GAME 1 (4/12): Red Wings 4, Flames 1

[wingslogo19 281]

Great game by the Wings, they looked very good.. Glad to see Hank have such a strong game after missing all that time, and Dats looked good tonight and scoring that goal is huge for him and the Wings.... Hasek played well tonight too though he didn't face too many shots.. Well game 2 should be great.. GO WINGS

[GiantRobot 0]

I guess the Flames at the end of the game were "giving us a message", but to me that's bulls***.

The only message they sent is "We cant do anything else, so lets fight."

Phaneuf punches Zetterberg in the face, then Iginla tries to start something with him as he is skating away? Pathetic.

Im wishing the Avs had made it in.

[norrisnick 1]

Alot of talk about Bertuzzi coming back to play in game 2, don't forget Robyn Regehr should dress as well.

Regehr has a ton of value to us. Hopefully the rest of the team can pick it up though, this was an abomination.

I'm not liking Stuart so much right now. I want Andrew Ference back.

It's a lot easier to ease in a 2nd liner than it is to ease in your top defensive defenseman.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I expect the Flames to come out HARD next game. Im hoping the Wings are prepared for the Wings to be an entirely different team. By what Babcock said, it sounds like they will be. He really scoffed at the idea that this game had anything to do with the next.

[Jiggy_12 0]

Yeah, Regehr is good, but adding him to a defence corp that was brutal will only make them mediocre. Adding Bert to a forward corp that was hustling and lethal will only make them that much better.

I personally thought that was a bad trade.

Ference was the embodiment of the old style Flames hockey. Never took a shift off. Stuart...loads of potential but can be lazy as all hell.

[Airborn 0]

This was definitely one team at their best and another at their worst tonight. The Wings caught some good bounces, to boot. It's also true that they absolutely kicked ass and made it look easy, but the Flames will be back and better than ever for Game 2.

With that said: 2-0, I'm looking at you! Go Wings!

I really think the Wings made their breaks tonight. It could have been worse if not for Kipper. The biggest difference was how hard the Wings worked for the puck. They wanted it more tonight.

I fully expect a better effort from Calgary in game 2, which means the Wings have to play the same way.

P.S. For anyone who watched the game on Versus; how about Hitchcock in the studio. He was surprisingly very good. He broke down clearly why the Wings were winning, and even gave us props by calling the Z, Dats, Homer line the best in hockey.

[Guest Tunbo Batman]

wheres your exit in round 1 prediction, dont pretend to be an optimist now attacking other fans for doubting their team

well, we will STILL be out in round one, but we'll be losing to a very unimpressive team is all im sayin'

[redwingsfan19 0]

I thought this game was going to be alot closer. I was happy to see that the wings won this one, but they slowed down near the end, and I don't like to see that. I think the next game will be tough. I can't wait until game 2! GO WINGS!

[henriksedin 1]

cant wait to see Bert in game 2, especially with the tone that game ended on.....

[Mighty Wings 0]

Uhhh....Pistons tickets cost as low as $16

Bingo. Say what you want about the wings, but pistons know how to market fans. Having $16 seats is one way.

[CrazyCanuck 0]

Great game Red Wings, just lose in Calgary at least once so I can go to Game 5!

[wings1fan19 0]

Good game by the wings cant wait til game 2 to see if calgary tries to put up a fight which they should

[edicius 3,269]

I personally thought that was a bad trade. (Stuart for Ference)

I was puzzled when Versus tried to say that Detroit's acquisitions of Bertuzzi and Calder were comparable to Calgary getting Stuart and Conroy...

[BlakChamber 8]

P.S. For anyone who watched the game on Versus; how about Hitchcock in the studio. He was surprisingly very good. He broke down clearly why the Wings were winning, and even gave us props by calling the Z, Dats, Homer line the best in hockey.

I thought Hitch was very good in the studio as well.

[Airborn 0]

I was puzzled when Versus tried to say that Detroit's acquisitions of Bertuzzi and Calder were comparable to Calgary getting Stuart and Conroy...

I didn't quite get that myself.

[sibiriak 84]

I really think the Wings made their breaks tonight. It could have been worse if not for Kipper. The biggest difference was how hard the Wings worked for the puck. They wanted it more tonight.

I fully expect a better effort from Calgary in game 2, which means the Wings have to play the same way.

P.S. For anyone who watched the game on Versus; how about Hitchcock in the studio. He was surprisingly very good. He broke down clearly why the Wings were winning, and even gave us props by calling the Z, Dats, Homer line the best in hockey.

Yes, I too thought Hitch was a very good communicator. Columbus is lucky to have him.

[Viperar 16]

I expect the Flames to come out HARD next game. Im hoping the Wings are prepared for the Wings to be an entirely different team. By what Babcock said, it sounds like they will be. He really scoffed at the idea that this game had anything to do with the next.

yup i hope we'll be ready to face a new aggressive flames team sunday

[puckbags 863]

Now we get to see how good or how s***ty of a coach Playfair is. Can he make the adjustments for the Flamers to have a chance? In 2004 when they made their run to the cup everytime they lost or had a bad game Sutter was very good at making changes for the next game. Personally I hope Playfair falls asleep at the wheel.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

man i really dislike Jarome Iginla. im so happy we beat them tonight..now maybe espn will shut up.

[puckloo39 5,686]

It is kind of a shame that the game didn't sell out. I sure would have gone if I was a thousand miles closer. Do you guys think thre will be more attendance as the series progresses? Times are hard and I can see where people can't afford tickets anymore. I read somewhere that the three first round losses in a row put some buyers off this season. Seriously? Spoiled a little, maybe. I dunno....

I can't believe Iginla is proud of his behavior tonight (if that's the case, I mean). Conduct unbecoming to someone who's supposed to be the team leader and heart. I was a little worried that the Flames would take inspiration from it and come out swinging on Sunday, but on reflection I believe the Wings will just treat them like any other tantrum-throwing child and work around them til they wear themselves out.

I wish Sunday wasn't a noon game, that's never good, IMO. But I am sure the Wings can deal with it!

Edited April 13, 2007 by puckloo39

[SFwingsfan 23]

attendance = 19,204. I have a feeling this is the first non-sellout in years.

[Airborn 0]

I don't know if this has been discussed or not in the GDT, but I'm not thrilled with Sammy playing point on the PP. I know the right hand shot opens things up for Lidstrom, but you're taking a huge gamble there.

I was even less a fan of the move when we up 3-0 and he was still back there.

[CrossoverThrash 0]

Man the Flamers are pissed, we just gotta keep pushing them

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I don't know if this has been discussed or not in the GDT, but I'm not thrilled with Sammy playing point on the PP. I know the right hand shot opens things up for Lidstrom, but you're taking a huge gamble there.

I was even less a fan of the move when we up 3-0 and he was still back there.

He'll have a tough time manning the point from the bench, if all goes well...

One of Lidstrom or Schneider will always be manning one point on the PP... just sub Lebda in the other spot. Not bad.

Edited April 13, 2007 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[Airborn 0]

yup i hope we'll be ready to face a new aggressive flames team sunday

If they weren't ready before, I think they'll be ready after the bulls**t that went down to end the game. The Wings have always responded well in the past when teams pulled that crap (see St. Louis).