Kp-Wings

LOL!

Most of the guys working for Versus now are broadcasters of teams already eliminated from the playoffs. I.E. Dave Strader (Phoenix), Rick Peckham (Tampa), etc. If the Wings are on Versus, I'd prefer they have Strader on. He's a former Wings guy (PASS sports), so he's not malicious when he talks about them, not like that idiot Mike Emrick. He's a good broadcaster as well, and I've always liked him. They should also put John Vanbiesbrouck on color, since I think he's a great secondary guy. Him and Strades worked good together last year, plus Vanbiesbrouck is a Detroit guy, so he's always nicer when talking about the Wings than some of these other colors guys (Eddie Olczyk, Andy Brickley, etc.). Ideally, I'd like to see them put Strader and Vanbiesbrouck on together for any games on Versus. If not them, than I'd take Peckham and Neil Smith, since those guys aren't too bad either. After that, though, the majority of guys on there make me want to find the mute button and turn off the sound completely.

The Wings are going all the way this year. The Cup comes back to Hockeytown. Let's Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!!!

One game means absolutley nothing. Just look at how bad the Wings started off that 2002 opening series against Vancouver, or how bad Carolina started off their 2006 opening series against Montreal. It's a long series, everyone. I'm hoping the Stars do come out of it, because I'd love to see all these media bastards eat their words. Everyone is predicting an Anaheim - San Jose WCF; that's why it'd be so funny (and extremely cool) if both Dallas and Calgary advanced instead. It was great watching the Stars kick the Ducks around last night, so hopefully it continues. Haha, nice avatar there. I Am Weasel is such an awesome show.

Haha, tell me about it. Nothing about that hits even warrants a penalty, much less a suspension. Smithson's hit on Draper was just as bad; if not for Draper ducking to avoid it at the end, he could have been hurt, making it much worse. And that hit wasn't even penalized. If Smithson doesn't get anything for that hit, than Kronwall shouldn't get anything for his. And this is just talking about penalites. As far as suspensions are concerned... ugh, give me a break. If the NHL starts suspending guys for normal hockey plays like that, this league is in trouble... That hit was awesome, by the way. Kronwall had Peverley (or whoever it was) lined up, and just ran him over like a train. Almost reminds of the good old days when we had guys like Vladdy...

Cool. That's really great to see the intensity and support coming back. Let's hope we can expect more of this excitement in Game 2.

My only real complaint from the Wings was more noteably one guy: Brian Rafalski. Those were just some downright terrible giveaways he made in the third period. There was a sequence were he made a couple in a row on the same shift; not good. But, I guess everyone has their off night's. Chelios didn't look great either. Now, for the positives. Zetterberg rules. What an absolutley fantastic game he played last night. He's clutch, and he'll be a real important factor for the Wings for the rest of the series. Great game by Stuart. He looked like he didn't miss a beat. Solid defensivily, and had a couple of decent shots that almost became scoring chances. Very good return for him. Hasek played good, even though he didn't see many shots. Tootoo's goal was very lucky, as it hit about 2-3 different players skate, and just barely deflected game. Kronwall is awesome. I love hits like that. High with the elbow or not, it was still a great hit. Lidstrom continues to dominate defensivily in all aspects of the game. Give that man his 6th Norris Trophy, because nobody else even comes close. McCarty played great in the few minutes he got. He was solid, didn't make any bad mistakes, and got in Tootoo's face. Great work by him last night. ...and while they may not be a player on the ice, I have to say: excellent game by the fans last night. Yes, there were empty seats, but who cares. The game was a sellout, and it was also LOUD. I really hope this continues, so it shuts all these media idiot's up. They need to finally understand that nothing beats the playoff atmosphere of Hockeytown. Overall, a great game last night. Really looking forward to Game 2 on Saturday. Let's Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!!!

According to an article on MLive, Babcock would make his final decision before the start of the game tonight (after the warmup). All indications from the lines he used earlier today in practice seem to point towards McCarty playing, but I'm not really sure. If he's in, that means Downey is out.

According to the media, the people in the seats. Since there are unfilled seats, or the people in them may not be as passionate as some others, that officially makes Detroit a bad hockey market to them.

There is no better time of the season. This is the year the Cup comes back to Hockeytown. Let's Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!!!

I said I wanted Abdelkader in the lineup, not a Drake - Downey - McCarty line. The only time I ever suggested that was in the last few regular season games. Stop putting words into my mouth.

So what? The Wings have Draper, along with numerous other centerman who can win faceoffs, but contribute in other ways as well (something Hartigan can't do). I highly doubt Babcock puts Hartigan out in an important situation to take a faceoff. If he does, than I'll eat crow, but considering Draper is back in tonight, that situation will probably not come up.

The media buzzards will be all over this. Illitch refuses to meet the demands of a struggling economy, and until he does so, JLA will have empty seats. It's just too much to ask for the average fan to shell out for one night (roughly 3 hours) of entertainment. Notice that, during the years of the late 90's/early 2000's, the US, and more directly the state of Michigan, was not suffering through an economic resession, at least not the one of epic proportions as seen now. If the game doesn't sellout tonight, I expect at least 5-10 news articles regarding the removel of the "Hockeytown" title from Detroit, and instead given to Buffalo. Yes, that same Buffalo team that couldn't fill the building themselves this season, and are on the outside looking in during the playoffs.

Can anyone please explain to me why Hartigan is in over Abdelkader? This move makes absolutley no sense at all. Hartigan is useless. He brings nothing useful to the lineup, and about the only thing he does do is take bad hooking penalties. There's a reason why he's a 30 year old journeyman that has never been able to crack even the worst of teams; he sucks. As for the last roster spot, I'd probably go with Downey, just because he's in better shape than McCarty. Though McCarty did play pretty good against Chicago. We'll see I guess.

WEST: (1) Detroit vs. (8) Nashville - Wings in 5 (2) San Jose vs. (7) Calgary - Flames in 6 (3) Minnesota vs. (6) Colorado - Wild in 7 (4) Anaheim vs. (5) Dallas - Ducks in 6 EAST: (1) Montreal vs. (8) Boston - Canadians in 5 (2) Pittsburgh vs. (7) Ottawa - Penguins in 4 (3) Washington vs. (6) Philadelphia - Capitals in 7 (4) New Jersey vs. (5) New York Rangers - Rags in 6 Thanks NFM for putting this together.

From all the way in Bay City, Michigan... hey, that's actually pretty far away from Detroit, especially during Rush Hour traffic... Let's Go Red Wings!

I'd value George Costanza's opinion.

nevermind

Exactly what I was thinking. How many bad penalties has Hartigan taken so far this year? Downey needs to play. Even in limited minutes, he can still be used effectivily.

If Babcock even plays him anyways, regardless of injuries, I'd be extremely disappointed (for lack of a better term). Hartigan sucks. The goal he scored against Chicago the other day was a beauty, but Khabibulin basically giftwrapped that goal from the start. Had he not made such a brutal giveaway, Hartigan doesn't score that goal. Heck, he probably doesn't even get the puck. Hartigan is the next generation Mark Mowers. He is a small, non-physical forward with absolutley no offensive ability to speak of. He can skate decently enough, but that's it. After that, his ability to contribute is limited. The Wings have both Downey and McCarty: both guys that will probably get just as much ice time as Hartigan, maybe a little less skilled, but will contribute in a better way by bringing physical play to the lineup, something that is very crutial against a team like Nashville.

No... think Steve Begin.

Downey, McCarty, Abdelkader, Drake

Nice post calfan. I hope the Wings prove these media clowns wrong. Guys like Pierre McGuire and Grapes are nothing more than a bunch of talking heads that have no idea what's coming out of their mouth's half of the time. They site the same song and dance every year: "Too old, too soft, beats up on the division...". ...and on a somewhat related note, I hope Calgary upsets San Jose quickly. I'm so tired of everybody calling them to win everything. People who call the Wings overrated apparently haven't watched the Sharks play. Joe Thornton, Brian Campbell, and Evgeni Nabokov do NOT make a Stanley Cup. These media losers seem to forget that the majority of that team is mostly a bunch of overpaid, underachievers (see: Patrick Marleau). This is such a strange time of year, so I guess anything can happen.

Lebda. I'm definitly one of the biggest Lilja haters on this forum (GMR, I think you're aware of that ), but when it comes right down to it, I'm not really a Lebda fan either. He's small, and can't really do anything but skate fast. Considering that the Wings are playing a physical team like Nashville, the Wings need all the physical players they can get, and Lilja does somehow manage to be in 2nd in hits on the team. Lilja plays, Lebda sits. Done.

I still stand by my thoughts that, with the offense (and the payroll) this team has, they will turn it around. ...and they damn well better, because there is no excuse for this. Plus, I plan on going to some games later this month, so they better start winning. Also, for anyone who's wondering, I also did hear the "Let's Go Red Wings" chants during the Chicago game. They weren't very loud, but they were there.