35 replies to this topic

[wings7]

Mattias Ritola expected to make Red Wings playoff debut; Andreas Lilja back in for Brett Lebda in Game 4
By Ansar Khan
May 06, 2010, 10:40AM
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings will make a couple of lineup changes tonight as they try to stave off elimination against the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Forward Mattias Ritola is expected to make his playoff debut, replacing Jason Williams. And on defense, Andreas Lilja will go back in for Brett Lebda.

Ritola is expected to play on a line with Justin Abdelkader, his former linemate on the Grand Rapids Griffins, and Kris Draper.

http://www.mlive.com...ted_to_mak.html

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I DON'T agree with this move. Lebda's speed was a great addition. Get rid of Ericsson. What is going on???

[Travis]

Yeah, I've gotta say - the inclusion of Ericsson in the line-up has been a head scratcher for me.

I thought that Lilja's stay at home style paired really well with Lebda's speed and overall lack of defense. It was sort of like Lilja was Lebda's safety net. Not sure what they think they're gaining by leaving Ericsson in the line-up.

[titanium2]

Babs does have quite a boner for Ericsson.

[OldMan333]

Babs does have quite a boner for Ericsson.

Perhaps Ericsson has incriminating pictures...

[mindfly]

Lilja-Lebda should be the third pairing, they worked just fine during the 07/08 season and we all know how well that season turned out to be....


I'm not the only one who loathe Ericsson... give him a break already.

Edited by mindfly, 06 May 2010 - 11:06 AM.

[Aussie_Wing]

Ritola you ripper!!! Can't wait to see him play, he and Abdelakder are great mates and they were deadly together in Grand Rapids.

Lebda looked pretty reasonable in Game 3, hard to believe they took him out and not Small E.

[GMRwings1983]

Should have been May instead of Ritola, and Lilja should have gone in for Ericsson.

[titanium2]

Should have been May instead of Ritola, and Lilja should have gone in for Ericsson.

Sub May in for Draper.

[SouthernWingsFan]

Long term, Ericsson is better than Lebda for the team IMO, but short term/immediately after last game, surprised that Ericsson wasn't scratched for pinching so much on the OT goal.

[MCleveland89]

I feel like Ericcson is one of those people who only have a job because the boss is his relative. Why is he still here?

[Aussie_Wing]

Should have been May instead of Ritola, and Lilja should have gone in for Ericsson.

May is done as a Wing, why can't people understand this?

[henrik40]

Long term, Ericsson is better than Lebda for the team IMO, but short term/immediately after last game, surprised that Ericsson wasn't scratched for pinching so much on the OT goal.

I wouldn't really call it pinching, he brought the puck up into the zone and stayed with the rush. I mean he could have peeled back but at the same time Willy haaaaaaaaas to hit the net.

[SouthernWingsFan]

I wouldn't really call it pinching, he brought the puck up into the zone and stayed with the rush. I mean he could have peeled back but at the same time Willy haaaaaaaaas to hit the net.

Right right.

In sudden death though, unless it's really there and open, just doesn't make sense to pinch/be overly aggressive IMO when the last goal decides everything. Don't want bad odd man rushes like what happened.

Williams does have to hit the net but at the same time, missed shots completely happen more so even though it is our favorite whipping boy, I can live with a shot completely missing the net from a long ways away more often than not.

[Rick Zombos Ghost]

I feel like Ericcson is one of those people who only have a job because the boss is his relative. Why is he still here?

yeah its like holland wants it to work out soooo badly. a lot of players have bad sophomore years (if you can call this his sophomore year), IMO the few games we had this year with lil/lebda 3rd pair were our best defensive games.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile]

I like the Ritola/Williams move, but I would have also preferred to see Lilja in over Ericsson for sure.

[bdavis]

I thought the Lilja/Lebda paring was decent, and E has been bad lately. I don't understand this move at all.

[esteef]

Big E is in to kick Thortnton's ass when the score gets lopsided.

esteef

[Third Man In]

Lilja's in for Lebda because Brett Lebda sucks.

Ericcson has shown promise in the past, and it takes time for a defenceman to learn the game. This is great experience either way. Same for Howie.

[brett]

ericsson only in for his size.

[Rick Zombos Ghost]

ericsson only in for his size.

is that the same size that he doesnt ever use? oh yes it must be.