WQF Game 3 (4/14) GDT: Predators 5, Red Wings 3

[puckbags 863]

Honestly, this is the first time I ever remember this really being a problem. I don't ever remember things like this in the reg. season. Granted my memory is s*** for things like this.

I noticed it a little bit during the regular season but like everything else come playoff time it seems to be magnified now!!

[gcom007 1,465]

I was never blaming everything on Hasek, the defense sucked, thats obvious, but you kept blaming everything on the defense, never mentioning Haseks short comings tonight. I also do not recall him making any block buster saves to save our asses in this game, I expect him to make saves, considering he is a goalie, and that he did do. Game 2 he was great, but he also got lucky, the goal that didnt count, should have, and he would have a terrible start. The preds hit 2 posts in 5 seconds also, so to me, Hasek can be better, I mean he is the dominator. I love Hasek and hope to see him rebound, I just wasnt pleased how u put all the responsibilty on the defense, that is all. I don't enjoy watching the posts being the ones to bail us out.

True story. I can't stand the defense breakdowns, but to not get on Hasek's ass is just absurd. Make all the excuses you want, there is no way we will win a Cup if he continues to play like this. The defense and everything can be perfect, we won't win. We also won't win with the D, but both are at fault here. D more but Hasek really as much considering that the goalie is the backbone of the team and he's just crumbling so quickly.

Oh for the love of Parise! The guy gives up 34 in 18 games in the postseason last year, but it's all his damn fault because we didn't come to play Game 6 against Anaheim until it was too late. Maybe if the team could've put more than 1 in the fricken net the game before we wouldn't have been in that situation.

He gives up 4 tonight, one of which was bad, and he's sunk. Give me a ****ing break. Play some defense, make good line changes, don't leave to make a big hit for no reason, don't change lines 3 seconds after a faceoff when we're turning the puck over, make some effort to break up a 2 on 1....but no, it's all Dom.

This board is amazing.

A) You would expect "The Dominator" to not come out stinking just as bad if not worse than the team in a must win Game 6 Conference Final Game. Isn't that the allure of Hasek? He's the guy who wins the must win games? But no, he played pretty bad and even when the Wings started turning it around in the 3rd he couldn't get going and gave up another easy goal to further dampen our chances.

B) The defense really sucked, I'm hardly arguing that fact at all.

C) It's not that Hasek sucks, it's that people talk like he's so great and all and he's just getting screwed by the defense. I'm sorry, that's just not realistic. He's played fairly well at times, but that's about where it ends. He's played below average a lot this year. He's been injured a lot and that doesn't help. He's 43 years old. That doesn't help. This pattern has continued thus far in the playoffs. If you're going to sit her for a second and tell me we're going to get anywhere with average goaltending at best, you're just kidding yourself. Again, I ain't trying to just hate on him or cast all the blame on him because there's plenty to go around, but people who are unwilling to admit to the fact that he's become a weak link are just living in a state of denial. The defense could literally evaporate into thin air and there's no excuse for giving up 2 goals in such short time spans 3 times in 2 games in the playoffs let alone the regular season. Wake up.

Edited April 15, 2008 by gcom007

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

btw, (not blaming the refs for our loss because it's gone both ways) the officiating has been horrendous this whole series. pathetic.

[Barrie 900]

2-1 series lead for DRW... thats the end of it for now.

This situation is nothing new.

We will play Red Wings hockey on Wednesday and take the series back to the Joe up 3-1.

Lets not blame players or coaches or refs.

Im going to rub one out and go to sleep.

See you Wednesday.

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's playoff hockey.

Atleast we get a chance at closing the series out at home.

[Sgt. Angry 23]

Honestly, this is the first time I ever remember this really being a problem. I don't ever remember things like this in the reg. season. Granted my memory is s*** for things like this.

Your memory is just fine. The Wings seem to make a yearly habit out of doing things in the playoffs that we never see in the regular season - and it's almost always for the worse.

[kylee 727]

We need to dress Downey for the next game. We've never lost a playoff game with him in the lineup.

Has there been any post game press conference yet?

Hopefully Hasek will tell us that he took some acid midway through the 3rd period, and then I'll let him off the hook for those 2 soft goals.

im all for that after seeing the Wings get pushed around tonight.

[puckloo39 5,686]

btw, (not blaming the refs for our loss because it's gone both ways) the officiating has been horrendous this whole series. pathetic.

it started early this time (with Datsyuk being boarded, no call) and continued throughout the game. I don't expect things to get any better, personally.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

We'll have to go up 4-0 next game for me to feel confident about this team right now. I'm still pissed that we gave those idiot fans the satisfaction of winning a game against us.

Also, I want to blame Gary Bettman and Ken Holland for the loss, since no one has done so yet.

[vangvace 12]

I think that was the intention. The execution in real life wasn't all that effective, however.

I'd like to see it work on of these days. Oh well.

Side-

I hate trying to keep up on GDT in the playoffs here. Why can't we have nice 9 pagers like the Devils

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

it started early this time (with Datsyuk being boarded, no call) and continued throughout the game. I don't expect things to get any better, personally.

yeah, i don't know if it can now. the refs have set the tone. if they start calling anything now it'll be power plays and penalty kills the whole game. they've failed to do their job, imo.

[Matt 1,049]

Matt,

I don't like to disagree with the Big Cahuna around here, but...

yes, we were a few minutes away from winning, but, we did not win....

On the other hand, we DID win games 1 and 2, and that was with a different lineup than game 3.

Well, for starters my position here shouldn't have any bearing on how you feel in regards to what I post. After the initial I-want-to-throw-the-remote-though-the-TV moment immediately after Arnott's goal and Erat's subsequent icer, I took a step back and realized the loss for what it was: a loss.

I am 100% confident this team will bounce back for Wednesday's game with a greater resolve than tonight and with far fewer mental mistakes that cost them tonight's game. Outside of those two stretches tonight the Wings played a solid road game in a hostile barn. Now before someone replies back "BUT THEY LOST" -- I know. But I also realize that all they'll be talking about tonight and during tomorrow's skate is reducing those errors. Game 2 could be considered a fluke -- but Game 3 proved it was a habit.

Time to break it.

I do think that Babcock will be more prone to keep Zetterberg and Datsyuk together for Game 4. While that first unit is unstoppable I do think that Franzen-Filppula-Cleary line has some definite potential out there.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I'd like to see it work on of these days. Oh well.

Side-

I hate trying to keep up on GDT in the playoffs here. Why can't we have nice 9 pagers like the Devils

actually, only about nine pages of this one is worth reading, but it passes the time.

[vangvace 12]

let's lighten this up

ARNOTT GOT HURT FROM CELEBRATING A GOAL TOO HARD!

what a maroon.

You'd think his name was Gramatica or something

Sorry for the football reference

[Matt 1,049]

is there any news on this yet? i was listening to the game so i didnt get to see what happened. what an embarrassment if hes really hurt

It wasn't anything major, at least by appearances. He was gang-piled on by his teammates after his goal -- that's what caused it.

[scissorfight 0]

True story. I can't stand the defense breakdowns, but to not get on Hasek's ass is just absurd. Make all the excuses you want, there is no way we will win a Cup if he continues to play like this. The defense and everything can be perfect, we won't win. We also won't win with the D, but both are at fault here. D more but Hasek really as much considering that the goalie is the backbone of the team and he's just crumbling so quickly.

A) You would expect "The Dominator" to not come out stinking just as bad if not worse than the team in a must win Game 6 Conference Final Game. Isn't that the allure of Hasek? He's the guy who wins the must win games? But no, he played pretty bad and even when the Wings started turning it around in the 3rd he couldn't get going and gave up another easy goal to further dampen our chances.

B) The defense really sucked, I'm hardly arguing that fact at all.

C) It's not that Hasek sucks, it's that people talk like he's so great and all and he's just getting screwed by the defense. I'm sorry, that's just not realistic. He's played fairly well at times, but that's about where it ends. He's played below average a lot this year. He's been injured a lot and that doesn't help. He's 43 years old. That doesn't help. This pattern has continued thus far in the playoffs. If you're going to sit her for a second and tell me we're going to get anywhere with average goaltending at best, you're just kidding yourself. Again, I ain't trying to just hate on him or cast all the blame on him because there's plenty to go around, but people who are unwilling to admit to the fact that he's become a weak link are just living in a state of denial. The defense could literally evaporate into thin air and there's no excuse for giving up 2 goals in such short time spans 3 times in 2 games in the playoffs let alone the regular season. Wake up.

absolutely NAILED it.

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

You'd think his name was Gramatica or something

Sorry for the football reference

or Ted Ginn Jr... 'nother football reference

[Third Man In 2,091]

This team is up 2-1 with a chance to put a stranglehold on the series Wednesday. Woulda been nice to do it tonight, but one (or two) losses in Nashville are far from the end of the world. Remember: seemingly half the team is coming off of late-season injuries and will only continue to get stronger as the playoffs resond. Cleary, Flip, Stuart, Homer and Co. have still yet to really get their rhythm back. The only reason to panic would be if we felt like we gave Nashville our best shot and lost.

[Z and D for the C 712]

This team is up 2-1 with a chance to put a stranglehold on the series Wednesday. Woulda been nice to do it tonight, but one (or two) losses in Nashville are far from the end of the world. Remember: seemingly half the team is coming off of late-season injuries and will only continue to get stronger as the playoffs resond. Cleary, Flip, Stuart, Homer and Co. have still yet to really get their rhythm back. The only reason to panic would be if we felt like we gave Nashville our best shot and lost.

Like they did us the first 2 games.

[RedWingsFanatic 4]

For me, the real story of this game is how the Predators initiated all the physical contact tonight. The Wings appeared to me to be shying away from the contact late in the game. I don't think that's a coincidence; I think the Preds wore 'em down.

The Wings need to start finishing checks and taking the body when they have the opportunity. They've done that, just not tonight. I believe this was really their undoing because it led to what appeared to be a random late game collapse, but was really a logical progression from the tone Nashville set up to that point.

I didn't think the Predators were incredibly physical. If anything, I would say that we initiated the wealth of the big physicality. It did appear to me, however, that getting pushed around a little bit affected Zetterberg. He was fairly non-existent tonight.

I'm tempted to write a long, detailed analysis of the game, but I think my time might be better spent thinking about something other than hockey for a while. I will say this, though: Andreas Lilja is a bum. His ineptitude on the Arnott goal was ridiculous. Blame Hasek for the Suter goal, but the winning goal was the result of vintage Lilja buffoonery. If I'm Babcock, either Lebda or Meech is in on Wednesday night.

Oh, geez. Whatever. I'll rant for a bit. Rafalski looks out of sorts. I don't quite know what's going on, but it's not good. His passes aren't being completed, I can't remember the last time he had a decent scoring chance and he doesn't seem to be doing very much defensively. He better get it figured out. The only thing I can think of is that he has an injury, which would explain him not playing in the final regular season game. But, I don't know. He just needs to start playing better.

Again, as one of Hasek's biggest critics, this certainly was not solely his fault. Sure, he could have maybe stopped one of 'em, but that doesn't excuse the rest of the team for falling apart in front of him. Hasek has been solid throughout the series, and he's the reason we still have a lead.

Niklas Kronwall needs to be careful. He's playing dangerously and illegally and I don't like it.

Ugh. Alright. That's enough. The wait until Wednesday won't be very much fun.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Does anyone think they could come up with a pictures of Pav smiling after he scored that goal?

[vangvace 12]

Niklas Kronwall needs to be careful. He's playing dangerously and illegally and I don't like it.

Can I get a recap since I missed it and will not dig into the GDT to find it

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Now that I think about it, Nashville made no push whatsoever in the 3rd period, and had no sustained pressure. It was just one bad goal that led to everything, so it's not like they've figured out how to play consistent hockey any better than we have.

For once, we lost without the other team's goalie standing on his head.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I didn't think the Predators were incredibly physical. If anything, I would say that we initiated the wealth of the big physicality. It did appear to me, however, that getting pushed around a little bit affected Zetterberg. He was fairly non-existent tonight.

I'm tempted to write a long, detailed analysis of the game, but I think my time might be better spent thinking about something other than hockey for a while. I will say this, though: Andreas Lilja is a bum. His ineptitude on the Arnott goal was ridiculous. Blame Hasek for the Suter goal, but the winning goal was the result of vintage Lilja buffoonery. If I'm Babcock, either Lebda or Meech is in on Wednesday night.

Oh, geez. Whatever. I'll rant for a bit. Rafalski looks out of sorts. I don't quite know what's going on, but it's not good. His passes aren't being completed, I can't remember the last time he had a decent scoring chance and he doesn't seem to be doing very much defensively. He better get it figured out. The only thing I can think of is that he has an injury, which would explain him not playing in the final regular season game. But, I don't know. He just needs to start playing better.

Again, as one of Hasek's biggest critics, this certainly was not solely his fault. Sure, he could have maybe stopped one of 'em, but that doesn't excuse the rest of the team for falling apart in front of him. Hasek has been solid throughout the series, and he's the reason we still have a lead.

Niklas Kronwall needs to be careful. He's playing dangerously and illegally and I don't like it.

Ugh. Alright. That's enough. The wait until Wednesday won't be very much fun.

Now that was a good analysis, and fair.

The inability to finish and score when it's needed scares me more than goaltending. When they couldn't put it away with the fourth goal, I knew they were going to lose this one.

I share your concern about Kronwall. He's not going to do us any good if he's suspended for the playoffs because of, or injured by, his overly-enthusiatic contributions. With his history of freak injuries, he needs to take it down a notch or two.

[Viperar 16]

hey loo...hasek sucks and blew the game and cant stop a beach ball

*runs away*

[redwing_sparty 0]

im not worried, it just ticks me off to lose the way we did. i really think dom should have had those last two, especially the 4th one.

that said, we had gone into such a defensive mode up to the last 4 minutes that we couldnt shift out of it to go on the offensive for the last 3 minutes. we could barely set up.

i expected the wings would lose one game in nashville, but it would have been nice to be up 3-0. honestly though, if hasek has another 3+ goal night they need to put osgood in. i dunno. dom was a show stopper in game 2, but he looked shaky alot tonight.

side note - i think the lines would have worked ok if sammy had been on the third line and either hudler or cleary was up on the second.

blar, just have to sit back and wait for wednesday night :/