titanium2 867 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 If I recall correctly, the special teams were more or less the same. But 5-on-5 they had: Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary Filppula-Datsyuk-Samuelsson Hudler-Helm-Hossa Abdelkader-Draper-Holmstrom Thoughts? Impressions? -Homer on the 4th line was interesting. -By letter of the law, Hossa on the 3rd seems ridiculous. -Samuelsson in the top-6? Why? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SoDakWing 8 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Was crazy for sure. Had the Ducks and many of us wings fans scratchin heads trying to figure out what the hell was goin on out there. It looked like every shift it was just some guys doin line changes and not getting off to have those mixed lines. But it seemed to work for the night. Prolly go back to something a lil less crazy against the Hawks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian_Yzerman_Fan 7 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I think it was just to throw off Carlyle's matchups and give Hoss, Z, and Pav a little extra space Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Decoy Jones 0 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I think it was intended to use the depth the wings have and put the goal scorers on different lines to get better match ups. I don't think we'll see those lines again unless we need a spark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComradeWasabi 109 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 It was clear that the Ducks had our regular line combinations under lockdown. This mixed them up and put a legitimate scoring threat (or two) on each of the top three lines. The fourth line didn't see much time although I thought I saw a lot of Homer. It ended up working though as each of those lines scored an even-strength goal and we still made a PPG happen. By the way, anybody else notice that Hudler-Franzen combined for the same net-front redirection from the sideboards in two games in a row? Once from Huds to Mule and then tonight, the other way around. Pretty sweet set play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I think it was just to throw off Carlyle's matchups and give Hoss, Z, and Pav a little extra space Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I would actually like to see the Datsyuk-Franzen pairing against Chicago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rice 42 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 They needed to change something. I'm betting they start the Chicago series with: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Cleary Abdelkader-Draper-Samuelsson More or less the same lines they had in games 4 and 5. These lines looked great but stopped working against Anaheim when they put Pronger and Niedermayer together. Chicago doesn't have the luxury of having two top-5 defensemen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 They needed to change something. I'm betting they start the Chicago series with: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Cleary Abdelkader-Draper-Samuelsson More or less the same lines they had in games 4 and 5. These lines looked great but stopped working against Anaheim when they put Pronger and Niedermayer together. Chicago doesn't have the luxury of having two top-5 defensemen. I'd switch Cleary and Homer. Or maybe give Cleary some of Homer's shifts on that line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunkedUp 29 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 They needed to change something. I'm betting they start the Chicago series with: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Cleary Abdelkader-Draper-Samuelsson More or less the same lines they had in games 4 and 5. These lines looked great but stopped working against Anaheim when they put Pronger and Niedermayer together. Chicago doesn't have the luxury of having two top-5 defensemen. Yeah, I agree. Mule, Fil, and Hos will give the Hawks D a rough time...and thats after they deal with ZDH! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sergei Fedorov91 24 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I think our lines did pretty damn good considering we had to play against the refs as well as the ducks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drfnr14 0 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 was very intresting line combo but i loved it!!!!! lets see what babs throughs at the hawks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I don't know what's more amazing: 1.) Babcock is a genius and completely schooled Carlyle tonight. 2.) No one reported, saw, or predicted this was coming Legendary coaching IMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteLightning91 105 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 They needed to change something. I'm betting they start the Chicago series with: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Cleary Abdelkader-Draper-Samuelsson More or less the same lines they had in games 4 and 5. These lines looked great but stopped working against Anaheim when they put Pronger and Niedermayer together. Chicago doesn't have the luxury of having two top-5 defensemen. Seabrook and Keith are two very good defenseman. Add in Campbell, Barker, and Hjarlmarsson and you have a very solid top 5 defense. When combined they have size, strength, puck control, ability to forecheck aggressively, get shots from the point, and keep guys clear from crease. They have been jus as good these playoffs defensively as Anaheim was; it's just Khabibulin hasn't been as clutch as Hiller was. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Seabrook and Keith are two very good defenseman. Add in Campbell, Barker, and Hjarlmarsson and you have a very solid top 5 defense. When combined they have size, strength, puck control, ability to forecheck aggressively, get shots from the point, and keep guys clear from crease. They have been jus as good these playoffs defensively as Anaheim was; it's just Khabibulin hasn't been as clutch as Hiller was. This is not true IMO. They gave up, as a man, almost 4 goals a game to a relatively anemic Vancouver offense. I really don't think there's any comparison..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Mike's stubborness with his lines was just about to get the Wings in trouble when he changed it up in Game 4. After a tough Game 6 he put just went with some hunches and it worked out. I tip my hat to him; he did what needed to be done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Ducks' D >>> 'hawks' D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rikadyn 16 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Seabrook and Keith are two very good defenseman. Add in Campbell, Barker, and Hjarlmarsson and you have a very solid top 5 defense. When combined they have size, strength, puck control, ability to forecheck aggressively, get shots from the point, and keep guys clear from crease. They have been jus as good these playoffs defensively as Anaheim was; it's just Khabibulin hasn't been as clutch as Hiller was. I think he meant top 5 overall(in league) defensemen Honestly I liked having the lines how they were tonight, pretty much each line was equally strong as the next. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 I like the Hawks defence, I'd take most of them anyday, but they dont compare to Anaheims. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Seabrook and Keith are two very good defenseman. Add in Campbell, Barker, and Hjarlmarsson and you have a very solid top 5 defense. When combined they have size, strength, puck control, ability to forecheck aggressively, get shots from the point, and keep guys clear from crease. They have been jus as good these playoffs defensively as Anaheim was; it's just Khabibulin hasn't been as clutch as Hiller was. Campbell is horrible, Keith and Seabrook are good, barker is decent, I have no idea who the hell Hjarlmarsson is. Regardless there is no way you can argue that the Hawks are anywhere near the Ducks on defense. Offense sure, but defense and goal tending is all Ducks. Plus you have to remember that the Ducks are bigger and meaner, I don't think Kane will physically destroy our players like Getzlaf. But the Hawks are a good team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
under_par_00 45 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Brilliant. I never saw this coming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComradeWasabi 109 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Campbell is horrible, Keith and Seabrook are good, barker is decent, I have no idea who the hell Hjarlmarsson is. Regardless there is no way you can argue that the Hawks are anywhere near the Ducks on defense. Offense sure, but defense and goal tending is all Ducks. Plus you have to remember that the Ducks are bigger and meaner, I don't think Kane will physically destroy our players like Getzlaf. But the Hawks are a good team. I agree, PLUS, the teams' styles of play are so totally different. Anaheim bogs everything down, cycles down low and grinds out their goals (note that all 3 of their goals tonight were scored in a 5 feet radius of the net). Chicago, on the other hand, relies on a transitional, rushing style not unlike something the Wings have mastered. Unfortunately for them, we're better at it and we have the ability to neutralize speedy puck-handling forwards like Kane and Toews. Anaheim exposed one of the Wings' few weaknesses in their lack of size and strength along the blueline; the Ducks were adept at getting in behind, cycling aggressively and using their bodies to muscle to the net. The Hawks will not have that same ability. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soultrain 43 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 i really enjoyed the triple "H" line with helm hossa hudler...thought that was pretty sweet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 (edited) Brilliance on the part of Babcock. I noticed the lineups as soon as the game started. We have the talent and the chemistry to basically throw together whatever lines we want, which makes it virtually impossible for the other team to defend against. It obviously worked. Although, for the next series I think we should go back to the normal lines to start. Datsyuk, Hossa, and Zetterberg's drought may end with a fresh opponent and we should give them the opportunity to dominate together. Comrade Wasabi, you bring up a good point. The past two years Chicago has basically copied the Wings style. They are like Wings Light (not that I'm trying to belittle them or pretend like we're going to breeze past them). But when a team tries to play the Wings game against the Wings, it usually doesn't end up well. Edited May 15, 2009 by VM1138 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted May 15, 2009 Filppula-Datsyuk-Franzen <--I'd really like for Pav to get going. Cleary-Zetterberg-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Samuelsson Abdelkader-Draper-Holmstrom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites