We'll be playing Calgary...

[DetroitYZ19 0]

Looking at the remaining games for Calgary (@ SJ, EDM, @ COL), Colorado (@ Van, NSH, CAL), and Minnesota (EDM, STL), the most realistic possibility is that we will be squaring off with the Flames in the first round. I dont see the Wild losing to both EDM and STL, and the Avs going 3-0.

I feel as though we can take the Flames in 6. Hasek is solid between the pipes, we have a good defensive core, and hopefully Bert and Calder, along with Franzen and Draper, give us the gritty play we need. Hopefully Datsyuk finds himself in the playoffs, Zetterberg comes back healthy, and Lang comes alive like he did last year in the playoffs. I know alot of people rather have Minnesota in the first round, and Im one of them, but I guess that isnt going to happen. Lets hope for the best.

GO WINGS!

Your thoughts?

[TheLegend19 1]

Don't speak so soon, please.

[Salviaman 104]

Don't speak so soon, please.

[Mila 0]

I don't care against whom shall we play.

Any team with Stanley Cup ambitions has to beat any other team and doesn't have to "choose" opponents.

[Legendary D In 03 50]

Either way, I really want to face Colorado in the first round.

Word,

LDi03

[Echolalia 2,961]

Even though theres about a 7 percent chance of it happening, I too would much prefer versing the Avs in the first round.

But on the event we verse Calgary, we'll end it in 5 so long as we bring that hunger that we haven't had the past 4 years.

[arnoldbuck 0]

It is funny, the west has these very strong teams but the entertaining race is in the east. It was about a month ago, maybe even around trade dealine, when Calgary was in 8th and the Avs and Edmonton dropped back. I said to myself, this is it. I think we have our final 8. We will play Calgary in teh first round. We have all the talent to beat them. We just have to learn from our mistakes. Keep with the puck possession, but get inside on them. We cant rely on firing 40 shots from the perimator to win. Sure Nick and Schnieds will put in a couple, but we need our guys putting them in close. We can take them. It is going to be a big-hill to fight through this first round, but can do it, and once we do ... watch out!

[Aki 0]

Well I'm actually a bit worried about playing Minnesota because of their goalie Backstrom, who's on fire and could carry them far into the playoffs

[larionov_8 12]

I agree with that, Aki.

The same goes for Budaj in Colorado too.

And its not like Kipper is any less of a goalie than either Budaj or Backstrom. I guess the argument the other way is that neither Budai or Backstrom have any, to my knowledge, playoff experience.

[arnoldbuck 0]

I agree with that, Aki.

The same goes for Budaj in Colorado too.

And its not like Kipper is any less of a goalie than either Budaj or Backstrom. I guess the argument the other way is that neither Budai or Backstrom have any, to my knowledge, playoff experience.

That has been our problem for the past few exits. Running into a hot goalie ... even if they are unproven in the playoffs. We just have to get on the, early and never look back. Make sure that the first 5 shots are Sammy wrist shots from the point. Last thing we need to do is give the goalie that confidence. Detroit has this amazing ability to make opponents goalies look like all-stars. As I said, sure get some long bombs from those who are capable, but get our guys shooting from in close making a mess in front of the net. Homer and Bert, I'm looking at you guys. I wanna see a bunch of goals like the one Calder scored the other night. He layed a guy out, worked his ass off to the front of the net and barried it.

[Ozzie30 170]

Either way, I really want to face Colorado in the first round.

Word,

LDi03

:beerbuddy:

[Winged Scooter 0]

The west is TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH this year, I don't think it matters WHO the Wings play because all 8 teams are good. I just hope they can stay healthy enough to get some June games in.

[csdan 0]

The west is TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH this year, I don't think it matters WHO the Wings play because all 8 teams are good. I just hope they can stay healthy enough to get some June games in.

No kidding, if Calgary does end up with 100pts, does anyone know if that has ever happened having all 8 seeds finish with 100 or more points?

[Zion 93]

Calgary is unbeatable at home.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Calgary is unbeatable at home.

As are the Wings for the most part.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Calgary is unbeatable at home.

1, that just means they're awful on the road, and they don't have home-ice advantage. 2, once the playoffs start, the regular season trends are like the points in Whose Line Is It Anyway, that's right, they just don't matter.

[Zion 93]

Exception: Wings are never good in Western Canada.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I'm really get tired of seeing everybody saying they are so afraid of playing Calgary.

I'm never going to sound like a cocky jackass saying the Wings "can't be beaten ever." I'm not a trash talker or anything of that nature anywhere.

That being said though, it disturbs me a bit to see that some in here aren't giving us much of a chance playing against Calgary.

In a perfect world, yes I would like the Wings to play Dallas, Colorado, or Minnesota in the first round.

But it's not going to happen, and every team, 1-8, is a solid team, and it looks like all of them will finish with 100+ points in the standings. Retarded OT point rule or not, that's very impressive. Every game is going to be a dogfight between every team, in every series. That is why I get irked when nobody wants to face Calgary just because they can be "physical".

Will I be shocked if Calgary advances? No. Will I be shocked if Detroit does? No, because it's their job...

Calgary is going to be a tough matchup, of course. But you know what I say to that? Bring 'em on and let's play some hockey.....

Edited April 5, 2007 by SouthernWingsFan

[betterREDthandead 58]

Exception: Wings are never good in Western Canada.

Except for going out to Vancouver and beating them twice to jump start the 2002 playoff run.

Anyway, good thing we don't have to go out to Western Canada as much as they have to come to Michigan.

[Guest Crymson]

Looking at the remaining games for Calgary (@ SJ, EDM, @ COL), Colorado (@ Van, NSH, CAL), and Minnesota (EDM, STL), the most realistic possibility is that we will be squaring off with the Flames in the first round. I dont see the Wild losing to both EDM and STL, and the Avs going 3-0.

I feel as though we can take the Flames in 6. Hasek is solid between the pipes, we have a good defensive core, and hopefully Bert and Calder, along with Franzen and Draper, give us the gritty play we need. Hopefully Datsyuk finds himself in the playoffs, Zetterberg comes back healthy, and Lang comes alive like he did last year in the playoffs. I know alot of people rather have Minnesota in the first round, and Im one of them, but I guess that isnt going to happen. Lets hope for the best.

GO WINGS!

Your thoughts?

The Flames, despite being quite a good team, are ironically one of the most hideously bad road teams in the league. We'll have home advantage. I'm not worried. They're also sliiiiiiiiiding into the playoffs.

Calgary is unbeatable at home.

They are also horrid on the road.

Exception: Wings are never good in Western Canada.

Best that you don't watch, as you only seem interested in listing the reasons why the Wings won't win.

Edited April 6, 2007 by Crymson

[Guest LivingtheDream]

Don't speak so soon, please.

Oh please, this superstitious stuff has to stop. We are living in the 21st century people, not the 13th. Get real. What we say or post does not influence reality. We are all utterly insignificant in terms of our thoughts or words influencing the motion of a hard black round rubber object.

Edited April 6, 2007 by LivingtheDream

[TheLegend19 1]

Exception: Wings are never good in Western Canada.

Oh please, this superstitious stuff has to stop. We are living in the 21st century people, not the 13th. Get real. What we say or post does not influence reality. We are all utterly insignificant in terms of our thoughts or words influencing the motion of a hard black round rubber object.

It's not superstitious. It's reality. We can't just talk the talk, we have to be willing to walk the walk. Imagine posting "payback's a *****" and then getting our ass handed to us in 4 straight games. It sucks. But the fact that we said "payback's a *****" makes it even worse.

I never insinuated that our thoughts or words actually influenced the game. I'm simply say don't speak until we beat them. We can't we just be humble fans?

[WingNut 25 5]

Calgary would be a tough opponent but out West, who isn't? There will be no easy road to the Finals this season. Besides, the Wings owe Calgary some payback.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Exception: Wings are never good in Western Canada.

You know, I never got this bulls*** of ALWAYS and NEVER when it comes to playoff hockey. Winning at home, winning on the road, winning out west, out east, against the 8th seed, against the 1st seed, against a physical team, an offensive team, a hot goalie, a no-name goale, Patrick Roy, the San Jose Sharks, Mick McGeough....WHATEVER.

Sorry for the rant, but it cannot be said enough that ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN in the playoffs. Who actually thought Cam Ward was a Conne Smythe candidate? ..that Pisani would be lighting the lamp on pace with Eric Staal? This is anybodys game and if the Wings play out West, they can win if they bring their A game. They can beat San Jose if they bring their A game. Hell, Danny Markov could lay out Dion Phaneuf if he brings his A game. No team is safe and no team should be favored.

Lets all just send out the positive vibes that our team is going to play the best that they can and relax about the whos, whats, and wheres of the first, second, third, and fourth rounds.

[Zeta Power 40 1]

the avs won and cgy is down 4-2 in the 3rd. So the Avs are currently still alive!

Edited April 6, 2007 by Red Wings 516