NeverForgetMac25

My point being you shouldn't make an argument for something you have no clue about.

If the wait is gutting you just imagine how you'll feel if the vastly-inferior Red Wings miraculously win tomorrow.

I'll even save you the trip TheWellHungarian. Detroit versus the Central: 17-12-3 Detroit versus the East: 7-2-1 Detroit versus the Pacific: 15-5 Detroit versus the Northwest: 15-2-3 MEAN OLD RED WINGS, ONLY BEATING UP ON CENTRAL OPPONENTS!

Congratulations! You sir, have no idea what you're talking about! Check the Wings' record against the Central versus the remainder of the Western Conference.

I'll withhold any judgement until the games play out. I don't want to use the refs as an excuse (especially since the series hasn't even started yet), but I will keep an eye out just to be sure.

Gotta lighten the mood somehow with the never-ending wait we've had to endure.

I think Lidstrom would be just fine in that regard, but I understand what you're getting at (depth).

Dallas did that this playoff year.

I find it funny how you tell me "it doesn't matter who played who" and then you go on to say that some of your response is *opinion*. While, I don't argue that the Wings are the better team, and that its their series to lose, what difference does it make to compare playoff opponents to each teams strength's and weaknesses when they haven't played each other all season. They are all contributing factors in to analyzing how the teams will matchup. Your reasoning is no better (or worse) than analyzing things on paper. It's just that....an analysis until the puck drops.

The way Cheli has played this playoff year, I'm thrilled Lilja is playing. As NN said, he was a stud last postseason until his giveaway in Game 5 of the ANA series, but Cheli has been absolutely brutal since the start of the playoffs. As for Cheli, he's only a +2 on a defensive-core that averages a +5.333 (which includes Lebda's even +/-, otherwise it would be +6.4) most of whom matchup against the oppositions best lines. TBH, its gotten to the point where when the Wings get scored on, I quick double check to see if Cheli was on the ice. I'm sorry, he's had a hell of a career and up until this spring I never questioned the thought of continuing to bring him back. This postseason has made me think differently, especially with Meech and Ericsson waiting in the wings (no pun intended).

That was a typo, my bad. It's been corrected. I meant to write: DET 4th Line vs. PIT 4th Line

This coming from a Pittsburgh Fan! Its funny how you're absolutely sure the Penguins are one of the two best teams in the NHL, yet you're not convinced about the President's Trophy winning Red Wings who (along with Pittsburgh) arguably played inferior opponents in the first two rounds, yet the Wings CF matchup was no doubt more difficult than the Penguins. If you're going to use the fact that the Wings didn't have to play the Sharks, than the same could be said about the fact that the Penguins only had to play the 7, 5 & 6 seeds respectively to make it to where they are. That's SOOO different than the Wings' 8, 6, 5 path! To top it off, if you want to compare playoff opponents, lets atleast base it on total standings points, which is much clearer than making comments about what division you play in. Pittsburgh's road to the finals was against teams that finished with 94, 97 & 95 points (total of 286 points) respectively, while the Wings opponents finished with 91, 95 & 97 points (total of 283 points) respectively. What a difference....a whole 3 points! Also, the Red Wings dominated the other two divisions in the Western Conference, just take a second and look at the numbers. Lastly, if the Wings are fortunate enough to prove to *you* that they are one of the best two teams in the NHL by winning it all, are you going to come back and admit you were wrong?

What are you talking about? I'm not insinuating anything, but perhaps you didn't read the rest of my post, because you just repeated exactly what I said at the end of it. I said that Draper's line will take the Malkin line because the Wings' second line won't match up to Pittsburgh's. I was stating that Eva was right in saying the line matchups will look like this: DET 1st Line vs. PIT 1st Line DET 2nd Line vs. PIT 3rd (shutdown) Line DET 3rd (shutdown) Line vs. PIT 2nd Line DET 4th Line vs. PIT 4th Line

The way his body contorts as he hits the ice is simply a magical ending to a phenomenal hit.

Am I correct to assume you are picking Detroit to win 4-1 since you have them listed first? There was no bold, so if I don't hear back from you, I'll assume thats what you meant.

If Babs wants to stick Cleary on the second line, with Franzen and Filppula, I'd rather see Maltby on the third line with Drake and Draper given that they'd be a great shutdown line against Malkin's bunch. Besides, then Hudler and Helm have a better play maker than Maltby to play alongside. Personally though, I'd like to see Sammy-Filppula-Franzen back together simply because that line dominated and found an incredible chemsitry together. If that struggles, than I would be all for the initial lines I posted.

Really? I've never heard that one before. Please let me know if you find something.

Someone actually reported this in the "Franzen Cleared to Practice" thread, but great news nonetheless and definitely worthy of its own thread. This can only help his play, and should be a major helper on loose pucks in front of the net.

Let me know when you hit double-digits.

They do have exceptions, and I'm fairly certain given that Mac played the entire playoff run up until now would warrant his name on the Cup regardless of not playing in the finals or 41 games in the regular season.

I know Kronwall won't square up to Georges, but I figured it was pretty widely acknowledged that GL wouldn't go after a guy that size anyway. You might want to check that "Hooked on Phonics" site out yourself as you obviously didn't comprehend what I was saying either.

I do. This just means more mediocrity for a franchise I don't like.

I think that's more likely than anything. Here's my 2 cents. If Franzen is able to play Saturday night, then we obviously have nothing to debate here. However, if Franzen needs just one more game to be cleared, meaning Mac's lone roster spot is the one up for grabs, I think at this point you have to stick with Mac simply due to the fact that Downey hasn't played an NHL game in over a month and a half. Whether he's practicing or not, he's still going to be game-rusty especially given the nerves of his first game back being Game 1 of the SCF's. Don't get me wrong, I was furious with Mac's horrendous play and decision-making in Game 6, but his decisions that night are something that Babs can talk to him about, and at the same time his TOI can be monitored. All that being said, even though Downey hasn't played this playoff year, he has played 56 games for the Wings this regular season meaning he's already eclipsed the 41 game minimum to get your name on the Cup if the Wings are fortunate enough to win. The real question is, can any of you imagine if Kopecky wouldn't have gone down for the season? Imagine this lineup with him added to the mix? SCARY!

That comment should induce some new Pens members.