2/24 GDT: Red Wings @ Predators

[Lidstromrules16 7]

I love to hate the Preds, but I would love to see Jordan Tootoo get hit in the face with a puck, just as badly as I wanted Pronger to get hit in the playoffs last year. Luckinly, Prongs got his last week

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

I really only thought that the the first goal Ozzie let in was soft. The second one, Lang just waved his stick, giving no real effort. Ozzie pretty much held us in the game, especially during the first period.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Well, at least I picked this game correctly for my weekend picks...

Picking against the Wings was bound to pay off sooner or later.

I was 0/2 for Wings games this weekend.

[sWINGED 0]

the wings lost this game because they went into what's called, in football terms, "prevent a win defense."

it's like they took stupid tablets at about the 18 minute mark of the 3rd and started collapsing on the net in the defensive zone and letting the preds skate circles around them. oh, and then for good measure they continued with that passive/flopping/hoping play in overtime.

end of discussion. new thread please.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

I still say let Nashville win the Division. If we win the West again, it'll be just like the last two years in the Playoffs, everyone will be gunning for us. Give Nashville the bulls-eye this year.

uh, no

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

I think I heard someplace that tonight's game has been sold out for weeks.

True. I guess I didn't think about it in wins, just in points.

[BlueMonk 102]

All around a pretty frustrating game. I really thought the Wings just let it slip away... at least nashville didn't get two points and move ahead of the wings in the standings(sorry, I am trying to be semi-optimistic).

This is a huge point for the Wings. They're in great position. I was talking with a friend of mine about this series and we both figured the Wings just need to win their home games against Nashville. Getting a point in a road game is a bonus. The schedule should probably take care of the rest. While the Wings play a March schedule full of home games, the Preds are off on a brutal road stretch. If the Wings can just take their remaining home games against the Preds, they'll probably win the division.

He may have scored the OT goal, but Forsberg looks like a shell of his former self. The Preds better hope he's just going through an adjustment period, because if this is as good as he's going to play, this will go down as one of the worst trades in a long time.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Ozzie played a mostly good game. However, he did let in two soft goals. The first was only mildly bad--he really ought to have closed the pads on that one, as he had a good angle and plenty of time to get set. The second? Ozzie has always had trouble against breakaways, especially breakaways that see several of his teammates riding the sole opposing player. Legwand let off a light shot; Ozzie had all day to respond, and he unnecessarily committed to the left-pad save too early. Actually, in light of this I'd say that he played a so-so game. Two soft goals is two too many, barring the commission of some truly outrageous saves to even it out later on.

It's not all the fault of the rest of the team. I hate to say it, but with Hasek neither of those would have been goals.

I don't think Ozzie had a so/so game. I think he was great and is one of the main reasons aside from Homer of course that the Wings got a point. He made HUGE saves in the first, and third to keep them in it when they were down, and tied. It could of been a lot worse. A lot.

As for Hasek? Come on. You can't even say that. Hasek gives up softies every now and then. Every goalie does.

[ShanahanMan 473]

This is a huge point for the Wings. They're in great position. I was talking with a friend of mine about this series and we both figured the Wings just need to win their home games against Nashville. Getting a point in a road game is a bonus. The schedule should probably take care of the rest. While the Wings play a March schedule full of home games, the Preds are off on a brutal road stretch. If the Wings can just take their remaining home games against the Preds, they'll probably win the division.

He may have scored the OT goal, but Forsberg looks like a shell of his former self. The Preds better hope he's just going through an adjustment period, because if this is as good as he's going to play, this will go down as one of the worst trades in a long time.

you're high. we should have had this one

[tazzer82 0]

Ozzie played a mostly good game. However, he did let in two soft goals. The first was only mildly bad--he really ought to have closed the pads on that one, as he had a good angle and plenty of time to get set. The second? Ozzie has always had trouble against breakaways, especially breakaways that see several of his teammates riding the sole opposing player. Legwand let off a light shot; Ozzie had all day to respond, and he unnecessarily committed to the left-pad save too early. Actually, in light of this I'd say that he played a so-so game. Two soft goals is two too many, barring the commission of some truly outrageous saves to even it out later on.

It's not all the fault of the rest of the team. I hate to say it, but with Hasek neither of those would have been goals.

Dom let in 2 goals last night that he shouldn't have either. The one that went through his pads, and then when he decided to wander and it bit him in the ass yet again. Just curious, were you all over him for those 2 goals going in? If so, then fine. But this was not Ozzie's fault entirely. He kept us in the game in the 1st period, or it could have been over and been a long night, but he kept us in it.

You can't say neither of those would have been goals with Dom in net, like I said already, look at the soft one he let in last night.

[cr00d 26]

Just saw another replay of the game winner... Kronner easily could have kicked that pass away or gotten his body in front of it, but he tried stopping it with his stick instead, and of course it had to hop over his blade, slide between his legs, and onto the stick of Forsberg.

[Barrie 900]

If we finish 1st in the West, chances are we'll play Calgary in the 1st round.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

unfortunately i bet holland views this game as a good thing, "well, we hung in there with the preds with our current line-up, we'll be fine"

[Guest Crymson]

that's true, but lang's line gets plenty of pp time as well.

Lang makes everyone worse. Tonight he did all of the following:

1) Missed a wide-open net

2) Thoroughly delayed the power play on several occasions; took passes and, instead of one-timing the puck, held it, thus allowing Nashville to reset. This was done amidst continued fast-passing by all other Red Wings on the ice.

3) Continually decided not to take wide-open one-timers; always stopped the puck when it was given to him.

4) Instead of hustling after Legwand on his goal-scoring breakaway, strode along and attempted to hook Legwand off from 4 feet away. Had he succeeded, the best we could have hoped for was a penalty kill.

5) Refused to hustle to the net; as an example, when Franzen dumped the puck across the crease--on a diving play-- in the closing minutes, Lang had continued moving so slowly that he was several feet from the crease at the time, despite having seen the entire play unfold.

6) Caused turnovers within the Wings` zone, then made no hustle to correct them.

7) Made more than a few hideous passes in the offensive zone. Needless to say, these meant losses of possession.

8) Generally played with his usual lazy style, accomplishing absolutely nothing.

Honestly, I wish Babcock would bench the guy. I truly feel that, at present, Lang is causing more harm than good to the team. In the absence of production, he's utterly useless and even hazardous; he's essentially just a pylon, except that he generally doesn't even block shots. At present, he merits replacement with a guy who will hustle; that's a step above Bob's play of late.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

If we finish 1st in the West, chances are we'll play Calgary in the 1st round.

Good luck with Nashville will Calgary

[BlueMonk 102]

you're high. we should have had this one

Quality response.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know what is wrong with Cleary?

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know what is wrong with Cleary?

Minor upper body injury , I hope its not too serious

[cr00d 26]

Lang did exactly "get it done" tonight, but I wasn't offended by the intensity--or lack thereof--he brought tonight, so, he lives to see another day.

Problem with that is the winner of the division will probably get to play the Wild. Whereas the loser will play either the Ducks, Sharks, or Stars.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

you're high. we should have had this one

Umm kinda harsh? He's actually pretty much right on.

[Guest Crymson]

Dom let in 2 goals last night that he shouldn't have either. The one that went through his pads, and then when he decided to wander and it bit him in the ass yet again. Just curious, were you all over him for those 2 goals going in? If so, then fine. But this was not Ozzie's fault entirely. He kept us in the game in the 1st period, or it could have been over and been a long night, but he kept us in it.

You can't say neither of those would have been goals with Dom in net, like I said already, look at the soft one he let in last night.

ONE goal was Dom's fault. ONE. And that play by him could easily have worked. Yes, it was perhaps a bad decision on his part--but it was not the admission of a slow, straight on puck over his shoulder or through his five-hole.

Ozzie did play a good first period. Regrettably, as we have seen in the case of Joey, that's not enough. Also, it's his job.

[sibiriak 84]

I still say let Nashville win the Division. If we win the West again, it'll be just like the last two years in the Playoffs, everyone will be gunning for us. Give Nashville the bulls-eye this year.

I don't understand this logic. So the team that plays the Wings will not want to win a playoff series against them, because the Wings are a #4 seed and not #1? Do you think that SJ or Dallas or whoever will end up at #5 will underestimate the Wings? Whichever way the tight division race b/w the Wings and the Predators ends, both teams will have approached the playoffs having to play hard and overcome adversity. Neither would be able to coast the last couple of weeks, like the Wings used to do. I think this coasting, rather than the #1 seed in itself, was the contributing factor in the early playoff exits in the past.

[Statts 4]

This is a huge point for the Wings. They're in great position. I was talking with a friend of mine about this series and we both figured the Wings just need to win their home games against Nashville. Getting a point in a road game is a bonus. The schedule should probably take care of the rest. While the Wings play a March schedule full of home games, the Preds are off on a brutal road stretch. If the Wings can just take their remaining home games against the Preds, they'll probably win the division.

He may have scored the OT goal, but Forsberg looks like a shell of his former self. The Preds better hope he's just going through an adjustment period, because if this is as good as he's going to play, this will go down as one of the worst trades in a long time.

this is for you Blue

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Lang makes everyone worse. Tonight he did all of the following:

1) Missed a wide-open net

2) Thoroughly delayed the power play on several occasions; took passes and, instead of one-timing the puck, held it, thus allowing Nashville to reset. This was done amidst continued fast-passing by all other Red Wings on the ice.

3) Continually decided not to take wide-open one-timers; always stopped the puck when it was given to him.

4) Instead of hustling after Legwand on his goal-scoring breakaway, strode along and attempted to hook Legwand off from 4 feet away. Had he succeeded, the best we could have hoped for was a penalty kill.

5) Refused to hustle to the net; as an example, when Franzen dumped the puck across the crease--on a diving play-- in the closing minutes, Lang had continued moving so slowly that he was several feet from the crease at the time, despite having seen the entire play unfold.

6) Caused turnovers within the Wings` zone, then made no hustle to correct them.

7) Made more than a few hideous passes in the offensive zone. Needless to say, these meant losses of possession.

8) Generally played with his usual lazy style, accomplishing absolutely nothing.

Honestly, I wish Babcock would bench the guy. I truly feel that, at present, Lang is causing more harm than good to the team. In the absence of production, he's utterly useless and even hazardous; he's essentially just a pylon, except that he generally doesn't even block shots. At present, he merits replacement with a guy who will hustle; that's a step above Bob's play of late.

i absolutely agree. he is a cancer on his line. the worst part of it all is that he's the third highest paid player on the team and the second of the forwards. every time he has the puck i just wince, every time he's gliding to possition in our zone i shed a tear. every time he watches a pass slide right by him i..., well, you get the point.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

"Minor upper body injury , I hope its not too serious"

Me too! I wonder if it was from the third period in yesterday's game when he went heavily into the boards