NeverForgetMac25

Agreed

Of course not, but how would he magically evade that hit and still come up with the play, yet Lilja doesn't have enough common sense to figure out the same? I know Lids is probably the most intelligent mind in the game but that doesn't automatically equate to a guaranteed clear in this situation. Some people seem to not be realizing that.

Even though, according to some, it was the "back-breaking play" that cost the Wings Game 3 of the SCF's? I guess my point is that people are putting way too much emphasis on this play, when it wasn't the reason why the Wings lost.

So you are telling me that if Lids was in that play last night and the same result occured that it would be "ok" because he's Lidstrom? To me, it doesn't matter who it is, the result is still a 3-2 loss no matter who was in the play. 15 seconds of the third period didn't decide this game.

How can anyone claim that? Has Lids never been on the ice for an opposing teams goal? Is it so inconceivable that Lids would've shied away from contact similarly to what Lilja did? I don't believe so. The point is Lidstrom 9.9 times out of 10 *doesn't* take the hit.

:rotflmao: You just invalidated yourself with that comment.

I find those people to be ridiculous as well. I don't care if the name on the back is Lidstrom, Zetterberg or Stevie Y for that matter. When one of those guys makes a bad play I have no problem discussing it without worry of being flamed simply based on the reputation of the player. This is a forum to discuss hockey, and no player is (or ever will be) bigger than the team.

So because Lidstrom is "in another universe" are you telling me that it would've been acceptable for someone to start this thread about him had he been the one on the ice and the same result occured (and most likely would have) given that Lids takes as many of those hits as Lilja?

Who said I was ignoring mistakes? My point is simply that those calling for Cheli to be in for Lilja are kidding themselves because Chelios has been absolutely brutal this playoff run. On top of that, most people seem to be ripping Lilja for not taking the hit and paying the price to potentially clear the zone, yet they fail answer my question about how many times they've seen Lidstrom "pay the price" to potentially clear the zone. Most importantly (and what I've been saying all morning) is *the mistake people are ignoring* is not that Lilja may have caused a goal, but that the Wings played completely differently from the 15:00 minute mark of the first to the end of the second period than they did in Games 1 & 2. The *mistake people are ignoring* is that the Wings gave the Penguins too much respect and the Pens took advantage of it. The Wings did nothing of the sort in the first 2 games.

Just like all those hits that Lidstrom takes when he's racing to the corners? [/sarcasm]

Did I call that or what?

I realized that mistake right after I posted and made the edit, but that doesn't change the point of what I was saying. You seem intent on blaming the loss squarely on Lilja when its *you* that fails to see the real reason why the Wings lost last night.

What makes your point ridiculous is that you consider this *the* goal that cost us the game. Not the two scored before it, no it definitely had to be this one that cost us the game. Was the final score 1-0 last night, and I just dreamed up the other 4 goals? Edit: Keep in mind that I'm expecting you to come back with a simplistic response about how it turned out to be the game winning goal.

I've been playing hockey since I was 10, and I know more about the game than a lot of people that have been playing their entire lives. There are also people that haven't played a second of actual hockey and probably know more about the game than I do. What does it matter if you've played or not? Does that mean your opinion is any more or less valid? I'd be very willing to bet that there are lots of people that have never played the game yet understand it from a tactical standpoint better than plenty of people that have played.

Yeah, I understand what you're looking for out of Quincey but my point is that this would be his first game for the Red Wings since the end of February, and the stakes are a hair higher. Not to mention that he had the opportunity to ease his way into things last playoff year due to the injury situation. Imagine the nerves he would have coming in his first game of the playoffs being a pivotal Game 4 of the SCF's. My whole point is there's good and bad to both............and Lilja wasn't the reason the Wings lost.

Yeah, because Lidstrom always gets flattened retrieving pucks in the corners. [/sarcasm]

Now thats an understandable rationale. That being said, as good as that sounds you still have to take into effect that Quincey or any other kid that hasn't played will have nerves coming out the ass playing their first game in a huge Game 4 on the road in the SCF's. You just don't know if Quincey would come in and make a nervous mistake that would be of "Lilja proportions". Sorry, I couldn't resist given all the Lilja hate.

And I believe if you think a better option at this moment is Chelios, than I question how much you've watched this years' playoffs. Both of them are clearly our bottom defensemen, but Lilja brings better shot blocking to the PK which is crucial against a potent PP like the Pens have. Cheli doesn't bring that to the table.

Slightly off topic, but the bolded comment shouldn't surprise you given that he's been paired with Kronwall. Generally, a defensive pairing that stays together for a while is going to have an extremely similar +/-.

Agreed. I don't believe that was a shot on Z and Dats....that was a shot on the coaching staff and how they misplayed those two.

When are people going to stop blaming the loss on Lilja, and actually realize it had to do with the way the Wings *played the Penguins* last night? This had nothing to do with any individual, the *team* sat back and gave too much respect to the Pens. *Insert any new Dman name here* and all that would've happened is that a goal would've been scored with them on the ice rather than Lilja. The *team* didn't play the way they did in the first two games, and thats why they lost.

When a coach doesn't ***** and whine it doesn't necessarily make them a better coach, but it does make them more of man. Coach T could learn a lot from this press conference.

Because the result wouldn't have been any different had he been in. The Wings lost because they gave way too much respect to the Pens and allowed them time and space with the puck. They didn't do that it in Games 1 & 2. If they go back to playing that way, they could throw Alexi Yashin back there and they'd still win.

TBH, I was kind of hoping Babs would've pulled Oz at about the 1:30 mark when they did get the puck deep. Even that can be considered a little early since most coaches like to do it around the 1:10-1:15 mark if they're down by a single goal. Either way, once the 1:15 mark came the Pens did a nice job of clearing the zone.

Great news for a Red Wing fan in Green Bay, WI! I'll be making the trip for sure!