96warrior 11 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Friday's practice in Ottawa -- Starters in net will be Dominik Hasek (who drew a big crowd of Ottawa reporters because of his stay in Ottawa) and Ray Emery. -- The Red Wings' forward lines were altered slightly at today's practice. With not knowing if Ottawa will keep Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson on the same line and what matchups that the Sens will try to force on the Wings, Detroit's lines and defense combinations could be adjusted early in Saturday's game. These are Friday's combinations. Mikael Samuelsson was moved up to the third line and Johan Franzen was moved off center on the fourth line to wing on the third. That puts Tomas Kopecky back in the middle on the fourth line ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Draper-Samuelsson Drake-Kopecky-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood Ellis (healthy scratch) Downey (healthy scratch) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Friday's practice in Ottawa -- Starters in net will be Dominik Hasek (who drew a big crowd of Ottawa reporters because of his stay in Ottawa) and Ray Emery. -- The Red Wings' forward lines were altered slightly at today's practice. With not knowing if Ottawa will keep Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson on the same line and what matchups that the Sens will try to force on the Wings, Detroit's lines and defense combinations could be adjusted early in Saturday's game. These are Friday's combinations. Mikael Samuelsson was moved up to the third line and Johan Franzen was moved off center on the fourth line to wing on the third. That puts Tomas Kopecky back in the middle on the fourth line ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Draper-Samuelsson Drake-Kopecky-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood Ellis (healthy scratch) Downey (healthy scratch) Why isn't Downey in the lineup?.. We need a fighter in there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 If there's one guy in the league who can single handedly make his opposition dress an enforcer it's Chris Neil, but appartently not us Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dallas27 7 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 I'm really disappointed that Downey isn't in the line-up. I don't see how it's NOT going to be a physical, physical game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mors 201 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Awesome that Downey is out but Kopecky (-2 last game) is in...very logical. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irishtemper14+25 11 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 great, no fights(or at least none we have a good chance of winning). i hope someone f***s up heatly or spezza, i hate both of them...a lot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Fights do not matter, I hope to see good effort from the guys and a big win over Sens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sergeiwasmyfav 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Hey...This is my first post on the site, although I discovered these message boards back during the 2002 Cup Run. I have come on the boards a few times a week since then to see what everyone is saying, although I never joined. I couldn't resist joining in the conversations any longer, however, so here I am. I hate that my first post would try to create a debate, but I wonder if the reason Downey doesn't play more is because of his slight, and I mean very slight, tendency to sometimes take dumb or unnecessary penalties. I do not think he does this a lot at all, but I have noticed it a litte bit with him, as I have with Franzen and Lilja. The thing is, I think Franzen and Lilja (yes, I like Lilja, although I know he is not everyone's favorite around here ) bring a little bit more all around than Downey, and that is maybe why this gets overlooked by Babcock a bit more than with Downey. Don't get me wrong, I am always happy to see Downey in the lineup and I think he brings a much needed physical presence and toughness to our lineup. I am just speculating as to perhaps why he does not play as much as some Wings fans would like. As for Kopecky playing instead of Downey, I think Kopecky has the potential, and I say potential b/c I do not mean that he is at this point, but I think he has the potential to be a much better all around player than Downey. He is big, he can throw some hits, and I have seen him display some pretty impressive puck handling skills at certain moments. He needs to do this much more often and his game certainly needs to improve a great deal, but perhaps Babcock sees this potential and hopes playing him instead of sitting him will help it develop. These are just my thoughts on possibly why Kopecky plays sometimes while Downey sits. All that being said, I like both players and have no problem with either one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Why isn't Downey in the lineup?.. We need a fighter in there "PAIN TRAIN". Down goes McGrattan, and then down goes Neil. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 IMO I think it's insanse not to have Downey in the lineup Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Hey...This is my first post on the site, although I discovered these message boards back during the 2002 Cup Run. I have come on the boards a few times a week since then to see what everyone is saying, although I never joined. I couldn't resist joining in the conversations any longer, however, so here I am. I hate that my first post would try to create a debate, but I wonder if the reason Downey doesn't play more is because of his slight, and I mean very slight, tendency to sometimes take dumb or unnecessary penalties. I do not think he does this a lot at all, but I have noticed it a litte bit with him, as I have with Franzen and Lilja. The thing is, I think Franzen and Lilja (yes, I like Lilja, although I know he is not everyone's favorite around here ) bring a little bit more all around than Downey, and that is maybe why this gets overlooked by Babcock a bit more than with Downey. Don't get me wrong, I am always happy to see Downey in the lineup and I think he brings a much needed physical presence and toughness to our lineup. I am just speculating as to perhaps why he does not play as much as some Wings fans would like. As for Kopecky playing instead of Downey, I think Kopecky has the potential, and I say potential b/c I do not mean that he is at this point, but I think he has the potential to be a much better all around player than Downey. He is big, he can throw some hits, and I have seen him display some pretty impressive puck handling skills at certain moments. He needs to do this much more often and his game certainly needs to improve a great deal, but perhaps Babcock sees this potential and hopes playing him instead of sitting him will help it develop. These are just my thoughts on possibly why Kopecky plays sometimes while Downey sits. All that being said, I like both players and have no problem with either one. Downey has 6 fights, accounting for 30 of his 48 penalty minutes. Of the 18 minutes remaining, i can recall at least one instance where another player went off with him (Fedoruk). This leaves us with a whopping 16 minutes of the "undisciplined" variety in 29 games. For a guy of his style, that is quite disciplined on the contrary. By comparison, Matt Ellis has 10 minutes of minors in his 31 games. Not one person on here would make the claim Ellis is undisciplined, so why should Downey's 6 extra minutes of minors give him that label? It doesnt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 If Babcock didn't play Downey for that one Blues game a while back, I'm not surprised that he's not playing him now against Ottawa, which is a team we hardly ever play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 What's bad is that there goalie could beat up everyone on the ice from our team Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sergeiwasmyfav 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Downey has 6 fights, accounting for 30 of his 48 penalty minutes. Of the 18 minutes remaining, i can recall at least one instance where another player went off with him (Fedoruk). This leaves us with a whopping 16 minutes of the "undisciplined" variety in 29 games. For a guy of his style, that is quite disciplined on the contrary. By comparison, Matt Ellis has 10 minutes of minors in his 31 games. Not one person on here would make the claim Ellis is undisciplined, so why should Downey's 6 extra minutes of minors give him that label? It doesnt. I didn't mean to "label" Downey as undisciplined at all. If it came across that way it was not my inention. I have just noticed it a couple of times, that is all, and certainly he is not the only player on the Wings that I have ever seen do that. I like his physical style of play and his willingness to defend his teammates and send a message to the other team. I would have no problem with him playing and Kopecky sitting. I was merely speculating about a possible reason for what we are seeing with the lineup. I don't even necessarily think that what I'm saying is correct, I was just offering a possibility. I like Downey a lot and always enjoy seeing him out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mjolman 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Downey has 6 fights, accounting for 30 of his 48 penalty minutes. Of the 18 minutes remaining, i can recall at least one instance where another player went off with him (Fedoruk). This leaves us with a whopping 16 minutes of the "undisciplined" variety in 29 games. For a guy of his style, that is quite disciplined on the contrary. By comparison, Matt Ellis has 10 minutes of minors in his 31 games. Not one person on here would make the claim Ellis is undisciplined, so why should Downey's 6 extra minutes of minors give him that label? It doesnt. PWNED Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 I didn't mean to "label" Downey as undisciplined at all. If it came across that way it was not my inention. I have just noticed it a couple of times, that is all, and certainly he is not the only player on the Wings that I have ever seen do that. I like his physical style of play and his willingness to defend his teammates and send a message to the other team. I would have no problem with him playing and Kopecky sitting. I was merely speculating about a possible reason for what we are seeing with the lineup. I don't even necessarily think that what I'm saying is correct, I was just offering a possibility. I like Downey a lot and always enjoy seeing him out there. The reason Downey sits is because the Wings just dont value having a designated fighter in the lineup as much as other teams do. I think they're just content with him being a scratch most nights and playing occasionally. I wouldnt look any further than that. Thats been the attitude of the club for years now, if you took bets at the beginning of the season as to how long they'd keep Downey on the big club, i believe you'd have gotten a resounding vote for no more than 2 months. The reason he's gotten in so many games thus far has been because of injury, so now that everyone's coming back, they've gone back to the original plan of him being in the press box most nights. Has nothing to do with penalties imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grittzkey 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 What last night Warranted Sammy 3rd line duties? Not impressed with the lineups, but what do i know? I dont like Sammy on the 3rd, or Maltby on the 4th, but i do like Drake on the 4th, maybe we can see a classic Drake cheapshot. You heard it from me first btw. Kopecky will have his 2nd fight of the season this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 What last night Warranted Sammy 3rd line duties? Not impressed with the lineups, but what do i know? I dont like Sammy on the 3rd, or Maltby on the 4th, but i do like Drake on the 4th, maybe we can see a classic Drake cheapshot. You heard it from me first btw. Kopecky will have his 2nd fight of the season this year. This YEAR? Thats not exactly an out on a limb prediction! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grittzkey 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 by year i meant season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 (edited) by year i meant season. EDIT - im a moron Edited January 12, 2008 by Lou_Siffer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 What last night Warranted Sammy 3rd line duties? Not impressed with the lineups, but what do i know? I dont like Sammy on the 3rd, or Maltby on the 4th, but i do like Drake on the 4th, maybe we can see a classic Drake cheapshot. You heard it from me first btw. Kopecky will have his 2nd fight of the season this year. I've been waiting all year for a classic Drake cheapshot. That's why I hate the guy. Now that he's playing on our side, he's ceased to take cheap shots like he always used to. This YEAR? Thats not exactly an out on a limb prediction! Who on their team could he actually beat besides the skill players? Hell for that matter, who could he beat, period? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Oh wait, nevermind...i completely misread his post lol. Sorry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 I've been waiting all year for a classic Drake cheapshot. That's why I hate the guy. Now that he's playing on our side, he's ceased to take cheap shots like he always used to. Who on their team could he actually beat besides the skill players? Hell for that matter, who could he beat, period? I forgot what topic we were even in. I thought he was predicting Kopecky would get in another fight at some point in the season....but obviously he's talking about tomorrow's game...so yeah that is an out on a limb prediction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Who on their team could he actually beat besides the skill players? Hell for that matter, who could he beat, period? I don't know about beat, but realistic matchups for Kopecky could be: Fisher, Redden, Foligno, Donovan, Bass not going to hold my breath though... and as for Downey, I never expected him to be in the line up for tonight's game, just wishful thinking I guess... it would make the game so much more intense. I don't like how the team preaches about how they respect Downey's job and appreciate his enforcer position but they don't even utilize him as one, they use him as a 14th forward who plays due to injuries, not circumstances.. kinda dumb Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted January 12, 2008 I'm really disappointed that Downey isn't in the line-up. I don't see how it's NOT going to be a physical, physical game. It's a game against an eastern conference team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
