2/7 GDT: Oilers 3 at Red Wings 8

[VM1138 1,921]

How many times has Pavel fed Hossa the puck and it resulting in a goal? Find it and we will have the answer. I am not green behind the ears when it comes to watching and analyzing this game.

You seriously think that Hossa needs help in scoring? Where have you been for the past few seasons?

[Outsider 42]

If Osgood had played this exact game in the exact manner Conklin did, he'd be crucified once again by now.

Gospel truth.

As Mickey put it, you had to know that Osgood was thinking on the bench that it would be nice to have a FIVE GOAL LEAD after having faced only 3 shots, yourself.

[Rivalred 630]

You seriously think that Hossa needs help in scoring? Where have you been for the past few seasons?

Hossa and Pavel feed off of each other. Simply put.

[Casey 145]

Hossa and Pavel feed off of each other. Simply put.

So do Pavel and Hank, and there's a shiny silver cup proving it.

[Yzerman191 37]

Just did a little research; 15 of Hossa's 29 goals came from Datsyuk, which is understandable because they've been line mates for so much of the season. I don't think Hossa needs help scoring. I think, like any natural scorer would, he benefits from playing with Datsyuk, but I don't think he'd have trouble creating offense playing with Hudler or Hank.

[Rivalred 630]

So do Pavel and Hank, and there's a shiny silver cup proving it.

You are correct. They should not be split up, yet how long will they stay together if Franzen is out for a long time or since we lost Homer for an extended period of time also.

[Rivalred 630]

Just did a little research; 15 of Hossa's 29 goals came from Datsyuk, which is understandable because they've been line mates for so much of the season. I don't think Hossa needs help scoring. I think, like any natural scorer would, he benefits from playing with Datsyuk, but I don't think he'd have trouble creating offense playing with Hudler or Hank.

But if the line was not producing then they would not be together. 15 assists out of 29 goals is a little more than 50%. Just a little food for thought. Pavel, Hank, and Hossa are all great players. Yet, the stats ya indicate he puts up even more points while playing with Pavel.

[DanZ 0]

Hossa and Pavel feed off of each other. Simply put.

Hossa has scored 5 goals in his last 3 games. He doesn't need Datsyuk to score. Hell, he scored 100 points on lowly Atlanta few years ago. Of course linemates feed off each other. It's almost impossible not too when you're on the same line.

[Rivalred 630]

Hossa has scored 5 goals in his last 3 games. He doesn't need Datsyuk to score. Hell, he scored 100 points on lowly Atlanta few years ago. Of course linemates feed off each other. It's almost impossible not too when you're on the same line.

I need you to clarify your statement please. Are you saying Hossa was the only good player on that team, therefore did not not have any other solid passers/scores on his line?

[Jocke 53]

Dats and Zäta are meant to play together. Put Hossa with franzen in 2nd line.

Edited February 7, 2009 by Jocke

[ComradeWasabi 109]

But if the line was not producing then they would not be together. 15 assists out of 29 goals is a little more than 50%. Just a little food for thought. Pavel, Hank, and Hossa are all great players. Yet, the stats ya indicate he puts up even more points while playing with Pavel.

I think Zata would benefit from playing with Pavel consistently more than Hossa would. Having better linemates allows Z to shoulder less responsibility defensively; while the same could be said of Hossa, it's apparent that right now Hossa is doing just as well with Flip. Also, I don't believe Flip and Z have ever been put together consistently or shown any kind of chemistry together.

Ultimately, it comes down to Pavel/Hank + Hossa/Flip > Pavel/Hossa + Z/???

[Ms_Hockey 0]

That still did not answer my question. Find the stats and we will go from there. I do remember that a few weeks ago you were sitting across the table from me when the Wings were playing the Caps and early on in the game I said the Wings D looks like it may break down at times.

You rubbed it in when the Wings went up 1-0 in that game, yet the end result was the Wings losing 4-2 after allowing AO 2 breakaways where he clearly split the D on both goals. There were some other LGW Members in attendance and sure they may of remembered.

I am not saying "I told you so" or "I am right", but the end result is what matters.

By looking at results over long term than a short period of time gives better data.

I don't have time to find the stats. But somebody else did.

That was game banter - and it has absolutely nothing to do with this discussion now. What does it really matter if I was messing around with a group of LGW posters during a Wings/Caps game? It doesn't.. and it has nothing to do with this.

The fact is this.. Hossa is going to have more goals fed from Datsyuk because he's played on Datsyuk's line for so long. Hossa is raking in the numbers WITHUOT Datsyuk, granted he hasn't played without him as long. What we HAVE seen, though, is that Hossa is perfectly capable of scoring with just about anybody he's put on a line on.

Datsyuk is not a necessary component for the puck to go in the net when Hossa is on the ice.

[Rivalred 630]

I never wanted Z and P split up. Babcock is the one who did it.

[Rivalred 630]

Datsyuk is not a necessary component for the puck to go in the net when Hossa is on the ice.

He is surely helps it along more than some of the other players.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

But if the line was not producing then they would not be together. 15 assists out of 29 goals is a little more than 50%. Just a little food for thought. Pavel, Hank, and Hossa are all great players. Yet, the stats ya indicate he puts up even more points while playing with Pavel.

He's put more points when playing with Datysuk because he's been on Datsyuk's line a lot longer than he's been WITHOUT Datsyuk.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

He is surely helps it along more than some of the other players.

Datsyuk helps anybody whenever they're on his line - simply because he's Datsyuk.

Hossa has his own talent and abilities, and while Datsyuk may compliment that - he's capable of performing on other lines as well.

Datsyuk & Zetterberg compliment EACH OTHER. It's a two way road with them. Their chemistry as a two-man unit is amazing - and that's not something we saw with Datsyuk & Hossa.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm not saying you're right. I'm saying that I think the judgement is too premature to really be able to say.

[Electrophile 3,554]

It's a shame I ended up missing this game......it's not often we score 8 goals. Drats. Glad to see we won and convincingly this time. That has to be good for their confidence.

[Jocke 53]

Let's just sum it up by saying that Zäta benefits more from playing with Dats than Hossa does..

[Rivalred 630]

P and Z should not be split, yet that is what Babcock has done. If it was up to me, I would keep those P/Z together, but I am not behind the bench. I am just stating simple facts and asking concrete questions.

[Electrophile 3,554]

Hank and Pavs need to tied to the hip so that they can't be separated.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Hank and Pavs need to tied to the hip so that they can't be separated.

that brings up some interesting mental images... oh, you mean during a hockey game?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I hope they have some more goals left in the tank for the Pens game.

You know it's a special night when Sammy scores on a breakaway.

Good to see Leino contributing while he's in the lineup. Too bad Kopecky is still favored over him.

[awingsincebirth 0]

Why is this even an argument? Everyone here knows that as soon as you put Dats and Z together - BOOM! - best line in hockey. No joke. They have an inexplicable chemistry that no duo in the league right now can even begin to try to match.

Hossa had a lot of success with Dats, of course, because that is what happens when two of the best players in the world play together. Honestly, I don't think that there is any player in the league that you would want to be on a line with more than Pav...no one.

With all that said, in my eyes, Pav and Hossa look mortal out there when they're together...while Pav and Z are mystical. They have a chemistry that defies logic and physical limitations.

Hossa is a goal scorer, and he is one of the best no doubt. I feel like if you give him time to develope chemistry with anyone, the guy will produce. Play him with Franzen and either one of Huds or Val, then I think that you are set. Play it like that and I think you have a line 1A that is hands down the best line in the game, and a 1B that is as good as most other team's first lines.

Bottom line, and I think everyone here agrees, Pav and Z have to play the bulk of their minutes together (preferable along with Homer of course). I wouldn't mind seeing Babs mix it up every once and a while, throw out some different looks, but we all know this team and its players well enough to know how to maximize our offense.

[EuroTwin 240]

that brings up some interesting mental images... oh, you mean during a hockey game?

*can't stop giggling like a 12-year-old girl now*

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Pav and Z are mystical. They have a chemistry that defies logic and physical limitations.

I'm not going to lie, I was excited every single time they were out on the ice together. Seeing Z and Pav apart for so long has made seeing them together that much sweeter, especially knowing it's going to be on a consistent basis for the near future. They had at LEAST 3-4 grade A scoring chances that they didn't convert on today, plus the unlikely pass that turned into a goal for Pav. After their performance today I simply can't imagine Babcock splitting them tomorrow.