Why are we looking flat right now?

[Yemack 1]

I just read coach and players interview and I got a sense that we are going with same approach to game 6 like game 5 and game 4. The Veteran coolness.

I mean... how many coolness do we really need it right now? Isn't that the reason why we lost every friggin single time when it matters? you know... Wings looking flat? yet we are going with same approach?

IMO Wings are like Ice. They are preaching player assignment and pride in keeping cool under pressure.. which works well for Defenceman but not really for Forwards.

Dallas is like Fire. They go all out and throw everything on the line.

Last time I checked, Defence rarely generate any momentum. Dallas are the ones giving it to us and getting all kinds of momentum. Wings are pretending they are a machine... which is great.. but machines are predictable. During the season, when Wings were at the end of winning streak, that was exactly how it looked like, executing same plays without any sort of creativity yet playing awesome defence. Execution and coolness, it's all great. But you simplify things way too much it becomes very predictable and really limiting our offensive creativity and capability.

We don't need any more loose group. We already played awesome defence last few games. We made some mistakes.. but those sort of mistakes happen everygame. I think it is more imperative to take Stars momentum so that they don't capitalize our mistake. As much as we pretend we are a machine.. we aren't. Soon or later, we will break if things doesn't go our way.

I've seen this scenario played out year after year. I think it is time, our forwards play with some fire and passion.

[VM1138 1,921]

I see your point and agree partially. For all the talk about defense winning championships, you can't score if you play defense the whole time.

I think we have to open up more offensively. If they start out defensively they are only admitting that Dallas has the edge.

They need to come out forechecking, driving to the net, and cycling the puck.

MOST IMPORTANTLY and probably most cliche, they need to fight at the boards and come out with the puck. And disrupt Turco from making plays.

[rwfan007 18]

I want to quote former UM running back Mike Hart...

"Sometimes it's just like when you're playing your little brother in basketball," Hart said. "You let him get a lead and let him get excited, but then you take it back from him."

[SnipeShow 0]

I want to quote former UM running back Mike Hart...

"Sometimes it's just like when you're playing your little brother in basketball," Hart said. "You let him get a lead and let him get excited, but then you take it back from him."

What happens when your little brother grows up?

[Mikeal 60]

I see your point and agree partially. For all the talk about defense winning championships, you can't score if you play defense the whole time.

Defense doesn't win championships unless it can traslate into offensive opertunity while shutting someone down.

I think we have to open up more offensively. If they start out defensively they are only admitting that Dallas has the edge.

They need to come out forechecking, driving to the net, and cycling the puck.

MOST IMPORTANTLY and probably most cliche, they need to fight at the boards and come out with the puck. And disrupt Turco from making plays.

I think we mostly just need to RELAX and play with some passion. This team shouldnt be nervous and they looked like they were last game.

[Firehawk 305]

The last couple of games, the Stars have had the puck way too much. I think the wings need to take back full control. They've let it get away a bit.

[betterREDthandead 58]

What happens when your little brother grows up?

In my case he grows up to be a rocket scientist, but still couldn't take me in basketball in a hundred years.

Anyway, I'm not as worried over a two-game losing streak as some are. I don't see how this would be very much different if we'd taken a more conventional route to 3-2.

[RyanBarnes! 293]

Defense do win championships, but you need to capitalize on your opportunities and the Red Wings hasn't for the last two games. I see no need to drastically change the strategy here. The last two games have been very close and all the Red Wings need is a lucky bounce.

[edicius 3,269]

Another important part of the defense equation is the breakout. When our defense isn't playing at 100%, the breakout suffers, which hurts our offense. If the defense is playing brilliantly, the rest comes naturally (hopefully).

[C-Dub 0]

I've seen this scenario played out year after year. I think it is time, our forwards play with some fire and passion.

Yeah, baby!

I would add to your list that while we are cool on defense and it seems to work, it has NOT work well the past two games. More often than not it is a Dallas forward coming out of the corner winning the battle for the puck then us, and it is not always their premier line doing it either. We get stuck way more frequently in our zone with Dallas cycling (the past two games) than our forwards pinning Dallas in their own end. We need to push Dallas' D to the brink because once you start cycling it is more often than not a goal or a penalty.

[Behind Enemy Lines in CO 11]

I could not agree more completely. Both Lids and Osgood's comments about not being under pressure really indicates the problem. Dallas obviously feels the pressure and is bringing it. The Wings are acting like a cool machine that is not firing on all cylinders. No passion does not win games

I always remember one of those NFL videos that shows Lawrence Taylor of the Giants talking about "going out there and acting like a bunch of crazed dogs". Not sure if he was high on cocaine at the time but that is the attitude the Wings need to win tonight.

[Seraph 240]

I stand by my theory that the Red Wings have forgotten how to play come-from-behind hockey. They were rattled in both of the last games after they found themselves down a goal in sooooo long. They were running around like decapitated chickens after that.

We either have to get the first goal today and take control or play with some $#%ing passion and get the lead back with some confidence.

My $.02.

[96Homer 0]

I stand by my theory that the Red Wings have forgotten how to play come-from-behind hockey. They were rattled in both of the last games after they found themselves down a goal in sooooo long. They were running around like decapitated chickens after that.

We either have to get the first goal today and take control or play with some $#%ing passion and get the lead back with some confidence.

My $.02.

I totally agree, I mean since the no-goal they have lost all their drive to win. It's pretty sad to let something like THAT turn you away from wanting it all!

[Dabura 12,232]

Red Bull.

[Winged Scooter 0]

Red Bull.

No! Don't say that, I heard Red Bull can cause cancer!

[AUWingsFan 0]

I admit I'm still anxious for the game, mainly because I put way too much of my life's happiness on the shoulders of the Red Wings........but I've really been thinking about it over the last few days and the Wings haven't really seemed to bring their A game the past two games so I shouldn't be too worried.....if we bring it then we should be fine....after all Turco is only human and I believe that a few ugly goals by the wings to give us a quick lead would go a long way in deflating the Stars' confidence...

Go Wings!

P.S. Would someone please take care of Steve Ott....that's one huge reason I'd love to see Downey in to agitate and annoy Dallas like they've been annoying our guys or at least me!!!

[Dabura 12,232]

Did I say Red Bull? I meant...um...GATORADE.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Our best player in the playoffs is hurt right now, which is why we're flat, although that doesn't excuse the other players from sucking.

Just remember that if not for Franzen, this team would probably have lost game 5 against Nashville and would have been golfing a long time ago.