Nightfall

The refs are whistling the Pens for every infraction. Can't ask for much more than this.

Should be a hand pass on Hornquist.

Damn, the Oilers were officially eliminated from playoff contention, by the Red Wings. We should have #tankedit

I think it caught on because of "the sky is falling" attitude that some people have here. It was real easy at the beginning of the season to say #tankit2014 and now that is not the case. Holland didn't panic and didn't make moves because he knew what he had when the team was healthy. Now that patience is being shown on the ice. The Wings are still in range to take 1st overall in the east. When the playoff come around, this team could very well fizzle in the first round, but they have the resilience to make it to the finals.

Ok, fair enough. Next time quote the post you are talking about. I thought you were addressing me when you said I was saying you were not a fan.

So me calling you "not a fan" was a valid point or did you just make that up? The only valid point you made was that the announcers were for the Rangers, to which my counter to that was, it had no bearing on the game's outcome. The other point you made about the refs being the Rangers pocket was debunked by facts.

Who said anything about you not being a good enough fan? I certainly didn't. I merely pointed out the fallacy with your post by showing facts. The Rangers did not have the refs in their pocket the entire game. There were just as many things the Wings got away with in that game that the Rangers had the right to complain about. As for the announcers, my point stands. Because they were not homer announcers for the Wings doesn't matter to me. In the end, they have no bearing on the game itself. I watched the last period of the game with the volume on mute while I had the Red Wings radio play by play going instead. But please, don't let me interrupt your spewing of bulls*** about how I didn't deem you a good fan. This right here. I don't mind when the refs don't call the interference so long as its on both sides. If you look at what was called, then things get a lot more understandable. Hooking, holding, slashing, holding, and holding penalties were called. No interference calls at all. I am not saying that interference didn't exist last night because it did, but the refs were consistent in calling it even both ways which is all you can ask for in a hockey game as a player and as a fan.

Pulkkinen is a lot like where Nyquist was a couple years ago. Nyquist was awesome in the year before the calder cup win. Even the year they won the Calder Cup he was magnificent. Pulkkinen is going to adjust and be a solid NHL player.

This is an all in year for the Rangers. Lundqvist isn't getting any younger. Nash isn't young anymore. Their window of opportunity is closing with this team.

I seem to remember that Brett Hull and Brendan Shanahan did the same thing when they found sticks they really liked.

Great game by the Wings! It was one of those grinding games that could have been a playoff game in intensity. Howard played really well, but so did Talbot. The goal that New York scored was flukey, and the Wings got the flukey OT winner. New York was 1 for 3 on the power play Detroit was 1 for 2 on the power play. The refs were on New Yorks side? Really? As for the announcers on their side, who cares. I mean seriously, the announcers don't decide the game. This wasn't a "us against the world" game in the least bit. Give the Wings some credit, but don't make it sound like they just beat an undefeated 62-0 team with the refs giving them 10 powerplay chances while not giving us a chance. This was a very even game across the board. Both teams had great chances to score but the goalies stood on their heads.

The simple fact of the matter is that when the playoffs start, regular season stats go out the window. I believe any team can win come playoff time. Upsets are more common in the new NHL. Look at last years top regular season teams in the east and west. Boston was out in the 2nd round. Colorado went out in the first round. When the playoffs hit, I think you are going to see some teams do very well and others do poorly. Nashville is going to make some noise, but I don't see them advancing past the 2nd round. I see the Hawks and Kings squaring off in the conference finals again. Playoffs are all about experience and seasoning. In the east, I see Tampa and Detroit taking another step while Boston and Pittsburgh are taking a step backwards. Detroit's young core got a taste of that last year and I believe this year they will do much better. I think a conference finals appearance is in the cards for this year for the Wings. In the new NHL, getting into the playoffs really is the first step. I believe any one of the sixteen teams that make it in can win the cup.

Probably in on the 2nd or 3rd pairing. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the 1st pairing with Kronwall if Babcock wants to try it during the regular season.

I disagree. The franchise as a whole has given these three players many opportunities to win championships. They should have repeated in 2009 but the Penguins had different plans. In 2013 they had a 3-1 series lead on the Hawks and lost 3 straight. There are other examples I could throw out there, but my point is that its not like they have been toiling in hell with no chance to win a cup like many other great players who retired without a championship. All 3 are going to be retiring with at least 1 championship. I don't believe that this year or next year is a "all in" kind of season for the Wings because the health of the franchise is more important. Holland won't mortgage the future to give 3 players another crack at the cup. What he will do is give the team as a whole an opportunity to compete for a cup like he is this year. He will set the team up for future success so the next wave of stars like Nyquist and Tatar will be able to captain a team to a championship of their own. Keep in mind when the season started, many members on this forum thought this team was a fringe playoff team at best. Some wanted to just "tank" the season for a high draft pick. Oh how quickly we forget these facts.

Doh! My bad. I looked at the wrong year. I do agree with what you are saying though. We are one of the youngest teams in the league. I don't want to rock the boat.

I agree. This is not an all in year for the Wings. Typically, these "all in" years don't work anyway. Look at when the Pens traded for Iglina and Morrow back in 13. People thought they were going to go all the way, and they got stuffed in the conference finals. These killer trades usually don't result in a cup win. The Wings are a great team with an opportunity to compete for the cup this year. They won't be the favorites, but they weren't the favorites in 1997 when they finished 3rd in the Western Conference and won the cup. I believe that any team that gets in can win the cup. Getting in is the key. EDIT: I said the pens got stuffed in the 1st round and that was incorrect. They made it to the conference finals that year.

I have been watching and going to a lot of Griffin games and I can tell you that chemistry was a big part of why the Griffins struggled. This is why we need a great coach at the AHL level. Blashill is not going to be down in Grand Rapids much longer, and his coaching has helped the Griffins get to where they are now. This team is going to challenge for a Calder cup again this year. Just watch.

I agree. Imagine what the price for Yandle is going to be. It will most definitely be a 1st and a rostered player like Nyquist. I would rather us stand pat and see how things go. We are one of the youngest teams in the league and our success/failure in the playoffs this year is going to be a building block for the future. Lets not get an expensive overpriced rental.

Remember the October schedule of death? The Wings pulled through that fine. Remember the February road trip of death? We are 5-3-2 so far in the month of February. If we can pull off a win against Nashville on Saturday, that would be the icing on the cake. As for the game last night, the Sharks carried the play in the first. They had the first 8 shots on goal. After they scored their 2nd goal in the 2nd period, they stopped playing. The Wings really took it to them in the 3rd. I think the Sharks only got about 8 shots on goal after they scored their 2nd goal. That was through almost half a game. Howard played great tonight. Losing Smith is going to hurt if he is out for an extended period of time.

That won't be the last time we see it from Tatar. It also won't be the last time that Wings fans praise it while complaining when Kane does it. I guarantee it.

Great shootout win last night. I really didn't see the LGW masses ***** out Tatar for the slow-mo shootout that Kane normally does. I suppose if Tatar does it, its all good. Personally, its not against the rules, so I don't see why more shooters don't do it. Maybe they lack the skill that Kane and Tatar have. Who knows. I am going to be flying down to Dallas to see the Wings take on the Stars on Saturday. I really can't wait to see this game now. Now, as for the people thinking the Wings are doomed. Remember..... Everyone thought the Wings were doomed in October during the schedule of death. We finished October 6-2-2. Now everyone is thinking the Wings are doomed with a brutal schedule in February. So far we are 3-2-1 Give the Wings some credit. They are doing what they need to do.

I would rather see us go after someone in free agency instead of trading our future away. The prospects and young guns we have in the system right now are the reason why we are doing so well. Lets not make a trade for the sake of making one.

FIFY

I don't think Franson is worth a 1st. He is like Legwand last year, a pending UFA. I would rather keep our 1st, especially this year when the draft is INCREDIBLY deep.

Bad game, thats all it was. We are still 8-2 in our last 10. Put it in perspective.