Thunderpriest

I have nothing meaningful to contribute.....but crave the social interaction.

What a save!!!

The only thing missing is Ken & Mickey calling it....

Feels like a playoff game. Great pace and intensity.

Best hockey I've seen all season......

And that's the game! No nightmares tonight.....

hahahahahahaha empty net goal!!!

Nice shift by Cleary. How often has anyone said that lately?

Another PK.......

Z needs to go clean shaven or full beard. The stache on it's own is just.....wrong.

6:00 left. Penalty kill coming up. Familiar script......

Fixed.

Yessir

Yeah, the ASG is a joke. I never watch it, as it's boring hockey anyway. The skills competition is the only thing worth watching.....and not for long. And we're letting the Ducks hang around. I smell an overtime loss at this rate. (Yes, someone slap me.)

And Howard's not on the All Star ballot.

Nice...at least Pavel shot when he was inside the circle instead of passing to the point, as they always seem to do. Take it to the net! Fil should've shot. Z should've shot. I love Lids, but they need to stop deferring to him for the shot on net.

Weak PP......again. Anyone else notice that the Wings are too static on the PP. Too many guys standing still waiting for the perfect pass and one-timer. Oh, how I miss Fedorov carrying the puck into the zone and arcing in to the goaltender.

Yes. If it can be shown that the save was made in the glove with the glove clearly over the line, it is also a goal. If the goaltender's glove is shoved in, however.....no goal.

They can't let the Ducks hang around like this........

I would split up F-Z-F simply because I think we need to keep Datsyuk & Zetterberg together, and I think the lines round out better overall. Putting Holmstrom on a grinding line minimizes him badly. I think Hudler might do better with more minutes, and he's always played well with Filppula. Look at the goal yesterday. And I actually wish that Bertuzzi were gone, but since he's not, a Cleary-Abby-Bertuzzi combo is a nice third line to play against other 3rd lines. If Bert were to sit, I'd like to see Brunnstrom take his place on the 3rd line, with Cleary playing the right side. Also, I love Helm with Eaves and Miller....or Emmerton.....or Mursak.

Okay, I've been absent from this board for far too long, and this thread is right in my wheelhouse, so here is my take on the line combos..... For me, you have to play Datsyuk and Zetterberg together. I know that they've appeared to struggle when played together so far this year, but the entire team has struggled. Also, I just hate Cleary playing on the top line. I like the guy, but he just doesn't seem to fit. So.....here is how I'd line everyone up. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom (Don't rag on Homer too bad.....he really is most useful fetching pucks and has really seemed, dare I say it, quicker than usual.) Hudler, Filppula, Franzen (Yeah, I actually like this line.....and I think Hudler really plays well with Flip.) Bertuzzi, Abdelkader, Cleary Miller, Helm, Eaves (Rotate in Brunnstrom with Miller.) Lidstrom, White Stuart, Kronwall Kindl, Ericsson Rotate Commodore and Kindl, and I think he'll push Kindl to play at a higher level. So, that's it for now. Go ahead and rake me over the coals......I know you will.. LOL

I really think that this could be Howard's big year. The team has played awfully in front of him at times, and he still has very good numbers.....and 3 shut-outs already. If the rest of the team comes around, I think we're looking at a nice deep run in the playoffs. Is it too soon for me to start another topic about line combinations, though? It's been a while for me.

Everyone will think I'm crazy, but here goes...... I'd actually play Modano on the 2nd line. Stop...stop it.....stop laughing at me! No, seriously, I think it would work. I definitely want Datsyuk, Z & Holmstrom on the top line. To me, that's a no-brainer. (And I hated when Babs split them up, but it was understandable with all of our injuries.) Unfortunately, I think it's time for Draper & Maltby to go. They had a great run, but they're long in the tooth and need to step aside. I was actually hoping that they'd sign someone other than Bertuzzi, but he's a reality that I have to live with, but I'd demote him to line #3. I'd leave Fil in the 2nd line center slot and play Modano on the wing so he wouldn't have as much defensive responsibility. How would this look? Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Franzen, Filppula, Modano Hudler, Helm, Bertuzzi Eaves, Abdelkader, Cleary Miller or Draper Ok, Ok....so you don't want Modano on line #2. In that Case: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Hudler, Filppula, Franzen (I'm just leery of how small Fil & Hudler play) Bertuzzi, Modano, Cleary (Not exactly the quickest 3rd line) Miller, Helm, Eaves Draper either way........we look to be a deep club if Modano does sign......

I know his numbers were decent, but I really didn't want the Wings to re-sign Bert. My main concern isn't so much with Bert's numbers, but his apparent effect on Z's play. Not sure if anyone else noticed, but Bert's style of play really did not seem to compliment Hank's, and there were far too many rushes up the ice cut short by a bad pass, or an ill-advised spin-o-rama that only ended up deking his linemates out of position. And the one hand on the stick drove me nuts at times. He looked a bit too casual a bit too often. Now, I wouldn't mind so much if Babs would play Z with Pavel on the top line and let Bert fill a spot on the 2nd or 3rd line. With Hudler coming back, we should have some decent scoring throughout the top three lines......especially if Cleary can remember where the net is located. I'd like to see a top line of Zetterberg, Datsyuk & Holmstrom. That moves Franzen to the 2nd line with Filppula centering and either Bert or Hudler on the left wing. I'd prefer Hudler there, which moves Bert back with Cleary.....and likely Helm. That could be a nice 3rd line. Then, a 4th line of Draper, Abdelkader & Eaves would work. Actually....that's not bad....especially if we can stay healthy this year. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Hudler, Filppula, Franzen Bertuzzi, Helm, Cleary Abdelkader, Draper, Eaves Miller Bottom line is that Babcock HAS to keep the Euro twins together this year. When they played together for a season, with Homer, they were the most dominant line in the league. I understand that injuries kinda forced them to play apart.......but they are a much more potent force when played together. Okay, down from my "keep the Euro-twins together" soapbox in a Bertuzzi thread.

I have long advocated keeping the Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom line together, but with Filppula out, I don't see Babcock doing so. He'll want to break them up to have two lines with elite centers. Homer will stay on the top line. Bertuzzi has been playing well and looks to be improving with each game as he adjusts to our system. I don't understand Babcock's defensive pairings. Why did he split up Lidstrom/Rafalski & Kronwall/Stewart? Lebda is just awful.....I cringe when he's on the ice. So, here is how I'd line us up, assuming that Dats & Z are split. (And realistically, it's the only way to go with Flip out now.) Leino, Datsyuk, Holmstrom (Yes, Leino on the top line.....the kid's got great puck control.) Cleary, Zetterberg, Bertuzzi ( I could swap Helms & Cleary for more speed, letting Williams center the 3rd line occasionally.) May, Helms, Williams Maltby, Draper, Eaves Abdelkader Lidstrom, Rafalski Kronwall, Stuart Ericsson, Lebda Anybody else miss Franzen & Lilja right about now? Unreal.