10/13 GDT: Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 1

[RedWingsFanatic 4]

Not the strongest performance of all time, but I'll take points in whatever fashion this early in the season. It's clear things are totally clicking, but I still thought the Wings played very well tonight, especially defensively. Conklin was superb after a little bit of a shaky start. If he can play that way all season, he'll be quite a pleasant surprise.

Two wins on the road is great, and we're headed home for a couple. Good stuff.

[Guest mindfly]

This team still isn't there...

Hossa seem lost

Zetterberg isn't even near the conn cmythe skills

Kronwall doesn't have the timing

Samuelsson is the worst puck-handler in the league period, YOU SUCK

Lilja is lazy and suck!

Datsyuk looking good

Cleary looking good

I say reunite zetterberg and datsyuk, put cleary on second, minimize icetime with lilja, pick another guy on the point in pp unit 2.

[dallas27 7]

I will say this though: the one thing I don't like about Conklin, that you don't see in Ozzie, is that when he makes a big save he stares the guy down. Little too cocky. Though when he plays like he did that gives him every right to.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Conk was AMAZING! Great job!

Glad we got the win.

GO WINGS!

[ShanahanMan 473]

I will say this though: the one thing I don't like about Conklin, that you don't see in Ozzie, is that when he makes a big save he stares the guy down. Little too cocky. Though when he plays like he did that gives him every right to.

Haha, thought I was the only one who noticed that after Brindamour's shot.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Datsyuk and Hossa look like Ben and J-Lo right now. No chemistry whatsoever.

Hopefully, Hossa can create some magic if he plays with Franzen.

[dallas27 7]

Haha, thought I was the only one who noticed that after Brindamour's shot.

I know you saw Conklin giving a cocky smile to him too. Brindamour didn't want ANYTHING to do with it either. As I didn't think he would, Conklin just robbed him.

Conklin doing that just doesn't seem Detroit Red Wing hockey to me. I've never seen a Red Wing goalie do that, not even Dom, and he had every right too and is one of the best goalies to roll through the town. Even when the team scores it's just a hug, nobody does a Jagr salute or anything. Guess I'm more of a Barry Sanders adage guy, act like you've been there before.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Hossa

We should just try it.

[Barrie 900]

I know you saw Conklin giving a cocky smile to him too. Brindamour didn't want ANYTHING to do with it either. As I didn't think he would, Conklin just robbed him.

Conklin doing that just doesn't seem Detroit Red Wing hockey to me. I've never seen a Red Wing goalie do that, not even Dom, and he had every right too and is one of the best goalies to roll through the town. Even when the team scores it's just a hug, nobody does a Jagr salute or anything. Guess I'm more of a Barry Sanders adage guy, act like you've been there before.

If Conkin continues to do that, I bet Lidstrom, Draper, and/or Holland probably tells him to "Cool it, that's not the Red Wings style."

[finalfilppula 2]

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Hossa

We should just try it.

seconded. like ... furrealzz... DO IT!!!11

[Guest Crymson]

Can't argue with the fact that Conklin won us that game..

This team still needs a lot of work and does NOT look like the Stanley Cup champion team from last season.

With the new lines, it'll take some time.

How much do you all figure the coaching changes have to do with anything?

Samuelsson is the worst puck-handler in the league period, YOU SUCK

Typical hyperbole from a spoiled fan. I'm sure he shoots too much also, right? Oh, let's not forget that one of his oh-too-many shots set up Filppula's goal in game six against Pittsburg... or that another of his OMG-HE'S-SHOOTING-AGAIN shots produced a rebound tonight that very nearly led to a goal.

[redhot 0]

And somewhere, Sidney Crosby is crying watching Conkblock make save after save.

Meanwhile, Lilja never cries. Unless he sees a really cute puppy. He's a softie for stuff like that.

Is your avatar 300 or Lilya? I guess the later. I think he's quite a man.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

What I am pleased with is that, while the team isn't looking great, I am seeing a considerable improvement game-by-game. I know we all expected Hossa to come in here and have instant chemistry. It will take time. But it will come. A win is a win.

BTW, I am loving this free NHL Center Ice preview

Edited October 14, 2008 by Wings_Rule_1010

[puckloo39 5,686]

If Conkin continues to do that, I bet Lidstrom, Draper, and/or Holland probably tells him to "Cool it, that's not the Red Wings style."

Hullie used to tell the kids on his line, never win too big. Don't celebrate, it will come back to bite you, be cool. I think Conklin was just elated by playing so well in his first game as a Wing. Adrenaline, maybe? Anyway, let him enjoy, he will settle in just fine, I think.

Great job, he was really on tonight. I am sure the team is grateful for that.

[StayStevieStay 0]

this was a good game - Conklin definitly did it for us...

also, i'm sorry Zetterberg lovers but if you dont realize how badly he needs Datsyuk right now - then I dont know what to say to you ...

[Yak19 303]

Really impressed with Conklin, we did still outshoot the Hurricanes and Ward was on his game tonight. It was a goaltending match tonight, we could look better but the Canes played us pretty hard and Ward played well.

Holmer is off to a sexy start.

[Doc Holiday 0]

I say reunite zetterberg and datsyuk, put cleary on second, minimize icetime with lilja, pick another guy on the point in pp unit 2.

I say stfu with the requests to reunite them after three games.

Every game when the lines don't gel it is this bull again and again.

If Hossa isn't improving by the next two games Babs will probably rotate around and see how they are looking.

[BlueMonk 102]

It may be 10-15 games before Hossa really gels with Datsyuk. Remember, they didn't get to play the preseason together because of Datsyuk's injury. You gotta give these lines some time, especially if the team is winning in spite of the slow progress.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

With the new lines, it'll take some time.

How much do you all figure the coaching changes have to do with anything?

Typical hyperbole from a spoiled fan. I'm sure he shoots too much also, right? Oh, let's not forget that one of his oh-too-many shots set up Filppula's goal in game six against Pittsburg... or that another of his OMG-HE'S-SHOOTING-AGAIN shots produced a rebound tonight that very nearly led to a goal.

He's still a terrible stickhandler that turns the puck over much too often and more than not takes terrible shot opportunities to blast it into a goalies chest.

Get off his sack.

[adtthosa 5]

I personally thought we played pretty well, much better than our last two games. Conklin was amazing but we could have easily had 3 or 4 more goals. Hossa's starting to look a bit better out there. I have also been impressed with Cleary's play so far in these first three games.

I am thrilled that we somehow yet again managed to end up with two starting calibre goaltenders on our team. It's going to be hard for anyone to say that our weakness is goaltending this year (that won't stop them from trying though, I'm sure).

[Lidstromrules16 7]

I was at the game. Conklin was A-Freakin-Mazing. Caps shoulda signed him instead of Theodore. I am pissed Babs took Huds off of second line though. Seriously its only 3 games in Babs!

[Yak19 303]

Doesn't it feel good to win a game because of the goaltending? We dont see that too much with the Wings because of the stellar D and top-notch backchecking of our forwards. Game by game we get more into form, better to win a goaltending duel then to lose it.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

Really impressed with Conklin, we did still outshoot the Hurricanes and Ward was on his game tonight. It was a goaltending match tonight, we could look better but the Canes played us pretty hard and Ward played well.

Holmer is off to a sexy start.

LOL. Indeed. He is on pace for like 82 goals

[sputman 1,268]

BTW, I am loving this free NHL Center Ice preview

great to learn 1 hour after the end of the game.

[eva unit zero 271]

I know you saw Conklin giving a cocky smile to him too. Brindamour didn't want ANYTHING to do with it either. As I didn't think he would, Conklin just robbed him.

Conklin doing that just doesn't seem Detroit Red Wing hockey to me. I've never seen a Red Wing goalie do that, not even Dom, and he had every right too and is one of the best goalies to roll through the town. Even when the team scores it's just a hug, nobody does a Jagr salute or anything. Guess I'm more of a Barry Sanders adage guy, act like you've been there before.

I didn't like the cocky smile, but I have to object to the description of Jagr's salute as a cocky move. Jagr's salute after each goal was saluting his deceased grandfather, for whom he wore the #68. You can think what you want about the player; and he had his share of cocky moments; but that particular idiosyncrasy had nothing to do with cockiness.