Echolalia

Read the GoT books if you haven't. GRRM is an absolute genius. Every single sentence has a purpose in that series. Also the king killer chronicles is the new "it" series. Both books out are stellar.

How did you post pic??

That's heartbreaking ILL TAKE 100

No it isn't. If we looked at just the second half of the season when Nyquist was in the lineup then that would be true, but when Nyquist wasn't on the active roster the Wings still had to score goals (and did). Regardless of when Nyquist was brought up or how many games he played, 78% of the goals scored that year Nyquist wasn't involved in. In other words, the Wings had demonstrated they were capable of scoring without relying on him. Now, its true that in the second half everyone was injured and Nyquist had to shoulder the load, but injuries are a different issue altogether. Right now the Wings are pretty healthy, and the heavy reliance on Larkin is still there. But even if Nyquist was involved in 100% of the goals that year, my point still stands that isn't a good thing to have all your eggs in one basket (that's a rookie), and it sounds like we're in agreement on that aspect.

He is only one player, but he's also contributed to 28.3% of all the Wings' goals this year, either scoring it himself or assisting on the goal. Even after Nyquist went on that sick goalscoring tear at the end of the season, he had points on only 22.1% of Wings' goals that season. Tatar and the rest of them even less. But you're right in that the added offensive output of Nyquist, Tatar, Dekeyser, etc is greater than what Larkin has done this year, but if Larkin is shut down in the playoffs in a similar way that most other Wings' rookies have been shut down, and nobody replaces that lost output, the Wings are losing ~28% of their goals. Considering most of our games we score 2 to 3 goals a game, that amounts to roughly one less goal per every other game. That stat becomes even scarier when you factor in most of our wins are by one goal. In other words: right now this team lives and dies with Larkin. A strong portfolio is a diverse one, with contributions spread out through the group. Either the team starts pitching in more, Holland picks up a reliable offensive weapon before the trade deadline (these are the two options that will diversify our portfolio), or we ride our playoff hopes on an admittedly impressive rookie with zero seconds of NHL playoff experience, and hope he can continue the same output in a playoff environment. edit: I guess another option would be for Mrazek and the defense to post shutouts every other game.

For sure. And if Holland acquires somebody to help alleviate the offensive burden that is on Larkin (or a couple other players on the team pick it up) the Wings could go deep. Afterall, we're comfortably sitting third in the conference right now. Its not like we're even a fringe playoff team at the moment like the past couple years. And who knows, Larkin might be a playoff phenom too.

The problem is now we're riding Larkin and he has zero postseason experience. Which is a big factor in why I'm not expecting much this year.

Anything can happen in the playoffs. I feel like health and luck are just as important in the post season as actual skill.

They're currently third in the Eastern Conference.

Are the coyotes still run by the NHL?

What a crazy time in his life. In addition to the all star game stuff, getting traded across the country, AHL <-> NHL shuttling, according to Ken Daniels his wife is also expecting twins soon.

It's amazing how different a game becomes when you attack the net.

I've only been half paying attention and I'm surprised to see the shots are 9-4 Coyotes. The couple times I looked up at the tv it looked like the Wings had really good pressure going. On a side note: Has anyone else seen Over the Garden Wall? My mind has been blown at how awesome this show is.

I agree to an extent, but a defensman who pinches also needs to make sure to at least tie the play up long enough for the weak side forward (in this case Larkin) to react. Looking back over the highlight Smith tied his guy up and it actually looks like the puck was along the boards long enough for Larkin to get into position, so never mind on that account. Based on the backcheck during the two-on-one, though, it seemed like Larkin was exhausted and had nothing left in the tank. If that's the case then, as unfair as it may seem, the onus has to be on the defensman to be aware of how long the forwards have been on the ice and not pinch in those situations. Usually when it comes to Smith I try to be an outspoken defender of the guy because he's often wrongfully blamed for things, but in this case I think the blame is warranted. Not because the pinch was executed poorly, or was ill-advised based on the positioning of the other players (neither of which are true), but because it was the end of the shift for the forwards (and if not then shame on Larkin for such a lazy backcheck).

I don't think he was diving to draw the penalty, but lunging to make a last ditch effort to get the puck out of the zone. Either way it wasn't Tatar's stick that made him fall, but whatevwr.

Geez look at all those wings fans in the crowd

I'm glad to see that the Wings are competing for a playoff spot. But compared to last year, only Pulkkinen, Quincey, Smith, and Andersson are scoring at a higher ppg than last year. Everyone else across the board is less productive, other than Larkin, who didn't play in the NHL last year. I shudder to think where this team would be without Larkin's surprisingly reliable productivity, and I wonder if that is something the Wings can continue to rely on come playoff time.

How convenient for Holland. I swear this happens almost every time he's about to get into a cap bind.

As in the netting broke?

I'm not watching the game what just happened?

Wow was not expecting this.

The third period started with 19:59 on the clock.

Geez refs seem a bit biased tonight

Jurco is everywhere tonight

Seems pretty steep for someone who is going to be a FA at the end of the year and has liked multiple tweets about continuing his career in Toronto.