YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 Seeing as how I've been a Howard fan since he was in Toledo it makes me happy. Hopefully this trend will continue when Hasek is retired for good. Have Howard start and Osgood back up. Not that most of the loses were Ozzie's fault but some of the goals he should have stopped. Most of them were from poor support of the wings. They need to get back into peak condition but I think they are just getting tired. Its late in the season stuff like this happens. Hopefully they can get going again before playoffs start. Howard...never...played for Toledo... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redwingsfan18 1 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 This is going to be good for Jimmy. Big game, national TV...no pressure Jimmy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EuroTwinLove40 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 Babcock is having Howard start the NBC game in Dallas. Also he's changing up the lines. Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Filppula-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Kopecky-Draper-Maltby Hudler-Drake-Downey (Ellis working in) http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._in_dallas.html Thoughts? What is (Ellis working in) supposed to mean?? I reallllllly hope he doesn't put Ellis in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeuxEx 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 I'm a Osgood supporter but I'm happy to see Howard getting a start, he is supposed to be our future goal tender after all. What's up with Hasek though? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildwings44 5 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 It will be nice to see Howard play. Hopefully he can keep his nerves down, although the outcome will be the same. It's nice Babs switched up the lines, but that still leaves them with only once scoring line. The Flip, Zetta, sammy line will be a non factor. They can't be successful with only two guys on a line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted February 16, 2008 Cool... I think Howard deserves the start after the last couple games, where I think he has done a great job. It's too bad that he'll have to be sent back down soon, but that's his role on the team for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 Nice to see if we consider Howard the future starter. Only one way to find out and that is to throw him to the wolves. Nah, throw him to the Stars. The Wolves' net is too small to get an accurate judgement. Sorry, couldn't resist. Don't mind me. Back to intelligent conversation......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 Os-Bad is out, thank the lord! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut40 176 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 I want to know why Babs didn't do that last night. I feel so bad for Ozzie. I wonder why he(or the rest of the team) hasn't been playing well? In any case, I'm glad Howard is finally getting to start. It'll be a good experience for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidstromrules16 7 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 swap sammy and hudler, then swap ellis and sammy, then you have your lines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rod 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 Babcock is having Howard start the NBC game in Dallas. Also he's changing up the lines. Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Filppula-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Kopecky-Draper-Maltby Hudler-Drake-Downey (Ellis working in) http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._in_dallas.html Thoughts? The forwards are not the problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ProfessorLidstrom5 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 With this game being televised on national tv, I hope the Wings find some purpose to overcome their slump. "Without purpose there is no passion." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 The changes look good to me. You have to think the breaks will start going our way. I'm looking forward to watching the game on NBC tomorrow. I think we'll win 4-2. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lets go pavel 2 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 The forwards are not the problem. we've managed 10 goals in the last 5 games ... they're part of the problem Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redmen and Their Wives 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Babcock is having Howard start the NBC game in Dallas. Also he's changing up the lines. Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Filppula-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Kopecky-Draper-Maltby Hudler-Drake-Downey (Ellis working in) http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._in_dallas.html Thoughts? I like those lines. Maybe I'd switch up Homer and Fil tho. Franzen-Datsyuk-Filppula Sammy-Z-Homer Kopy-Draper-Maltby Hudler-Drake-Downey Glad to see Jimmy get the start. Hopefully they also call Ericsson up before the deadline to see how he looks. Ericsson and Jimmy Howard have been the best players in Grand Rapids, so why not reward them when the team needs some help? Remeber how Filppula could have been sent down last season but was pressed into service when Greg Johnson had to retire? That worked out pretty well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jeremy88 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 ok wow. good for howard. ozzie needs to get his s*** together wtf. franzen on a line with datsyuk? I'm sorry but franzen is nearly useless. He makes a good play like once or twice every 10 games. Other than that, I don't really see much from him offensively or defensively. He doesn't really suck, but he doesn't really do anything. and Z and Sammy? Z can't pass to sammy cuz sammy will turn it over, and sammy can't pass to Z cuz sammy just can't pass. we really need some trades but not to stray too far off topic into yet another trade discussion, yay for howard! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redmen and Their Wives 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 ok wow. good for howard. ozzie needs to get his s*** together wtf. franzen on a line with datsyuk? I'm sorry but franzen is nearly useless. He makes a good play like once or twice every 10 games. Other than that, I don't really see much from him offensively or defensively. He doesn't really suck, but he doesn't really do anything. and Z and Sammy? Z can't pass to sammy cuz sammy will turn it over, and sammy can't pass to Z cuz sammy just can't pass. we really need some trades but not to stray too far off topic into yet another trade discussion, yay for howard! Franzen was on a line with Pavs in preseason and the Mule tore it up. He got injured early on and hasn't been on a line with Datsyuk since. I think this is a good move and allows Babcock to split up the Eurotwins. This team needs some sort of spark and this could be what it takes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingedKitten 9 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 I like that Howard is starting, he will get some experience. I also think it would be better to switch Filper and Homer. For some reason I want to keep Z and Homer together, and I think Filpper does better with Dats. (but then again, who doesn't?) However I am still worried about the D. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irishtemper14+25 11 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 oh man im so excited to see howard tommorrow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blood On The Ice 15 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Great, I want to see how well Howard can play against a good NHL team for the whole game. Although, many of you are blaming Ozzie for these last two games. Far from it boys and girls. The defense in front of him has been absolutely horrible. I'm sort of wondering if they had imposters on the ice the last two games. Hopefully they got this crap out of their system and they play a good game in front of Jimmy, otherwise, the results will be the same, a goalie getting pulled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puckloo39 5,686 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Good. This makes sense to me. The team better show up in front of Jimmy, since they have not done so for the other goalies lately. Surely they won't hang Junior out to dry, too?? Dallas is feeling pretty spiffy right now having managed to beat Anaheim last night. I bet Turco insists on playing tomorrow... he's got Wings in his head and usually Tippett is smart enough to play Smitty instead. Not so sure Turco's all that skeered of this current version of the Wings. So, Dats, do your thing and undress Turcs tomorrow. Ew, not literally... you know what I mean. If we can get through tomorrow and Monday, the team oughta figure things out and be back on track by the Western Canada trip. If will help if everyone is healthy again, too. Go, Jimmy!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Babcock is having Howard start the NBC game in Dallas. Also he's changing up the lines. Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Filppula-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Kopecky-Draper-Maltby Hudler-Drake-Downey (Ellis working in) http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._in_dallas.html Thoughts? Looking at those lines, I'm going to have to say it, we need more secondary scoring. The third line will be lucky to score 1 goal in 10 games, and the fourth is even worse. Can't believe Hudler is down there though. And it's about time we get to see Filppula with Zetterberg! Been wondering how they'd go together for a while now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swede40 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Looking at those lines, I'm going to have to say it, we need more secondary scoring. The third line will be lucky to score 1 goal in 10 games, and the fourth is even worse. Can't believe Hudler is down there though. And it's about time we get to see Filppula with Zetterberg! Been wondering how they'd go together for a while now. Helm was minus 5 tonight. He better stay awhile in Grand Rapids. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) Helm was minus 5 tonight. He better stay awhile in Grand Rapids. The +/- stat on a poor team is a pretty meaningless stat IMO. Cullen was -4, Insana and Corazzini -3. The Griffins gave up 5 goals in the first period. They suck, that's the bottom line. Helm couldn't have been doing too bad a job because the coach kept sending him out there and he did have a game time 7 shots on goal. Edited February 17, 2008 by Aussie_Wing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 I don't think I like those lines very much. As odd as it would be to have Kopecky on the first line, I think he's really been one of the few players actualy showing up to play lately, and as Datsyuk is primarily a playmaker, and Homer is primarily a front-of-the-net guy, I think being on a line with those two would be good for Kopecky, especially with how hes been playing recently. Move Franzen to the second line as a 2nd Homer-like player, with Filpulla playing a Dats-like role for Zetterberg, as I see Filpulla more as a playmake than a scorer, anyway (alot of people have been complaining about his decisions to pass instead of shoot, much like Datsyuk during his earlier years). Zetterberg ofcorse plays the scorer. Samuelson can get the priveledge of playing the leader of the third line, and maybe he'll actually be of some use down there. Checking line is Maltby Drake and Downey. Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Kopecky Zetterberg, Franzen, Filpulla Samuelson, Hudler, Draper Maltby, Drake, Downey Ellis I know it looks unorthodox, but if we're going to fiddle with the lines to this degree and amidst a loosing streak, lets get creative and see what happens. We should be playing desperately against the Stars, anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
