40#1Fan 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 From Bruce MacLeon, Macomb Daily: Yes, Mikael Samuelsson didn't skate in the practice. I should have addressed that with the initial post, but I wanted to find out why. Sammy has tightness in his groin. Feel free to begin worrying now. They say that they're being cautious, but obviously there's always concern. His status for tomorrow's game is unknown. -- Dominik Hasek is still a maybe for Friday. He's still sick, but if he skates in the morning, he might dress tomorrow night. Jimmy Howard, incidentally, traveled back to Grand Rapids yesterday morning, got in the morning skate, played last night for the Griffins, got up early this morning and drove across state to make it to JLA for the morning skate. -- Darren McCarty will play Friday. He skated on a line with Mark Hartigan and Dallas Drake. Aaron Downey will be a healthy scratch. -- Drake (chest) said that he's fine to play, but coach Mike Babcock said that he still has to talk to the trainers. -- Valtteri Filppula (groin) has the green light to play Friday. He practiced with the second power-play unit with Dan Cleary and Jiri Hudler on his wings. -- Brad Stuart (broken finger) is with the team and will resume skating tomorrow. -- Tomas Holmstrom (abdomen) skated on his own before practice. His return isn't going to come this week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings_Dynasty 267 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Well, if Sammy doesn't play we get to see a different PP. But I wonder why Hartigan is in and not Downey??? Edited March 27, 2008 by Wings_Dynasty Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
40#1Fan 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 more on today's practice from MLIVE: Update from Thursday's practice: Dominik Hasek was not around, still bothered by the flu, and won't dress Friday against St. Louis. Chris Osgood will start, and Jimmy Howard was recalled from Grand Rapids to serve as the back-up. Tomas Holmstrom (strained abdominal muscles) skated for about a half-hour before practice but was scheduled to have more tests later in the afternoon. He had a second set of tests (MRI, ultrasound) on Wednesday. Coach Mike Babcock said he didn't know the results but that everything looked positive. Mikael Samuelsson left practice early with a groin problem that's been bothering him for a week or so and Babcock listed him as questionable. Valtteri Filppula (sore knee, groin) said he's ready to play. Dallas Drake (bruised sternum) said he's ready to play, too, but Babcock wasn't sure about Drake. Brad Stuart (broken finger) is back from San Jose and will start practicing Friday. He said he's optimistic he'll be ready for the start of the playoffs. Babcock said Darren McCarty will play Friday, replacing Aaron Downey in the lineup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 Well, if Sammy doesn't play we get to see a different PP. But I wonder why Hartigan is in and not Downey??? Probably just experimenting. We know what we get with Downey, he wants to test McCarty, probably. Hopefully, if McCarty does well, both he and Downey will play instead of replacing each other. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
40#1Fan 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 more from MLIVE: http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/03/ha...g_from_flu.html March 27, RedWingsCorner: Dominik Hasek is not on the ice for practice today, so it looks as though he'll miss another game with the flu. Jimmy Howard is on the ice and will presumably back up Chris Osgood Friday night. Darren McCarty is skating and looks good for his debut Friday. Tomas Holmstrom took a quick twirl on the, but didn't participate in practice drills. Valtteri Filppula took part in the entire practice and might be back in the lineup soon. Hopefully, Hasek will make a speedy recovery and play on Friday...and the fact that Holmstrom's skating at all is great news...But Ken Holland suggests that Hasek has the blogger flu pretty badly (so do I, again; it takes quite a bit for Snapshots to "go dark" for a day!): Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 Good to see Mac will be playing in Friday's game.. Though im not happy about Downey being a healthy scratch.... Hopefully Flips will be able to go as well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingedKitten 9 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 I hope Sammy is ok, he can have some pretty clutch goals at times. Not to mention I have him scoreing 1.5 goals a game in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzermania 156 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 awe man, no grind line Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeatDown20 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 Hartigan playing over Downey against the Blues? Mike Babcock you never surprise me, he may be the best coach in the NHL, but he doesnt know toughness at all. Great to see Mac playing, and I cant say i'm disappointed about Sammy being out. All this news is good news for me, hopefully Homer and Stuart will be good to go for the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyCrazy3033 168 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 I'm not worried about Sammy. Homer's outlook seems good. Can't wait to see Mac back. I do have a problem with Downey out for Hartigan. I want to see Mac and Downey both be in the lineup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 with no Downey in the line up that is going to be a tall order for McCarty on his first game back, especially at the Joe... if he's smart he'll be turning down challenges left and right from any of St. Louis' big boys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redwingsfan18 1 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 awe man, no grind line ...Why not? Mac is playing, so is Draps and Malts.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PenaltyShot 96 521 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 I'm excited for DMac's return, but I also was hoping to see him and Downey play together. I will be severely disappointed if they turn out to be substitutes for each other and not complements. And Howard is quite a trooper, traveling all that distance in two days and pulling double duty jsut to ride the pine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozen-Man 144 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 I can't wait to see Mac play Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
40#1Fan 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 here's the latest updates from MLIVE - and it all seems to be good news, especially on Homer and Flip: There's finally good news on the Red Wings' injury front--regarding Valtteri Filppula and Tomas Holmstrom, anyway: March 27, Detroit News: [C]oach Mike Babcock said Valtteri Filppula (groin) will return to the line up but Dominik Hasek (flu) is still home, and his status for Friday is uncertain. Brad Stuart (broken finger) is back in town after being in Los Angeles over the weekend visiting his pregnant wife. Mikael Samuelsson (groin) left practice early Thursday but it isn't considered a serious injury. The Wings are awaiting results on tests Tomas Holmstrom (abdominal strain) took Wednesday, but are optimistic there's nothing serious. In fact, Holmstrom was on the ice for approximately 30 minutes Thursday skating. As for Darren McCarty, who's scheduled to make his second-time-around Red Wings debut on Friday, Mac admittedly has a case of the jitters: "I'm excited to be back, and trying to leave it there. I'm not focusing on it," said McCarty, one of the most popular Red Wings during the organization's renaissance over the last 10-15 years. "I'll be nervous. I haven't played at this level for over a year. I'll be nervous hockey-wise. But whatever emotion there will be, it'll be genuine." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tiff_luvs_homer 5 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Tomas Holmstrom (strained abdominal muscles) skated for about a half-hour before practice but was scheduled to have more tests later in the afternoon. He had a second set of tests (MRI, ultrasound) on Wednesday. Coach Mike Babcock said he didn't know the results but that everything looked positive.[/b] what a sigh of relief.... it sounds like there's still hope he could play next Thursday when we go to the game! :D Edited March 27, 2008 by tiff_luvs_homer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irishtemper14+25 11 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 im so excited to go to the game Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 I don't get babcock sometimes. Why on Earth would hartigan be in over Downey? these are meaningless games and the blues always like to run around and goon it up with our guys, I don't want to see anyone get hurt. On the other hand I am pumped to see Mac back in a Wings unifom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EuroTwinLove40 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 No Aaron!? pshhh I was hoping to see Mac and Downey together. If it was any other team but the Blues I could see sitting Downey, but Babs obviously knows they're going to play physical! I love Babcock, but I don't always understand his logic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest crazy8legs Report post Posted March 27, 2008 yay bigmac!!! everyone should take this oppurtunity without sammy to sheist him out of the lineup and PP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ProfessorLidstrom5 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 So does this mean Meech will not be in the lineup as well? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-=Red_Force=- 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 Good updates,it seems we'll have all the guys back in time for the playoffs Btw,i'm new here:) I'm sure it will be weird to hear but i'm from Israel,yeah yeah,even in Israel there are Wings fans!!! I'm a red wing few years now and really with the wings with all my heart!! Just Love them,and Hate the turtle Lemiuex Great Forum here guys,Hope i'll enjoy here!!! GO WINGS!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
12Newf 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 a lot has been made about babcock not knowing toughness and i tend to agree. does anyone have a link to an article or something where he explains himself on this issue? why is he so against players who can fight? downey shows admirable restraint on the ice and fights when necessary, he helps get goalies off their game and although he cant handle the puck worth a damn he doesnt seem to be a huge liability so why not keep him in the lineup? i guess hartigan is a decent centre and maybe theyre hoping he will be the defensive conscious of the 4th line? but drake is a pretty good defensive forward...just thinking about our 4th line makes my head hurt. please someone show me babcocks thinking on this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 You'd think Downey should be in there since it's McCarty's first game back. I agree with a previous post that some of St. Louis big guys will be testing Darren. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings_Dynasty 267 Report post Posted March 27, 2008 I don't understand the Hartigan over Downey mentality against the Blues either. I mean, if it were Dallas, Colorado, Ottawa or any other "skill" team with something to lose, it would be fine. But the Blues are a cheap-shotting team with nothing to lose. Why not have a badass 4th line just in case? Z-Dats-Cleary Flip-Stein-Rex Malts-Drapes-Kopy Mac-Drake-Downey Sammy (hurt?) Hartigan Also, once Homer is back I don't think either Downey or Mac will be in the lineup. Especially one the post begins. I think they will give Mac as many games as they can to prove himself, but once the post starts, it's back to this: Homer-Dats-Cleary Flip-Z-Sammy Malts-Drapes-Stein Kopy-Drake-Rex But for me it's: Stein-Dats-Z Homer-Flip-Cleary Malts-Drapes-Mac Downey-Drake-Kopy Sammy Rex Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
