NeverForgetMac25

The game is on NBC.

So do I. I'm not hitting the panic button whatsoever, just stating that the loss of Lilja is bigger than most people seem to acknowledge or understand.

Friday: Tampa Bay @ New Jersey Toronto @ Philadelphia Buffalo @ Washington Atlanta @ Florida Calgary @ Minnesota Nashville @ Chicago Saturday: NY Rangers @ Boston New Jersey @ Buffalo Montreal @ Toronto Philadelphia @ Ottawa Tampa Bay @ NY Islanders Pittsburgh @ Carolina Columbus @ Nashville St Louis @ Dallas Vancouver @ Edmonton Anaheim @ San Jose Phoenix @ Los Angeles Sunday: Minnesota @ Detroit Atlanta @ Washington Pittsburgh @ Florida Chicago @ Columbus San Jose @ Anaheim Colorado @ Vancouver

I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that has to be. Talk about the worst possible situation.

I never said it looked bad. I just said Lilja's experience and especially his shot-blocking ability are big holes to fill.

My thought on that goal was regardless of the defense in that situation, *the shot he got on goal* needs to be saved. If the Wings were paying a goalie $7 million that would be the final stage of the perfect storm for the masses to jump off the bridge. Well played.

But it also wasn't a great shot. That *particular* shot needed to and should've been saved, especially given the circumstances and momentum of that moment in the game.

Not to mention the defending gold-medalists. My post was more a shot at Wilson than anything.

There's no evidence that he'll "turn it up" in the playoffs and on top of that he doesn't have the experience Lilja does. He also doesn't come with the shot-blocking ability Lilja does which will be beyond important given the Wings PK struggles all season. This absolutely no knock on Ericsson because I'm fired up about him being a Red Wing full-time, but I believe some are underestimating Lilja's value on this team.

Aw Crap....anyone else envision a team that does well out of the gates and then chokes in the medal round?

I'm not squarely putting it on the goalies. As you said, its a vicious cycle.....and I mentioned that earlier in this thread. While the defense isn't playing near their ability the Wings' goaltending hasn't helped the issue one bit. The two go-ahead goals that *quickly* followed after the Wings tied it last night were downright embarrassing. While the first (to make it 3-2 STL) may not have been Conklin's fault, the second (to make it 5-4 STL) was just a joke.

I completely agree with this. Keep in mind I was referring to the top 2 lines and their ability to carry and hold the puck. As for our bottom 2 lines, dump-and-chase would be a more effective system as long as they forecheck hard and are strong down low. Guys like Cleary, Kopecky, Draper and Maltby have no excuse not to be.

Of course the discrepancy from this year to last years' defensive play is evident, but IMO your reason for it isn't accurate. This difference in play from this year to last year also has a ton to do with goaltending. As I said before, when you play in front of a goalie that isn't instilling confidence in the guys in front of him the team as a whole plays more tentative and tight. That's most certainly not a free pass to excuse the defense, because regardless of their goaltending they need to play better and smarter. The defense as a whole is playing very young and inexperienced, McCrimmon couldn't be the one bringing that on. Again...if he was, don't you think Babs would've done something about it well before Game 77? The effort and focus by our boys just hasn't been there this year....and that's the number one problem. IMHO, blaming the coaches is just an easy way out for fans who can't accept the fact that the defense as a whole has struggled all season.

I respectfully disagree. It is more apparent when the team tries to carry on the PP since teams are more concerned with holding the blueline in a PK situation, but carrying into the zone this season hasn't been a problem, especially compared to previous seasons. Every team has this issue from time-to-time. If you believe the Wings have it more so than other teams, its likely because other teams don't have the talent up front to carry across the blueline and *have to* dump-and-chase. I can get on board with this. It was nice to see the Blues back off Z when he was behind the net and holding the puck while the Wings were on the PP last night. Personally, I'd like to see more cycling with the off wing cheating down the near face-off circle setting up for a one timer. When the Wings have done that this season its worked really well.

No, No, No Heaton! Let's keep blaming McCrimmon....that's the easy thing to do. Spot on.

Are you suggesting that McCrimmon has completely changed the scheme this veteran defensive core was utilizing. Don't you think well before Game 77 of the season this poor play would've been addressed and they would've reverted back to a scheme more similar to last seasons (or the decade+ before that). Do you truly believe Babs would allow McCrimmon and the Wings defense to fall this hard this late in the season? Also, don't insult my intelligence. I'm well aware how differently this Wings defense is playing from last year, but I'm also not about to pin the entire blame on McCrimmon.

I always find it funny when people make comments such as the Wings aren't "trying". Like you know they're not giving 100%. Like they don't give a s*** about the game. Do people realize how much they'd get laughed at if you actually told that to any professional athlete. Carrying the puck into the zone really hasn't been one of the Wings' problems this season. Are you asking this because you'd like to see the Wings start working down low in the zone more often or for some other reason?

This is a tougher blow than I think people realize. The Wings' PK has been garbage this season and losing arguably our best PK'er and shot blocker of the season for possibly part (or all) of the playoffs is a massive blow. Ericsson can play, no doubt.....but he doesn't come with the experience and shot-blocking ability Lilja does. Here's hoping Lilja gets healthy and can some how miraculously make it back in time for the playoffs.

I understand the defense this year has been completely different than the level of play Wings fans have come to expect the past decade+, but I truly question how much McCrimmon has to do with this. This isn't some young garbage blueline that's still learning to play at this level where McCrimmon would have his work cut out for him. This is a veteran lineup that won the Cup just last season. I don't deny that their level of play has declined this season (because it has), but the problem here is that the Wings have had inconsistent goaltending all season. If you couple that with a defense that starts to play on edge because they don't trust their goaltender, its a recipe for disaster. Just like Helm said in the championship DVD last year, its amazing how much better the 18 guys in front of the goalie play when they trust the guy between the pipes. They Wings haven't had that luxury all season.

Why? I didn't burn. Normally I wouldn't have, but in this case it's nothing her sister doesn't have up on Facebook already anyway. Besides, she looks great.

F

I just got back from Cozumel, Mexico and here are some pics. Sitting on the edge of the pool looking out at the ocean: Another rough day in paradise: Shelly and I at one of the many beaches we relaxed at: My older brother Ryan and I before going out to dinner: Playing cards on the deck of our condo with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Posted for obvious reasons. This was with my sister-in-law: Me on one of the scooters we rented for the week: A picture in the living room with my beautiful bride before going out for dinner: A pic of Shelly and I at El Mirador Lookout (s***ty quality, but I like the pic): View of the sunset from the our condo on the 6th floor: Our last night eating outside on the second floor balcony of a Italian Restaurant known as Prima:

It's a brilliant shot selection given there's no pressure coming from the backend. Thanks for posting it!

Not bad. I think something involving defending the Cup might have been in order this season, but it doesn't really matter.

I'm as displeased as anyone about the Wings giving up a shorty and being down by a goal, but talk about a schizophrenic, manic-depressive bunch in here.