Dabura

Outshoot them, outchance them, outplay them, get lots of juicy PP opportunities, fail to convert on all God-given chances, give up a lame goal, wilt. Wings hockey.

Well, that was a terrible PP.

We're rattled.

I hate Sammy.

Kronwall should've stepped up on him.

Did you see Tatar step into that guy on the boards? Love it.

If Bert's injured, does Jurco get called up? Cuz I'd be ok with that.

Sorry, that makes it sound like we're getting worked. Definitely not the case.

Far from a perfect 20, but, all things considered, I'll absolutely take it.

They're incredibly even, IMHO. (Much like - yes - Z and D.) I think if we're seeing anything right now, it's what I've said before: Tatar is more of a goal-scorer, Nyquist is more of a playmaker.

My impression is we're not getting anyone back tonight. Which would, I guess, make a win that much sweeter.

It's insane. Our closest competitors just keep winning and winning and winning. And the guys at the top are doing the same.

Good for Maurice. He was terribad for the Leafs, but I think he deserves another shot.

I'm guessing it's a combination of that and the fact that it's a back-to-back.

Khan and St. James are reporting that Howard is fine. http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/red-wings-coach-mike-babcock-tells-fsds-keating-that-jimmy-howards-out-for I AM CONFUSED

I'd take him. We have enough well-behaved, 200-foot, defense-first, "Aw shucks, ma'am" forwards. We need a power forward, especially with Franzen being 34, Bertuzzi being 98, and Jurco being 12. Wheeler would be great, but he won't be traded under any circumstances (part of their core, wants to be in Winnipeg). Wayne Simmonds has been my pick for awhile, but they really love him here in Philly. I wouldn't mind Pacioretty, maybe for Franzen, Nyquist, and Pulkkinen, or something along those lines. We need more size and speed and gamebreaking scoring ability in our top six. But then, the Habs would say the same.

I can't believe we have to play the Ducks now. In their barn. Without Howard (the guy who just made 44 saves and won us this game.) And, probably, without Datsyuk and Alfredsson and Franzen and Helm. I want to believe we have a shot, but I'm not expecting any of our injured players back. And I bet we get an announcement that Z has a broken chin and will be out for three or four months. THIS WIN IS JUST A TEASE. A CRUEL, CRUEL TEASE. *cries* (But doesn't really cry, because crying is for sissies. Unless you're Tomas Tatar, in which case it's badass and awesome.)

Wait, Howard is injured? Hip flexor? Speechless. Utterly speechless.

I just remembered I never followed up my last post in this thread. Lemme get right on that. *procrastinates*

Tatar 4 President.

Ilya Bryzgalov is their goalie. They have no defense, and no conception of how to play it. They have no bottom six. They have a high-powered but young and one-dimensional top six. They have no veteran leadership. They have no size. They have no edge. Their GM is a proud, stubborn, narcissistic dinosaur. Etc. Clarification: by "GM" I mean Kevin Lowe. I don't know what his Official Title is.

Not sure what the specific drill was. For the record, I wasn't there. I just remember someone mentioning it somewhere on the interwebz. Now, of course, messing up a drill isn't a big deal. But, if memory serves, he messed it up; they reset it and told him how to do it; he did it wrong again and looked visibly ticked; a minorly frustrated Kronwall called time so he could explain it one-on-one; they had a slightly animated conversation; and I think he got it right after that. I'm not bringing this to pick on him or anything like that. I'm bringing it up because I remember picturing it in my head when I first read about it, and, in my head, Franzen looked like a guy who was "having trouble processing information," and who might have even genuinely believed he was in the right when, of course, he wasn't. I've had a concussion or two, or three, or four, or five, twelve. (Concussion joke. Sorry, poor taste.) They absolutely are serious, and they absolutely can throw you off and mess you up in ways you didn't necessarily think possible. And if they start to "pile up" for you, well, that's an incredibly fragile and dangerous situation. So we should give Franzen the benefit of the doubt and such.

Anyone remember that bit from training camp about him struggling greatly with a particular drill? Makes me wonder.

I don't understand why Babs isn't giving him more any rest. It's no secret that he was brought back mainly for the postseason. And it's also no secret that his body is failing him. I mean, I get that "you gotta earn your playoff minutes," but I thought the whole premise of Cleary being on the team is that "he's earned it." I can maybe kinda sorta see the logic behind putting him on the PP. What really gets me is this idea that putting him on the first line with Datsyuk is a good way to get our offense going. "Hey, it worked four years ago, so why not now????"