WCF Game 5 GDT: Stars 2, Red Wings 1

[Nev 1,085]

As bad as that effort was, you have to remember several things

1) The last 2 games Dallas has got the lead. This is crucial. Good teams like, Detroit and Dallas are able to shut the opposition down in the 3rd. They've done to us in games 4 & 5 what we did to them in games 1, 2 & 3. Getting the lead is absolutely vital

2) Our record in game 6 elimination games is outstanding, especially on the road.

3) Its the playoffs, and all it takes is the bounce of a puck to decide a game. Their 2nd goal was the flap of a butterflys wings from being a turnover by Turco and an empty netter for Dmac.

Having said that, that was a poor effort from Detroit. Sammy is awful. Dmac was poor again. Homer....why did all the one-timer passes from Datsyuk end up on his stick and not Hanks? He was a very frustrated man out there, took some bad penalties. He needs to get back to the guy who gets pounded every game and doesn't retaliate.

The 2nd line was terrible. Sammy is Sammy. Cleary has not recovered from all that weight he lost, Filpulla is streaky. I thought the 3rd line had some jump, but Maltby, Drake and Draper ain't the best finishers out there are they?

Chelios...has Babs got the balls to drop him?

Whatever, its the playoffs. Winning games isn't easy. Momentum swings back and forth. Dallas are a good team.

But the Wings are better.

Finally all this talk of "if we lose game 6 we'll lose game 7" is nonsense. The results are decided on the ice, not by the fears of chicken licken fans, or the hopes of excitable homers.

How often does this Wings team lose 4 straight? (injury ravaged February aside)

[EuroTwinLove40 0]

Ughhh that was a pathetic showing by the wings!

Our 1st line looked sloooow, Flip was invisible, Cheli was just BAD, and Cleary is clearly not himself yet.

Sloppy passes, bad shots, and no effort = failure

There were some nice hits by Drake and Kronner though!

[MississippiWing 14]

The cup belongs in Hockeytown, and not another southern fanbase full of hicks who think NASCAR is a sport.

I'm southern and I'm not a hick.

[MississippiWing 14]

[seeinred 1,488]

I'm southern and I'm not a hick.

Obviously Wings fans are exempt from such generalizations.

[MississippiWing 14]

Obviously Wings fans are exempt from such generalizations.

Yeah I love Mississippi but it does carry its fair share of generalizations. NASCAR is not a sport. It's left turns. Guys we just have to learn to not feed the Dallas trolls. They are horrible in that state athletically. The Texas Rangers trade players away or lose them to free agency and they become superstars. Their basketball team takes the first 2 games in the finals then drops 4 straight and loses to the Miami Heat. The Cowboys are habitual choke artists here recently. Vince Young had an okay first year then has faded into obscurity in the NFL. They don't have much going for them. Let them hold on to their 33 years belief. I'll take the octopus.

[servo 15]

We have two problems IMO. Number one, Turco is playing the puck like a monster and adding a third D. Both their goals were directly the result of his quick outlet passes. The second is their checking line domination. They may not put the numbers up, but they are doing a great job keeping the boys to the outside and decreasing the amount of high percentage opportunities.

[96Homer 0]

This reminds me of 2002 when the avs stole one from us and we were up 3-2. Maybe it's a sign? Not sure if this has said already so sorry if it has!

[FinWing 26]

This reminds me of 2002 when the avs stole one from us and we were up 3-2. Maybe it's a sign? Not sure if this has said already so sorry if it has!

You mean down 3-2..?

[sharomyga 6]

Poor performance by Wings. Everybody looked tired. Huge hope for monday.

[OsGOD 3]

Maybe next game the Wings will show up and not some AHL squad

[Guest nutz2u]

Maybe that 33 year dragon exists after all.

[Duck Guy 86]

Maybe that 33 year dragon exists after all.

NOOO! NeVeR!! if stars take this to game 7 then i will not know what to expect..

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

NOOO! NeVeR!! if stars take this to game 7 then i will not know what to expect..

I will expect a new second line next season and a new 3rd defensive pairing.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I will expect a new second line next season and a new 3rd defensive pairing.

And a mass suicide in Detroit. Count me in if that happens!

[sinbin 3]

No intense fore-checking...time to change it up! Plan C, the unexpected!

[va Winger 0]

The O sucked ! The timing was off ! We need to play our game , when that happens we can't lose !

Damn Damn !

I'm not sure what team that was out there, but it wasn't the one I've been watching !

[puckloo39 5,686]

I missed the game, haven't had time to watch DVR'd game, and haven't plowed through 45 pages of posts... but I will go out on a limb and say that any team which only scores 1 goal in a WCF game is likely to lose.

I am sure there was a reason for this, hopefully not 2 or 3 waived-off goals this time.

Finish them in 6, boyz... should have done it today, but hey... more games, more money for the franchises, I guess.

OK, off I go to see what the h*** I am talking about here.

[adtthosa 5]

I had a horrible day at work (had to miss the game) and it certainly didn't get any better when my buddy texted me the final score. Kind of glad I missed the game actually, but I'm pretty rattled that we lost. I just want to close them out....if we lose in 7, I will actually cry.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

...and take all your lawyer buddies with you - I kid I kid

Be my guest. I hate them all also.

[tdinc 45]

frustration is starting to show. Turco is getting to them. Cheli's bonehead mistake was costly.

I am not giving up. but they cannot contine to play this way. If they expect to Bring Stanley back to the D

[Matt 1,049]

I don't see where Turco is "getting to them", sorry. Yes, he was the Stars' best player this afternoon but they've shelled him enough in this series early on to know that he's very beatable. Granted, he has improved much over the last two games, but i don't see one iota of intimidation out there.

Wings need to keep up a hard and fast forecheck, keeping getting bodies in front of the net and throw everything on net. They're not getting the shots through that they were early on in the series -- the Stars' forwards are going down to block a lot of shots -- and that's something the Wings can play off of. Fake the shot, look for the passing lane, etc.

There were a few instances on the Wings' last power-play where a couple Stars dove to block a shot, the dman held up and moved but didn't look across the circles for the pass and that lane was there.

They'll make the adjustments.

[Firehawk 305]

Yeah the wings were not getting any rebound opportunities or causing comotion in front of Turco. I don't think Turco is in their heads at all. The wings have owned Turco his entire career. One or two games isn't going to change their mindset much.

The wings were simply outhustled today. They got away from going to the net, and were not hitting the net with their one timers and slap shots. At least make the goalie make a save if he's going to. I hate when they get a big scoring opportunity and then shoot it high or wide. That's more annoying than a goalie making a great save.

[OsGOD 3]

Maybe not Turco directly but his whining and the refs cracking down got in our heads... here is the view during most possession times in the Stars Zone... what is missing from the front of the net?

[kylee 727]

^ franzen?