Does home ice really matter?

[Guest bullocks]

Seems to me, both teams have played better on the road in this series...sure, you always want to have the home ice advantage, but so far it hasn't proven as an advantage. What do you think?

[Dabura 12,232]

For the Wings it certainly does. Not the point where they're guaranteed to win, but the home crowd and atmosphere do give them a boost.

Just look at Dats and Hank. How many goals have they scored on the road this postseason?

Edited May 19, 2007 by Dabura

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

Seems to me, both teams have played better on the road in this series...sure, you always want to have the home ice advantage, but so far it hasn't proven as an advantage. What do you think?

Home Ice means alot in pivotal games such as last night, The Ducks were pumped and ready to go. You don't want to play game seven on the road in most cases either.

[ShanahanMan 473]

yes, yes, and yes again. I mean, its game 5 and because we have home ice, we're going back to Detroit. Would you rather game 5 be in Anaheim?

Edited May 19, 2007 by ShanahanMan

[Guest bullocks]

Home Ice means alot in pivotal games such as last night, The Ducks were pumped and ready to go. You don't want to play game seven on the road in most cases either.

very true.

yes, yes, and yes again. I mean, its game 5 and because we have home ice, we're going back to Detroit. Would you rather game 5 be in Anaheim?

not really, but i'd rather have won game 4 coming back to game 5 if that counts for anything.

like the san jose series...but then again, we did lose game 4 to calgary.

[ShanahanMan 473]

very true.

not really, but i'd rather have won game 4 coming back to game 5 if that counts for anything.

like the san jose series...but then again, we did lose game 4 to calgary.

I think its because we had home ice advantage that we won in the San Jose series, we won game 4 and thank god we game back to Detroit for game 5. As long as we're tied or ahead for game 5, we're in good shape.

Edited May 19, 2007 by ShanahanMan

[Guest jaytan]

Home ice isn't as big as a lot of people make it out to be, but it is important. You get to have more control over match-ups, you're in a more familiar environment, and (if you're in Detroit, at least) you've got the whole crowd on your side. For some teams, it can have its negative effects, I suppose. If the team feels really pressured from their fans' expectations and doesn't respond well to it, it can mess with their heads.... But I don't think anyone would rather play a Game 7 on the road.

[Guest bullocks]

I think its because we had home ice advantage that we won in the San Jose series, we won game 4 and thank god we game back to Detroit for game 5. As long as we're tied or ahead for game 5, we're in good shape.

i agree with that. we need game 5.

[Zion 93]

Seems to me, both teams have played better on the road in this series...sure, you always want to have the home ice advantage, but so far it hasn't proven as an advantage. What do you think?

This is correct.

Wings really blew their chance here, and this is the perfect alibi for losing to the Ducks, who (in my opinion) have had all kinds of problems keeping up with the Wings, so long as they don't get the puck in deep or the Wings foolishly turn the puck over.

The winner of this CAN beat Ottawa, but they're really beating each other up...

... does the Cup stay in the East this year again???

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!

[Guest bullocks]

This is correct.

Wings really blew their chance here, and this is the perfect alibi for losing to the Ducks, who (in my opinion) have had all kinds of problems keeping up with the Wings, so long as they don't get the puck in deep or the Wings foolishly turn the puck over.

The winner of this CAN beat Ottawa, but they're really beating each other up...

... does the Cup stay in the East this year again???

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!

i could careless if the cup stays in the east if the wings arnt in the finals

[BeeRYCE 2]

To us, home ice really, really does matter for one reason... DATSYUK AND ZETTERBERG PERFORM.

[RoninJai 5]

I don't think it its as important this round as it was against Calgary and their suspiciously-dominant home ice record. That being said, I'm glad game 5 is at home.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Home ice isn't as big as a lot of people make it out to be, but it is important. You get to have more control over match-ups, you're in a more familiar environment, and (if you're in Detroit, at least) you've got the whole crowd on your side. For some teams, it can have its negative effects, I suppose. If the team feels really pressured from their fans' expectations and doesn't respond well to it, it can mess with their heads.... But I don't think anyone would rather play a Game 7 on the road.

damn it Jay, come down on Tuesday and come with me to the game. Rock out like old times

[Matt 1,049]

At the start of the series: no. As the series goes deeper: yes.

I think as a series wears on and you become more familiar with your opponent you "settle in", I guess you could say. You know what you want to do, you've got a good idea of what your opponent is going to do and it turns into a battle of wills where any small advantage can tip the scales in your favor.

I'll take a home crowd and an intimate knowledge of how live the dasherboards are rather than play in front of a loud, enemy crowd facing elimination.

[ShanahanMan 473]

At the start of the series: no. As the series goes deeper: yes.

I think as a series wears on and you become more familiar with your opponent you "settle in", I guess you could say. You know what you want to do, you've got a good idea of what your opponent is going to do and it turns into a battle of wills where any small advantage can tip the scales in your favor.

I'll take a home crowd and an intimate knowledge of how live the dasherboards are rather than play in front of a loud, enemy crowd facing elimination.

I agree, Matt and once again this is why its SO important that game 5 is at home.

[Offsides 21]

It depends on a lot of things...even the team.

Some teams are better on the road, and seem to feed off the opponents jeers, but I think most are better at home.

[Matt 1,049]

Some teams are better on the road, and seem to feed off the opponents jeers, but I think most are better at home.

I think if you polled all 30 NHL teams about where they'd want to play a Game 7 given the choice, they'd pick their own barn. Some may definitely be more comfortable taking on the challenge of a road Game 7 than others, but given the option I think it's obvious what they'd prefer.

Here's to hoping that the Red Wings maintain the level of play in Game 5 Sunday that they did for the same game in the previous two series. It'll be critical.

[Offsides 21]

Well, there's a difference between what the players want, and their record, though.

I think EVERYONE feels more comfortable at home, that doesn't mean they are more motivated, however.

[OsGOD 3]

Zetterberg and Dats get performance anxiety on the road and forget to play.... luckily for us 2 of the next 3 are at home.

[Guest bullocks]

Sometimes i think there's more pressure to perform at home.

[OsGOD 3]

Sometimes i think there's more pressure to perform at home.

and that is why they are so good at home... you don't have to feel pressure from the crickets

[Guest bullocks]

and that is why they are so good at home... you don't have to feel pressure from the crickets

[Stu in Israel 0]

While crowd support and all that it entails may be significant in home games, the most important thing is the line choices and the fact that the home team gets the last choice. The home team's best offensive line can be pitted against the opposition's weakest line, and that IS important.

Hey "bullocks," the expression is "I COULDN'T care less," not: i could careless if the cup stays in the east if the wings arnt in the finals

Think of the difference in meaning! However, I do agree with your idea.

[OsGOD 3]

Also our players know how to play to boards at the joe (lids and cheli) to set up nice deflection passes.

[Dabura 12,232]

Good call on the dasherboards, Matt. That shouldn't be overlooked.