Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 DETROIT -- Defenseman Brian Rafalski will return to the lineup tonight for the Detroit Red Wings, who host the Phoenix Coyotes (7:30 p.m., Versus).Rafalski has sat out the last four weeks, after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Oct. 12. He will be paired with Jonathan Ericsson at even strength and his usual power-play partner, Nicklas Lidstrom. Coach Mike Babcock has juggled his defense pairings, at least for the start of the game, putting Brad Stuart with Lidstrom and pairing Niklas Kronwall with Ruslan Salei. Jakub Kindl is scratched. Up front, Drew Miller will be a healthy scratch for the second time in three games. He's playing well, but Babcock wants to get Jiri Hudler jump-started. Here is the lineup for the Red Wings: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi Abdelkader-Modano-Cleary Hudler-Helm-Eaves Miller (scratched) Lidstrom-Stuart Kronwall-Salei Ericsson-Rafalski Kindl (scratched) Howard (starting) MacDonald Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 Beat me to it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jollymania 162 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 I think with his last 2 games Ericsson actually finally showed something, so it is good that kindl got the scratch for now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Motown4013 350 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 excellent! I actually think that since his return, Big E has looked pretty good. We really need Raffi on the PP!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hokeychik22 17 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 i would of loved to see ericsson stay with lidstrom. he plays well with him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 i would of loved to see ericsson stay with lidstrom. heEveryone plays well with him Fixed it for yah Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Heaten Report post Posted November 8, 2010 Fixed it for yah Disagree. Lidstrom and Stuart haven't looked good to me. I think Babcock is trying to stick a square peg in a round hole on that pairing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 Miller scratched for Hudler again? haven't we learned that Hudler is useless by now? 3 lookalive07, skyphoenix and F.Michael reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
achildr1 255 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 I forgot about Rafalski being out. We've been playing great considering our #2 d-man and a big peice of our PP has been out. Considering that he'd be a #1 on alot of teams, says alot for our ability to compete with key guys out, as if last year didn't prove that anyway. Not sure if it really speaks to our depth though because Janik, Kindl, and E can't come close to bringing the kind of play Rafalski can. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 Miller scratched for Hudler again? haven't we learned that Hudler is useless by now? And Miller has been, what, the star of the fourth line? He should have been sat over Eaves in the Vancouver game. No idea why Eaves got rewarded for his great play by getting scratched. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooon 1,089 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 And Miller has been, what, the star of the fourth line? He should have been sat over Eaves in the Vancouver game. No idea why Eaves got rewarded for his great play by getting scratched. This. I think it should be kind of obvious that playing Hudler on the 4th line is not going to "jump start" him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted November 8, 2010 So where is Hudler gonna play? is he going to take bertuzzis spot on the 2line? 1 F.Michael reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooon 1,089 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 So where is Hudler gonna play? is he going to take bertuzzis spot on the 2line? I don't have all the answers, but do you honestly believe Hudler is going to start scoring goals (60-70 expected points) playing on the 4th line? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 I don't have all the answers, but do you honestly believe Hudler is going to start scoring goals (60-70 expected points) playing on the 4th line? Those are the old expectations. The new expectation is for him to just being to play the game at an NHL level. This is just one of his final opportunities to prove that he can, or else we'll trade him off for a 4th so we have cap room come the trade deadline. 1 F.Michael reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 Excellent. Once he gets back into the swing of things they can hopefully improve that middle of the road PP, which has been their biggest weakness thus far in my opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 Disagree. Lidstrom and Stuart haven't looked good to me. I think Babcock is trying to stick a square peg in a round hole on that pairing. Right... Lidstrom doesn't always pair well with other veterans, but he easily has the ability to make inexperienced/lesser talented partners look better. He's kinda like the Gretzky of defense in that regard, imo. Glad to see Raffi back. My heart rate will be better served with him making break out and outlet passes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted November 8, 2010 so this means no more modano on the 1st powerplay, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 2 F.Michael and redwingfan19 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 (edited) I think Hudler has looked decent, he's just got to start making connections. We all knew it would come to this, we've got too much talent up front. With no one necessarily playing bad, good players will have to sit (i.e. Eaves, Miller, Hudler, and yes, even Modano from time to time). The best way to do it is to rotate players who sit. Also, Draper will be coming back sometime, too. Edited November 8, 2010 by VM1138 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragonballgtz 273 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 I do not like the pairing of Raf with Big E. That has disaster written all over it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brett 1,029 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 (edited) I do not like the pairing of Raf with Big E. That has disaster written all over it. the giveaway defensive line but im glad raf is back i dont have the answer for huds but i do know he clicks very well with flip if you really wanna get him going something like: ZDH franzen flip huds cleary modano bert abs helm eaves or cleary to the 2nd line and have huds with bert i know thats asking a lot just to get one player going breaking up 2 lines that are already solid Edited November 8, 2010 by brett Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 I do not like the pairing of Raf with Big E. That has disaster written all over it. I don't like it either, but I don't think we'll actually see that very much, I think Babs is going to limit Raffi's reg strength ice time since he's just coming back and it's just listed as that for D pairings... I think we're a lot more likely to see: Lidstrom-Stuart Krowall-Salei Lidstom-Ericsson Kronwall-Stuart Salei-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Salei Lidstrom-Rafalski Stuart-Kronwall Ericsson-Salei etc, etc, etc... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 How many games do we have to be really patient with Rafalski until he can get back to his steady level of play? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mors 201 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 When will the Hudler "jump starting" end? This guy plays like he took floating lessons all summer from Brett Hull and Robert Lang. The PK is suffering so he can skate at 50% effort. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted November 8, 2010 How many games do we have to be really patient with Rafalski until he can get back to his steady level of play? Hopefully zero. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites