DreamsofHope

Agreed. He has these amazing breathtaking plays sometimes. But as we have seen this post season, sometimes he struggles to bury the puck when the opportunity presents itself. I think he needs to develop that instict, but I also believe that it is inevitable that he will. I cannot wait!

Yeah but consider Crosby's age. You still have a kid playing out there. Let him grow up a little before you say he needs to show class.

Confirmed?

I for sure think the wings can pull it out, but I don't think it is that simple... it is all about matchups.

We don't have to be careful about doing anything. Nor does what we do matter. The wings need to be careful, but knowing Babcock and the Wings, they won't underestimate at all. I don't see this team being too cocky, and I think they definitely recognize the threat that Anaheim is. But why is everyone forgetting that babcock gives us an edge here as well. He knows some of these players, and he especially knows jiggy. I think he will be an x factor for sure.

Any free agent lists out there?

For practice, and so they are fresh just in case something happens... insurance.

Yeah I thought the exact same thing. How could he be skating hard if he hurt himself with a lower body injury. Just didn't add up, but I suppose neither did him not coming back.... Ahhh! This is killing me. We neeeeed him.

"Tomas Holmstrom, playing his first game since he injured his eye when Calgary's Craig Conroy hit him with his stick April 22 in Detroit's series-winning victory over the Flames, scored a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period to start Detroit's comeback. Holmstrom went back to the locker room in overtime with an apparent injury." I just posted this in the Post Game discussion, but that is all TSN has to say about it. Apparent injury.

"Tomas Holmstrom, playing his first game since he injured his eye when Calgary's Craig Conroy hit him with his stick April 22 in Detroit's series-winning victory over the Flames, scored a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period to start Detroit's comeback. Holmstrom went back to the locker room in overtime with an apparent injury." That is all TSN had to say about it.

Put Bernie in coach! Those steals by Dats always amaze me.

But the thing your point misses is that outscoring someone doesn't define the better player... so many more things factor into it.

Sorry what I implied was that Cleary is better when compared to salary AND defensive effort. So I guess what I am saying is that Lang wasn't easily the better player. Perhaps you are right, and I think you have something in the point Lang was hot when Cleary lit it up. But I don't think it is as black and white as offensive statistics. But yes, they very much do support your case, and I don't have any stats to back mine up. So I'll give you this one.

I personally think that Babs is amazing. I dont' disagree with you that those are our top six players, but I don't think Cleary should be up there. I think Cleary is fine right where he is now with Malts and Drapes.

Yes, but the difference here lies in Lang's salary, and his defensive effort as well. That doesn't always show in the statistics. That being said, i am willing to agree with the Lang was better suited for the old NHL. I was very excited about getting Lang, and still tend to like him. But even as far as team leadership, and being active with the media etc. Lang has all but dissappeared. I feel like it is less a matter of skill, than it is a matter of what is going on for him personally. Perhaps Babs? I still have hope for him this playoffs, but my dedication to Lang is slowly fading... even though I don't want it to. So funny but so true.

Here are the only things I worry about.... I worry about them just working on shutting down the top line, if Bertuzzi played there. Granted Cleary is scoring and doing good things, I feel like this would hurt our other lines dearly. If Bert moves up, we need to do something to make sure Franzen, Cleary, and Filpulla keep scoring.

I don't think he was comparing the team to the 80's teams. At least to me it doesn't seem like he did. I don't feel like your points are invalid by any means. The wings won't make it far if they keep pulling the first ten minutes dissappearing act. If that is what you intended to communicate though, why didn't you just say that? I think the reason people are so upset, is because you turned due criticism into a personal attack on the team. You turned concern into something so much bigger than concern. Are you seriously so stubborn that you can't admit what you said was not well constructed? I think if you looked at it objectively, even you could agree with some of the things being said to you. At least I hope so. I'm sorry everyone came down on you so hard, and I hope I'm not contributing to that. But for the sake of the red wings man, admit your mistake and look at what you said. That being said, Hasek screwed up. But man did he ever shut the door, and for the first time in the last few years, the fans and the players alike, don't have to worry about the goaltender. It is nice to be able to sit through the playoffs and not have to worry about losing the game at the fault of the goaltender. That is a comfort we haven't had since... well.... 2002. Weird.

What's worse as that it gave the empty net goal to San Jose for a while... still siting the wings win 3-2

Does everyone here think that Holmstrom will really be out until game 4, and when will Lebda be back? That being said, who sits, and what difference can either or both of them make in this series? What will they contribute and how, if anything before the series is over?

Dude did you hear him in the pregame... he is such an a hole

YEAH!!!!! I love Cleary! I couldn't be happier right now. Lets go red wings!!! Please, please keep this up, win this game.

If there is a better place for this, please move it. I just wanted to say that I just read ESPN's article where Brian Rolston gives his thoughts on the Wings Sharks series. I am curious if he saw any of the Calgary series, but he stated that the wings defence is their weakest piece. I tend to disagree. I feel like we have an amazing defense this year. He claims goaltending is our strongest piece, which I don't generally agree or disagree with. He also states that Nabby isn't proven to win the big games, but predicts the Sharks in seven, stating that Nabby might prove himself in this series. I would just say that the Wings weakest piece right now is injuries. Any thoughts? Here is the link

I think Mike Babcock is the x factor in this series. Some say that last year he simply got out-coached, but I tend to disagree. I think that it just took a good amount of time for him to shape this team the way he wanted it, the way he needed it. I look at the Calgary series and I saw everything Mike Babcock has preached since he's been here: out working the other team, and crashing the net. The combination of those two things gave us the edge over the Flames, especially when combined with our skill. I feel like Babcock is one of the smartest coaches in the league and that he has shaped this team exactly how he wants it. I even loved when I heard that one of his assistant coaches was there simply because they didn't agree on things. He puts someone there to keep himself in check. I think he will be the difference in this series, and when things are going wrong (throughout the course of the year), I always look to Babcock to fix things for us... and so far he hasn't failed.

See if we lose tonight, I will take comfort in knowing we have Babs to correct our mistakes.

Yeah that is kind of what he was saying. He said that some of their players could pound our defensemen into submission, or something along those lines.