Rafalski still out, Chelios still in for game 2

[IILeiBlazeII 15]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=277290

Man... it must be something pretty serious to sit the first two games of a series this important. : \

Edited May 2, 2009 by IILeiBlazeII

[GSBrooks13 204]

I agree it must be pretty serious.. considering Cheli didnt play for like the last half of the game its obvious they miss Rafalski.. hope hes back for game 3!

[NGKEIB 32]

As I've said elsewhere, the defensive ramifications of this don't worry me too much. But our powerplay wasn't good enough today. It's not that I don't like him, but I don't see the point in having Sammy on the same PP unit as Lidström. He's fine on the 2nd unit where he can drift down the left wing and hit one-timers, but I'd rather see Lidström-Stuart/Ericsson as the first unit, even though they're all lefties.

[NGKEIB 32]

What makes me wonder is what happened to Rafalski? I didn't notice anything wrong with him in the BJ series, and then we had a long layoff, where he could sit out practices, and now he can't play... It's perplexing.

[Mike 0]

This quote from Babcock is a little encouraging.

"We saw him this morning, and he was in good spirits," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of his No. 2 defenseman. "He seems fine, (but) he’s not going to play."

NHL

[FunkedUp 29]

Theres no way of us knowing how serious it is. After Franzens episode during the playoffs last year, no one on the Wings is going to to be specific about their injuries.

[Yzermania 156]

yah, the PP seemed sloppy without him back ther pairing up with Nick.

but untill he is back, GO CHELI!

[IILeiBlazeII 15]

This quote from Babcock is a little encouraging.

That makes me feel a *little* better... playing mindreader is so hard sometimes...

[SoDakWing 8]

hopefully Babs will put Ericsson on the PP and replace Samuelson. Atleast give it a try.

[Mike 0]

hopefully Babs will put Ericsson on the PP and replace Samuelson. Atleast give it a try.

Especially since Sammy was brutal on the PP last night.

[Vladifan 680]

yah, the PP seemed sloppy without him back ther pairing up with Nick.

but untill he is back, GO CHELI!

Now this is what I'm talkin' about.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

You could do a lot worse than have somebody with Chelios' credentials and abilities and THINKING back there. Imagine if you had to toss in say a Martin Skoula or Jay Leach or god forbid Ryan O'Byrne.

Too bad Rafalski can't go, Chelios is a more than adequete #7

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

This is bad news and it sounds like his injury is worse than what they're letting on.

The longer the series goes, the more we'll miss him if he doesn't come back.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

This is bad news and it sounds like his injury is worse than what they're letting on.

The longer the series goes, the more we'll miss him if he doesn't come back.

It's why game 2 is SO key. Should Detroit win and get a travel day off while forcing the Ducks to win 4 of 5 without key contributors like Rafalsi and Draper and Lilja, once the do come back, the Wings are that much stronger....It also means there is no need to rush anybody back

[KrazyGangsta 79]

I think there just letting him heal ... they will plug him back in the lineup the second we lose a game against ducks unless we're up 2-0 3-0 ...

[Louisville 112]

Especially since Sammy was brutal on the PP last night.

Our PP was brutal but we scored 2 PP goals last night.

Am I missing something here?

[Louisville 112]

Excuse me, 3 PP goals

What really needs work is our five on five play, and not letting Ducks players work from behind the net to the front.

Edited May 2, 2009 by Louisville

[Dabura 12,232]

We were really missing him yesterday. He needs to get back ASAP.

[Barrie 900]

I'm sure if we lost Game 1 Rafalski would be in there for Game 2. It's probably a case where if we're winning, give him extra rest.

[NGKEIB 32]

"Our PP was brutal but we scored 2 PP goals last night.

Am I missing something here?

Excuse me, 3 PP goals

What really needs work is our five on five play, and not letting Ducks players work from behind the net to the front. "

Hmm, we only scored two powerplay goals - one of them that was on a 5 minute major, and yet the only decent chance (which was Franzén's goal) came off of a great individual effort. Samuelsson had over 7 minutes of PP ice time to lead the Wings, yet only managed one shot (I'm not even sure if it came on the PP), and didn't look very comfortable out there on the 1st unit.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

The PP was brutal last night, if you watched. Sammy fumbled a ton of plays, they didnt drive enough, or shoot enough. But we still got 3 PP goals. We could've burried Anaheim last night, and if the PP is better in Game 2 we will.

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

I would love to know how someone as important as Rafalski gets hurt during that long of a layoff.

[NGKEIB 32]

I say again, if you watch the game you will notice that we only got 2 powerplay goals...

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The PP was brutal last night, if you watched. Sammy fumbled a ton of plays, they didnt drive enough, or shoot enough. But we still got 3 PP goals. We could've burried Anaheim last night, and if the PP is better in Game 2 we will.

I'm fine with him 5 on 5 - but really to give Sammy so much time on the point... surely someone else on the Wings can do a better job and not lose the puck as much...I don't get it...

[Mike 0]

I say again, if you watch the game you will notice that we only got 2 powerplay goals...

Yeah, Lidstrom's last goal was even strength. I don't know where everyone is getting 3 PP goals from.