rick zombo

Well, this is a tough call. I understand the cry for passion, pride, and emotion quite easily. And part of me is down with this. But if the Wings gooned it up, wouldn't it look like they were an insecure, desperate team, on the verge of panic? That's what I've taken away from the years and years and years of other teams trying to do this to Detroit when they were clearly outmatched. Maybe there's something to be said psychologically for laying low and ignoring the rivalry. You know? Like saying "Whatevs. You guys know we're banged up and icing a team full of plugs but guess what? We don't care, there is no rivalry, we've owned you for countless seasons and that won't change, once we're healthy." Doesn't anyone think that an emotionally detached Wings team would get under the Hawks skin?

Shoot

This one's easy. More injuries will require Miller, Abby, Eaves and May to stay in the lin-up. How's that for optimism? R

Well, good news if this is the case. Hopefully Holland's not just saying this to keep Wings fans from hanging themselves.

Basically, LGW whipping boys like Lebda, etc need to start being given all-star status based purely on their ability to stay healthy.

Well, if we want to get really picky, Osgood should have had Talbot's second goal. He gave up way too much on the glove side. Many people wanted Osgood for the Conn Smythe. He had a bad game 7. So did Stuart. It seems one player gets crucified more than the other. Which never made sense to me.

Great post Aussie!!!!

My predictions: New York Rangers, 11th place, Win St. Louis Blues W Anaheim Ducks L-OT/SO Nashville Predators, 7th place L Phoenix Coyotes, 6th place W Tampa Bay Lightning, 9th place W Dallas Stars, 8th place L-OT/SO

That Buffalo - Ottawa line brawl is a thing of beauty. Including the exchange between Ruff and Murray.

You get paid $65,000 to do 10 hours work over a single year? Sweet.

That's what I was thinking. If that had been a single Wings player, half the team would have to go on injured reserve.

I love when people say this with authority. How, exactly, do you know this?

How about mental toughness? Positioning? Agility? To be honest, rebound control is the only major technical problem he has right now, and even that's improving. Of course, he also needs to find some consistency. He's been great. In three or four years he could be lights out. Also, I'm sure a lot of Sharls fans felt the same way about Kipprusoff's abilities before he got shipped off to Calgary for a 2nd round pick. For the record, he was 5 - 14 in his final season with the Sharks with a terrible GAA (3.25) ans SV%(.879). He was a 5th round pick.

Good job I didn't say winner then, eh?

I actually think that Howard may be a Vezina candidate at some point in his career.

Red Wings players are required to be mentally tough. So far, Leino has been brain-soft.

Considering Mickey said tonight that Datsyuk's goal (the Wings 1st of the game) tied it at 7, I wouldn't put too much thought in to anything Mickey says

Ericsson's -6. Dan Cleary's -8. Ericisson has 10 points in 27 games. Lidstrom has 11 points in 29 games. Can someone explain to me how Ericsson deserves so much s***? For a 25 year old rookie making NHL pittance. SRSLY?

Yes, just dress five D, and double shift Lebda

Day to day. He's traveling with the team to New York, and might play on Saturday. Too lazy to look for a link.

Wings getting outworked hard. And bad luck. It's looking like that sort of game.

Babcock is, for sure #1. Trotz and Ruff should be higher.

True. Excellent point. But, throughout this run he has, indisputably, had his ups and downs. Right? Some really low lows? Like last years regular season stats? Most LGWers focus on this rather than his impressive accomplishments. Eva, I agree with you, but don't forget who you're trying to reason with.

Volchenkov please.

Not to mention the time Belfour got hammered and *****-slapped a few of his team-mates in some hotel bar.