Ultimate Playoff Matchup Thread - Who Ya Want?

[Superman54 91]

Im guessing I am the only guy who wants them to face the Flames. I 100% know we would beat them.

[stevie for president 42]

Wings vs. Wild

Ducks. vs. Flames

Canucks vs. Stars

Preds vs. Sharks

then round 2:

Wings vs. Stars

Ducks vs. Preds.

Round 3:

Wings vs. Preds

obviously wings in the cup finals.

I know its the sissy way out and its a pipe dream, but i think those are the 3 easiest teams in the west and the wings match up best against them.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Man, all this talk about possible playoff matchups is driving me crazy in anticipation for the second season to begin

[puckhog419 0]

i dont care bc if the team doesnt scare the sh*t out of me now, they will by playoff time. i just want to make it past the first round at least. if that means taking san jose on in the first round then let's get it on. :starwars:

edit: spelling (still probably wrong)

Edited April 3, 2007 by puckhog419

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I've said it a bunch of times before, I'll say it again...it doesn't matter this season. Every team from 1-8 is capable of making a deep run without "hot goaltending".

[dteowner 20]

We can't seem to win at the Saddledome, ever. Sure, we'd have home ice, but that would mean a 7 game nailbiter, which I'd just assume avoid in round 1.

Minnesota looks like the weakest of the bunch. Although it's unlikely, I'd love to see the Stars in round 1. Turco could continue his traditional playoff meltdown and away we go. If we're going to fantasyland, I'd also like to see SJ to meet VAN in the opener. Wipes out one of the 2 scary teams before we see either one.

[Cruiser008 37]

Oh it's not lookin' good.... I REALLY don't want to play Calgary in the playoffs. Minnesota would be a much better matchup, and even though matchups aren't everything they do mean a LOT.

[Guest paveldatsukthenextsavard]

minnesota. they're not going anywhere this year.

I also have a very strong, possibly drug induced feeling that we will be playing them in the first round.

[CrazyCanuck 0]

I cannot wait for Luongo to experience the playoffs...its gonna be so exciting. I really want Vancouver to play Detroit in the playoffs somewhere, just so I can see Bertuzzi react to being in Vancouver and playing his old team. It will probably render him ineffective.

Haha it would be sweet if after the games, Bertuzzi and his old teammates got together and went out to the bars. They will convince him to work against the Wings so his old team can succeed. I can dream can't I?

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

How bad do you think that Bertuzzi will get booed if we end up playing the Canucks somewhere along the road?

[eva unit zero 271]

I cannot wait for Luongo to experience the playoffs...its gonna be so exciting. I really want Vancouver to play Detroit in the playoffs somewhere, just so I can see Bertuzzi react to being in Vancouver and playing his old team. It will probably render him ineffective.

Haha it would be sweet if after the games, Bertuzzi and his old teammates got together and went out to the bars. They will convince him to work against the Wings so his old team can succeed. I can dream can't I?

I wonder how long it will be this postseason before Luongo melts under the pressure. I also would love to see Bertuzzi score a hatty on Luongo as sort of a 'you traded ME for THAT?' statement to Nonis.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

I think Luongo is one of the best and most consistent goalies in the league so I don't see him faultering too easily.

[CrazyCanuck 0]

I wonder how long it will be this postseason before Luongo melts under the pressure. I also would love to see Bertuzzi score a hatty on Luongo as sort of a 'you traded ME for THAT?' statement to Nonis.

Once you said "melts under pressure" I figured you were joking. Luongo is so amazing because he LOVES pressure. He loves playing 75 games a season, he loves Vancouver and his team, and he cannot wait for the playoffs. There is a reason the Vancouver Luongos have done so well this year, and the team is handling the pressure of winning the division just fine right now.

How bad do you think that Bertuzzi will get booed if we end up playing the Canucks somewhere along the road?

Considering most people in Vancouver were very sad to see him go and respected him a lot, I don't see anyone booing him. Most fans were very excited when we heard Bertuzzi was coming back to town when we played the Wings and were very let down when we realized he wasnt playing.

[redwingfan19 293]

Best case scenario. Flames pass Wild and we play the wild. Anehiem stays in second plays the flames. Vancouver stays in third and plays SJ in 6th. This is the best case scenario, The Wings Matchup good against the Wild. Let The physical teams like Calgary, Vancouver, Anihiem, San Jose beat the hell out of eachother in the first round, then you can knock off 2 of the teams we have trouble with. Then if the Wings meet either Flames,Sharks,Anihiem,Canucks in the second round they will be worn out and the Wings will have there way with them. IMO this is the best situatuion. Turst me I repeat we DO NOT wan't Calgary in the first round, if the Wings can't match them physically then we are done.

[TRD604 8]

dont want another first round exit. so i say MIN.

[wingsgirl001 983]

My mind is spinning with playoff matchup possibilites.

I love it!

I have no idea who I'd prefer to play first. I would go with Minnesota, but then they could just trap us to death. *yawn* Dallas could do what they did the other night, but then that was mostly our problem too. We have a revenge factor against Calgary, so that could light a fire under us and would make for some close games. And San Jose...well...they're about the same a Calgary.

I think Calgary would give us the best run for our money though. Given the choice of the four teams, I'd go with them. If we can beat Calgary we can beat anyone else.

Off topic: CrazyCanuk, your sig is great!

[CrazyCanuck 0]

Thanks Wings Girl. In my opinion, Henrik looks like hes about to mug me in your sig.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

My mind is spinning with playoff matchup possibilites.

I love it!

I have no idea who I'd prefer to play first. I would go with Minnesota, but then they could just trap us to death. *yawn* Dallas could do what they did the other night, but then that was mostly our problem too. We have a revenge factor against Calgary, so that could light a fire under us and would make for some close games. And San Jose...well...they're about the same a Calgary.

I think Calgary would give us the best run for our money though. Given the choice of the four teams, I'd go with them. If we can beat Calgary we can beat anyone else.

Off topic: CrazyCanuk, your sig is great!

Do you really think San Jose wouldn't be far more difficult than Calgary?

Not that I'm going to pick which team I want the Red Wings to play in the first round, but if I had to rank them in order of who I fear the most it would look like this:

1. San Jose

2. Anaheim

3. Calgary

4. Vancouver

5. Nashville

6. Dallas

7. Minnesota

[Elshupacabra 0]

Thanks Wings Girl. In my opinion, Henrik looks like hes about to mug me in your sig.

Because he is!

[Kp-Wings 3]

I've said it a bunch of times before, I'll say it again...it doesn't matter this season. Every team from 1-8 is capable of making a deep run without "hot goaltending".

That still plays a big role in these s***ty #8 seed teams going so far. Calgary, Anaheim, and Edmonton all had hot goaltending when they beat us. Now I give Edmonton a little more credit because they did play the trap and Roloson didn't face a lot, but Anaheim and Calgary were the two most noteworthy.

If Calgary had, say, an average goaltender, they wouldn't have gone anywhere. Except Iginla, their roster was basically a bunch of dinosaur goons that did nothing but drag people down. Kiprusoff saved them.

Anaheim basically had Paul Kariya beyond Giguere. If Giguere wouldn't have shut everybody they faced down, they would have fallen out of it too.

So really, hot goaltending is mostly the reason why a #8 seed will go far. Calgary had no talent, and Anaheim and Edmonton had very little talent. You put average goalies on those teams that went to the finals those years, and it never would have happened.

[Rice 42]

So really, hot goaltending is mostly the reason why a #8 seed will go far. Calgary had no talent, and Anaheim and Edmonton had very little talent. You put average goalies on those teams that went to the finals those years, and it never would have happened.

The Wings did a great job of making Giguere and Roloson look like all-stars. Kiprusoff is an all star. The Wings took soft perimeter shots instead of going hard to the net like Babcock has been talking about all year since then. Sure Shanahan scored 40 goals during the regular season, but teams can neutralize guys like him because in this stage of his career he takes soft perimeter shots. A guy like Bertuzzi on the other hand, who is still willing to drive to the net, can have a huge impact on the Wings offense. They have lacked these type of guys (Calder, Bertuzzi, Franzen) for a while now. They will each play a big part in the Wings success next week.

Lang will be key too. He has to skate and use his size to drive to the net and dish to Bertuzzi. Hopefully he will; he is in a contract year.

[RedStormRising 7]

I want the Minnsota Wild, so I can go and cheer on the Wings!

[shannyfan1414 0]

I would like us to play either Dallas or Minnesota.

Please try and keep us away from calgary and if at all possible i would like to keep away from San Jose.

[rwfan007 18]

ok, heres a new twist: who do you guys think WILL NOT make it out of the first round? I am thinking Minn, Van, Ana, and Nashville. or Calgary if they run into the wings. I would trade my picks from VAN to CGY if we meet the flames in the 1st round.

Edited April 3, 2007 by rwfan007