b.shanafan14

Mixed feelings for sure, but here they are: - Love Miller, but think goaltenders sometimes put themselves in situations where they should be considered a skater at least to some degree. - This is not one of those situations, Miller cleared the puck, Lucic finished afterwards. A goalie is a goalie, these aren't new rules. - Great to hear Miller react to the hit in a way other than it being 'unfortunate' or 'reckless', speak your mind. Love candid players. - Hate Boston, like the way Lucic plays and would love him on the Wings, but he has the propensity for dumb, reckless plays like this. - Immediately just outright hated the play because of the Boston homers. Seriously, worst in hockey by a wide margin. - Looking forward to some sort of backlash, either on Lucic, Miller, or both, but there shouldn't be. Tape describing why it was dumb. Done.

Great tempo from every line tonight! What did they have in common? No Bertuzzi. Replace a big sled with Filppula and look at that, Hank and Mule are just fine. I honestly don't see where Todd fits in, he is only physical with a slash or a free arm hold that puts him in the box. He is a pylon defensively and confused/disinterested offensively. Any line he has been on has had to deal with his slow ass and enough is enough. This will be the real test. Usually Babcock hates to change a winning line-up, especially after a losing streak like that and great game like the last one. However, Babs also seems to have a soft spot for Big Bert, so we'll see where his bias lies. Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Cleary Filppula-Zetterberg-Franzen Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader Eaves-Emmerton-Brunnstrom Miller Bertuzzi (scratch) Make it so!... The Todd is dead, long live the Todd! Now if we can only get Cleary going...

Just read this on MLive and rushed to LGW ... best news I've heard all year! Go Wings! Play well, win, and force Babcock to keep Bert out ! Goals by Franzen, White, and Lidstrom

F*** YOU BERTUZZI for floating around, completely oblivious of the other 4 skaters on the ice with you while gaining the offensive zone. "Hey Bert, I have the puck, I'm about to gain the zone".... "Nope, I'm Todd, altering my speed or direction even slightly means I'll have to take more strides, I'll coast in first and meet you there"... Offsides "Alright Bert, you have the puck, you're clear to gain the zone, just don't f*** it up"... "Nope, I used to be a superstar, ever see the Canucks play in the early 2000s? I show, watch Todd deke the blueline. Yeah! Never saw it coming"... Offsides F*** YOU BERTUZZI for floating around in the neutral zone instead of playing defense. "Umm, they're on a rush. Little help here Bert?"... "Look guys! GUYS?! GUYS! I'm circling the red line. I'm open, I'm open!"... Todd is minus one for the game. F*** YOU BERTUZZI for generally making stupid and lazy decisions, consistently. "Bert, open in the slot, goaltender out of position!"... "I saw Kane do this, but I'm bigger, thus, better! Check it out"... one hand on the stick, spin, no-look pass nowhere near open guy, goes to the ice, slashes/bites opposing player... skates to the penalty box completely oblivious to why he is in there (will make the same mistake when he is out in 2 minutes) F*** YOU BABCOCK for not scratching Bertuzzi or even sitting him for shifts when he is playing like s***. "I'm sorry coach"... "its OK, Bert. I thought we did some good things out there, things just aren't going our way, its always darkest before the dawn, things happen for a reason, keep on trucking, the sun will come out, TOMORROW!" ... repeats this to the media post-loss, goes to his office to grab some rest (on his laurels), and scratches someone else who was better or at least way less bad I don't like Bertuzzzi, by the way. Kills tempo on every line he is on, then we wonder, why Z or Mule or Nyquist aren't playing like superstars, they are short-handed in the worst way possible. Takes stupid penalties constantly, and raises his arms everytime, and the untrained observer might think, "look he's pleading innocence" but really he is saying "Honestly, that was me, I've been BAADDD!" He likes the 2-minute rest.

This is unwatchable hockey. Awful shot selection. Poor effort. Stupid mistakes that ALWAYS end up in our net. Teams like the Flames and Wild get the lead and play the trap which just compounds the problem. I was keeping cool for as long as possible, now I honestly believe something is horribly wrong. A team with this personnel should not be playing like this. Slump, bad bounces, soft calls, its all that. But something else is wrong... I've watched the Wings for a LONG time, and it always feels like they snap out of it. The way they are playing right now, I'm not so sure anymore. PS: BENCH BERTUZZI, PUT KINDL BACK IN, LEAVE HUDLER ON THE THIRD LINE, AND BENCH BERTUZZI

The way he is playing this season, someone needs to check the wording in his contract. From the looks of it, he's getting paid for each turnover and taxed by the stride, special bonus for playing with one hand on the stick and taking stupid penalties. I really don't understand how we can bench Hudler and Eaves, but never Bert. I felt for Nyquist, first big leagues game and he has to pull that sled around the rink. Completely negated that line all night. Grab some pine, fella.

Honestly. Obviously we know little about the scheduling process, and television coverage has a lot to do with dates and times, as well as other events at places like the United Center, but still. You'd think in the days of pocket computers and gene splicing we could figure out how to schedule games between 30 teams with consistent schedules. I'm pretty sure Excel is only like $125 bucks, and comes with Word so the league can spell check Lidstrom's name and get it right for a change. Really, even if we could fix the Wings schedule to be consistent or front loaded I would be fine. The last few years its been the same as this one: 4 or 5 day breaks with back-to-backs at the beginning of the season and then attrition later in the year. 3 days off max, minimize back-to-backs with travel, fold the BJ's and Panthers.

I can see how you may have taken it that way, but my intention wasn't to say Holland had the choice, but rather to say the Jets got a hell of a deal / Wings may have overpaid. I understand the implications of RFA vs. UFA, but there are really two ways of looking at it. In my view, the Wings overpaid based on the performance of Ericsson so far. Your view is that Bogosian was underpaid because of his RFA status, which I agree with to a certain degree but I'm not buying the Ericsson RFA comparison. Ericsson was signed as an RFA after playing the majority of his time in the AHL, registering just 8 regular season games at -3 plus-minus. This was prior to his decent playoff performance with the Wings. Zach Bogosian on the other hand has played nearly 200 NHL games (more than Ericsson to date) while posting more points-per-game on a worse team. Now, even if we look at Bogosian as equal to Ericsson, no better, look around the league and tell me if the norm for RFAs today is an underpayment to the tune of around 25%. In my opinion, usually closer to 10%-15% if at all. Compare that now to the possibility (and high probability) that Bogosian is a significantly better player with similar or more potential. Again, this is not meant to say we should have sign Bogosian instead, which isn't possible given the price in picks Holland would have had to give up. Rather, the post was meant to stir conversation about the Ericsson deal now that we have a recently signed comparable.

Yippee, the Canucks are up 2-0 on the Boston Bruins I think it was assumed nearly any team coming out of the West would handle the Eastern Champs, especially the Bruins. The Bruins are the Canucks sans offense. Which is to say: the Bruins are a team held together by a goaltender who is great right up until they choke ferociously. Canucks held serve, and it will be interesting to see if Luongo still has some weak ones left in him. If not, congrats, you've won your first cup in 40 seasons, pat yourself on the back The funniest thing about this is your thinly veiled inferiority complex that beckons you to come post on a RED WINGS board about the Canucks. Its appropriate that you sound EXACTLY like a CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS fan. Enjoy your "dynasty" haha.

Jiri Hudler never came back from Russia. You said it well, he worked up from GR, played well despite his size and then the summer of 2009. Waited it out, handcuffing the Wings in free agency, left, and came back supposed to be a difference maker and failed miserably. Last night was possibly his worst game yet even when you don't mention the clumsy blind-siding of an actually effective player in Dan Cleary. He was called upon to take on big minutes, especially with the extra man and between him and Rafalski, managed to render all Red Wings powerplays worthless. I agree with the firing squad comment. Either way, give me Miller, Eaves, or Draper any day, and I have no idea why we couldn't have played Modano. Still baffles me, but that's Babcock's issue. Trade or waive Hudler, at least with Filppula's contract we get solid defensive skill, more hustle, and equal/greater offensive capability.

Glad to see this thread has been reduced to arguing semantics of the term "sucker punch". To clarify in hopes of salvaging the topic, what I referred to as sucker punching were the initial blows, with Abdelkader facing forward while Clowe got in 2 or 3 quick, gloved jabs before finally dropping the gloves and laying into a still unconsenting opponent (aka, the Jordan Tootoo). Whether or not Abdelkader should have or could have fought back is a moot point, as is the stupidity of the linesman for grabbing the non-aggressor first. While not in line with the most egregious examples (such as Bertuzzi on Moore), it doesn't change the fact that it was a series of punches to an unsuspecting player, premeditated by the aggressor in the final seconds of a losing effort. Call it what you want, I believe if the NHL had spine it would have called Clowe for instigating and he would have skybox seats for Game 5. Of course, no one has ever accused the league of proper management so we shouldn't start now

I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole-hill in this situation, but nothing gets under my skin like a spot-picking sucker puncher. At the end of Game 4, 5 seconds left, Clowe clocks Abdelkader with several gloved punches right off the draw, then proceeds to lay into him with more as the clueless linesman tries to tie up Abdelkader. This is the kind of crap that I believe has no place in the game of hockey and should be cracked down on. I'm pro fighting, pro nastiness, but this premeditated cheapshot crap is infuriating. Both players got double minors for roughing on the scorecard and that was that. The way I see it, that is the exact spirit of the "instigator in the last minutes equals automatic suspension" rule (the one conveniently overrided in 2009 when Malkin jumped Z). And then I'm reading an article about Lidstrom on MLive and I see this in the notes: So the intent to goon was there in a losing effort due to frustration, he would have liked to go after one of our top two defensemen but he ended up having to settle on Abdelkader. Full article: http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/05/red_wings_nicklas_lidstrom_put.html

I was wondering why they didn't review that either, I know it didn't look definitively out, though I don't see it in either. The thing that pissed me off the most about that play was not two minutes before Holmstrom got the only penalty in a scrum after getting swatted at by two Sharks, one from behind. Then this play happens and the refs are watching Mitchell throw a headlock on Eaves, continue to twist him awkwardly on the ice and not let go for a good minute with no call while the linesman just sits there like 'come on, please?'. That more than anything got my blood boiling.

Here's hoping the Red Wings from the first round show up and Jimmy Howard from Friday shows up. We need everyone playing like Howie and Pavel did Friday. If we can do that, Wings can handle the Sharks no problem. As much as they should have won Game 1 save for the bogus penalty to tie it, its probably better that the Wings didn't win when they didn't show up. Losses create urgency, which the Wings sorely need. Here is hoping for a solid, willful game by the Wings and that the refs do their jobs right and stay out of the f*cking way. So long as the officiating is consistent and the Wings show up, this series is theirs. Niemi is a rebound machine and looked uncomfortable handling pucks last game, the Wings need to drive the net and pick up the garbage. Wings 4-2

Thank you! I was watching Versus with the Sharks homer feed (convenient) and saw Abdelkader, perhaps about 3-5 feet from the boards when a Shark took a good run at him between the numbers and Abdelkader was shaken up a bit. Of course the crowd cheered, the refs called it a good play (convenient), and the Sharks homer TV guys didn't mention it. I know Rafalski and Cleary also received a similar run that was a lot worse than the bump Bertuzzi laid. I by no means thought that the Wings played well for the majority of last night, and some may say the "better team" won, but they won by being gifted powerplays because of inconsistent officiating most likely because they were trailing as the home team. As TSN's Bob McKenzie says all the time "deserves got nothing to do with it". Wish the refs would have decided the Wings "deserved" it in 2006 when they outplayed Edmonton and still lost. Being the "better team" helped them WIN the game, but had it not been for the refs, they never would have TIED the game. The refs let the Sharks hit numbers and aim high all night, not whistling jack, and then when the game was on the line late, they decided to call something less egregious than any of those in favor of the trailing team, which lead to the tying goal, AFFECTING THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME. Used to be I would see penalties like that let go all game and think: "good, less penalties, less powerplays, they are letting the players decide it". Nowadays I think: "Let a hooking go on the opposition, the Wings will get called for a hooking to tie it. Missed a high stick drawing blood on the opposition, Wings will get a high stick to lose it. Let Holmstrom get slashed, cross-checked, punched outside the crease all game....." Inconsistent (convenient) officiating ruins games, and it ruined one last night.

Couldn't agree more. Same thing here.

Opposite for me. I'm from Michigan, huge Wings fan finishing up graduate school in Milwaukee. Just two years ago there were zero hockey fans to be found outside of Badgers fans. Then the newest NHL sponsored bandwagon started in Chicago and now everyone and their brother has "always" been a Hawks fan. Not as bad as the Pittsburgh Crosbies, but close. A week ago, it seemed everyone had just about leaped from the bandwagon just as it was moving top speed, before that overrated choke-artist Luongo let them back in. Save for an epic failure in Dallas, the defending champs should be at home watching. As much as I hate the Sedins and Luongo, I really hope they win. At least if they make it, they'll choke in the next round. If Chicago wins, they make history and I hurl.

I used to watch the Bulls when I was a young kid and everyone else on the planet was, but ever since, I just don't get the appeal. At all. If you catch the last 3 minutes of play, you'll get the gist of it, and about 20 minutes of inbound, foul, free throw, repeat. Honestly, once you've seen one slam dunk where the player pounds his chest and roars like "look how high I jump", you've seen it all. When games end 108 to 102, what is the significance of the first 45 minutes and 90 points or so? Typical "exciting" Basketball play: player drives the net, maybe getting slapped on the hand and getting to halt play and get a free throw, maybe continuing for a lay up or dunk. Either way, limited impact on the game (0-2% of the final score), teams immediately start play the other way, whether there is a score or not. Typical exciting Hockey play(s): player skates at 20+ mph along the boards before he is hit by an opposing player, knocking him off stride flat onto his back to free the puck; players work a give and go on a 2-on-1 break away where either the defenseman manages to prevent the pass or the goaltender makes a miraculous save, huge impact on the game (0-25%+ of the final score). Games can be won in the first period or in the final minute. There is something very basic, boring, and beerpong-esque about it. Terrible comparison, but here goes: outside of the pay, the marketing, and the obvious athletic superiority, what separates the show-boating NBA player who sinks a basic jump shot and then leaves his hand goose-necked halfway back up the court from the ******-bag fratboy who drains a cup in beerpong and then chest bumps his "bro" and calls you a "***"? There are only 10 cups in beerpong

Reel Fishy. Pun intended.

Headshots, horrible/suspicious officiating, cap-circumvention, and Red Wings tradition: NHL pet peeves. I think its hilarious with all of the other problems in the league, THIS becomes an issue. Holmstrom is practically assaulted in front of the net every night and he is lucky if HE doesn't get a penalty. We are instructing law enforcement to fine FANS? Five or more octopi on the ice a game, and the Joe STILL has the best ice in the league. Osgood made a great point at the end of the video on MLive. Look at the season finale in Chicago and the game in San Jose last night, there are no standards for the conditions of the ice. I don't think I saw the puck lay flat once after the first period last night. Lets talk about that. Which is more likely to cause injury to a player: a) dozens of slashes and crosschecks, b) toe-picking on poor ice conditions because Celine Dion and the Bulls had a back-to-back the night before, c) octopus gunk Hint: the answer is C. :thumbup: :thumbup:

WTF? I'm stuck in class, check the score and this s*** is going on? They do realize they have neither clinched the division or a playoff spot? Are they honestly so lazy and stupid that they throw this on top of their other stinkers at home? This is sad and pathetic. 2-3 seasons ago I would say let them run up the score, embarrass the Wings and fire them up, but these are not those Red Wings. Lazy, talented slobs resting on their laurels. No fire, no hunger.

Unfortunately, he is reminding me of Cheechoo in 2007-2008. One season, he can't miss, the next season, who is this bum? And it all went downhill from there. This scares the hell out of me. I don't think Mule is THAT bad, but still, 11 more seasons....

There is something a bit fascist about not being able to speak the truth if someone up the totem pole doesn't like it. They treat "that was an awful call" like its "sloppy seconds". Doesn't the league do more harm than good to their image in these instances?

I have watched that Zetterberg play over and over, zero hook. None. Playing him close, preventing him from getting a clean run at the goaltender with under 15 seconds left? Yes. But at no point was there what the league describes as a hook. At no point was there any obstruction beyond the rules of the game. In fact, the more I see it the more of a "defensive gem" it was (not to be confused with the "defensive gem" that Versus initially called the trip on the Holmstrom breakaway). The minutes prior with the Wings in the offensive zone pressuring there are several free-hand-grabs let go, which is fine if that's the way you're going to call it, there was even a "funny" sequence in which my girlfriend asked "isn't that a penalty" and I was foolish enough to reply "in the first period, for sure, but they've probably swallowed the whistle in the last minutes and let them play"...... so much for that. Inconsistency is disgusting. I don't know what constitutes a good, legal play in this league anymore, it changes not game to game or even period to period, but minute to minute. And as much as I HATE conspiracy talk or favoritism as it tends to have the look of excuse making, there is something seriously off since the lockout as far as "flavor of the week" teams (Hawks, Penguins) getting the benefit of suspect calls. I don't know if anyone could honestly say that the NHL has no agenda to ensure that another Cup champion doesn't miss the playoffs the year after. Unfortunately, that's exactly the problem. A hook isn't a hook at the 19:00 mark like it is at the 1:00. The definition unfortunately seems to change between the 19:00 mark and the the 19:15 mark. And last night it seemed to change between sweater color / playoff standing. Either way you slice it, that "hook" wasn't a hook at all. Granted, the refs see everything at high-speed, bad angles, blah blah... but there is nothing that said that play should have been called when the countless others were deemed legal.

Franzen has been suspect all season. He doesn't skate, he doesn't drive the net, if he doesn't have a shot at a high-slot wrister he seems not to care at all and gives up on the play. He has been the biggest disappointment this season by far, in my opinion. This is a guy who has the job security of an elite 40+ goal, 70+ point power-forward, but until this season he has relied on potential, the what-if of a full, healthy season. Well here we are, full healthy season, and he phones it in. I say it as much as anyone, regular season is nothing compared to the playoffs, and we've yet to see how he'll play this season, but the trend doesn't look good. Coming into this season I was a huge Mule fan, thought it was really his time to shine and he has played completely dull. He tends to score his goals 2+ at a time and then drop off the map for a chunk of the schedule. I can't say he has really helped the Wings win many at all this season. Also remember that he had a huge 5-goal night - which was equal parts skill, luck, and "wow, I scored, maybe I should play like I actually give a damn" - and without that he is sitting at 22 goals on the season. When 18% of your total goals are scored in one game of an 82 game schedule, and you don't have the playmaking and defensive ability/effort of Zetterberg or Datsyuk, you might be playing below your pay-grade. Something has got to change pretty quick, and stay that way, or else this is going to be a long 12 years. If he is phoning it in during his prime, what happens in 3 or 4 years?