Motown4013

Totally agree Crym....he has a cannon. His shot in OT was so heavy...i think the NBC announcers even commented on it. I want him to shoot it more as well, especially if we continue can get a ton of traffic in front of Hiller.

I need to make an addendum as well Karen! Since it looks like Toots may not reinserted in the series, I would like to offer Bert his money on the board. So, 2 bucks for every Bert fight, 2 bucks for every Bert goal AND since OT has been a pattern, I want to add 5 bucks for any RED WINGS OT winner. LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!

Ok, not a two goal victory BUT the similarities continue! I feel the creepiness

He has to steal game 3. It's critical for his team, for his confidence and for the series. He needs to shake off the last 2 games and play like he did the last 5 games- 2 shutouts. Huge game for Jimmy....moreso than anyone on this team. He is a competitor....il think he bounces back

Well, there goes my hope that Babs would sit Smith for game 3.....yikes. Danny D has exceeded EVERY expectation I had of him and he has been amazing. With that said, playoff hockey is a different animal. I would love to see Coco step in and elevate his game and play calm, steady positional play that he has been known to do in the past.

Jimmy was due for a bad game...he has been a wall the last five games. We were able to win it when he was terrible....that says a lot!

Whats done is done. Reset and win this mutherfker

Time and place Guy scores a goal when the team is up 3-0....it's lame. When you are talking about a series clincher or a OT buzzer beater, then rock the house. I mean, when the wings score a huge goal, I as a fan am jumping off the couch so I can understand the passion.

When it's all said and done, I hope all of the guys here look like Greg Zanon

Totally in! I'm going with the 22 special. 2 bucks for every 22 goal. 2 bucks for every 22 fight 5 bucks for every series win....another 5 for every shut out! LETS GO RED WINGS!! Make me poor

Ok, I totally support all the facial hear and beard growing....but sorry guys, I have to sit this one out. I don't think a beard would be a good idea for me.......and I am NOT not shaving my legs! I'll have to think of something to support the team without looking like a Sasquatch.

Interesting things to decide on here. If you are the coach, coaching the last game in Dallas, would you consider any of these "X FACTORS" We have won the last 3 in a row with the current line-up. Last game of the year and some of our guys are medically cleared to return. Lets face it, Smith has made some costly errors in the last 3 games...Back to back penalties against PHX and one in Vancouver which led to a goal. He is 3rd on the team in giveaways (behind Pavel and Big E...who have both played more games and have more takeaways) He is also a minus player on the road. We also have Cleary who has played better in the last few games but also took 2 penalties last night. He is slow and looked gassed in the 3rd last night in Nashville. Clears sits fouth on the team in PIM and is 2nd last for plus/minus on the active roster at -6. With Bert apparently healthy and White as a plus 7 on the road, do you make a roster change? If you do, who do you insert? Bertuzzi has soft hands, an offensive upside, size and would be fresh. Fresh also means rusty....and not in game shape. Smith at times looks lost and overall has make some really poor decisions with the puck. Would Cola or White provide some stability on the blueline? Sammy is also healthy...but there hasnt beeen much talk about him. Is the "Shin Guard assasin" better than someone one occupying a spot on the team? If you get to coach the last game of the season, who do you want in the line up with a playoff berth on the line?

You should add a B for BEAST!

Great post!When you look at the cumulative losses and changes to this team, it's not hard to admire what this team did this year. I think we can beat the ducks in round 1 but even if we don't, we have a young, talented team to build around. Says a lot about the character of this team. LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!! Here's to another 22 years!

I tend to agree with Nev here. Although Brunner helped offensively down the stretch, he has looked a bit suspect on the back check and when protecting the puck. I think he may be the odd man out. No way he sits Gus.....if he does, it's a ridiculous decision. Gus has been great in both ends of the ice and is the juggernaut on that 3rd line. I think he probably stays with Cleary....but if I was guessing, I think Bert will be inserted at some point and #24 may be the odd man out. In the last 2 years, we have been injured early in the playoffs...this year, IF we were to lose someone, I don't think it would hurt us as much because of the guys waiting to play.

Awesome,dominant.....could use so many words but he was in total beast mode! Congrats to Hank and his leadership of this team

I am afraid you are right in terms of who would be the healthy scratch if Bert was inserted into the line up. In my opinion, I think BOTH Eaves and Toots have had their best 2 games in the last 2 games. That 4th line has been exceptional for us as of late and I would hate to mess with the mojo they have going on. Sadly, the whole " best players get to play" seems to be conjecture...not reality. I would like to see Bert and I think we will see him in the playoffs. Had CBJ lost last night, I think they would have made a few line up changes. Given we have been playing the best hockey of the season, I doubt the lines will change tomorrow in Dallas.

That was definately not the intention......and If it is, someone needs KY

How can you write a post about prospects that should NOT be discussed for trades and have someone mention Jurco...one of our top guys and you add him to the list? If you dont know who Jurco is, I'm not sure your list will be credible. Nestrasil is not a SET....wanna take my word for it?

Well, here we are..... The way we have played the last 5 games, we deserve a playoff berth but anyone that has watched Columbus has to give cudos where due. They have been amazing. If I got to pick the scenario, I would hope that Minnie looses their last 2 and both C Bus and Detroit make it. Its completely unlikely but it would feel like karma b3tchslapped those overpaid weasals on the Wild. I think we make the playoffs. We have played with a lot of heart, character, composure and determination. We need one point.....I want the win- I want the team to clinch on their own if possible. If we play the way we have down the stretch its a no brainer.....and all of our finger nails can grow back!!!! Good luck BOYS!!!

Ill Play! Ericsson B+ At times The Big E has been the goat here on the boards. Thankfully we have Quincey, Smith and The Monster to fill those shoes this year. Is he proned to a boneheaded play up the centre of the ice? Yep, once in a while BUT he has at times been our best D-Man. He has learned to use his big body to his advantage and his PIMs have gone down. He has had a solid season and surpassed most of peoples expectations here!

Gus has been awesome! Really showing what he can bring to this team! Great win boys...everyone showed up and played hard!!!!

yep...but we did'nt just pay 100 million dollars for 2 players on a 22 man roster. kinda puts it in perspctive

I think we have to edit the OP title to DET, Columbus, Dallas and Minny in the playoff race. The Wild are in a downward spiral. The have won only 3 regulation games and 1 OT in the last 10. They laid a shard against Calgary yesterday ( hey, it happens to alot of teams!) but they are also a factor here. The sit tied in points with CBJ at 51, DET and Dallas with 48. We are in a advantageous situation with GP having 4 games left, while Columbus only has 2. The rest have 3 to play. Minny has the easiest schedue BUT, in a slide...no games are easy, especially against opponents you KNOW you shoud beat....EDM and Colorado is how they finish the year. I think we still make the playoffs but to be confident, we need the next 3 of 4. Playing PHX, LA, Nashville and Dallas...its totally possible. We need two tonight in regulation to start this homestand. Even though we are 3-4-3 in the last, I think we played great hockey in Vancouver and hopefully can match that type of intensity in the against the whiney dogs tonight. GO WINGS GO!!!

The OTHER goalie was the star because we can't score.....not because our goalie needs to be better. We can carry the play all we want but if you can put it in the net, you never win. It's absurd to even mention Jimmy as a reason we didn't win this game. Again, pushing the echo button here but friggin Darren Pang would look like a Vezina candidate if he was playing the offense of the Wings.