LILJA - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

[ben_usmc 253]

come on now, I don't want Lilja resigned either but he didn't do anything worse the Stewart or Rafaliski did this game

[DallasStars 0]

Meltdown of the board.

[ben_usmc 253]

Meltdown of the board.

you should see the board after they lose 2, its always only one persons fault

[DallasStars 0]

you should see the board after they lose 2, its always only one persons fault

I have. It was mostly conspiracy talk.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

well if it ain't Lilja its Sammy getting the scapegoat treatment so nothing new there.

[ben_usmc 253]

I have. It was mostly conspiracy talk.

hey everyone knows the NHL was backing the stars in that series . But seriously the closest to conspiracy I can say is the constant hard ons the NBC cast has for Crosby, other then that I would say our D looked pathetic and the Pens realized they weren't going to be handed s***.

[puckbags 863]

Keep turning a blind eye What are you, Czech?

Crawl back into your hole!!!

[vlady91 0]

Sorry cant help but say it, and have been saying it since last years "up the middle flub" againt anaheim that cost us the series. Lilja is NOT an NHL let alone a stanley cup finals defenseman. Being a long time coach I have to say both Dallas and now tonight everyone has finally figured it out, Lilija is by far the weakest defenseman. Do I have to remind everyone about all his poor play, I cant wait till i finallly get to meet babcock neXt year as a coach and the only question I have for him is "why is Lilja on the PK and why ever against the top line more than once, what is it that you truly see?" To correct the idiots that didnt see it thanks to Lilja he was on the ice for the 2nd goal and not surprised got hit by a 4'11" guy to give the puck up for the 3rd goal. By the way did anyone see how his 6'0" frame "really" got into it after the Sykora hit on Osgood in game 2? (Nice slap on the hands no wonder Cherry calls Sweeds weak) Glad we have Datsyuk and Franzen to muck it up since he doesnt know how to give or take a hit!!

[HkyTwn 5]

Meltdown of the board.

Basically.

[DaKineMaui 8]

I'll say it again - He is the newest Anders Erikkson for the Red Wings. He sucked per usual.

He can single-handedly lose you a game.

THAT SAID: The Pens were hoppin' tonight and had some good goalkeeping. Good game. Oh and Stuart? Um? Blow many assignments tonight did you? We can spread the 'blame' tonight. Down 2-0, a final 3-2 scoreboard ain't much to cry about. Up 2-1 in gms, maybe grab the next one right?

aloha

[UKWING 8]

well i guess with sammy scoring 3 goals in 3 games we need a new scapegoat

the wings did not lose last night because of lilja; they lost because they did not play for 60 minutes. when they actually bothered to play - at the start of the 1st and in the 3rd - they dominated the pens.

the only wing to come out of last night's game with much credit is franzen.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

LILJA is terrible. Get him off the team!

I don't ever remember him playing well though. Why do we still have him?

Because he is a good penalty killer and good shot blocker.

[Nightfall 871]

Detroit fans are spoiled. There are teams that are just clamoring for good defenseman, while Detroit has 3 awesome D in Lids, Kron, and Rafalski. I even consider Stuart and Lebda to be solid Dmen for the NHL. Wings fans won't be happy though unless all 6 players are elite defensemen that make no mistakes. Unless you want to spend 35 million on defensemen, that isn't going to happen.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I swear this place just loses it after a loss. :nonono:

Here's the reality of the matter: Lilja wasn't great last night, but Cheli has been brutal these playoffs. Keep the lineup the same or swap them and it won't make any difference if the Wings give the Pens the amount of respect they did starting with 5 minutes remaining in the first. If the Wings play like they did up until that point, they'll win Saturday night. If they don't, it could be another close one.

That being said, nobody seems to be talking about the fact that it took home-ice, Oz's first real mediocore game, and the best we've seen the Penguins play just to squeak out a 1 goal win.

[The Secret 304]

I agree, I hold my breath as well when ever I see Lilja on the ice. Why is Chelios not in? I thought it was due to injury? I would much rather have Chelios in then Lilja... no question. If not Chelios why not Meech or Quincey? ....anyone other then Lilja.

[MalkinsJock 0]

I agree, I hold my breath as well when ever I see Lilja on the ice. Why is Chelios not in? I thought it was due to injury? I would much rather have Chelios in then Lilja... no question. If not Chelios why not Meech or Quincey? ....anyone other then Lilja.

Chelios isn't in because hes DONE. He blew his chance in the Dallas series, he was getting dominated by the Stars offensive core. He also single handedly cost the Wings a game and really didn't show any remorse in doing so.

The only way he comes back next season is if hes content with taking less then $850,000 and watching from the press box.

Lilja is as fast as Chelios, hes stronger and he makes smarter plays along the boards. If you don't rely on him to make out break out passes hes fine.

Theres no way Meech gets in the lineup if Lebda is in too. Quincey would be fine, if paired with a defenseman that could bail him out.

A pairing of Lebda-Quincey would be a joke.

Something like:

Lidstrom-Quincey/Ericsson/Lilja

Rafalski-Kronwall

Lebda-Stuart

Would make things more balanced and wouldn't lead to a Crosby/Hossa match up against a weak third pairing.

Lebda-Chelios vs Crosby and co. would be a joke.

Edited May 29, 2008 by MalkinsJock

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I agree, I hold my breath as well when ever I see Lilja on the ice. Why is Chelios not in? I thought it was due to injury? I would much rather have Chelios in then Lilja... no question. If not Chelios why not Meech or Quincey? ....anyone other then Lilja.

Because the result wouldn't have been any different had he been in.

The Wings lost because they gave way too much respect to the Pens and allowed them time and space with the puck. They didn't do that it in Games 1 & 2. If they go back to playing that way, they could throw Alexi Yashin back there and they'd still win.

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

Lilja played bad.

Stuart played bad.

Can we afford to pull them both out of the lineup? No.

Collectively, the team had some bad moments.

But hey, at least it happened when we had a series lead.

And look at the bright side of inconsistencies.

They just might as well come out swinging next game and absolutely annihilate the birds.

The point is, the team had its share of downs in the game and that's what cost them the win.

I have full faith in Babs to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

True.... i thought they played a better defensive game late in third when they were pressing... and all because Babs switched the defensive lineups.... hes a guy who knows what hes doing.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

We need Chelli out there to facewash Crosby after each shift.

[Texas Wingnut 0]

Am I a fan of Lilja, NO. Did he cost the Wings the game, NO. There is plenty of "blame" to go around. It is one game in a first to four wins series. While I would love to see a better 3rd pair of D men, the salary cap is going to make it very difficult for ANY team to have 6 outstanding D men or more than 2 top O lines. I still like the Wing's chances for taking the cup. A sweep would have been great but 4 wins is the series is what it takes and that's all that I want, no matter if the losses number 0, 1, 2, or 3.

[The Secret 304]

Because he is a good penalty killer and good shot blocker.

Your not serious!?!?!? You sure your watching the right sport? Hockey is the one with the ice and the skates and the puck... started here in Canada with igloo's and the polar bear's and the good beer!!!

well if it ain't Lilja its Sammy getting the scapegoat treatment so nothing new there.

I don't see it at scapegoat treatment as much as truthful observations. If 90% of the people feel the same don't you think there maybe some truth to whats being observed... or are you one of the ones that have permanently decided to wear your magic rose coloured Red Wings glasses like SWF?

[Sebastian 0]

I would put ericsson in or meech or quincy instead of lilja.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Your not serious!?!?!? You sure your watching the right sport? Hockey is the one with the ice and the skates and the puck... started here in Canada with igloo's and the polar bear's and the good beer!!!

I don't see it at scapegoat treatment as much as truthful observations. If 90% of the people feel the same don't you think there maybe some truth to whats being observed... or are you one of the ones that have permanently decided to wear your magic rose coloured Red Wings glasses like SWF?

Wings players and Coach Babcock themselves have said they think Lilja is important on the penalty kill and is a good shot blocker.

And if you want to think I have rose-budded glasses, have at it. I'm just going with what I read from WINGS PLAYERS AND COACHES.

And I also like posting unassuming/middle-of-the-road posts like I did b/c I know it quoted more reliable sources than Internet sports forum quarterbacks, and part of me likes to push people's buttons that act onbonxious and over the top after a loss.

[The Secret 304]

I would put ericsson in or meech or quincy instead of lilja.

Be careful... don't say that! Lilja is a fine.... hurry put your magic glasses back on and see for yourself! He's didn't fall and cough up the puck, he decided to lay down and build up his energy for a second!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

When are people going to stop blaming the loss on Lilja, and actually realize it had to do with the way the Wings *played the Penguins* last night? This had nothing to do with any individual, the *team* sat back and gave too much respect to the Pens.

*Insert any new Dman name here* and all that would've happened is that a goal would've been scored with them on the ice rather than Lilja. The *team* didn't play the way they did in the first two games, and thats why they lost.