jroc86

At this level 2 days off the ice isnt going to hurt them at all. Sleep in, hang out with the family/kids, throw some ice on something thats sore, and mentally recharge for whats going to be a very busy couple of weeks on the road to close out 2011.

Just curious here ... I watched the game and saw/heard that Pav was essentially given the 2nd half of the night off to rest a minor lower body injury thats been ailing him. I live in Western Canada and on the sportsnet ticker its is saying "Datsyuk leaves game (head injury)" ... hopefully just a misprint or sloppy reporting. On ESPN they are in line with Babs/Det media insaying its just a lower body injury. Whatever Pavs issue is (groin/quad/hip flexor) I hope its miniscule enough that he is able to rehab it and continue playing without it slowly getting worse as the weeks progress. We are such a better team with Pavel because he just gives the forwards so many more looks in regards to his ability to make everyone around him better. Perhaps this is Babcock taking a page out of Bylsma's book because we all know both teams know whos on the calendar this Tuesday and want their respective superstars to be as close to 100% as possible for this one. ps. Any idea when White is going to be cleared to get rid of the full face shield? He has been losing pucks and misfiring shots like crazy these last few games and I cant help but think that hideous bucket is whats behind this.

It definitley would have been weird for Doan ... the MTS center boo'd the s*** out of him everytime he touched the puck twice as loud as Colorados fans on Bert. I guess they didnt appreicate Doans anti-Winnipeg comments (and verbal refusal to play) last spring when there was speculation that they were the franchise that would be heading there. The barn was crazier and louder in their victory over Pheonix than most cities are when their teams wins a playoff series. It was a sight to behold.

Tonight we struggled against a big, young, fast team that works really hard. High energy teams that can pressure Detroit and take away passing lanes will always bother a team like this. I really hope Bertuzz is ok. There was way too many opportunities where shots could have been taken .... 5 games ago everything was going on net, I think they net to get back (to a degree) to that volume shooting strategy -especially agains a team that was blocking lanes and picking off so many passes/dangles. This Blues team is going to be tough to play against all year.

San Jose. They are a bigger, faster, meaner younger team that matches our skill depth. We always seem to take it to them, eat a bad bounce, then they get physical - create turnovers and bury goals. We need another horse in the stable to take them out this spring ... Vancouver got over the Chicago humps only because the Hawks lost their 2nd and 3rd lines - San Jose only got better from our last playoff meeting.

Engelland, Asham, and Macintyre. All of whom could likely walk into our forward gate and fight their way through the Wings bench and walk out the defense gate relativley unscathed. Bertuzzi can fight but hes not the 27 year old 250lb monster he used to be in Vancouver - plus hed had a few concussions ... I dont want to see Bert fighting tough guys. Abdelkader is a decent also. I agree with TS in saying that grabbing someone who can play the game and eat up minutes but is ready/willing/capable to throw down to defend teammates or spark the bench when needed.

Crosby is such a weasley little puke ... Im Canadian and have never been able to stand him. Hes been groomed as the posterboy of hockey since he was 12 and the sense of entitlement he carries around with him is sickening. I would be overjoyed if Ovechkin or Phaneuf absolutley smashes him sometime this year and rattled that soft little brain of his.

Im from BC and this kid came on the Jr scene a few years after me and the hype he had coming into the league was warranted. Hes actually a great kid from a good family that has a ridiculous amount of un-tapped offensive upside. Hes an 89' birth-year and will be a legitmate top 6 forward in a few years. For his price-tag, youth, and potential I would be thrilled for Detroit to have him. Pheonix isnt stupid nor do they have allot of money to spend - an overpaid Hudler isnt going to get him. Kindl seems the most probable move if this deal does in fact happen.

Greasy road win ... good s***. Not the prettiest, but when youve played 3 of 4 nights any 2 points is a good 2 points. Nice to see Pav come out of this weekend with 4 points and Hank get a pair today as well. Im incredibly excited about Brendan Smith. Hes made a few mistakes and hes bound to make more but this kid is really looking like hes gona be the real deal. I hope he stays on the squad once Whitey is back. I really think with Kronner, White, Lids, and Smith on the back well have so many different looks/options for offense from the point its not funny. Jimmy played another great game also - hes really maturing in what appears to be a top flight tender in this league. Well done boys - keep it going against Calgary on Wednesday!

I cant help but think he must be playing through an injury. Likely a strained muscle or tendon or perhaps is dealing with some nerve impingement in his back. His skating (especially his firs 3 steps) is nowhere where it typically is. Groin, hip flexor, abdominal tear/sprots hernia, herniated disc, etc etc ... Zetterberg is a great player when hes healthy - but hes looking very granola right now. Being an undersized skilled player that relies on speed and compete level to outwork bigger finesse players Z is really in tough if hes injured. And yeah, hes only 30 on paper - but being a small brave guy thats logged the minutes he has from 2004 till now and all the palyoff hockey he has dont kid yourself, theres more miles on him than most would like to acknowledge. If he does indeed have an "off year" I could see him having a Selanne-esque renaisance if the CBA results in a lockout next season. Teemu had like a 35 point season in 03-04 and was a physical wreck on the verge of retirement. Not that I want a lockout at all mind you - but he has credited that off year countless times for his continued success because it gave him time to hit the reset button on his body.

Couldnt agree more about Zetterberg ... wheres the 3 step quickness and flat out speed that skated Crosby into the ground for 2 cup finals?? I cant help but wonder if that MCL injury that kept him out of the entire first round last year perhaps sustained some significant damage when he tried to play against San Jose and that hes either a) still hurt or b) had his summer training regimen significantly restricted and his legs are physically not at the level in terms of explosive strength or endurance that were used to seeing. At the end of the day ... we are 17 games deep. If we are still hovering around .500 at the 30 game mark ill start getting rattled and creating Trade threads daily. oh, and Murphy is the man ... the cups I watched him help contribute to Detroit have given him carte-blanch with respect to name butchering for me haha.

Trade 2 guys that consistently let us down but are still young and skilled enough that we can get return.... Ericson + Huds for --> Nabaokov. There goes 6 mill in cap space, and we can sign Brendan Smith. Remember the 250lb monster that Bertuzzi was from 2001-2004 in Vancouver ... the guy that walked around 30lbs heavier than today, played 28 minutes a game and was faster than he is now? We could use something like that to deal with defenses like San Jose that manhandle our undersized forwards all game.

Despite a few giveaways Brendan Smith made he looked great out there (given the score). Yeah, he skates and handles the puck well but his physical and offensive ASSERTIVENESS are already heads and shoulders above his older counterparts in Ericson and Kindl. Get this kid in here so he at least has a year to be mentored by Lids. Tough ******* game to watch ... once again, the majority of the play is spent buzzing in the offensive zone, we outshoot the opponent significantly,but all it takes is a few untimely GROSS defensive lapses to blow it. Cant wait to get Bert (healthy and aggresive) and White back. 2 very winnable games this weekend would put us back 4 games above .500 which would be nice heading home to play the Flames. Oh, and for the love of christ - Hudler has to go. The only decent bodycheck hes every thrown was the KO of Cleary, hes small, slow in open ice, doesnt finish checks, and pulls the chute whenever he hears footsteps (I say Huds and Ericson for Nabokov to come and back-up Jimmy???). Zetterberg hasnt been moving his feet since he re-injured his MCL last playoffs ... I cant help but wonder if he isnt 100% yet. Dats IMO has been an impact playerevery game despite his absence on the scoresheet. That said Id like to see him dangle 1 guy and shoot through a screen instead of trying to undress 3 and creating a turnover. Regardless, lots of time left. Were still a couple games above .500 and were not even at the 1/4 mark yet. Like most of you I wouldnt mind a trade or two to shake things up, but I think the Wings still are an elite team (and for much of the season - despite some scores) have played like it. the results will come. ps. lurked here forever. post 1 in the books. night!