wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 We are almost at the midpoint of the regular season, and we are currently 3rd place overall and in my opinion, we really havent even scratched the surface of how well we can play. I have been as critical as anybody about the Wings in the past so i would like to think i am unbiased. Moreover, can any other team even come close to beating this team in a 7 game series? With past threats Anaheim, Dallas, and Pittsburgh looking to be shadows of their former selves, I don't think so. The rest of the NHL looks as if it's in transition mode. The Red Wings are just coasting through the regular season, however when a big game comes along that tests their ability, they show their true colors as the NHLs team to beat. Chicago is an up and comer, and I dont doubt that theyll be a serious threat in the years to come, but not this year. With the division on the line, the Wings simply dominated and it wont be any different if we are to meet them in the playoffs. San Jose has a history of disappearing in the playoffs and I dont doubt it will happen again. In the east, besides Boston, no team really jumps out at me. Will the wings coast their way to a back to back Stanley Cup? Wings players such as Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Hossa, even though they are playing well, seem bored. All of them have a history of being big game players. In my opinion the Wings are still the team to beat, and are men agongst boys this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reilly 24 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 This season reminds me of 2002-03. Hopefully they at least win a game in the first round this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stormboy 47 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 for me, it's pretty up in the air at this point. though the sharks have a history of playoff let downs, it seems to me that this could be the year for them. i know it's been said in the past, but new coach and an improved blueline will, i think, make a huge difference in playoff games. i'd say they are a very serious threat to us. ducks have also played us really tough this year. i wouldn't be too afraid of the hawks...we've played well against them this year, especially the last two games that really mattered. i would expect us to drop a few games to them later in the season, but i don't think they can match up to us in a seven game series. 'nucks have played us tough, too. on the one hand, we were not playing well in the times we met them, but they'll have added sundin by that point...a change that would not surprise me if it made a huge difference or if it made no difference at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
12Newf 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 detroit needs to get the 4th line going a little more and play much better defensively (echo) before i consider them to be playoff favourites. the canucks remain to be seen, the sharks are going to be very good (remember how many years of playoff disappointment detroit went through before 97?) and boston is beginning to scare me if we make it to the final. these are some very tough teams to beat and lets not forget calgary and the ducks who might be monsters in the playoffs. lets not get ahead of ourselves here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 I just think the wings are coasting right now. They've all been there, I can see how the regular season would bore these guys. San Jose, Vancouver, and Chicago really arent battle tested, and I think the Wings would take them down in a seven game series. When the big games come Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Hossa are just different players. We saw a little bit of this in the winter classic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingedKitten 9 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 When the big games come Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Hossa are just different players. We saw a little bit of this in the winter classic. Exactly. Every one of them can take the game on there back, and I think we've seen Franzen do this a bit too. I still worry about SJ, if we are lucky some random team will eliminate them before they meet us. (barring no random team eliminates us) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Four Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Vancouver will defeat the Sharks in the second round in playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
12Newf 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Exactly. Every one of them can take the game on there back, and I think we've seen Franzen do this a bit too. I still worry about SJ, if we are lucky some random team will eliminate them before they meet us. (barring no random team eliminates us) i sort of agree with this but at the same time i love to win by running through all of the best teams. just so when all my jealous friends mouth off about the wings winning again i can just say, look we dominated all the best teams to get to the cup. i really wanted to play the ducks last year for vengeance instead of playing nashville and this year i want to run through SJ and chicago sooo badly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Secret 304 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 If we can get consistency going through out the team and for 60 minutes we have as good a shot at going all the way as ever but there are plenty of good teams this year and lots that can be a surprise come play off time. Where I really think we are a cut above the rest is in playoff experience and having so many players with it and the best coach in the league, IMO. Where we might lack so far is goaltending unless the D continues to improves as it has lately and returns to its top form like last year... then we can make due with decent goaltending and if our goaltending shapes up too then we can be dominant in all area's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SetecX 139 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Well for one, I dont think you ever just coast through to the Stanley Cup, I dont care how good you are. Having said that, it seems like alot of nights the Wings act as if they are bored or something and as a result we dont see 100%. The one thing they have shown is, the ability to hit the next level when the game really matters and it just so happens that next level is pretty much how they were in the playoffs last year. I think when they are at that level no one else can touch them. It will be harder this time because there is more than just 1 elite team in the league right now and it just so happens we are not at the top of that heap. When it comes down to April when it really matters, I think we will be just fine. Fighting to stay near the top, playing close games, and winning the important ones should benefit come playoff time. All the rest will fall in place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSupafly 50 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 No one has an easy road to the Cup. I'd rather see some team knock out the Wings before the Sharks get to them, just as I'm sure the majority of you would love to see the Sharks eliminated before they get to the Wings. As a fan, part of me wants to play the best and beat the best, but I also know that winning a tough long series against a difficult opponent can take a lot out of a team and hinders their chances a bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSupafly 50 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Vancouver will defeat the Sharks in the second round in playoffs. If that happens and I disappear, it's because I've killed myself. Call the cops if it happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSupafly 50 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 San Jose has a history of disappearing in the playoffs and I dont doubt it will happen again. Please continue to think this way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Please continue to think this way. Are you gonna deny it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 I'll be honest, the only team I'm really worried about is Boston. They look scary good. It's never easy to win a cup, and we still have some defensive problems and line formations to work out, but we have shown that when the big teams and the big games come up, we can turn it up a notch and tighten up our play. Teams like Vancouver, Washington, San Jose, Chicago etc. might challenge us, but in a 7-game series I have a hard time seeing us lose against any of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSupafly 50 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Are you gonna deny it? What? Of course not. It's no secret they've come up short the last 4+ playoff years. I referring to OP's lack of concern and his certainty of it happening again. I'll be more clear for you next time. Is there anything else you'd like me to address? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted January 3, 2009 I'd look for them to really come together towards the end of the season. Chicago looks like a 2nd round opponent. San Jose looks like a 3rd. I'm not so sure about the East. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19Hockeytown5 0 Report post Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) I've been saying it all year when people complained about our lack of effort and only scaping by to win on talent. It's only human nature that the Red Wings can't get up for Nashville or Colorodo in the middle of Winter. This team is going to be rediculous in a seven game series. Hossa/Zett/Dats are going to take over, BIGTIME. When teams are trying to take OUR title from us, there will be no problem with motivation and we will still have that overwelming talent. We've already seen a taste of this against San Jose and Chicago this year. I think this team has too much leadership and will be dominant come playoff time. They know this is the last year with this stacked roster and immortality is on the line. 5 cups in 12 seasons would sound pretty good don't you think? San Jose is our biggest threat. I think that if we played them in the playoffs it would be a classic, much like the 2002 avs series. Should be very physical because, much like then, I think this matchup determines who wins the cup. People saying they are incapable of beating us aren't even being logical. However, with that said, I believe we would and should beat them. They scare me because they are talented and physical, but most of all, I'm sure they are tired of the failures and having to hear about it all year. If we beat the Sharks, we keep our cup. IMO In the past, from 2003-2006, I would have been worried about teams like Calgary, Anaheim, or Vancouver, but not anymore. This team has shown they play a physical game, will go in the corners, and crash the net. I don't see these teams taking 4 out of 7 from us...Not with this group and not with Babcock at the helm. Edited January 4, 2009 by 19Hockeytown5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSupafly 50 Report post Posted January 4, 2009 However, with that said, I believe we would and should beat them. They scare me because they are talented and physical, but most of all, I'm sure they are tired of the failures and having to hear about it all year. If we beat the Sharks, we keep our cup. IMO You have no idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akustyk 84 Report post Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) a lot depends on how playoffs actually unfold and which goalie we do carry into the playoffs. I like our chances but it's still too early to tell to be honest. Wings don't look as poised to show it this year but this may as well be Babcock trying to keep them relaxed before late season kicks in and they'll need to speed up to reach playoff "speed". chances? fine, but it's not men against boys IMHO. Sharks will break their playoff slump now and you can't discard *ucks of Anaheim nor Canucks (honestly, Bobby Lou can literally single-handedly rob us from a 1st round win) and Blackhawks, as inexperienced as they are now, can still poise a huge threat early into the playoffs. a lot of our fate depends on who we meet in 1st and 2nd round. a young team with good vibe (read: Hawks or even Yotes, Nucks or Oilers) can potentially steam roll us in such series and send Wings home very prematurely. my pick would be 1st round: great chances against: Colorado, Flames, Predators, Stars good against: Ducks, Blue Jackets, Wild, Oilers not so: Coyotes, Sharks scared to death: Hawks, Nucks 2nd round quite scared: Sharks, Nucks, Ducks moderately scared: Flames, Hawks cautiously optimistic: everybody else 3rd round cautiously optimistic: Hawks, Stars, Flames, Nucks - because they can make it into WCF but don't have enough depth to have as much steam after 2 rounds to beat Wings in WCF scared to death to meet in WCF: Sharks (with a good run), Ducks EDIT: scratch Wild from the "good against" list above. put them in "pretty scared" category. they sure look to be efficiently clogging against Wings and with a good goalie they could make us a hell Edited January 4, 2009 by akustyk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
