WCSF Game 1 GDT: Red Wings 1 at Sharks 2 (OT)

[Ratbastrd 90]

Z wasn't himself (expected), Dats was good, Helm, Flip and Huds each played well but not up to their normal level. Franzen was a waste of ice time; he didn't get a single shot on net and wasn't even really a threat. That will have to change.

I'm not sure whether I would change the top two lines; switching Huds and Z might help, but other than that it largely comes down to Huds not putting it away, Flip not shooting, and Franzen not showing up.

A good argument could be made to swap Abby and Helm; possibly even sit Abby and put Draper on the fourth line. I'd say at least give it another game though, maybe try Cleary/Helm/Bert out in practice. Or another option would be rolling out Z/Dats/Bert, Huds/Flip/Franzen, Cleary/Helm/Eaves, and Miller/Draper/Holmstrom. The listed fourth line is more of a "substitutes" list than anything. Homer would work in for Bert, Huds, and Franzen; Miller would PK and work in for Cleary/Eaves, and Draper would PK and work in for anyone on the third line.

No way they change the top two lines, particularly this early in the series. I can see the wings flip flopping the top two lines to try to exploit the weaker and slower defensive play of the clowe/heater line, force the Sharks energy line to have to play more defensively and put the pressure on Joe and Patty to produce. Knowing the sharks this is what I would do. Wings are also going to have to account more for the 3/4 lines of the sharks this year. Pavs has been killing it since they moved him down. Much more production from our 2nd tier players this year.

[Guest stinky fish taco]

BULLs***.

I'm thinking your standards are just so far above most of the rest of ours, you really REALLY need to find yourself another team. Good hunting.

might want to check babcock's post-game comments then. they pretty much state the same thing that i did in that post.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Wow is that what happened on the bertuzzi penalty??!! I was getting beer for me and my buddy (sharks "fan") so I didn't see it but he said it was a good call. Typical sharks crew never shows replays that are against their team! When lidstrom scored I swear they only showed the replay until the fuxking intermission.

I know, they never did show the replay of Pavelski popping Filppula in the head twice after Howard popped him to get matching minors. I guess it's just easier for them to be sanctimonious than look at the goddamned replay

[King Crane 289]

God enjoys giving Wings fans heart attacks in OT.

Now I know who to bill. These hospital visits are starting to add up

I mean ... that wasn't a bad OT. Franzen almost won it on a deflection, the top line was buzzing on its first shift and if Datsyuk had shot from the circle instead of dropping it back to the line, it might have been lights out. And the Abdelkader group had a 3 on 1 that he just took a steaming dump on. They killed off a 4-minute penalty. They just got caught at the end of a long shift and San Jose got a stupid, ridiculous bounce for the win. The OT period was the best the Wings skated since the end of the 1st.

No, i recognize those guys...well just Pasha, hank, and mule, are great in the OT. But its most of the other guys play too fast, take bad shots, and make careless errors

Edited April 30, 2011 by ZMAN

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Any suggestions? I'm open for serious discussion

Defense in general is sloppy. We could use a true shutdown defensive forward and let guys like Zetterberg focus on offense.

Also get Ryan Suter next season. He'll be a UFA then.

[stuck in socal 56]

Man, if only the Wings cared as much about winning as we did.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Any suggestions? I'm open for serious discussion

I'm extremely worried about this series (tipped SJ in 7) but I think a lot can be put down to rust tonight, I mean even Helm looked a bit sluggish. Cleary looked awful, Bert, Abby, Franzen, most of our line-up looked slow and couldn't skate with any real purpose.

IF we're as sluggish in Game 2, then I'll be thinking Sharks in 5.

[WingZNut13 99]

Defense in general is sloppy. We could use a true shutdown defensive forward and let guys like Zetterberg focus on offense.

Also get Ryan Suter next season. He'll be a UFA then.

Would be able to afford Suter under our cap? And who would we get rid of?

[aMonster 96]

Man, if only the Wings cared as much about winning as we did.

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

[stuck in socal 56]

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

Orca Whale's also get hunted down by predators.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Would be able to afford Suter under our cap? And who would we get rid of?

I don't expect Lidstrom to be back for the 2012-2013 season.

[WingZNut13 99]

I'm extremely worried about this series (tipped SJ in 7) but I think a lot can be put down to rust tonight, I mean even Helm looked a bit sluggish. Cleary looked awful, Bert, Abby, Franzen, most of our line-up looked slow and couldn't skate with any real purpose.

IF we're as sluggish in Game 2, then I'll be thinking Sharks in 5.

I agree 100% we looked sluggish. But I can't help but think the 8 day layoff had something to do with that. Assuming we come out and play in Game 2 like we played the entire series against Pheonix, would you still be as worried and still lean towards Sharks in 7.

I feel like the Wings have the talent to go the whole way, I just think the Sharks are more of a mental distraction as opposed to a team standing in their way of the WCF.

[Octopus's Garden 147]

I'm extremely worried about this series (tipped SJ in 7) but I think a lot can be put down to rust tonight, I mean even Helm looked a bit sluggish. Cleary looked awful, Bert, Abby, Franzen, most of our line-up looked slow and couldn't skate with any real purpose.

IF we're as sluggish in Game 2, then I'll be thinking Sharks in 5.

Yea, agreed. They were definitely sluggish tonight, but even so, still had a lead with 10 minutes left on the road. I feel extremely confident that the Wings can hold serve at home in this series ... they just HAVE to find a way to win in San Jose somehow (obvious, I know). But the OT was much more important for the Sharks - they outplayed Detroit, and it would have been a killer for them if they had lost home ice in that game. The Wings can hopefully regroup and move on. They know they had a great chance to win without playing even remotely up to par. That should be a confidence boost.

[Ratbastrd 90]

Pavelski is a little rat, he turned to the boards on purpose right when Bertuzzi hit him and then cried like the a ***** to get sympathy from the refs and it gets called boarding lolol, hockey is not what it used to be too many soccer players with ice skates. Sharks outplayed the crap out of the Wings, not taking anything away there but they tied it on a joke of a call.

A little rat with the heart of a tiger. I will take Pavelski anyhow anyway anyday on any team. The guy is absolutely clutch, particularly against the wings. I imagine the rat moniker comes with a certain level of respect????

Hate to say it because I don't want to give fuel to the fire, but the 4 min penalty in OT was kind of weak. 2min yea, but 4? Not unless his ear fell off.

That being said, I was somewhat surprised the wings weren't more fired up when they killed off the penalty. I expected quite a bit more energy from them at that point. In my opinion, that was the difference in the game. Wings effort was spotty at best, when they were on they obviously dictated the play, but they seemed to get tired or disinterested for long stretches. The score could have been much higher if not for Howard.

[vladdy16 2,154]

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

Cute, but now is not the time to tease - you'll just rile people up.

[Guest Heaten]

Anyone here think the Bertuzzi penalty was legit? Filpulla got his in the same manner after they tied it and there was not call.

[WingZNut13 99]

I don't expect Lidstrom to be back for the 2012-2013 season.

I don't either, but we would have to cut someone to squeeze Suter in under the cap for the 2011-2012 season. Unless I am serious missing something.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

Edited April 30, 2011 by BuckeyeWingsfan80

[Yak19 303]

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

the Cup is going to one of either the Wings, Sharks, or Nucks

i dont see any team in the East that can beat any of these teams, a lot of work for us before worrying about that though

[King Crane 289]

Man, if only the Wings cared as much about winning as we did.

eeeeeeehhh...I wouldn't. They care WAY more than you think. This is more than their job, its what they've invested their entire lives. We're just lucky enough to sit on the sidelines and enjoy.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Orca Whale's also get hunted down by predators.

Also single bullets fired from long distance by Swedish defensemen take them down

[Jedi 1,865]

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

Har har. Are you here to talk hockey, or make lame attempts at bad puns?

[stuck in socal 56]

A little rat with the heart of a tiger. I will take Pavelski anyhow anyway anyday on any team. The guy is absolutely clutch, particularly against the wings. I imagine the rat moniker comes with a certain level of respect????

Hate to say it because I don't want to give fuel to the fire, but the 4 min penalty in OT was kind of weak. 2min yea, but 4? Not unless his ear fell off.

That being said, I was somewhat surprised the wings weren't more fired up when they killed off the penalty. I expected quite a bit more energy from them at that point. In my opinion, that was the difference in the game. Wings effort was spotty at best, when they were on they obviously dictated the play, but they seemed to get tired or disinterested for long stretches. The score could have been much higher if not for Howard.

They were exhausted from killing a four minute penalty.... They unfortunately could not get the puck out of the zone...

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I don't either, but we would have to cut someone to squeeze Suter in under the cap for the 2011-2012 season. Unless I am serious missing something.

Suter is a UFA in 2012.

[King Crane 289]

You know the only thing that always kills big sharks in the wild is the Orca Whale right?

Photoshop please

Edited April 30, 2011 by ZMAN