dicksmack

You think the lack of damage control means something?

That's the wings for ya... that superior skill level comes through eventually just as it did last playoffs (esp. in the final); Zetterberg and Cleary made something out of a nothing play; Hank with the back-hand saucer pass and Cleary knocks it down in the crease and pokes it home. It's a perfect playoff goal--get pucks to the net and you get rewarded. This is opposed to the Niedermayer goal on Hasek where the whole goalie was pushed across the line with the player's stick. But guess what? We triumphed despite adversity from the refs yet again!

Give 'em Helm! was the battle cry all night!

That was a good goal--not even close...

Ozzie was stellar

That's pretty funny coming from you... I watched JQ play for the Windsor Spitfires when he was in junior and he was as tough as nails... Wings in six: too much depth... We'll deep six 'em!

Pav had us out of our seats several times... He looked like he isn't hanging on to the puck long enough and is rushing things a bit. I hate it when slumping stars get the "he MUST be injured" kid glove treatment. It's so lame... Pav's offensive production, as pointed out above, dried up late in the reg. season. I think all the hardware nominations might have affected his focus and nudged him into a slump. His 1st rate all-around game is what makes him so valuable in the playoffs. Pav is creating good chances and it's a matter of time.

Actually, I had hoped and figured it would be Kopecky that would be replaced by Leino. Maltby crossed my mind as a possible doorway in for Ville but watching him play a good veteran game, you want to keep him in there. If Abdelkader stiffs, they should go to Leino next game. Leino impressed in his heartbeat in the NHL with his scoring touch and penchant for winning puck battles.

Wings totally manhandled the Quacks last night.

Yay to Leino and Downey... and Kindl can carry some equipment bags or something!

Wings fans just has to hope that Babcock can work the refs in the media and during the games to hope we get a make up call--keep planting that seed that the Wings were in fact jammed by Watson. It happens all the time... Also, perhaps Rafalski will be back in the series and provide some more scoring punch from the back end.

Yes, he only has a playoff hat trick...

Leino could make an impact. He wins puck battles and has great instincts around the net. Sound like playoff hockey?

I was so proud of Franzen for once again busting through the opposition and scoring a critical goal. But that's just the beginning! Our smallest player gets smoked with a blindside, late/high hit and what does Franzen do? He embarrasses the Ducks on the goal, runs their goalie over...and then does a strong man pose to top it off! I can't say I've seen a better, more immediate all-around response to Duck goonery... Of course Perry and Ryan tried to double team him afterwards but it didn't work... Way to go Mule!

With Brown not getting a suspension, it kind of makes Mule's actions that much sweeter They should know the Wings can play any kind of game you want to play...

Yeah, they had visions of pulling a Pronger/Niedermayer crunch but nothing doing. I hope to see Kronwall or Stuart rock some ducks tomorrow...

Why is it some in here can't resist the knee-jerk reductio ad-absurdum reaction to try to show that the anti-homer police are on duty? Fans have a right to some degree of professionalism in the telecasts they watch or they're gonna speak up.

That telecast was really an embarrassment--a big turd wrapped in a maple leaf.

Does Draper's injury mean we'll see Mr. Leino? I think Leino would be great in the post-season--he's clearly a battler with a scoring touch!

Good stuff Lilja! Get well and we'll see ya next year!

I don't think that Hank's ascribed role necessarily proves his defensive superiority. They are both very gifted two-way players but somebody has to play second fiddle offensively and assume the greater defensive role. Pav is an elite scorer and you'd have to be nuts not to put him where he will score. However, Datsyuk is utilizable in so many ways; opposite another team's star centre is no problem. I think people realize that Pavel could just as easily take Hank's role and do it as good or better than he does. Pav hits harder, stickchecks better, wins more faceoffs, wins more puck battles, stickhandles out of the defensive zone better. Are you telling me Hank out hustles Pav on the backcheck? Please. You don't want Pav shadowing somebody but out doing his own thing at all parts of the rink. Perhaps Zetterberg was seen as a leader of a sub-standard pk, and generally as a team that was uncharacteristically regarded as having poor defensive chops. If that perception was prevalent among the writers then Pav's freelance two-way game may have been seen as unique in the Red Wings defensive mix. It also may hurt is chances of repeating. I've already discussed the idea of basic two types of Selke nominees: the shutdown centre and the high scoring two-way player. Datsyuk is of the latter group a al Gilmour and Fedorov. Is one type better than the other? I don't know. I think the two ways (not implying anything) tend to win when there's no dominant shutdown forward in the mix. However, while Richards is more like the shutdown type, perhaps he's kind of a blend between them. I could be wrong but I think Richards' chances are 60/40 to win it.

For me, it comes down to Marleau, Thorton and Nabokov... Get a new goalie, take Patty's C away, and as for Thornton? I'm like Esteef: Who cares?

No big surprise here... I think Pav will have a tougher time winning this year due to the taint of the Winged Wheel. What? That's right, The Wings were not known for their defensive prowess this reg. season. Also, Pav wasn't so far and away dominant statistically with regard to takeaways, though his other numbers are similar to last year. In any case, I'm very glad to hear it!

We didn't get jammed by DannyBoy! It must have been eating him up inside to have to call it straight!

When the Wings are rolling in the playoffs, you don't shut down their offence; they have secondary scoring and depth o' plenty. You're right about the shot/pass blocking and needing your goalie play lights out though... The Wings have learned from their past post-season mistakes here, I think. If the Nucks block a lot of shots, the Wings will attack from down low or some other alternative. Luongo will have Holmstrom, Franzen and Cleary et al. in his way the whole damn series.