egroen

Overall solid playing from Ercsson the past few games - nice to see. He's just playing a lot more confident.

Funny to see Hudler sweating like that - he needed to be working his ass off tonight! Keep it up!

These games are fun! It must suck being an Oilers fan about now - I checked out one of their GDTs and most of them predicted a blowout, in favor of the Wings. Ouch.

I'll leave footnotes next time

1993 was by far the highest scoring season in the past 17 years. The Devils re-introduced the trap in 95, but it was not until a mediocre team like Florida making the finals in 96 that teams realized it was a superior system under the current rules. In reality, the deadpuck era began in 1997. Hockey in the 80s, from the Miracle on Ice and the Islanders and Oilers dynasties experienced unprecedented growth that continued into the early 90s with Gretzky signing in LA. Literally from the moment Bettman signed on growth stagnated and Bettman's passive-reactionary policy led directly to 1 1/2 seasons of hockey lost. Despicable.

I'm not ready to give up on Lidstrom playing another 2-15 years, but the defense should probably play as a committee at the time he does retire, versus a huge trade. Until the time a great FA opportunity does come along. I'm not convinced Weber/Suter will want to stay in Nashville when they become free agents (who ever really does?). There is absolutely no indication that team will ever spend the money necessary to be a true contender year-in and year-out. Another thing to remember is I am pretty sure Stuart's no-trade clause is up after this year. Ultimately, I'm not too worried - there will be plenty of options for an upper-tier destination team like Detroit that consistently spends to the cap, and for once is actually pretty loaded with decent prospects.

I think these two are a match made in heaven and compliment each other extremely well. Helm has speed, tenacity, great puck-moving, defense and the ability to make things happen. What he lacks are finishing skills, offensive positioning and vision. Hudler has vision, finishing and passing skills and the ability to find open ice, lacking speed and grit. Right now Helm is creating all sorts of chances, but on the 4th line, neither he nor his linemates are able to do much with it. Hudler is a proven offensive player but is clearly not meshing well with Modano (Lang .50) and Cleary (who has the effort but is never open and looks a little like a chicken with his head cut off). Hudler did, however, find a spark playing with Helm (and washed up McCarty of all people) playing on the 4th line in the 08 playoffs - outscoring everyone but Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen - with far less minutes. Hudler can actually make something of the chances Helm creates (unlike Helm's current linemates), and can actually utilize his speed with a perfect pass for a no-brainer goal (which really for Helm is the only goal he is capable of). So how does it happen? I would prefer a 3rd line of Helm/Hudler/Cleary in all honesty. Babcock should have the balls to put Modano on the 4th line, IMO, but I'm curious as to other thoughts. The other player who has proven chemistry with Hudler is Filpulla, for similar reasons, but I am not for messing with the 2nd line.

Lidstrom's stick-eye coordination is incredible. I'll take the penalty there.

What is up with these refs???

Nice shootin' Tex (Helm)!!

Holy crap! Actually seeing hustle out of Modano tonight!

Maybe I am the crazy one here, but IMO 8 games does not necessarily indicate someone has lost all their talent. Hudler has produced well at every level, including the playoffs, and with limited minutes. He is at an age now where he should just be entering his prime so I do not think it is too crazy to think he is not 'worthless' after struggling in all of 7 games. And I am going to lose a lot of respect for Babcock and Holland if they are letting a player dictate how much ice time he gets... no matter who the player or what he has done in the past.

John Ogrodnick is also a financial advisor, in W. Bloomfield I believe.

I wouldn't be against a radical mixup of these bottom lines at some point, because eventually at least one of the top 2 lines are going to hit a snag, and depth scoring will be very important - which the Wings are definitely not getting right now.

I actually agree, and admit I am jumping the gun a bit prematurely. 3 out 4 lines performing well is about all you can ask for realistically, but if this continues I'm sure many of us would like to see some juggling of the bottom lines. Fact is, these guys need to start producing like they are paid to do. But I'm fine with giving it more time to mesh - just thinking of a plan B.

Just love Datsyuk shooting more!

Has Nashville given up already??

As usual, Babcock has Hudler on an extremely tight leash... His minutes were going down and now benched. Hope it works, but I tend to think Hudler needs the playing time and is certainly more valuable to have out there than all 4 grinders.

Looking like high school hockey...

Wrong Richard

No suspension deserved, especially considering the refs dealt with it with a heavy hand.

Was going to post this topic shortly. For a guy like Lidstrom who typically starts out slow and builds up steam over the course of the season, to see him with a start like this is pretty exciting. If one of Keith, Doughty or Green (the annointed next generation) do not seriously pick it up in the next dozen games or so we might see the media start running with headlines of 'Lidstrom's Resurgence' -- and those are the guys who vote on the award. Despite Lidstrom deserving the Norris in '09, I knew he was out of it that year when the media was announcing 'Lidstrom's Reign Over' in November.

Who would have thought last year Bertuzzi would be one of only 3 Red Wings to play all 82 games??? Great to see him playing so well. Far different player from the guy the Wings picked up at the deadline in 07.

.... amazed Selanne's shot is still so quick at his age. Blah game for Howard, not good, but kept the team in it with some key ones.

They had one great shift with sustained pressure and about 4 quality chances tonight... but no one is burying it (which just seems crazy as all 3 are legit 20 goal scorers)! Other than that either invisible to noticeably bad. Looks like Babcock is decreasing their minutes as well (outside of Cleary, who gets time on the 1st line on the odd shift). I'd give it another 5 games max, as it is so enticing on paper, before completely mixing up the 3rd and 4th lines... maybe returning to it later in the season.