Wings_Dynasty 267 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 From Red Wings Corner: Here are the lines that the Red Wings are practicing with this morning. Note that Valtteri Filppula is not on the ice, but will be in the game. Filppula hasn't practiced in the past week and Mark Hartigan subs in for him at practice. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Hudler-Hartigan (for Filppula)-Cleary Drake-Draper-Samuelsson Maltby-Helm-McCarty Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Meech-Chelios Lebda-Lilja At this point, I honestly don't know whether Meech-Chelios or Lebda-Lilja are the third defense pairing. We'll find out at Coach Babcock's press conference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Probably the most unspectacular line changes Ive ever seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingschamps 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Awesome for Huds to get on the 2nd line. Hopefully he can give a spark to Clears and Flip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kozac 10 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Whats going on with Filpula? A lower-body injury? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Door Man 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 (edited) This got me thinking about lines I might consider. I don't even know if I would change anything up; things were rolling well and we've hit a couple bumps. If I were to change lines, I think I like the following: Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Hudler - Filppula - Helm Maltby - Draper - McCarty Drake - Hartigan - Abdelkader Yes, Abdelkader. No Cleary and no Samuelsson. Cleary's been nowhere and Samuelsson is lost. Just thinking out loud. However, I don't expect any major changes tonight. I have faith we'll get it done. Edited May 19, 2008 by The Door Man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 From Red Wings Corner: Here are the lines that the Red Wings are practicing with this morning. Note that Valtteri Filppula is not on the ice, but will be in the game. Filppula hasn't practiced in the past week and Mark Hartigan subs in for him at practice. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Hudler-Hartigan (for Filppula)-Cleary Drake-Draper-Samuelsson Maltby-Helm-McCarty Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Meech-Chelios Lebda-Lilja At this point, I honestly don't know whether Meech-Chelios or Lebda-Lilja are the third defense pairing. We'll find out at Coach Babcock's press conference. Why doesn't Flip ever go to practice? Sheesh. Seriously aside from Hudler and Sammy, were these lines changed at all? Hopefully that's all we need. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izzy24 44 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Alright!!! Get Meech in there!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Third Man In 2,091 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Nothing major, but I like the change. Splitting up Z and Dats didn't do much against Nashville, so I wouldn't like to see it for the entire game unless Babs tries it to start the game and it clicks. Huddles gets more of a chance on the second line, while Sammy (yes, Sammy) with Drake and Drapes gives the third line more of a scoring punch--maybe Drake or Drapes can punch in a rebound from one of Sammy's shots off the glass or even the rare ones on net. On the back end...I don't think swapping Lils for Cheli is going to make the difference in this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Why doesn't Flip ever go to practice? Sheesh. Seriously aside from Hudler and Sammy, were these lines changed at all? Hopefully that's all we need. Basically Babcock just moved Hudler up to 2 from 4 and rotated Maltby and Sammy down a notch each. Between Meech-Cheli and Lebda-Lilja, I bet we see Meech out there tonight for Lebda. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heaton 1 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Basically Babcock just moved Hudler up to 2 from 4 and rotated Maltby and Sammy down a notch each. Between Meech-Cheli and Lebda-Lilja, I bet we see Meech out there tonight for Lebda. Not likely, Lilja - Lebda is the most probably 3rd pairing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dano33 41 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 (edited) i like the hudler - Flip - Cleary line, but if for some reason flip cant play im hoping he moves Helm up to his spot instead of putting hartigan there. Edited May 19, 2008 by Dano33 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Probably the most unspectacular line changes Ive ever seen. Yeah but not as unspectacular as the actual lines performance on Saturday. I welcome anything that will change up that effort! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Third Man In 2,091 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Why doesn't Flip ever go to practice? Sheesh. He's had a nagging leg injury for much of the playoffs. Since last round he hasn't been practicing every time. It's part of the reason his production's been down (as Cleary dropping 15 lbs of muscle and wearing the face mask is part of reason his production's down). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 This got me thinking about lines I might consider. I don't even know if I would change anything up; things were rolling well and we've hit a couple bumps. If I were to change lines, I think I like the following: Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Hudler - Filppula - Helm Maltby - Draper - McCarty Drake - Hartigan - Abdelkader Yes, Abdelkader. No Cleary and no Samuelsson. Cleary's been nowhere and Samuelsson is lost. Just thinking out loud. However, I don't expect any major changes tonight. I have faith we'll get it done. Glad you're not our coach. This might help our second line a little bit. Really though I wouldn't split up Z & D, they've still been good together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Glad you're not our coach. This might help our second line a little bit. Really though I wouldn't split up Z & D, they've still been good together. couldn't have said it better myself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Good if Meech gets in, haha, the Grind line has 2/3's together, c'mon Babs, get Draper down there! I like the 2nd line now, just gotta see if they can produce a little. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Door Man 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Glad you're not our coach. This might help our second line a little bit. Really though I wouldn't split up Z & D, they've still been good together. I absolutely agree that 13 and 40 should stay together. Splitting them up against Nashville didn't do much. But I just don't see Cleary being close to breaking out, as a lot of people here seem to think. Of course, I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see it. Yea, he's gotten a couple chances, but other than that, he looks out of it. The lack of focus on the backcheck on Saturday was awful. With Samuelsson, he's just very frustrating to watch. You can't score when you shoot at the goalie's chest. Granted, he's been decent defensively. I'm fine with the changes that were evident in practice, but we better not see Lilja on the ice tonight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10 Minute Misconduct 104 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 UPDATE: It's Lebda-Lilja tonight with a possible Chelios injured leg. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izzy24 44 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Pfft, I want Meech in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsdiehard13 33 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 All aboard the Pain Train Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Pfft, I want Meech in there. Agreed. Meech can play the PP, is smart on both sides of the puck, and couldnt do any worse then Lebda or Lilja. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyCrazy3033 168 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 (edited) Pain Train will do fine. He'll go out there and throw his body around, and even assist on one of the Wings goals. I like the line changes. Great to see Huds on the 2nd line. Well deserved. I guess Babs listened to me about splitting Hank and Dats. Edit: Is he or isn't he putting Hank and Pav separately? Hmmm.. Edited May 19, 2008 by HockeyCrazy3033 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Lilja is a sexy beast Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut22 81 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 Pfft, I want Meech in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irishtemper14+25 11 Report post Posted May 19, 2008 id like to see meech in there, but im really glad huds is on the second line Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
