10/10 GDT: Capitals, 2 at Red Wings, 3

[esteef 2,679]

Top two lines looked great!

Datsyuk smothered Ovechkin!

The Wings are still undefeated in regulation with Brad May in the lineup!

Cheers!

esteef!!

[BlueMonk 102]

The commitment to defense was nothing like the 2009 team; the effort tonight was pure 2008. I, for one, am relieved to see it. A lot is being made of the loss of scoring this year, but a team has to play defense like that to be a serious contender regardless.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Does anyone else notice that Lidstrom seems to be having trouble putting the puck on net?

His shots are either blocked or they miss the net high. Don't know what's up with him offensively.

[titanium2 867]

Ninety-sux with the GWG. Jake Ryan with mouth full of balls.

He'll probably just say something like even the sun shines on a dog's butt every now and then.

[Guest mindfly]

Does anyone else notice that Lidstrom seems to be having trouble putting the puck on net?

His shots are either blocked or they miss the net high. Don't know what's up with him offensively.

GMR, you're not alone, I noticed that in stockholm already..

[P. Marlowe 748]

80-2

16-0

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Does anyone else notice that Lidstrom seems to be having trouble putting the puck on net?

His shots are either blocked or they miss the net high. Don't know what's up with him offensively.

I was planning on making a more criticism-laden post and this was on my mind. His favorite play right now seems to be trying to take that bad angle wrist shot at the net with Homer in front; that's worked before but it's a low percentage play, it hasn't worked so far and he ought to just reset the offense instead of throw the puck away.

He got off to a delayed start with the groin injury but I'm waiting patiently here for Hank to get some goals too. He was set up a few times but hasn't been able to finish yet.

[P. Marlowe 748]

He'll probably just say something like even the sun shines on a dog's butt every now and then.

Yeah, he should know.

Eaves played only 7:49, but I think he made his presence known whenever he was on the ice.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Really encouraging signs from tonight's game.

1st line really clicked and Bertuzzi did not look out of place. Babs said it probably wasn't going to be a permanent thing but on what we saw from the 1st and 2nd lines, how could it not be? Filppula centered the 2nd line beautifully tonight and I wasn't sure how they would fare but they generated a ton of chances.

I thought Eaves had a good debut and Abdelkader played well.

On defence Stuart is off to a very nice start to the season. Very good win.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Datsyuk looked awesome paired up against Ovechkin-- he shut him down so many times and stole the puck from him a hand full of time. The new top line is looking great. They were burdened by having to play such heavy defensive coverage against Ovi, but they were highly successful in that area so you can't complain. You can see the Datsyuk-Zetterberg chemistry starting to bubble to the surface again, especially on that series of offensive chances they set up during the PK.

On the topic of shutting Ovi down, Lidstrom and Rafalski looked really good too-- both covered the top Washington line real well.

Bertuzzi had a whale of a game-- he was skating really hard and made a couple of huge defensive plays out there. I'm really impressed with how he's made himself fit in the Red Wings mold.

As far as offensive presence goes, Leino looked like the most dangerous forward out there for big chunks of time. He and Filppula look great on the 2nd line. Franzen's injury could be a blessing in disguise in that sense-- the Leino-Filppula-Williams line is really clicking well and proving they deserve prime time. I was impressed by all three players. Filppula had a golden chance early but held on to it too long so I guess he'll always be the Val we all love to tease about holding shots too long. He was great holding the puck and making life tough on Washington, though. He even came out looking the better man on an Ovechkin hit.

Ozzy was red hot once again... he's really looking like the 07-08 Ozzy right now.

The last two games make me much happier about our playoff chances than the early 08 games did when we couldn't stop a puck from going in our net but could score bunches of goals.

All we need is to see some stronger PKing and life is good again. Once again, though, I'm loving these lines. The Dats-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi line will only get better as they start to gel better.

[P. Marlowe 748]

He got off to a delayed start with the groin injury but I'm waiting patiently here for Hank to get some goals too. He was set up a few times but hasn't been able to finish yet.

Wings have been able to win two games with Lids, Hank, Dats being relatively quiet. When they get it going this team of course only gets better.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I was planning on making a more criticism-laden post and this was on my mind. His favorite play right now seems to be trying to take that bad angle wrist shot at the net with Homer in front; that's worked before but it's a low percentage play, it hasn't worked so far and he ought to just reset the offense instead of throw the puck away.

He got off to a delayed start with the groin injury but I'm waiting patiently here for Hank to get some goals too. He was set up a few times but hasn't been able to finish yet.

Yeah, he seems to be taking fewer booming shots from the point. I wonder if it's his elbow or if he's hesitant for some other reason...

[titanium2 867]

Datsyuk looked awesome paired up against Ovechkin-- he shut him down so many times and stole the puck from him a hand full of time. The new top line is looking great. They were burdened by having to play such heavy defensive coverage against Ovi, but they were highly successful in that area so you can't complain. You can see the Datsyuk-Zetterberg chemistry starting to bubble to the surface again, especially on that series of offensive chances they set up during the PK.

On the topic of shutting Ovi down, Lidstrom and Rafalski looked really good too-- both covered the top Washington line real well.

Bertuzzi had a whale of a game-- he was skating really hard and made a couple of huge defensive plays out there. I'm really impressed with how he's made himself fit in the Red Wings mold.

As far as offensive presence goes, Leino looked like the most dangerous forward out there for big chunks of time. He and Filppula look great on the 2nd line. Franzen's injury could be a blessing in disguise in that sense-- the Leino-Filppula-Williams line is really clicking well and proving they deserve prime time. I was impressed by all three players. Filppula had a golden chance early but held on to it too long so I guess he'll always be the Val we all love to tease about holding shots too long. He was great holding the puck and making life tough on Washington, though. He even came out looking the better man on an Ovechkin hit.

Ozzy was red hot once again... he's really looking like the 07-08 Ozzy right now.

The last two games make me much happier about our playoff chances than the early 08 games did when we couldn't stop a puck from going in our net but could score bunches of goals.

All we need is to see some stronger PKing and life is good again. Once again, though, I'm loving these lines. The Dats-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi line will only get better as they start to gel better.

The puck really does seem to follow Leino around doesn't it? Being a Red Wings he's probably going to learn Datsyuk's stick checking tricks and whatnot. Then what? He'll be the only one playing with the puck when he's on the ice?

I can't really look at the Franzen injury as a blessing. More like a silver lining. Franzen gone for four months is a pretty big and gray cloud.

[P. Marlowe 748]

"Ozzie has a big toe and he's not afraid to use it."

[Guest mindfly]

Bertuzzi must feel very comfortable playing around pavel and hank...dont think he counted on that when he came here...

[titanium2 867]

"Ozzie has a big toe and he's not afraid to use it."

His wife say that after a yoga lesson?

[P. Marlowe 748]

Yeah, he seems to be taking fewer booming shots from the point. I wonder if it's his elbow or if he's hesitant for some other reason...

Maybe he's saving his arms for the playoffs.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Blues down 2-0, second intermission. Keep it up, Kings!

[P. Marlowe 748]

His wife say that after a yoga lesson?

She said that too, but this time TV said it when Ozzie's save on Ovechkin's shot was replayed.

[titanium2 867]

She said that too, but this time TV said it when Ozzie's save on Ovechkin's shot was replayed.

Oh was it Mickey York or whoever?

My favorite one of his is when Franzen scores a goal and York comments that "My name is Johan Franzen and I'm going to puck you up!"

[Doggy 130]

Does anyone else notice that Lidstrom seems to be having trouble putting the puck on net?

His shots are either blocked or they miss the net high. Don't know what's up with him offensively.

Zetterberg is much the same. It's frustrating to see. But with Hank, I think he's still a little stiff.

[Finnish Wing 110]

the Leino-Filppula-Williams line is really clicking well

Actually, the line was Leino-Filppula-Cleary. Williams was solid too nevertheless.

[T.Low 1,011]

The puck really does seem to follow Leino around doesn't it? Being a Red Wings he's probably going to learn Datsyuk's stick checking tricks and whatnot. Then what? He'll be the only one playing with the puck when he's on the ice?

I can't really look at the Franzen injury as a blessing. More like a silver lining. Franzen gone for four months is a pretty big and gray cloud.

I knew Leins would be offensively good, but I never thought we'd get this far into the season and find that he's got TWICE as many goals as any other Red Wing! Not to mention he's outscoring Hossa!

Edited October 11, 2009 by T.Low

[P. Marlowe 748]

Oh was it Mickey York or whoever?

I think it was York, yes.

Ryan Malone (of Tampa Bay) with a hat trick against the Canes.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I think it was York, yes.

Ryan Malone (of Tampa Bay) with a hat trick against the Canes.

Teemu with 2 goals + a shootout winner against Philly.