Quietly the Playoff King

[majesticles 0]

You won't hear me mention Conn Smythe... 1) We're only halfway through. 2) I'm incredibly superstitious.

But as forum after forum discusses the best performers in this year's NHL playoffs, one name is noticeably absent: Captain Super, Nick Lidstrom.

I think of #5 as a magician; he makes opposing players and offensive rushes simply disappear. Too often though, his slight of hand (and stick) is too quick to be paid proper notice. He pulls dozens of tricks a game, and most aren't fancy, just effective.

So let's look at the numbers...

11 games played, 11 points (3G, 8A). Scored pts in 7 of 11 games. First goal of playoffs (vs. Columbus), 2 goals in first game vs. Anaheim (including game-winner). Ranks 4th in avg ice-time. One of only 4 D-men in Anaheim series (both teams) to post a plus (the others being Ericsson, who partnered with him, Kronwall and Stuart). Avg shots against/game, 27.5 (ranks 3rd behind SJ and Chi; 27.7 during reg season ranked 2nd behind SJ) One penalty.

So, what is this thread? Just some homage to the six-time Norris winner? A 'please note...' memo to Wings fans and hockey fans? Yeah, I suppose it is. Because--see 1) and 2)--who's more deserving?...

[NGKEIB 32]

I think Nicklas may not get as attention as some of the others, because nobody is surprised at how stellar his play is. Osgood, on the other hand, had a sub-par season, and regardless of whether you 'believed in him' or not, he has raised his game to a whole new level. Franzén also seems to live for the playoffs, so their post-season play, when cast against the backdrop of their regular seasons (even though Franzén had a good season) really makes them stand out. Also, Franzén seemed to be the only one at times who could score against Hiller.

Lidström, in a way, has a very low-key style of play. You don't always see him making huge defensive plays, because he doesn't often let the situation get out of hand. Any time the Wings have one a Cup, he has played a huge part in it. If people don't mention his name, it''s because it's a given that he's one of the candidates.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

You guys are forgetting Stuart also. He played awesome against the Ducks.

[majesticles 0]

Stuart is a beast. I heard he went to the same (Manchurian) doctor that Sammy saw last year.

[wmubronco420 25]

if we win the cup i think the conn smythe has to go to ozzie IMO, as long as his numbers are still right around where they are currently...i mean the guy deserves it

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

I think Nicklas may not get as attention as some of the others, because nobody is surprised at how stellar his play is. Osgood, on the other hand, had a sub-par season, and regardless of whether you 'believed in him' or not, he has raised his game to a whole new level. Franzén also seems to live for the playoffs, so their post-season play, when cast against the backdrop of their regular seasons (even though Franzén had a good season) really makes them stand out. Also, Franzén seemed to be the only one at times who could score against Hiller.

Lidström, in a way, has a very low-key style of play. You don't always see him making huge defensive plays, because he doesn't often let the situation get out of hand. Any time the Wings have one a Cup, he has played a huge part in it. If people don't mention his name, it''s because it's a given that he's one of the candidates.

Ummm if I'm not mistaken ol' Hudles had some goalage on the young Mr. Hiller, and Helmer too God love 'em.

Love your Goalie!

[Guest Shoreline]

I don't really trust numbers, especially how they're used in situations like this. I trust my eyes and watching the games, and right now Osgood and/or Franzen would be the "Playoff King(s)". Would be tough for me to declare one for the Conn Smythe, but keep in mind the playoffs are only half over.

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

The playoff kings so far are "Stuart,Cleary and Helm"

[NGKEIB 32]

Ummm if I'm not mistaken ol' Hudles had some goalage on the young Mr. Hiller, and Helmer too God love 'em.

Love your Goalie!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that he was single-handedly responsible for carrying us through to the next round. We relied on secondary scoring in game 7 (though the Mule did set up Hudler's goal, a reverse carbon copy of an earlier one he got), but in e.g. game 6, and in some of the first games as well, it seemed that he was the only one who could break through and actually manage to put one past Hiller.

I think that Stuart and Cleary have been huge and, like Osgood, they've left those who doubted them in the regular season eating their words.

Helm has been a little ball of hate, with a great set of wheels. It's almost as if he has wings on his feet instead of one on his chest.

Zäta has been great on both ends of the ice, Pasha has been huge defensively, blah blah blah. I could talk about the whole team, but the OP was about Lidas.

[norrisnick 1]

Nick is slowly but surely putting up some ridiculous career playoff numbers.

Fun facts:

Nick is tied with Stevie for most career playoff assists as a Red Wing with 115.

Nick is tied with Howe (and Murph, and Bossy, and Macinnis) for career playoff points at 160.

With 1 assist Nick would tie Larry Robinson for 10th all time in career playoff assists.

With 3 points Nick would tie Denis Potvin for 3rd all time in career playoff points from defensemen.

Nick is sitting at 8th all time in career playoff games played. Possibility exists to move up to 3rd (11 more games) behind only Roy and Chelios.

Nick is the all time leader in playoff game winning goals by a defenseman.

Toss in his 4 cups in a 27-30 team league. Conn Smythe. Cup captaincy. Etc... and his playoff resume is just unbelievable.

[ltgator333 3]

It does seem as if 80% of what Lids does he does so efficiently it's hardly noticeable except the consistant results of him being out there. I've had to explain this to a few ppl that are casual fans of the game. The guy is to me the best example of a player with ice pumping through his veins.

As for playoff king... we'll have to see when it's time to hand over the hardware. Generally they get the winner of certain trophies pretty darn close to right. But at this point, there's a few guys off 4 different teams that could be considered.

[Electrophile 3,554]

If the hockey karma juju gods smile on us and we win the Cup next month, if Ozzie keeps this up and doesn't win.......I'm going to be ******* pissed off.

I could understand Hank winning it last year, he had a hell of a playoff season. But Ozzie has practically put this team on his jock strap so far and we wouldn't be facing the Hawks if not for him saving our bacon more than once.

Now I have to go cleanse my juju karma so that the preceding two paragraphs don't jinx the Wings.

[Yzermania 156]

You guys are forgetting Stuart also. He played awesome against the Ducks.

yah for me, the mvp for us so far is between stuart and franzen. Not to take anything away from Ozzy because when he has had to be, he has been HUGE, but there have ben alot of times where he got to just chill out in his goal crease and watch his team play.

[NGKEIB 32]

Assuming we win the next two rounds (not guaranteed obviously), and Ozzy plays like he is now, it would be great for Ozzy to win the CS - it would be a big 'CUNextTuesday' to those who call him a bad goalie behind a good team, and it would be hard to keep him out of the HoF if he had a Conn Smythe on his resumé.

But the Conn Smythe can be pretty weird... In my books Påhlsson would have gotten it in 07 (but that's possibly because I'm Swedish and biased). I don't dispute Zäta winning it last year, and in 02 I'm happy for Lidström to have won it, but to see Yzerman playing with those knee problems made one in a way want to award it to him... Sort of rambling here, so forgive me. Hopefully the people with the power to decide who wins the Conn Smythe are able to evaluate all of the candidates in a disinterested manner, and not say that e.g. Ozzy can't win it since he's not a good goalie, Pavel can't win it since he didn't play well against Anaheim etc.

[NGKEIB 32]

Stuart has been a workhorse, but I fear that he may have been guilty of one too many giveaways (a couple against Columbus spring to mind, where Ozzy bailed him out), and you could argue that Selänne wouldn't have scored in game 7 if Brad had been in position. On the whole, I think he's played great, but there are a few mistakes (he is human after all) which don't bother me(I think that he has more than made up for them with big hits, diving plays, blocked shots etc.) but which could tarnish him as a candidate, especially when being held next to 'mistake-free' players like Lidström who have also put up good numbers offensively.

[Konnan511 1,736]

You guys are forgetting Stuart also. He played awesome against the Ducks.

Stuart did well but he was brutal on the PK in the last couple games.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

He's played well, but he could be doing better considering how he was out there a lot against that top line for Anaheim, which singlehandedly gashed us.

I expect him to be even better in this upcoming series, though.

[norrisnick 1]

He's played well, but he could be doing better considering how he was out there a lot against that top line for Anaheim, which singlehandedly gashed us.

I expect him to be even better in this upcoming series, though.

Getzlaf and the Ducks did most of their damage on the PP.

Getzlaf had 10 points and was -2. Nick had 7 points and was +2. I take that trade off all day long.

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

Assuming we win the next two rounds (not guaranteed obviously), and Ozzy plays like he is now, it would be great for Ozzy to win the CS - it would be a big 'CUNextTuesday' to those who call him a bad goalie behind a good team, and it would be hard to keep him out of the HoF if he had a Conn Smythe on his resumé.

I would of never realized this if it wasn't for the band See You Next Tuesday.. Sooooo, Is that how you realized it?

[Dabura 12,232]

I see a lot of people talking up Stuart. He's elevated his play, absolutely. But he's a long way from being this team's MVP -- let alone the playoff MVP.

Nick is this team's heart and soul, its backbone, its lifeblood, its leader. Where a guy like Mule can check out for a game, Nick is always there doing his job. He looked human for some stretches in this series, but that's about 2% human time versus 98% god-like time.

[Guest Shoreline]

Getzlaf and the Ducks did most of their damage on the PP.

Getzlaf had 10 points and was -2. Nick had 7 points and was +2. I take that trade off all day long.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Getzlaf and the Ducks did most of their damage on the PP.

Getzlaf had 10 points and was -2. Nick had 7 points and was +2. I take that trade off all day long.

Doesn't Lidstrom play on the PK, where as you put it Anaheim did most of their damage?

A lot of those goals were scored because guys were uncovered in front of the net on rebounds and passes.

That's been a problem all year actually.

[norrisnick 1]

Doesn't Lidstrom play on the PK, where as you put it Anaheim did most of their damage?

A lot of those goals were scored because guys were uncovered in front of the net on rebounds and passes.

That's been a problem all year actually.

Kronwall and Stuart were lit up on the PP all during the regular season. Nick lost his regular partner when Lilly went down. A couple of the PP goals against went right through Stuart who blocked Oz' sightline but not the puck. But whatever... a PP as stacked as the Ducks have is going to put up goals. Nick and Z matched up with Getzlaf at ES and not only contained them but put up big numbers themselves. They neutralized the top line on a one line team. The secondary scoring was a bit lacking (Pavel, Hossa, Homer). Luckily our tertiary scoring came through.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

As for playoff king... we'll have to see when it's time to hand over the hardware. Generally they get the winner of certain trophies pretty darn close to right. But at this point, there's a few guys off 4 different teams that could be considered.

In any one of the Wings' Cup runs of this era, Nick, Steve, or Sergei could have won it. There were other stand outs, of course, so they didn't, but Nick has been MVP worthy in basically every season and deep playoff run in his career. He's the best, and for good reason.

[NGKEIB 32]

I would of never realized this if it wasn't for the band See You Next Tuesday.. Sooooo, Is that how you realized it?

No, it's just something some of my friends say. It could be an English thing.