haroldsnepsts

I think he was referring to this. E certainly didn't tear him up, but he held his own and ragdolled him a bit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2SKssvKsFU

That's not really shoulder to chest. Using that description I expected a Scott Stevens special. The last angle shows he barely contacted his chest if any. I do think the 5 minutes was a reaction to the blood, but at full speed it's not that clear cut.

Everything you need to know about why I don't think Karlsson deserved the Norris last year was just evident in the game. Sens on the PK for a full 2 minutes of 5 on 3. Karlsson doesn't play a shift of it. And there were multiple faceoffs were they switched out D-men. Never Karlsson. He's a great young talent and a great offensive defenseman. Best all around? Not yet. Weber, Chara, even Lidstrom would've been out there to defend a 5 on 3 in the playoffs. If you're the best all around defenseman in the league, you should be too.

Yeah, because disliking someone based on their nationality/ethnicity is hee-larious.

on the overhead angle it looked like Spaling's stick was actually what kept the puck from going in the open net.

And who says he doesn't aspire to improve offensively? The main point is he's played what, 8 games in the NHL? He's going to improve in all areas of the game. But based on his career up until now it's unlikely he will significantly increase his scoring at the NHL level. He barely remembers the way to the locker room at this point he's been there so few times, so I have no idea why you guys are fixating on this argument about his offensive potential.

Were we watching the same game? Mule had a great game. Dats was fairly mediocre tonight for him.

Ah. Only roughing but Doan still with the extra 2.

Great job Abby getting Doan off the ice for 5 minutes.

These linesmen are terrible. calling icings that shouldn't be, missing ones that should. Not communicating when its a delayed offsides.

I'm not saying he'd just goon it up. Doan straps the team on his back and scores clutch goals while also getting away with stuff that would get a third liner sent to the box.

Great game by Abby. So nice to see someone on the Wings finishing checks.

Look for the Yotes to start crashing Howard and Doan to go into beast/cheapshot mode.

Bad goal by Smith but good to see Flip get one.

Refs really want to be a part of the game tonight.

After the weak first penalty Smith should've been more careful and not get caught for the hook on his second penalty. That mistake aside he's having a good game.

I think the call was for a little hook, not the stuff for going after jimmy.

Center ice ref thinking he's got the better view than the one 10 feet away.

That's why stats don't tell everything. Especially takeaway giveaway which is influenced by how much a guy is carrying the puck and also just the randomness of what constitutes a true giveaway. If a D man fires the puck up the glass to center ice that's not usually considered a giveaway even though the other team ends up with possession, where a D man can make an outlet pass from his own zone, the guy receiving it can't handle the pass and turns it over, suddently it's a givewaway. Kindl has been very good offensively but a disaster in his own end lately. Ericsson mostly solid and the only realy physical d man they have. Quincey has been, well, Quincey. And as you mention Smith is a rookie. Why are these guys still playing? Who would you put in for them?

Exactly. It's not like the two are mutually exclusive. Losing an NHL defenseman for nothing and keeping two marginal players who washed out of the NHL over him does not mean you have to be excited Holland gave up a #1 pick to get him back. I'm not sure why that's so hard to understand.

Agreed. I always wonder exactly how often Zetterberg is dealing with nagging injuries through the season. His back, his wrist, now his groin. You hear things from Khan about Z leaving the ice early during practice and he makes it sound like that's not unusual.

Why just mention Z and not Datsyuk? 4 goals or 3 points overall is the difference between severely underachieving and acceptable production? And as someone pointed out in another thread compared to last season statistically they aren't really underachieving. Z's goalscoring average is down a bit but his overall production is slightly better. Cleary's goal scoring is up too relative to last season. And both those guys are always banged up and a year older. I wouldn't say Brunner is underachieving either. It's his first season in the NHL and they're playing games at a brutal schedule. 11 goals and 22 points is great considering. Flip's production is obviously way down, but it's looking like last season was an anomaly and not some breakthrough. I agree with what Babcock said recently. Guys may have a an exceptional year or two but generally you know about where they're going to produce. And with this Wings lineup they just don't have a lot of scoring. That lack of scoring also gets compounded because without many offensive threats, defenses can key into the few ones that they have. Z, Dats, and Franzen. Sammy and Bert being injured so long certainly didn't help. But if the team's success is tied that strongly to either one of those guys, it's a pretty good indication of the lack of scoring talent.

Dubinsky gets a 10 minute match penalty for "deliberate injury?" I guess they just mean running around at the end of the game trying to beat on someone?

Doughty certainly didn't look good covering his head but I agree. Doesn't Dubinsky lose every legit fight he's ever in? Game over. Kings won. No need for Doughty to turn around and get suckered by a guy who grabbed him from behind. Just maybe could've looked more dignified doing it.

Matt Greene in his first game back from a season long injury is more physical than anyone on the Wings blueline. Man I'd love for the Wings to have someone who knocks guys around like he does. Kings win. Chippy right to the end of the game.