Mule Unleashed: Franzen a GO for Game 2

[VM1138 1,921]

Absolutely. Franzen in, McCarty out, no question.

Actually, there is a question. The Pens are putting Roberts in I heard, and that can only mean they want to gun for one of our guys. So McCarty needs to stay.

And Drapers new line is the only way Sammy seems to produce. I say keep them together. Flip-Mule-Cleary will work great, especially with Cleary finding his feet.

Edited May 26, 2008 by VM1138

[LivoniaGrinder 37]

I heard they were taking out LaCock and that's why we probably wouldn't be needing McCarty.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Since Franzen is (probably) going back in, it's time for Chelios to come back as well, since there will be line changes and all. I know we've won the last two games, but even despite that, my heart almost stops every time I see Lilja on the ice. As bad as Chelios has been, he's still better than Lilja (plus I like him a lot more. Call it biased, if you must).

I completely disagree. I understand people are always going to have the fear that Lilja will do what he did in Game 5 against ANA last year, but Lilja has played not only solid, but great these past two games and anybody that feels Cheli has been anything but brutal these playoffs is kidding themselves. As long as Lilja continues to play the way he has alongside Lebda, Iwouldn't change the defensive core the rest of the way.

TBH, Chelios has not been better than Lilja these playoffs.

[isbister 0]

Ive gotta boner!!!!!!

Feed The Mule!!!!!!!!

[Guest nutz2u]

Ive gotta boner!!!!!!

Feed The Mule!!!!!!!!

Meh, must be tough dealing with a problem like that.

[cupcrazy 13]

When your lineup has Darren McCarty on it -- yes. A million times YES.

I hate to say it,but I couldn't agree more. I don't know how many times the Wings were clearing the zone,and some how to puck go's Off Macs skate and stays in the zone.It's like he forgot to look and see if someone is making the pass to him.

[therock48880 14]

I wouldn't be suprised if Datsyuk and Z were split up on the road but not at home since the Wings get the last line change. They will keep rolling out there every time Crosby steps on the ice. On the road, though, they might get split up to make it harder for Pittsburg to avoid them with the line changes.

[truebladearmy 33]

Grats D Mac, you did your job and your name will be on the cup but its time to step aside for The Mule. To the poster above me, why on earth would you split Dats and Hank?

Babcock does it all the time. He split them up for a few shifts during game 1.

Why would you not split them from time to time? It's not like they require one another to do well, and keeping them always on the same line makes it easier for the opposing team to work out a defensive combination against them.

After Sammy scored last game, Datsyuk played a few lines with him. Just short shifts, but Zetterberg wasn't out there with them. Then it went right back to Zett/Dats/Holm.

The "Best" combination is also the predictable combination.

Edited May 26, 2008 by truebladearmy

[up2here 41]

I'm assuming Maltby comes out when Mule gets back in.

Datsyuk Zetterberg Holmstrom

Cleary Filppula Franzen

Drake Draper Samuelsson

Hudler Helm McCarty

Lidstrom Rafalski

Stuart Kronwall

Lilja Lebda

Looks pretty good to me.

[Reds4Life 51]

Great news, hopefully Mule will be playing as good as he has been before his injury.

[jmgriffith 2]

Watching the press conference...Franzen is out for game 2. No lineup changes.

[shorthanded 5]

Watching the press conference...Franzen is out for game 2. No lineup changes.

TSN also says no.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=238916&lid...s=topStory_main

[Reilly 24]

FRAZEN IS IN: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=238916&lid...s=topStory_main

Edited May 26, 2008 by Matt
link clarificaction

[esteef 2,679]

:band:

[edicius 3,269]

Owwww, now MY head hurts...

[DyingAlive 27]

Guess we'll really have to see come 8 o' clock if he is actually in the game.

Sooo confusing

[Shaman 713]

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID...BLOG09/80526036

Helen St James agrees

"Mule's been cleared, he's in," Mike Babcock just said.

Edited May 26, 2008 by Shaman464

[RedWingedKitten 9]

I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!

[CAredwingsfan91 28]

seriously this is pissing me off, im over it.

[Superman54 91]

MULE HAS RETURNED!!!

[zata40 3]

I'm so confused.....hope this is true.

GO MULE GO!!!

[Sergei Fedorov91 24]

Wow Pittsburgh's defenseman have to be crapping themselves. Being overwhealmed and giving up 4 goals (really 5) last game and now we get the leading goal scorer back refreshed? I don't see much of a timming issue with him as he ges most of his goals through hard work and driving towards the net.

[Turretin 0]

The link called him a "veteran forward." I don't really think of him as "veteran" but more of "badass." Excited to watch the game tonight.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

This is becoming a failure to communicate. First we hear he's out, now he's in.

I think our team doctors are Pens fans. If Babcock thinks that mule is ready to go, then he should go. The doctors are just wanting to cover their own asses.

[Wingman 0]

Grrreat news, I hope the abstinence for game action will turn him into an enraged bull insetad of a mule

Edited May 26, 2008 by Wingman