Cicada 4 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Drake'll be in the lineup...he can step up if things get really bad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Drake'll be in the lineup...he can step up if things get really bad I believe the point is having someone to potentially counter Chris Neil as skacore mentioned, who is known for dishing out plenty of big hits and playing a very tough game. This is exactly the reason you carry someone like Downey on your roster. What the hell would Drake do if Neil gets out of hand...aside from taking a pounding? Its situations like this where i just hope Neil goes balls to the wall hammering every body in sight....just to make them regret not dressing him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Drake'll be in the lineup...he can step up if things get really bad Props to Drake for his willingness, but it would be nice to have someone out there who is not guaranteed to lose in a fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Could you guys please explain me what is so important about fighting? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 How else are we going to know who would win in a fight? Duh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MotorCityMachineGun22 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 (edited) Didn't really like having Downie scratched but O yeah Emery's in,I mean he is a good goaltender has been been getting really messed up the last couple weeks(throwing stick over glass in practice,Found passed out at the bar,Awearing at the coach and has been coming to practice like 20 minutes late!)So come on Wings lets remind Ottawa why we have more points then them!!!!!!!!!!! Edited January 12, 2008 by MotorCityMachineGun22 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Could you guys please explain me what is so important about fighting? - protect and defend teammates - change momentum (theres a Zetterberg quote that confirms this if you dont believe me) - lessens stick work and cheap shots ( yeah, its still obviously there...but if the instigator rule was removed you'd see its true impact in this area) - intimidation (yes, thats part of the game) - entertainment for fans - builds comradery amongst your team (the whole going to battle together thing..) - calms the storm (meaning, a guy who's running everyone and playing very physical tends to significantly quiet down after having to fight) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Props to Drake for his willingness, but it would be nice to have someone out there who is not guaranteed to lose in a fight. I've never liked Drake, so I still don't mind seeing him get pounded in a fight, even if he's wearing a Wings jersey. I agree, though, about Downey needing to be dressed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skiing - Puck 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Saturday, January 12, 2008 Zetterberg has the flu Henrik Zetterberg did not participate in Saturday's morning skate and might miss tonight's game in Ottawa. He's a game-time decision. "It's my understanding he's playing tonight," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "If not ... we've played without him before. What are you going to do?" Without Z, here's how the Red Wings practiced ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Franzen-Samuelsson Cleary-Draper-Maltby Drake-Kopecky-Downey Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood Ellis (healthy scratch) Ellis might play on the fourth line with Downey scratched. That's yet to be determined. Both will be scratched if Zetterberg plays. Here's how the Senators skated this morning ... Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson Vermette-Kelly-Donovan Schubert-McAmmond-Bass Neil-Fisher-Robitaille Redden-Corvo Phillips-Volchenkov Richardson-Meszaros Emery (starts) Gerber There has, however, been plenty of verbal jockeying between the two coaches about lines. Neither wants to show their hand before the game. Whether Ottawa's big three skate together will be seen. Whether it's Lidstrom and Rafalski or Lidstrom and Kronwall will be seen. Posted by Bruce MacLeod at 12:53 PM Who knows what will happen, maybe we will see Neil and Downey have a go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudvayneowns91 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 What's bad is that there goalie could beat up everyone on the ice from our team no way, Dom will do his patented slip and take out Ray like he did Roy. That'll show them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heaton 1 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 While I understand the want to see Downey dressed, I really don't want to see Downey on the ice against their Alfredsson - Fisher - Niel line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip-check 6 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Could you guys please explain me what is so important about fighting? Lou put the basics down pretty well. I'm glad Bettman hasn't completely eunuched this part of the game, even though he's done his damnedest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 - protect and defend teammates ... Some good points, but I still think that importance of fighting is overrated. Do you really think that if Huds get checked and Drake loose a fight that Red Wings just start to fear the opponent? I do not think so. Yes, it might be good thing to do if your team need some encouragement, but still, it's not so important imho. I do understand some fans enjoy it though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Some good points, but I still think that importance of fighting is overrated. Do you really think that if Huds get checked and Drake loose a fight that Red Wings just start to fear the opponent? I do not think so. Yes, it might be good thing to do if your team need some encouragement, but still, it's not so important imho. I do understand some fans enjoy it though. I agree, I don't think that it is as important as it's made out to be. Not many guys at the NHL level are intimidated. You can see this when little guys like Rex or even Dats throws a big hit. I'll never forget when Cleary (I think it was Cleary?!) laid out big bad Dion Pfanuff in the first round last year. Pfanuff got up and had no idea where he was. Intimidation from a big guy like Pfanuff?! I think not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip-check 6 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Some good points, but I still think that importance of fighting is overrated. Do you really think that if Huds get checked and Drake loose a fight that Red Wings just start to fear the opponent? I do not think so. It isn't even fighting. It's the whole area of toughness actually. Fisticuffs are just one part. I'll let the other posters explain why being able to answer the call matters (Any call), but I know that anyone who's played organized hockey knows why throwing your body around, popping a guy that needs some calming down, and sticking up for your teammates, is crucial to team morale and the flow of your team's game. Not trying to play the "you haven't played so you don't know nothin" card. Just saying that people who have, tend to know this because they've been in the trenches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 no way, Dom will do his patented slip and take out Ray like he did Roy. That'll show them. Wasn't Hasek a mentor to Emery, or something like that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman54 91 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Im kinda dissapointed that Z, Pavs and Holmstrom are not reunited for this game.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 It isn't even fighting. It's the whole area of toughness actually. ... Not trying to play the "you haven't played so you don't know nothin" card. Just saying that people who have, tend to know this because they've been in the trenches. Well, toughness and fighting are two totally divergent things imho. I like when our big guys throw hits and play hard. And yes, I am not pro player, not playing any league, just playing "hockey" with my firends in winter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip-check 6 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 They're more connected than you think. Does the team get a lift out of a spirited fight? Yep. Do they like seeing a guy in red absolutely crush the opposition? No doubt. Will their shoulders sag when the other team is running around, doing whatever they want to their buddies? That they might. Can that be turned around by said big hits and/or stand-up fighters? Definitely. Team morale is definitely affected by all physical aspects of the game. Whether it's a physical aspect that gives you Five for fighting or not, these are parts of team play and how momentum works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 "Oh, what a hit by Chris Neil on Nicklas Lidstrom in the corner!!! And Brian Rafalski steps in... and, wow, he is thrown down to the ice by Neil, and now a scrum in the corner! Datsyuk and Filppula... and now Holmstrom getting into it with Volchenkov! Chris Neil just HAMMERED Lidstrom in the corner, and he is hurt. And now Neil getting into it with Filppula, and this is a bad idea..." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip-check 6 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Flip is a beast! You misrepresent his bareknuckles prowess! And Datsyuk can throw a mean headbutt with that sharp kernel corn head of his. Watch out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
