RyanBarnes!

You are the man Helm!

He can still steal the game. It is not the same as shutting the Leafs out for the rest of the game.

So you expect Howard to just shut them out after half the game. Howard has already made a couple extremely timely saves in this game. How about a timely PP goal?

I knew it.

Engage! Engage! Red Wings are gonna hand the Leafs momentum by creating nothing on this 4 min PP!

Gotta score one more to close the game on the Leafs. Bury those chances.

Key to the game is hit the net.

This game is HUGE. Give us a 60 minute effort boys, it is all I'm asking for.

I too like the line changes. That first line was a no show.

This should be interesting.

A two goal lead really isn't much in hockey. If you start play defense too early and the opposition still scores a goal they are within one. You know they will give it their all to tie the game. It is the nature of the game. This team must learn to close the game by capitalizing on their chances before they can go on defense.

Great, he will do more for the Red Wings with his 7 minutes of ice time than many others playing twice as much. Why? Heart. No player has been worse than Samuelsson this season. None.

I'm attending this one. LGW!

So Holland has gone from smallish non physical players to bigger non physical players. I'm not too worried about losing Jarnkrok, he is not a surefire prospect by any chance. I'd rather see what Ferraro can do.

Games against Ottawa is a pretty clear example to me, people complaining about Neil's unclassiness or how the Sens constantly goon it up. But I think Detroit looks intimidated quite often not just against the Sens. It is clear that there is not much respect out there for the Red Wings, and the players take unneccassary punishment. Now if you dont want to believe I guess it is not there.

You are right to some extent -the league has handcuffed enforcers but saying there is no stopping a guy like Neil is incorrect. Neil cannot rough up someone from the penalty box after fighting our heavyweight. There is also the notion that anything he tries to do to us can be done to them. I do think Neil's team mates would be slightly less enthusiastic about his work if they realize that it will put a target on their backs. Heavyweights are still part of this league and for a reason. Holland is about the only GM that refuses to admit this and his team is paying for it. The fans too, if it means the coach is afraid to put Datsyuk out on the ice at times.

To me that sends a strange message. If Datsyuk is in that bad shape should he play at all? Dirty teams will be dirty, blowout or not. Imagine if the Red Wings would face the Sens in a playoff series. That would wear us down. An enforcer would give Neil something else to think about besides targeting our top players. That would help tremendously in my opinion.

Holland really need to bring in some muscle. We shouldnt need to hide Datsyuk in games like this. The refs will not care either.

if St Louis is serious about wanting out, Yzerman's got no choice but to trade him. Holland has said a lot of things during the years. If he is in a position to extend the streak for 23 straight post season's without sacrificing too much, then he has to do it. Nyquist is a reasonable price I think.

This is Holland's shot at bringing in some offensive help in Zetterberg's absence, and with Yzerman at the other end, he might have a shot. Nyquist and a 2nd would be a decent return now that word is out St Louis asked for a trade. Remember, St Louis is 38, he is not going to play forever.

Boyle is 37, but maybe he has a couple of season's left in him still. Definitely a Holland type of move. I would not give up Smith for him though.

Sproul being called up is interesting. Kindl is the only defenseman out from what I know. Could there be a trade? Calling up a defenseman would then indicate that Holland is looking to move a defenseman, but any defenseman on the team must be replaced. Kronwall is not being traded. Dekeyser is not being traded. Lashoff will not yield much return. That leaves Ericsson, Smith and Quincey. Doubt they would trade Ericsson. To make a trade, it should be an upgrade. So maybe a Smith/Quincey and Nyquist for ? I'm not sure what is out there, but Holland like veterans. I would hope someone with a physical presence.

What a pathetic showing by team Sweden. They were never in it.

Game over

He had a 20 game goal slump ended vs Slovenia, so not great initially but he's improved the past games. He is actually the forward with most points on the team now (1+4).