Babcock hints at line changes for road games

[flip 5]

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip178596#clip178596/ - The video entitled "Small Consolation" on tsn.ca if it doesn't load.

Commenting on what the Wings would do now that the Pens have the last change, he said "They're going to make it hard for us. We're going to do what we can, but we won a lot of games this year on the road, and we did it because we're willing to move people around and get balance and come at teams."

Any thoughts on what he may have in mind? He could also be foreshadowing the return of one or more players.

[Stevie4Pres 0]

I'm not going to speculate about specific line combos but I think that he's referring to the fact that he will have to do a lot of changes on the fly. Considering the Pens will have the last change, he will have to put Z out against Crosby while play is going on. This causes lines to get somewhat jumbled. The Wings have been very good this year responding to different line combos.

[TheUkrainian 49]

Have franzen come out to Sidney and just point and say "You're Next". Instant line change for Crosby.

[flip 5]

As a sidenote, in another video on the site, Dreger said that Datsyuk didn't skate today (which we knew), but that he also worked out a few times, and that it would be entirely Datsyuk's decision whether he plays tomorrow. Dreger also noted that someone "close to the organization" felt that Datsyuk's return would be "late in the series," if at all.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

If it's up to pavs he'll play

[Datsyerberger 279]

Well, I imagine he's going to be looking for balance on the lines to make sure that they can't get Crosby or Malkin against a defensively weak line. God only knows what combos he'll use.

[thedisappearer 291]

ZOMG the player I hate should be on the fourth line as he is lazy and sucks and we can't trade him (unless he has a NTC).

[therock48880 14]

I'd have Franzen shadow Malking instead of Flip. Franzen did a great job in the opening round on Nash. He has the size and speed to slow him down, imo.