frankgrimes

This is as close to a must win as it can get.

good luck in Sweden thanks for the service

understandable but it really went perfect, getting it over the glass would have been my biggest concern too because if not it's embarrassing and there's only one chance But really well done

I like this lineup and thought process a lot. I'd love to see Danny D. - Smith as the top pair, reduce the minutes for Kronwall and play him with Green so he can focus more on a shutdown role.

It's exactly what I feared, Keith is rested and ready to go and of course he has 2 points. Blues need to win game 3 or else it's going to be the same story as every year. Great game so far love Brodziak and Reeves in the lineup

West: LA, Chicago, Anaheim, Blues, Predators, Dallas . ... good luck with that. Aside from that Detroit is an eastern conference team it was as stupid as having Columbus playing in teh western conference both teams aren't western teams in terms of location so they should have been in the east, period.

At least Abdelkader is showing that he cares. Tatar and Nyquist better get their whatever together because if they aren't one of them - might be even both - will get traded in the offseason. I'm starting to hope the Tiger are going to win the Baseball cup so that Mr. I can focus on the Wings again and ask Mr. Holland the tough questions. If he likes the answers keep him on a short leash if not bring in Don Maloney. The guy worked under a fraction of the budget Holland has and left Arizona with Domi, Duclair, OEL. That being said a series isn't over till you lose at home but I would love to see Mantha getting some experience now. If they lose so what? It hasn't worked with some of the veterans either and unlike Mantha they aren't the future of the Wings. When it comes down to Z either shelter hi minutes to third line duties or trade him to a contender, the guy can't play more than 15 minutes anymore it's just so obvious. Reading some of the threads and posting before the season and now is funny, a lot of people thought Blashill would be the second coming of Babcock and some Antibabcock guys even thought he would be better. Although it's way too early to judge and given the fact that the guy has had the worst Wings roster since almost 2 decades to work it I don't think it's fair to judge him now but I will say this: play the kids like you did in GR. If I'm Pasha my decision is becoming easier and easier this team is going nowhere and it seems like they are still reluctant to do a proper rebuild, so why not go home spend quality time with my family and play in front of my friends while still making millions of russian $? This team has 6 defenseman with one job, shutdown the damn triplets line and yet other than Danny D. no one seems capable of doing that such an embarassing result. I'm starting wo wonder if Babcock saw all of this coming and if he wanted a more traditional rebuild. Anyhow, changes need to happen in the off-season it's so sad to see that Pasha's Wings era has to end like this. Let Mantha, Larkin and McKee experience the playoffs infront of their homecrowd no matter the result because what does this team have to lose? Well nothing everyone is expecting them to lose against the Bolts anyways. All I'm asking for is, don't get swept at least Pasha deserves so much better than this bulls***. The guy in my avatar would still be the best defenseman on this team.

Well done Dylan well done!

They would have that guy in net who almost shutdown Canada, Vasilevsky?

With Stamkos and Stralman out all the Wings had to do is focus on shutting down the triplets line and they can't even do that. I'm starting wo wonder how this series would look with of them in the lineup. It should be known by now that Kucherov almost has a Tarasenkolike release on his onetimer so someone has to get into the lane and block the damn shot

I think Pierres favorutie team were the Nordiques. Since when does Kucherov have such a damn canon? His onetimer is unreal

Could the Wings please just decline a PP? Instead of building momentum it seems to kill it such an enigma

And why is that because a second pairing defenseman had to play as a number 1 for years, Z even after his back surgery didn't get his icetime reduced.

Anderson > McJesus Big E > Ekblad Please don't give them any ideas who knows what will happen if the Wings lose tonight.

Jagr, Iginla, Sedins..all still horses

Sooo many times agreed to this. The all so important streak is alive let's play the kids. yes, they don't have experience but guess what you don't get playoff experience by not playing! The vets are close to the end of their careers, the transition had to start now sink or swim with them! I don't know why this staff is so reluctant to let the kids play it just doesn't make sense, guess the Wings would have send down McJesus or Ekblad too

Find a way to shutdown the triplets and to defend infront of the net. If the Wings can do that they have a chance if not it's 0:2

Think about it: - first line center? Nope - second line center? MAYBE but man even that's a lot to ask from someone coming of his rookie season - Z as a third line center And defense well we all know the story. At that point a rebuild would be the way to go because, trade Kronner for whatever the Wings can get for him and start fresh. The TOI is ruining Z and Kronner and especially in Z 's case it's extremely tough to watch, his prime could have been a lot longer otherwise. Another problem I see is that Z just doesn't look fired up, with Lidas and the captain everyone knew they'll find the right words at the right time and would have their team ready to go. I sadly don't think Z is that kind of guy and maybe Pasha should have been the captain he just leads by example. Maybe #5 #19 set the bar for being a captain to high but so far I must say I've been disappointed with him as a captain.

Flyers played a great game but Holtby was great and the offensive power might be too much for them.

If there is one owner who isn't just about the bottom line, it's Mr. I. As proven time and time again. Even if some people think it's only about the bottom line well guess what being a contender for years to come means more revenue, merchandise sales and more often a packed house. Sometimes it's needed to sacrifice short-term goals for that but in the end it's worth it. But a series doesn't start till you lose at home if that happens I fully expect to see the young guns getting a chance experience playoff atmosphere. For sure Cooper is confident this wasn't a good game by Tampa standards and they still won because the Wings defense couldn't handle their speed and they got outmuscled too. The Triplets, Norrisman and Callahan are still a lot to handle for this wings edition. Wings would need to focus on collective defense and try to score in an opportunistic way but wings also don't have a sniper for that because they've sent him down in favor of Anderson. As sad as it may be I think with Pasha gone in the offseason it might be time to look at the other 2 vets too

Howard stole more than enough games while Mrazek gave them away, 2 minutes 2 goals and other stuff. But this is a post game not a goaltending thread. This was a great chance to steal one now let's see how game 2 works out but getting outmuscled by Tampa is embarrassing there are so many changes needed in the off season it's not even funny. Z was again a shadow no drive, no energy I'm starting to believe he is playing through a tough injury. Stevie played on one leg and willed this team to the cup. I fully expect him on a third line role next year. Well the sad part is the Wings management didn't do anything about it and now it's happening before our eyes . This could be the last playoff berth for some time and sadly Pasha's last one

1 done 3 more to go go Blues!

All the best to King Henrik that was flatout crinchworthy. Hopefully this doesn't impact his vision. Without King Henrik there is no chance for the Rags

Haha one bad goal, a couple of great saves and people are already calling for an unproven guy, who basically scrapped the bed since new year. Green was the best player on the ice would be nice, if he could show up like that more often. As much as I hate to say it, Z as a top 6 center is done. Blashill needs to shelter his minutes the guy is running on fumes right now. The PP is still crap, well that has to be expected but it would be nice if someone would just take the risk and unleash a onetimer like Kucherov did that was one heck of a lasercanon. Z and Pasha isn't going to work against Tampa, that line is to slow for their speedy offense. I would shelter Z's minutes or play him as a third line center. Can't believe his contract has still 4 years left scary to think about it.

This defense doesn't deserve the tag defense clear the ******* crease