This is going to be a DEFENSIVE series

[Guest blueadams]

For us, this series is not about creating goal-scoring opportunities, its about preventing them. Shut down Crosby with Zetterberg, Malkin with Datsyuk, Staal with Filppula and we'll win this series (Malkin-Filppula, Staal-Helm tonight). Pittsburgh's been putting Crosby and the third and fourth lines to create mismatches, so its going to be important that we have four solid defensive lines out there every night. These lines aren't offensively-oriented, but the goals will come as they always do. If we can hold pittsburgh to two goals a game, this series should be a cake-walk.

Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Hossa

Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson

Maltby-Helm-Draper

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Lebda

Osgood

Conklin

[Theophany 110]

Uh, no s***?

Oh, and breaking up lines that have been amazing seems pretty stupid.

At the very least the pairing of Filppula/Hossa should remain together. They've been tremendous in the past two games.

Hudler/Helm/Sammy was a great line last night, too.

But saying "defense will win this" is kind of a no-brainer. Even ESPN got that right.

[Guest blueadams]

it sounds like you are suggesting that we put datsyuk on the fourth line???

[Zion 93]

Datsyuk-Draper-Abdelkader-Maltby-Leino

Lilja-Ericsson-Lebda-Krupp

And hopefully, nobody notices that the Wings have 4 extra players on the ice at one time. Great 4th line!

[titanium2 867]

Might as well throw Yzerman out there with Babcock on the back end.

[Theophany 110]

it sounds like you are suggesting that we put datsyuk on the fourth line???

I'd either scratch or play Homer on the 4th line.

Mule-Z-Dats

Hossa-Filp-Hudler

Cleary-Helm-Sammy

Maltby-Abdelkader/Draper-Homer/Leino

D pairings stay the same; if Lilja is back, pop him in for Lebda. Then you have D lines that can eat up 20+ mins a game easily.

You could flip Dats and Hudler if you really wanted, but with these lines, I think we'd be extremely solid defensively.

[Booster313 138]

I agree that we need to play strong D to win this series, but that's the beauty for the Red Wings system. There are no one-way players. If you want to be a Red Wing you have to play well with or without the puck.

[Shaman 713]

For us, this series is not about creating goal-scoring opportunities, its about preventing them. Shut down Crosby with Zetterberg, Malkin with Datsyuk, Staal with Filppula and we'll win this series (Malkin-Filppula, Staal-Helm tonight). Pittsburgh's been putting Crosby and the third and fourth lines to create mismatches, so its going to be important that we have four solid defensive lines out there every night. These lines aren't offensively-oriented, but the goals will come as they always do. If we can hold pittsburgh to two goals a game, this series should be a cake-walk.

Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Hossa

Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson

Maltby-Helm-Draper

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Lebda

Osgood

Conklin

Pierre Mcquire is that you?