 1. Nice goal when sprawled on ice 2. Dive 3. Get a savage cross-check to the head and have everyone (including commentators) accuse you of diving, until they see the replay Cam Neely hat-trick: 1. Goal 2. Fight 3. Manly love in bathroom stall (watch Dumb & Dumber if you don't get this) Mark Hartigan hat-trick: 1. Sign with Anaheim and win the Cup 2. Sign with Detroit and win the Cup 3. Nobody still has any idea who you are

I haven't been to that many American cities - New York, Philadelphia, Chicago (as far as I'm concerned places like Annapolis are not cities, even though it was quite nice) - but I actually quite liked Chicago. Great architechture. And I love the fact that since Lake Michigan was getting too polluted, they made the Chicago River flow backwards, instead of trying to limit their pollution I liked NY more, but still thought it was a fun city. Never been to Detroit, but I'll get there some day I imagine. With regard to the Blackhawks, there are obviously some of them who annoy me. But when it comes to judging players, I ask myself the question 'Would I like to see them in a Red Wings uniform?', and for lots of them it is yes. Sure, Byfuglien is annoying, but he's the kind of guy you'd like on your team. Imagine if he could tip shots as well as Holmström could... I really like Påhlsson. Don't like Burish though. And as someone else commented, I'm sure I like their defenders as much as Samuelsson and Cleary do

Maltby is playing in place of Abdelkader. If Datsyuk is out, I suspect that Leino will play in his stead. Checker for a checker, scorer for a scorer. As someone else said, it will be interesting to see what kind of lines we will roll if he doesn't play. Though I'd rather he did obviously... Babcock will make it work, and I'm sure he won't break up FZC.

This is something I don't know for sure, but am pretty confident about. Not sure if anyone will care... The 'r' in Jiří is the same as the one in Neckář so his first name is pronounced more like Yirzhi/Yirshi than Yiri. Any Czechs out there who can confirm this? My knowledge of Czech is essentially restricted to ordering beers whenever I'm in Prague.

Don't forget Joey Kocur! He was on the Grind Line in 1997 and 1998. McCarty played with (among others) Shanahan and Larionov during this period.