Nightfall

Nah, I am not that desperate.

How great you must be....to know how certain people think and feel. Can you tell me your secret?

About as hard as Franzen's when he drove the net.

There is the makeup call.

Yup, the refs suck if they make a s***ty call against us. Yet they are fine if they make a s***ty call for us.

Vancouver will be getting a makeup call before the end of the game. That penalty on them was horrible.

Assist by Hudler on that last goal.

Detroit's defense needs to tighten up a bit. They have given up far better chances than Vancouver has in the game. WOW! Great goal by Abdelkader. Great setup by the Todd!

The Wings have got to win more faceoffs. That was disgusting.

Just reading some of the examples of trades they would want to see, I wonder just how drunk these other GMs are. Trading a top 4 defenseman for Hudler and Kindl? I would say that some people here are living in a dreamworld, but I would say it borders on insanity. Hudler is going to be here for the season, and I bet you are going to see a turnaround over last season. Hell, at the end of last season he was going at almost a point per game pace. I think you will see Hudler with between 60-70 points at the end of this season.

The first loss of the season will be a 15-20 page monster.

Best response in this thread. We have already seen a couple embellishments. They won't be going away anytime soon.

I agree with this. Look at Hudler as well. The most popular whipping boy here on LGW. He has a goal and an assist and is playing solid. If there is any room for improvement, its in the power play.

I could so rip on Ericsson right now, but I am staying positive on him. I think he will be a good player for the wings this year. If every goal that goes in this season is like that, I am not going to blame Howard at all.

Yup, Ian White looks slow out there. Great first goal as a Wing, Ian! Now I am going to pick you up off the waiver wire in my fantasy league.

I remember reading about how some NHL teams are using therapists or other psychologists in order to boost confidence or conquer fears of making a mistake. You have to wonder if the Red Wings do things like this to keep the minds of the players positive and fresh through the course of a long season and a long playoff run. Personally, with the pressure that comes with playing in Detroit, you know that a mistake can lead to a series of doubt. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Losing in game 7 to the Pens had to be tough to drop and kick it in the ass next season. As a goalie, I would have been devastated. Haha, same with Boston. I think you will see Boston and Vancouver have tough seasons. Neither one of them will make it back to the finals this year.

Meh, possibly. I still believe that its more psychological than anything else. Especially for teams that aren't used to the grind. Teams who make the playoffs every year for the last 20 years are used to that kind of grind. Thats why I believe that the Wings are pretty much exempt from the "grind" rule. Teams like Vancouver and Boston who have had varied seasons of success, there is truth to your statement. So many factors to look at though. I just don't believe the Wings have this issue. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Haha, ok. I do agree with you somewhat. Don't get me wrong. If we were talking about a Tampa Bay Lightning team who didn't make the playoffs one year and then a deep run the next, I would agree that their psyche would be a little hard to overcome and they may have a fast or slow start.

Maybe you are right that I am reading too much into it. Just based on what you said.... Personally, I believe its a bullcrap excuse. Especially since the Wings have been through two finals appearances and two second round appearances in the last 4 years. These guys are the best conditioned athletes in hockey. So I will disagree with it. Now, if you believe the wings have a fragile psyche or they aren't conditioned for the work, then you are right in your mind. I believe the opposite.

The Sens are just standing around. They look beaten already.

Still, the Wings have played a ton of games thanks to a couple runs to the 2nd round. Thats more than many of the other teams. You make it sound like they didn't even make the playoffs or they were swept in the first round. At least admit the youth and the better defense helps a lot more than your faulty statement.

I think he is playing smart and a little gritty. I don't think he is slow.

Yea, in the last three years, the Wings and Penguins lead in most games played over all other NHL teams. Seriously, the youth and better focus on defense are the keys.

Happy Hudler! The Wings are putting on a clinic. Ottawa is getting their chances, but they can't capitalize. The Wings defense is playing very well though. They are limiting Ottawa's chances and Howard is making the routine saves look routine, like he should.

The Todd with a great snipe. I like what I see with the Wings so far. Defense is doing well this period. No real killer chances.

I see that, but I just don't know how hard he gets hit. The refs both have their hands up to indicate a penalty. Lets put it this way, the dive Thornton did when Franzen hit him the shin pad in the playoffs was easy to see. This isn't.