Wings too Old and Tired to Win the Cup...Please

[Motown4013 350]

I am really tired of the media talking about how TIRED the Wings are. Everyone makes reference to the fact that they are older and "unning out of steam" In contrast, they praise the Pens who have found " The next gear " in this series because of their young age". What a joke. I took a look at the rosters and went through the most likely rosters for tonights game, assuming that Abs and Dats will be in and they would keep Drapes and perhaps sit Maltby for Leino. The Pens will most likely keep their system the same, so I didnt include Boucher or Sykora in the mix. Here is what I found:

Average age of the Wings Roster is just over 31 years. Average age of the Pens is almost 27 years. Really insignificant. In addition the Pens have played 21 games..the Wings 20 games, having the Pens playing more hockey in the Post season. Each have had 4 games go to OT, each with a series that went 7 games. Fleury has played 64 minutes more than Ozzie ( a game +4) and the ice time for players are pretty level.

When you really break it down, I don't think fatigue is an issue. I hope that the Pens continue to make idiotic statements that the Wings are tired and perhaps approach Game 5 that way. With Pavel back ( assuming it is true) they will see a very fresh guy who can hurt you in every area.

GO WINGS!!

[dat's sick 1,002]

I don't think they're too old, but I really think they're tired right now.

If you look at the Pens series against the Caps, it was open, offensive hockey with not a lot of physicality. The OT games were decided pretty quickly.

The Wings series against Anaheim was physical, every game was close and hard-fought. It had a triple-OT monster of a game.

In the Conference finals, the Pens ran over the Canes. No games were really much of a battle for them. The Wings on the other hand had another tough series against the Hawks. Except for the 6-1 game, they were all tough ones.

A 2-day breather between games 2 and 3 in the finals would have been HUGE. I think the Wings would have won Game 3 if they had that, and maybe Datsyuk would have been back in Game 4.

In the end, this is what the Stanley Cup playoff is like. You need to get some luck in the matchups, injuries, and scheduling to win it. The Wings got lucky to face a decimated Avalanche team in the 2nd round last year. It kept them healthy and fit for the WCF and SCF. This year the 2nd round was completely different, and we're seeing the result of that imo.

I still think they can pull themselves together and win it, but Game 5 will be a war.

[TheHoff 0]

With the shape and conditioning of the players in the league nowdays compared to the old days its blown way out of proportion, especially with the Wings its always brought to the forefront as a problem. Last year it was was the young vs the old and who won? If other teams lose a series, age is never mentioned, its injuries or something else. I think its just a media thing and to create a story with interest to the general public instead of actually commenting on the play of the game. They do it in all the other sports too, some team is always too old and the injuries are then based on the fact that they are old. I think Chicago had the lowest age and it wasn't a problem. The Wings need to play like we all know how they can play. I guess thats why I cheer for them because they keep proving everybody wrong and winning.

Go Wings Go

[hockey&beer 16]

I was reading a feature today on NHL.com and the "expert" said that Z is old. 28yrs is prime for a hockey player, just because he's not 21 does not make him old. Of course you have to take into account that after winning gms 1&2 old was "experienced" and after losing 2&3 experienced is "old".

[Motown4013 350]

I was reading a feature today on NHL.com and the "expert" said that Z is old. 28yrs is prime for a hockey player, just because he's not 21 does not make him old. Of course you have to take into account that after winning gms 1&2 old was "experienced" and after losing 2&3 experienced is "old".

[Dominator2005 558]

Its a MYTH for the last 15 years... who cares?!

[Paolino99 5]

Old & Tired?

we need 2 wins to bring on the Cup!!!!!!!! Not 200!!

Please beat Pittsburgh tonight and we'll see who's old & tired..

[C-TownWing 0]

I don't think they're too old, but I really think they're tired right now.

If you look at the Pens series against the Caps, it was open, offensive hockey with not a lot of physicality. The OT games were decided pretty quickly.

The Wings series against Anaheim was physical, every game was close and hard-fought. It had a triple-OT monster of a game.

In the Conference finals, the Pens ran over the Canes. No games were really much of a battle for them. The Wings on the other hand had another tough series against the Hawks. Except for the 6-1 game, they were all tough ones.

A 2-day breather between games 2 and 3 in the finals would have been HUGE. I think the Wings would have won Game 3 if they had that, and maybe Datsyuk would have been back in Game 4.

In the end, this is what the Stanley Cup playoff is like. You need to get some luck in the matchups, injuries, and scheduling to win it. The Wings got lucky to face a decimated Avalanche team in the 2nd round last year. It kept them healthy and fit for the WCF and SCF. This year the 2nd round was completely different, and we're seeing the result of that imo.

I still think they can pull themselves together and win it, but Game 5 will be a war.

...and there's every point I was going to make. Even the thing about the Avalanche series last year. That and facing a tired Dallas team (who had taken out Anaheim and SJ) in the WCF were two gigantic factors in winning last year. We just haven't had things like that conspire in our favor this year...if we overcome it this year, I'll consider this run to be much more impressive.

The "Wings are old" thing pisses me off to no end. But you don't have to be old to be tired.

Edited June 6, 2009 by C-TownWing

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

the only reason the wings are tired is cuz last game was like playing in the 9th game of a series. good thing winning the conference finals in 5 means you get 2 whole days to prepare for the SCF. it's also more fun with one of the top 3 players on your team out. UNCLE GARY BAILED OUT HIS PENGUINS

[VM1138 1,921]

The media thought the series was over when the Wings were up 2-0. Now they think it's over for the WIngs. They don't know anything. The Wings have consistently and constantly proven tradition and conventional wisdom wrong in their clutch wins. Tonight, the Wings will show the entire NHL what "that next gear" really is.

Oh, if the Wings win tonight, they also get a much needed rest. There are 3 day intervals between the next two games, I read in the Detroit News today. That means if they can pull out a win tonight, they will have a completely rested and healthy team to go for Game 6 and 7 if needed, which bodes very poorly for the Pens.

On the plus side, even a loss tonight will still give the Wings enough time to rest up and come storming back.

I feel really good about tonight, though.

[Outsider 42]

The media thought the series was over when the Wings were up 2-0. Now they think it's over for the WIngs. They don't know anything. The Wings have consistently and constantly proven tradition and conventional wisdom wrong in their clutch wins. Tonight, the Wings will show the entire NHL what "that next gear" really is.

Oh, if the Wings win tonight, they also get a much needed rest. There are 3 day intervals between the next two games, I read in the Detroit News today. That means if they can pull out a win tonight, they will have a completely rested and healthy team to go for Game 6 and 7 if needed, which bodes very poorly for the Pens.

On the plus side, even a loss tonight will still give the Wings enough time to rest up and come storming back.

I feel really good about tonight, though.

From your keyboard, VM......

[deker 0]

From the Hockey News:

“I keep hearing how old we are. But when I watch Fil (Valtteri Filppula) play, he doesn’t look like he’s that old. (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg are not that old and Mule (Johan Franzen) is not so old, so who is old? Cheli (Chris Chelios) is older than me, I give you that.â€

- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock after his team won Game 5 of the final 5-0.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/listings/21-Say-What.html