Why don't we just let Bert sit?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Hudler: 2 points in 2 games.

Sammy: 0 points in 2 games.

[Vincanni 1]

I agree with everyone who says we shoudl sit Sammy, who's done nothing with a guy wh's superior in almost everyway. We won't hurt any chemistry and if anything we'll have a bruiser out there who can protect or guys. Granted I want him 100%, no need risking anything like what Calgary did with Regher.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I dare you to look me in the eyes (I'll catch a flight) and tell me that you think Sammy has or will be more effective than Rex.

I dare you to finish reading my post Just because I (or the whole rest of the board) think Rex deserves to stay in the lineup does not mean that he will. I believe Babcock would play Sammy over Rex when Bert returns. And my point is that if indeed Rex sits, it won't all of a sudden make Franzen and Filppula stop working their tail off, since that in fact is how they've gotten those goals in the first place.

[Guest Crymson]

2-0 series lead .........regehr doesnt look to good for calgary ( didn't finish the game ) were playing awesome now , i think we can afford , and should let bertuzzi miss another game and let him recover and get ready for game 4 , regardless of what happens in game 3 ........what do you guys think ??

I'd take him over Sammy in a split second.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I dare you to finish reading my post Just because I (or the whole rest of the board) think Rex deserves to stay in the lineup does not mean that he will. I believe Babcock would play Sammy over Rex when Bert returns. And my point is that if indeed Rex sits, it won't all of a sudden make Franzen and Filppula stop working their tail off, since that in fact is how they've gotten those goals in the first place.

Ok, and I agree. Doesn't it strike you as something that would be incredibly dumb to do, anyways? How does putting Sammy in ahead of Flip or Rex make any sense at all? Mike loves vets, that's OK, but at some point you just have to recognize that tenure doesn't mean s*** if you aren't doing anything.

Gah! I feel like it's mid-season again and we're still having the Hudler Wars!

[Cruiser008 37]

As stated above it's an easy fix. Sammy sits, Tuzzi hits.

You can't let a guy like Bertuzzi sit while Sammy skates around taking horrible shots.

Done and done.

[redwingsfan19 0]

I think since game 3 is the first game played away, Bertuzzi should be put in and Samuelson out. He will add size, talent and toughness. I think its about time the wings put him back in. The Franzen-Flip-Hudler line is not going anywhere. They have been too good for one of them to sit. Sammy is really the only option.

[arnoldbuck 0]

I think since game 3 is the first game played away, Bertuzzi should be put in and Samuelson out. He will add size, talent and toughness. I think its about time the wings put him back in. The Franzen-Flip-Hudler line is not going anywhere. They have been too good for one of them to sit. Sammy is really the only option.

I think most will agree with you. And Huds and his line have made a bold statement that they/he should remain over Sammy. But all season long, when push came-to-shove, Babs seemed to choose Sammy to remain in the game over Huds.

[arin 0]

Some of you are getting pretty ******* cocky. We need Bert. We're going to Calgary where theyre the best home team in the league. We won't be messing with success. Our 2nd line has had ZERO success all playoffs! Let's just bench one of our best players because we were successful for the first two games... NOT.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Ok, and I agree. Doesn't it strike you as something that would be incredibly dumb to do, anyways? How does putting Sammy in ahead of Flip or Rex make any sense at all? Mike loves vets, that's OK, but at some point you just have to recognize that tenure doesn't mean s*** if you aren't doing anything.

Gah! I feel like it's mid-season again and we're still having the Hudler Wars!

I actually do think Franzen, Filppula, and Bertuzzi would make a NASTY line. I really wish that idea could be a reality. But then you'd have to either let Calder/Lang/Sammy keep going, which is easily the least impressive line so far (it's like the spare parts line, they just don't look good together), or have it be Calder/Lang/Rex, which would be a mistake and a half.

[MUDSHARK 0]

If Calgary is ever going to bring their grinding, beat the Wings into submission game it's going to happen Tuesday night. Bert may be a tad rusty, but he brings a physical component up front that the team is probably going to need. I think sitting him, if he's available (which may or may not be the case), is a mistake. Game 3 is a big one, and making the adjustment is both necessary and correct at this point.

It's not like we skated Calgary out of the building today like the other night, and they are the best home team in the NHL this year. Bert brings size, a nasty demeanour, and some scoring ability, which I think would go well on Lang's line.

Unfortunately, Hudler is probably the one who sits, but after today's game, I would say that snowball in hell at least has a chance, whereas it had no chance after Game 1. Sammy hardly played during the third, and might get the shaft instead of Hudler. That Flip-Huds-Franzen line is looking pretty good at the moment, and maybe Babs decides to keep them together. Maybe not. But Sammy didn't get the same PP time today as usual, and was basically benched during the third after taking a stupid penalty in the second.

If he's healthy, I say throw Bert on with Lang and Calder and let Sammy sit. Or move Hudler up with Lang and stick Bert with Flip and Franzen. but Sammy's really not helping us much at this point, IMO.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Sit Sammy, Play the Tuzzi.

But, I think Babs will sit Huddles, as painful as it is for me to say.

[redwingsfan19 0]

But then you'd have to either let Calder/Lang/Sammy keep going, which is easily the least impressive line so far (it's like the spare parts line, they just don't look good together), or have it be Calder/Lang/Rex, which would be a mistake and a half.

Yeah, that line hasn't done anything, Calder is a decent player he just needs to be paired with other people. I could see Rex and Calder playing together, that would be pretty good. Lang just needs to step it up. He always disappoints me because I know he can be better.

I think most will agree with you. And Huds and his line have made a bold statement that they/he should remain over Sammy. But all season long, when push came-to-shove, Babs seemed to choose Sammy to remain in the game over Huds.

Yeah, but if Babs has any brains at all, he would look at what the Flip/Hudler/Franzen has done, and what very little, if anything Sammy has done.

[wingslogo19 281]

If Bert is healthy play him.. If not let him sit till the next round

[betterREDthandead 58]

Yeah, that line hasn't done anything, Calder is a decent player he just needs to be paired with other people. I could see Rex and Calder playing together, that would be pretty good. Lang just needs to step it up. He always disappoints me because I know he can be better.

Rex + Calder would look good, especially if Bertuzzi was with them. (But Lang would suck the energy out of Franzen and Flip.) I've never bought into the Lang Is Lazy And He Sucks theory, because I think neither is true. It's just that....Lang has a way of never making his presence felt on the ice. You don't ever see him unless he's scoring a goal or turning it over. And Rex is too itty bitty to pair up with him....it'd be a disaster.

So unless Cleary gets shuffled around, it looks like Bert, Calder, and Lang if Sammy sits. Cause Draper and Maltby aren't getting split up, and neither are Z/Dats/Homer. And this has been said by others but it needs repeating: Calgary's last best hope for this series is to come out flying and use the home ice advantage to knock the Wings around early and often on Tuesday. Bert in the lineup goes a long way toward nullifying that. You got a guy who at one time was THE preeminent skull-crushing power forward in the league. He might not skate as well as he used to but damned if he isn't still 245 pounds of muscle who likes to hit things. Why on earth would you not use him?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

It's worked the first two games, but I'd rather not continue to roll the dice and gamble.

Games 3 & 4 are in Calgary, where they have a solid home record and you'd think they would crank up the intensity and physical play a notch, especially with trailing 2-0 right now.

Bertuzzi can help can match that physical play. He will be needed these next two games.