haroldsnepsts

This is what's funny to me. Ericsson's turnover was frustrating. He's too big to get knocked off the puck that easy. But watch the video at the 1:20 mark. There's two brutal Kindl turnovers in a row in the highlights that I guess no one saw? One a completely predictable pass along the blueline that gets cut off. Then the next clip is a tape to tape pass to the wrong team trying to get out of his zone as he was trying to get the puck to Bertuzzi. Ericsson was his defensive partner, so I guess that was his fault somehow. Though honestly they should never be on the ice together. For all the talk of sitting Ericsson, I just don't think Kindl's ready to pick up his minutes yet. If he keeps developing the way he does, he very well may. But he's still making a fair amount of mistakes too. People are just so happy he's not E that I guess they don't see them. I guess I'm just so happy neither one is Lebda that I don't have hate for either one.

There were three. Though I can't really fault Howard for that as I haven't seen a replay that shows well enough what the hell happened. I thought he had a good game overall. My only criticism would be on the first goal he should've swallowed the weak wrister from outside the faceoff circle. He juggled it and gave up a rebound and it led to a goal. But the Wings played a great game top to bottom, including Jimmy. Yes, because Ozzy gets nothing but love here. Wings had a great win. As someone already said, there wasn't really anyone who had a bad game. Yet we're still gonna turn the GDT into a goaltender war?

Agreed. Not sure what Stuart could've done differently. Maybe closed the gap a little sooner, but then you risk having him right around/through you.

Nope. Great game all around by the Wings. Definitely nice to see.

It's definitely great to have him back. He gets a lot of heat for his turnovers (including from me sometime) but he really runs things out there and made a great play on Flips goal. With him back, E, Kindl and Salei can all compete for the bottom pairing which could be good in the stretch run here.

I'd say he had an average game. Didn't notice him in terms of anything particularly good or bad.

The Z-Bert-Cleary line has looked great again tonight.

It's funny to think that Mule is similar in size to Ovechkin

Nice aggressive pokecheck by Jimmy there. Scary, but nice.

Z sneaky backhander!

Two sticks up high by Ovie on that rush.

Wow that's another weak one. That play happens all game, it just doesn't always break the guy's stick.

So what Ericsson did was interference. But holding up Clearly like that along the boards as he's trying to get to the puck isn't? got it.

I'm hoping Modano becomes the Dallas Drake of this team. Drake had a pretty terrible regular season, but redeemed it with his play in the playoffs. I'd be nice if Mike did the same, because otherwise this whole experiment has been pretty much a waste.

All in all, great two periods by the Wings. Nice to see Z and Flip get some goals. And when Rafalski has one of his brain farts, I have to remember that pass from the blueline to Fil. I wouldn't fault Jimmy on either of the goals. On the first one I would fault him for the rebound on the weak wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle, which eventually became the first goal. The second one was Ovechkin just doing what he does. I feel like we're a couple bounces away from lighting up Neuvirth. And this is the new defensive Caps? I know part of it is the Wings playing so well, but holy hell these guys are turnover machines.

Neuvirth has looked shaky all period.

Ericsson 2 minutes for making the right play.

No kidding. He's been out for how long now? and he still has more points than anyone on the Wings other than Zetterberg. And Z has 3 more points but has played 28 more game than Crosby.

Honestly I think it's a great plan. I can't believe arenas still have seamless glass. It's been known for years that they're harder. Anyone remember all the shoulder dislocations? Then players just started wearing the football style hardshell pads. So now they're braining guys out there. I'd love for Shanny to be on a panel like that. Everyone should have to wear his sad little shoulder pads. Or at least require players to sit face to face and explain to someone who has over 1300 points and over 90 fights in the NHL why they need the bigger shoulder pads to play the game.

Honestly I think he did. Matt Cooke is not an enforcer. He has 300 points in his career and doesn't really strike fear in the heart of anyone as a fighter. He's just a dirtbag cheapshot artist with some hockey skills. I think your argument is flawed. Teams can carry an enforcer with Mario's fine system in place. Even in today's NHL you can still beat the snot out of a guy and not be suspended.

Laich buries it on a nice feed from behind the net. Go Caps! Crap. Refs give the Hawks a PP with a little over a minute left and they tie it up. Hello loser point. Caps win on a nice play by Knuble in OT, but Hawks still come away with a point because of the weak call late in the game. Too bad. I'd love for them to miss the playoffs.

Regarding line juggling, I thought this was an interesting comment from Babcock. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/03/red_wings_henrik_zetterberg_pi.html

I thought they did too. Some people were dogging them in the GDT, but I thought they had great scoring opportunities and puck possession. I'd be a little reluctant to retool that line. The top line wasn't much of a threat other than the one man show that is Pavel Datsyuk. As for Flip, I haven't really noticed him out there. He's never been flashy, but he at least had a similar style to Z. Now I feel like the only time I see him is chasing some guy trying to stick check him from behind. Hopefully this thread will get him going.

Ville Leino with a friggin hat trick tonight in Philly. ugh. I'm a Flip fan, but where has he been? I feel like I haven't seen that guy since January. Absolutely agree. Unless he suddenly turns it on in the postseason, signing him has been a waste of time and money.

I guess it comes down to how you define soft. Cleary is out there hitting guys and not afraid to stick his nose anywhere. Bert couuld be more physical, given his size. Zetterberg's not afraid to go to the high traffic areas either. Honestly none of those guys should be dropping the mitts unless it's absolutely called for.