Anyone else approve of tonights play?

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Ok so, we lost but...in fairness, none of the goals were ozzies fault he played well and the preds are desperate...discuss

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I actually did. Good special teams. Ozzie looked good. Some defensive lapses, yeah, but they werent the same kind we've been seeing all year. And I thought the energy level was good too, despite the fact that it was a meaningless game. And the physicality was there.

If this had been a playoff game, the ice time would've been distributed differently too. And that might've been enough to win tonights game. A little more Datsyuk and Lidstrom, a little less Cleary, Sammy, and Stuart.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

I actually did. Good special teams. Ozzie looked good. Some defensive lapses, yeah, but they werent the same kind we've been seeing all year. And I thought the energy level was good too, despite the fact that it was a meaningless game. And the physicality was there.

If this had been a playoff game, the ice time would've been distributed differently too. And that might've been enough to win tonights game. A little more Datsyuk and Lidstrom, a little less Cleary, Sammy, and Stuart.

you nailed it on the head bro. Oz lookin good and D playin solid cept for a few mishaps. You're right, having the big guys in more would have helped...besides Preds played amazing

[Guest Shoreline]

I can sit there and dissect this game into pieces (and I already have to a degree), but really it would be a waste of time. I just hope the Wings play as we know they can in the playoffs.

To answer the question, sadly it's a cop-out answer of "little of A, little of B". I approved and didn't approve of different things, but since those things and the circumstances are also changing, I think judgment is best reserved for the coming weeks/months.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Shoreline

[DrapersTheMan 0]

So we're really ok with the loss tonight. It was not a meaningless game. First off, we were going for the President's trophy. Second, do we really wanna have to think about facing Nashville in the first round. Im sure we all know how overly physical they can get when they're put in a bind. I'd much rather face the blues. The duck's are in the same boat with the Preds. But we still played a solid game tonight so im not worried. go wings.

[TheOwl 77]

The Presidents trophy was really out of contention, San Jose wasn't likely going to lose to two horrible teams. Nashville had a must win game, got lucky in the last minute 6v5, can't really blame the Wings. Sad to see Datysuk not get a point, 100 points would be huge.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I thought they looked good, and would have won handily but for Lidstrom's mistake. If it makes anybody feel better, if this was a playoff game they might still be playing right now.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Unfortunately, I didn't see it. However, sometimes people here forget: Sometimes, even though you play hard and do well, you get outworked and/or outplayed by the other guys. It just happens. It's good to see that's the general consensus and not a lot of (insert insult) (insert name).

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Unfortunately, I didn't see it. However, sometimes people here forget: Sometimes, even though you play hard and do well, you get outworked and/or outplayed by the other guys. It just happens. It's good to see that's the general consensus and not a lot of (insert insult) (insert name).

Oh no, in no way was it a bad game....had a minor slip here and there but thats not what ended up costing us except maybe one. I saw intensity in the team that has lacked all season and it looked good on them. Kronwall played at probably his best all season and ericcsson was a beast as well. Datsyuk continues to amaze me, and it was unfortunate that we lost hossa earlier on. Anyone know what it was with him? they said precautionary but he skated off and didn't seem to favor his foot that much

[RedWingFan2k1 0]

Oh no, in no way was it a bad game....had a minor slip here and there but thats not what ended up costing us except maybe one. I saw intensity in the team that has lacked all season and it looked good on them. Kronwall played at probably his best all season and ericcsson was a beast as well. Datsyuk continues to amaze me, and it was unfortunate that we lost hossa earlier on. Anyone know what it was with him? they said precautionary but he skated off and didn't seem to favor his foot that much

A friend of mine who works at a bar in Royal Oak says he saw Hossa and Hudler there, so my guess would be that he's fine. Either that or he's drinking away the pain!

[dat's sick 1,002]

I thought they played pretty good. Ozzie was great for most of the game, he really deserved to get the Win.

Nashville were desperate, got some help from the refs and still would have most likely lost if it was a playoff game where there are no shootouts.

The Wings dominated in the OT, and had a few chances to put the game away.

It's a bit worrying that they can't seem to hold on to leads late in the game though.

Also I agree with everyone blaming Babcock. Datsyuk with Homer and Filppula? That doesn't make much sense to me.

[Guest mindfly]

It's unacceptable for a detroit team to have a 2goal lead with 7minutes to go and end up losing in SO.

Just my 2.

Edited April 10, 2009 by mindfly

[Ozzie30 170]

Its an acceptable loss. Kinda hoping the wings lost in overtime anyway so Nashville has a shot to unseat the ducks.

[therock48880 14]

I thought they played pretty good. Ozzie was great for most of the game, he really deserved to get the Win.

Nashville were desperate, got some help from the refs and still would have most likely lost if it was a playoff game where there are no shootouts.

The Wings dominated in the OT, and had a few chances to put the game away.

It's a bit worrying that they can't seem to hold on to leads late in the game though.

Also I agree with everyone blaming Babcock. Datsyuk with Homer and Filppula? That doesn't make much sense to me.

I was there and thought Flip played great last night. Being with Datsyuk helps.

I agree with the OP that the game made me feel better about the playoffs than I had been feeling. Osgood played extremely well and he's been a rather large question mark. Take away a horrible give away by Lidstrom and a rather weak call against the Wings at the end of regulation and they win. The wings outhit them for the game and hustled. I still so no reason why Maltby plays, though. Hopefully, he sits when Helm goes in for the playoffs.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Wings are "stuck" right now more/less in their playoff position.

There are going to be times when you're going to tread rear end in games this time of year, or lose games, in this position to teams that are fighting for their playoff lives. They didn't really tread rear end in last night's game, but hopefully you get my point now. They've lost a few of these games, won some as well.

You wish you can play perfect or a high tempo all of these games or 100% of the season, but like any other job that's not possible. It just is what it is.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I thought they played well... as Babcock said, you can't manufacture the intensity of a desperate team trying to match the playoffs, couple that with what most of you already said about resting star players and it's gonna be hard to win those ones...

Put in our star players full time in a game that matters, or playoff game and I think we have a very different outcome

[Ozzie30 170]

I was there and thought Flip played great last night. Being with Datsyuk helps.

I agree with the OP that the game made me feel better about the playoffs than I had been feeling. Osgood played extremely well and he's been a rather large question mark. Take away a horrible give away by Lidstrom and a rather weak call against the Wings at the end of regulation and they win. The wings outhit them for the game and hustled. I still so no reason why Maltby plays, though. Hopefully, he sits when Helm goes in for the playoffs.

Following your thought...there's no way nashville wins a 7 game series.

[egroen 384]

I was there and thought Flip played great last night. Being with Datsyuk helps.

Filppula had a good game, except when he was shooting the puck.

Datsyuk needs options who can bury it, and that is not Flip... as we have witnessed countless times. Datsyuk does better with two of Holmstrom, Zetterberg, Hudler, Franzen or Hossa.

I was disappointed at the loss, but it's no big deal in the scheme of thing - the team played well, just had some rotten breaks.

[savaking72 0]

I was there and thought Flip played great last night. Being with Datsyuk helps.

I agree with the OP that the game made me feel better about the playoffs than I had been feeling. Osgood played extremely well and he's been a rather large question mark. Take away a horrible give away by Lidstrom and a rather weak call against the Wings at the end of regulation and they win. The wings outhit them for the game and hustled. I still so no reason why Maltby plays, though. Hopefully, he sits when Helm goes in for the playoffs.

I also agree about Flipper. He looked really good last nite. Being moved up really put some jump into his game. I also thought he looked more physical. I thought Flipper was going to bury the puck when he was alone with Rinne-after the pass from Datsyuk. To bad the puck was rolling. He needed that, but I thought he had a really good game last nite.

Ozzie was great last nite. We would have won that if Lidstrom didn't give that puck away right infront of his own net. All in all, I was liking them very much. I don't think it matters who we play in the 7th position. We got the power, and the Euro Twins!

[Wombat 26]

I was very satisfied with the first 45-50 minutes of play, but they clearly let up on the pedal for the last 10-15 minutes of regulation. There were a few times where they tried to play pretty instead of just getting a good shot on goal.

I have been encouraged over the past 2+ weeks by the number of posts that the Wings seem to be hitting with shots. They are getting shots through and beating goalies, but hitting posts. They'll stop hitting the posts soon hopefully and instead hit twine.

[VM1138 1,921]

This is the best attitude this board has had after a loss all year.

They played really well and I'm feeling confident going into the playoffs with this team now.

[Majsheppard 203]

I wasn't as mad as everyone who called me last night to *****.

I was however upset with the way Osgood held his head after that third goal...

It wasn't his fault yet he really was upset with himself and I think he wasn't letting it go, I hope this doesn't stick in his head.

When it comes right down to it, how many times did we steal a game this year like Nashville stole one from us?

I am also going to be mad if this leads to Nashville being the team matching up against SJ. That would be the easiest round for them and would ensure they stay fresh for round two. Meanwhile we are pretty much stuck playing a hard first matchup now... We just might have the toughest path to the finals now, unless some intresting stuff happens. The Wings better be ready for the long haul...

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

It's unacceptable for a detroit team to have a 2goal lead with 7minutes to go and end up losing in SO.

Just my 2.

Agreed even if this game wasn't a must win for the Wings - we could draw this team in round 1 (unlikely at this point but still possible).

Why does Osgood never have to share the blame for blowing a 2G lead late in the third? I'm going to kind of expect a veteran GT to be able to hold a 2G lead late in games in the POs - so I hope the fact that last night's game was fairly meaningless for the Wings means this was an aberration. We cannot always blame everything on the D.

[Dano33 41]

Its an acceptable loss. Kinda hoping the wings lost in overtime anyway so Nashville has a shot to unseat the ducks.

Don't ever say that again!

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

This is the first of three games in four days. The Wings will probably be rolling 4 lines in all the games. They will most likely only play hard in spurts.

I won't be too disappointed if they don't win all of their remaining games. Staying fresh and injury free is probably their number one concern.

That said, Lets Go Wings!

This was my GDT pregame post. My feelings haven't changed and I was only a little disappointed. I had a lingering bad feeling about The Captains' pass up the middle in the third. Still can't believe it. I would be surprised if that happened in the playoffs. Minor brainfart.