Echolalia

1

It's easy to point to goaltending as the reason we lost because hey this is LGW but frankly Bishop and Howard played about evenly. They both made some terrific saves and they both let in goals they want back. I don't think you can look at either one and say he was the reason Tampa won or Detroit lost. If we're going to point at anything as the reason we lost I think the first place we have to look is at all the scoring chances the Wings couldn't capitalize on. For long stretches of that game the Wings were carrying the play. Tampa struggled to keep the puck out of their half of the rink for the first half of the game. We had a 2-1 shot margin on them at one point. Multiple glorious opportunities from the slot that never even made it to the net. And the only two goals that the Wings scored were two otherwise innocuous shots from the point. Even with the average defense and average goaltending and average players and everything not elite about this team, if the Wings were able to capitalize on just one of those several scoring chances they worked so hard to generate the game is a totally different beast.

So many glorious scoring chances not capitalized on

Why was that a penalty

I got say the Wings haven't looked that bad actually. They were controlling the game until Tampa scored, and since then it's been kinda back and forth. The Wings do need to attack the crease though, and less of these unscreened snappers from 30 feet out right after crossing the blueline bulls***.

I think this might be the most exciting matchup in the first round. I hope the Blues can advance. That market has really been through a lot of downs..

Haha, no I meant the "house" in terms of hockey lingo, ie essentially the slot out to the faceoff dots.

That's okay Tats you can stay in Ben Bishop's house.

Western Conference: Wild v. Stars in 5 Hawks v. Blues in 7 Sharks v. Kings in 5 Preds v. Ducks in 6 Eastern Conference: Islanders v. Panthers in 6 Wings v. Lightning in 6 Flyers v. Caps in 4 Rangers v. Pens in 7

"All years of existing SPCs with terms in excess of five (5) years will be accounted for and charged against a team's Cap (at full AAV) regardless of whether or where the Player is playing. In the event any such contract is traded during its term, the related Cap charge will travel with the Player, but only for the year(s) in which the Player remains active and is being paid under his NHL SPC. If, at some subsequent point in time the Player retires or ceases to play and/or receive pay under his NHL SPC, the Cap charge will automatically revert (at full AAV) to the Club that initially entered into the contract for the balance of its term." How long was Datsyuk's contract for? Less than 5 years?

What's the official rules on cap hits for retired players? I thought there was still a penalty to the original team who signed the player even if the contract is moved. I honesty don't know the details, hopefully someone with more insight can clarify.

The whole team has played like trash more or less all season. Mrazek has been a dumpster fire since his birthday, and for the most part it has had little to do with the play in front of him. Since he started playing bad, Howard has been much sharper. This is why he's been getting the starts. Not because he gets paid more, but because he has been giving the team the best chance to win. If it was because of his bigger paycheck, Howard would have been the starter all season long, and that clearly wasn't the case from October to February.

LGW calculated playoff % chance after Ottawa victory over Boston: 58%

When he was pulled last night Blash said something to Howard as he got on the bench and I wondered at the time if he said something along the lines of "you're playing Saturday"

They were our best players out there tonight.

The guy was a true troll. I mean he's been permabanned and he once again singlehandedly got LGW to discuss his trolliness in a thread originally dedicated to Drew Miller. Guys a pro.

If Holland followed this logic a year or two ago Tatar would be in Edmonton, and you'd have your 6th round pick and Pulkkinen would be in Tatar's spot in the top six, who at the time was considered a sure thing in the NHL based on how he was destroying the AHL. In other words, you would have traded our second highest goal scorer away for beans and replaced him in the lineup with someone who can't even currently crack it.

Yeah.... Since Meazek's birthday I feel Howard has been the better of the two. It will be an unpopular opinion here but with only a handful of games left that we absolutely need to win I'd be more comfortable with Howard closing the season out. Right now he gives the Wings the best chance.

Only losses came on 3 on 3 OT or shootout, neither of which are in playoffs.

Frankly that would be a phenomenal feat. 82 game point streak and every loss was a one goal game. If you're looking for an 8th seeded team to win the Cup this is probably the one to bet on.

PP enforcin like mad out there

I mean... Being deserving of getting into the postseason is by definition because of the numbers. But then again LGW never let something as pesky as numbers get in the way of a good argument.

How can you play to win the playoffs if you don't get into the playoffs

And the teams that ultimately were unsuccessful down the stretch and ended he season with less points than the Wings overall would deserve that playoff spot? Either way, the Wings still control their own destiny. At least right now we aren't reliant on others to lose.

Did buffalo not tip that puck? Why is this icing