50 replies to this topic

[Wings4Life19]

Dan Bylsma coached his first game for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb 16 2009 with 25 games left to play.

The Penguins record when he took over: 27-25-5, 59 PTS. They were 5 points out of a playoff spot.

they finished the year 45-28-9, 99 PTS 4th in the east.

the Red Wings record with 25 games remaining was 27-20-10, 64 PTS

Right now with 21 games left they are 28-21-12, 68 Pts 1 pt out of the playoffs.

Penguins record with 21 gms left 29-26-6, 64 PTS. they finished the year 16-2-3 35 PTS

is it possible the 2009 Penguins wrote a script that the 2010 Red Wings will repeat

The Penguins changed their coach and it changed the whole attitude of the team. I dont know about anyone else, but since The Mule has come back the team has played with a lot more confidence, they are 1-0-2. 4 out 6 points are not bad if you ask me.

I know changing a coach is totally different that getting an injured player back, but you cant deny the wings have been much better since The Mule came back.

the way i see it if the Red Wings can(i think will) win 2 out of every 3 games the rest of the way, they will be very confident they can make a good long run at another cup

I see them finishing the year 14-3-4, 32 pts, that would put their season record at 42-24-16, 100 PTS (im gonna guess 6th seed, first round match up w/ Colorado)

[Hockeytown0001]

The Penguins fired Michel Therrien and then immediately went on a roll. Maybe if the Wings brass finally got rid of McCrimmon and replaced him with a defensively sound coach.

[Howard He Do It?!]

I'm so sick of these threads. How many of them do we need? The Wings are not going to fire Babcock and the Wings do not play in the joke that they call the East. The Wings will make the playoffs, but they will not be a 4 seed.

[edicius]

The Penguins fired Michel Therrien and then immediately went on a roll. Maybe if the Wings brass finally got rid of McCrimmon and replaced him with a defensively sound coach.

Agreed. There's no question that Babcock should stay. I think he's done what he could with the injuries he's been dealt. McCrimmon, on the other hand, has always been awful, injuries or not.

[55fan]

I think the OP's point was that a year ago, no one would have thought that the Pens would make the playoffs. Right now, it's not looking good for us.

The Pens fired their head coach and it sent them on a roll. We just got back Mule. The Wings look better with him in the game.

I think what the OP was saying is that bringing back Mule is similar to the Pens getting a new head coach. It is a change that is felt immediately and could turn the tide.

It is not too late for a playoff run. The Pens last year are proof of that.

If I'm misunderdanding you, Wings4Life19, please let me know and accept my apologies.

[Rivalred]

Fire McCrimmen and replace him with McLovin...

McLovin for Assistant Coach...

McLovin McLovin McLovin

Look at the body check this guy throws!



He is a fighter (he could teach Big E)



Refs are on his side! No more BS calls against us

[GMRwings1983]

Seems like every poster has started a thread comparing us to the Pens last year.

Guess what? In 2006, the Edmonton Oilers were in a similar position, made the playoffs as an 8 seed and went to the SCF. That should give us hope right?


Oh and it's been pointed out before that the Pens made some deadline moves acquiring Guerin and Kunitz. The Wings don't have the cap space to make any big moves.

[wings7]

I'm so sick of these threads. How many of them do we need? The Wings are not going to fire Babcock and the Wings do not play in the joke that they call the East. The Wings will make the playoffs, but they will not be a 4 seed.

Why don't you learn to read. The OP didn't say any of what you accused him of. If you're going to be an overly serious brown-nosing police officer, then at least have the decency to take your job seriously and do it well.

[Rivalred]

McCrimmon = McCrummy?

[Third Man In]

Oh and it's been pointed out before that the Pens made some deadline moves acquiring Guerin and Kunitz. The Wings don't have the cap space to make any big moves.

You're forgetting that our deadline moves are Franzen, Lilja, and Holmstrom. Just like Hossa was our deadline acquisition last year. You clearly don't listen to Kenny close enough.

McLovin!

[Lidstromboli]

we can't match one of the best teams in history. it just isn't going to happen

no playoffs for the wings

[Rivalred]

we can't match one of the best teams in history. it just isn't going to happen

no playoffs for the wings

[Drake_Marcus]

we can't match one of the best teams in history. it just isn't going to happen

no playoffs for the wings

[Lidstromboli]

crosby-malkin-fleury

we don't have that 1st line so it ain't happenin

real talk

[stevkrause]

crosby-malkin-fleury

we don't have that 1st line so it ain't happenin

real talk

It did make quite a difference when Fleury left the net and scored those goals as a forward...

wait...

[Drake_Marcus]

Going 16-2-3 over our last 21 games does seem very unlikely.

Sure I'd love to see that but damn... that's one very tall order.

I do think that this team will be very well off if Franzen, Holmstrom and Zetterberg are all healthy from now on. Having those three as our top goal scorers would really make life easier. Franzen's scored 2 goals and 1 assist in 3 games since coming back from a major knee injury. There's no reason to believe he won't be a force over the last 21 games. Indeed, the last quarter of the season is when Franzen seems to be most dominant.

The 2 week olympic break will be a huge advantage for Holmstrom. His body needs an extended rest and he's about to get a huge rest. Remember how Holmstrom tends to operate-- his play starts strong and tails off as the season goes on and his body begins to wear down. He's always hot out of the gates and that's because he plays much better when his body isn't held together by tape and cortisone shots.

Datsyuk is about to centre the best player in the world (he's practicing between Ovechkin and Semin right now). You wanna see Pavel get his mojo back? I'm sure he'll be much more confident after playing along side a pair of guys who can actually do something with his slick passes. That's no slam against Zetterberg but you have to admit that something's off with Z's game when he's behind Dats in goal scoring.

Lidstrom just needs to avoid getting hurt or worn down at the Olympics... he's returned to form since the Christmas break.

Rafaslski needs to do the same and he needs to find his game again. Maybe being the go-to d-man for the US team will shake him out of his stupor.

Zetterberg will end up with some slick line-mates and a huge role at the Olympics. Hopefully he can find his game again. We all know he plays better against top end talent so this is as good a time as any for him to step his game up. In the end I think Z just needs to have fun again. We need to see him smile out there.

Kronwall needs to get past his knee injury and start playing his game again.

Stuart? Well I think having to be the go-to defenseman for this team over the first 40 games really wore him down. This break will be huge for him.

[Drake_Marcus]

crosby-malkin-fleury

we don't have that 1st line so it ain't happenin

real talk

lol Fleury. Yeah his goaltending stats are outstanding.

[Lidstromboli]

lol Fleury. Yeah his goaltending stats are outstanding.

hey man stats don't mean everything YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY WATCH HIM PLAY.

pffft like you'd know!

[stevkrause]

hey man stats don't mean everything YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY WATCH HIM PLAY.

pffft like you'd know!

[Heroes of Hockeytown]

ITT: All of LGW gets trolled by lidstromboli. Bravo.