149 replies to this topic

[Icesurfer]

What some fans don't seem to understand is that the playoffs are a war of attrition. Which team is better, which team has a better PP or PK, which team has a better goal differential, etc..... you can take all the stats and throw them out the window.... they don't mean a darn thing. IMHO, the most important aspects/elements of a Stanley Cup Champ are that they have the strongest will and determination, they have the capability of completely shutting down the opposition (that boils down to defense and goaltending as well as forwards who can play good defense), and finally the team that is usually the healthiest overall. Now if you take those elements and not only apply them to the team as a whole but apply them to each individual on the team you can see where you stand.

Every year the "war of attrition" has been occurring earlier and earlier.... even before the playoffs start. Why? Because the teams are so close and the battle for each single point is so intense and one single point could make all the difference.

The ONLY thing we know for certain is that if your team finishes as a higher seed your chances improve. That is really the only thing we know at this point. Other than that is it a cr@p shoot.... plain and simple. I often talk about the "road to the cup". If you look back over the last few years the Stanley Cup champ had an "easy" road..... including the Wings in 2008. With the Wings being in the West and the possibility of long travel each round it is paramount that they finish as a top three seed..... and not just because they play better at home than on the road but because of that long travel and the extra trip if they don't have home ice advantage in a 7 game series. So besides having the three important elements I have listed above the Wings are one of the teams that have to deal with something else.

Now, I am not rooting for St. Louis but I am impressed with the fact that they are exhibiting high marks for those 3 important elements.

Edited by Icesurfer, 05 March 2012 - 12:04 AM.

[Jeff6851]

You can have all the hunger in the world but if you don't have elite talent you won't win the Cup. St Louis's only elite talent is goaltending

[Cajanek_Spielmacher]

And here I am living in St Louis. Blues fans act like they've been up there with the elite for years and have been battling for the division and have been making the playoffs for years.

Why you be lying! I have been a fan since 67/68 and have yet to meet anyone who acts like they have had an elite team for years. I would say that most Blues fans are paranoid and still think that something will happen to destroy what they have built this year. If you care to discuss this in person I am down for a beer anytime at PLAGERS. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER the Redwings after their good years in the 60's and early 70's but also their 20+ years of crap hockey. So forgive our fanbase for being excited by our best team since 2000.

[Jeff6851]

Why you be lying! I have been a fan since 67/68 and have yet to meet anyone who acts like they have had an elite team for years. I would say that most Blues fans are paranoid and still think that something will happen to destroy what they have built this year. If you care to discuss this in person I am down for a beer anytime at PLAGERS. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER the Redwings after their good years in the 60's and early 70's but also their 20+ years of crap hockey. So forgive our fanbase for being excited by our best team since 2000.

It's the area I'm from. Multiple people around me know nothing about sports, they only know St Louis teams and anything I say about St Louis fans is mostly about them and definitely does not represent the entire fansbase

[jollymania]

if the playoffs ended right now and dallas et st . louis that would just be a meatgrinder of epic proportions, either team that came out of that series would be battered.

[Icesurfer]

You can have all the hunger in the world but if you don't have elite talent you won't win the Cup. St Louis's only elite talent is goaltending

No one is saying St. Louis is going to win the cup. What I am saying is St. Louis is in a good position to win the division which will decrease the Wings' chances of winning the cup dramatically. At least St. Louis will give their opposition in the playoffs a very very difficult time and probably go the distance in a series. Although, I wouldn't mind the Wings playing St. Louis in the playoffs.... at least the travel is less and it would be a very exciting series.

You can also have all the elite talent in the world and get eliminated by the second round in the playoffs. The Wings of the last two years are a prime example. They were beaten, battered and exhausted and the Sharks were licking their chops. Hence, the three elements and in case of the Wings it is FOUR elements.... number four is travel.... which is why it is a cr@p shoot.

[stinky fish taco]

it's going to be very, very difficult for detroit to beat st. louis for 1st in the central.

the blues don't seem to take nights off.

the wings appear to take nights off quite frequently, and are just a very average team without datsyuk.

st. louis still has a huge road trip left, but there's also a lot of weaker opponents in there. the time for the blues to potentially drop behind the wings was during their recent road trip, and they ended up going 5-1.

[RedWingsExpert1988]

I think we are very fortunate to have one of the best goalie duos in the NHL right now, unfortunately so does St. Louis. Halak has been flat out dominant in the last few weeks, and it's intimidating. I wouldn't go as far to say we are pretty much out of it if we don't win the division because we continue to be among the elite teams in hockey and can stand up against anyone.

I don't really understand why at this point, sitting at the top of the standings for weeks, Howard being a potential Vezina candidate and breaking an NHL record for consecutive home wins, there would be any doubt that we can get through any opponent in the playoffs and win the cup this year. What else do they need to prove?

and i don't understand why, when we broke the record of 62 wins in a season, we didn't win the cup that year?

[Doc Holliday]

it's going to be very, very difficult for detroit to beat st. louis for 1st in the central.

the blues don't seem to take nights off.

the wings appear to take nights off quite frequently, and are just a very average team without datsyuk.

st. louis still has a huge road trip left, but there's also a lot of weaker opponents in there. the time for the blues to potentially drop behind the wings was during their recent road trip, and they ended up going 5-1.

Strangely enough, the Blues have had to be dominant to even be in the discussion.

Says a lot about how well the Wings are playing all things considered.

[Crashnburnluder]

Both teams, will lose games and slip up. It will just come down to who does it more. I'm going to assume we won't even have an idea about where the division might be until another 10-15 games obviously and I wouldn't be surprised if the Preds take a shot at the division too.

I will admit we are in a tough spot with our injuries. The good thing is lids shouldn't miss more then one more
Game. Howard hopefully won't miss more the. 1 or 2 and I'm hoping for the same with Datsyuk. I also believe currently have a d of

Lids - white
Kronwall - Staurt
Smith - Quincey

Will be a great D to finish out the season and the best. Lineup we could possibly put on the ice..

[puckbags]

Both teams, will lose games and slip up. It will just come down to who does it more. I'm going to assume we won't even have an idea about where the division might be until another 10-15 games obviously and I wouldn't be surprised if the Preds take a shot at the division too.

I will admit we are in a tough spot with our injuries. The good thing is lids shouldn't miss more then one more
Game. Howard hopefully won't miss more the. 1 or 2 and I'm hoping for the same with Datsyuk. I also believe currently have a d of

Lids - white
Kronwall - Staurt
Smith - Quincey

Will be a great D to finish out the season and the best. Lineup we could possibly put on the ice..

I have to agree, Kindl and Ericsson (when healthy) will be in the press box watching come playoff time. Not a bad problem to have though. Smith is too good to be not playing at this point.

[sibiriak]

As things stand now, poor 4th place Detroit would face Nashville in the first round, while the mighty St.Louis would have to play the Sharks. You know, I think I prefer this to being in 1st. (The Sharks have 2 games in hand on Dallas and are very likely two make up the 2 pts they need.)

Edited by sibiriak, 05 March 2012 - 04:36 PM.

[SouthernWingsFan]

St. Louis has just finished a long 6 game road trip (5 out west) and won FIVE of them. Needless to say the Blues are hot and playing very well on the road. First time since February 2009 that they had won 4 in a row on the road.

The Wings are not playing well on the road and they have 8 games left on the road. Blues have 9 games left on the road. Who has the advantage now?

So for those who thought the Wings were going to win the division because their schedule is easier..... think again. IMHO, the Blues have the advantage simply because Detroit is hurting and still have not corrected the problems on the road.

Detroit's season is over, IMHO, if they don't win the division. The Wings' trip out West coming up next week may be the turning point.... one way or the other... although the game against the Blues in St. Louis on April 4th will probably determine who wins the divsion and each team has won outright their home games against each other this year.

You can spin things any way you'd like on how we are screwed (and conversly people can spin things the way the want to say we will win), the injuries lately stink but to say they are done with 15+ games left when both teams are right on each other in the standings is absurd, in addition to pretty much no playoff series these days being a guaranteed out regardless of if it is 1-8 or 4-5 matchup. (EDIT: And to be honest even with all the injuries lately they haven't been playing all that bad)

Where were you when the Wings were barely losing and the Blues hit a brief snag a few weeks ago? Wings were probably in the drivers seat then (Yes I get that a season isn't 60 games - my point is all teams have bumps in the road, etc.). Were the Blues in absolute deep trouble trouble then?

I'd rather the Wings win the division obviously but I'm still likely feel good about their chances for a deep playoff run (assuming getting back to full health) regardless of if they were 1st/2nd or 4th, given how they've been dominant most of mid-season and with no series or matchup being a guarantee.

Neither team is a slam dunk, yet, to win the division and it likely won't be that way until the last few games of the season. Again you can spin things all you want with how we are in trouble beyond repair but you don 't know that with plenty of season left to be played for. I certainly don't know that. Nobody in here does.

Edited by SouthernWingsFan, 05 March 2012 - 09:50 PM.

[Icesurfer]

The Blues look unbeatable. I think I changed my mind about wanting the Wings to face them in playoffs.... LOL.

[RedWingsRox]

Oh my, San Jose is sinking real fast.

Not liking 4th place because we may face Nashville in 1st round

[Crymson]

As things stand now, poor 4th place Detroit would face Nashville in the first round, while the mighty St.Louis would have to play the Sharks. You know, I think I prefer this to being in 1st. (The Sharks have 2 games in hand on Dallas and are very likely two make up the 2 pts they need.)

L.A. and Phoenix are directly on the tail of the Sharks, and L.A. seems poised to make a jump after acquiring Carter.

[GMRwings1983]

Why are people afraid of playing Nashville in the first round? If we can't beat them, then who are we kidding about a possible Cup run?

I'd rather play them over Chicago or San Jose.

[Red Wings Addict]

The Blues look unbeatable. I think I changed my mind about wanting the Wings to face them in playoffs.... LOL.

Well if it happens then it happens and I believe the Wings could come out on top but in the aspirations for a long cup run I probably wouldn't want the Blues in the first round. Ideally, that is. They are young and running on piss and vinegar. Beyond the first round though is fine with me.

Why are people afraid of playing Nashville in the first round? If we can't beat them, then who are we kidding about a possible Cup run?

I'd rather play them over Chicago or San Jose.

Chicago is a far more ideal first round opponent. It's the San Joses, St. Louises and the old Anaheims that aren't so ideal early in the playoffs.

[RedWingsRox]

Why are people afraid of playing Nashville in the first round? If we can't beat them, then who are we kidding about a possible Cup run?

I'd rather play them over Chicago or San Jose.

I just think that Nashville is a pretty physical team and even though I think Det would win, not sure you want to get out of 1st round battered and injured to face next opponent. The 4 rounds is a game of attrition to see how many healthy players you have left at the SCF. Look at how banged up we are now, looks like we have a hard time taking Columbus into overtime.

[puckbags]

Why are people afraid of playing Nashville in the first round? If we can't beat them, then who are we kidding about a possible Cup run?

I'd rather play them over Chicago or San Jose.

I agree, with our full squad healthy and working hard we shouldn't be scared of anyone, especially Nashville.

I just think that Nashville is a pretty physical team and even though I think Det would win, not sure you want to get out of 1st round battered and injured to face next opponent. The 4 rounds is a game of attrition to see how many healthy players you have left at the SCF. Look at how banged up we are now, looks like we have a hard time taking Columbus into overtime.

In the passed 20 years we have played lots of physical teams. Cue the cliche here but if we are on our game no one can beat us physical or not. If we are moving the puck well it doesnt matter how physical teams try to play. If anything I think we force teams to play less physical when we are on our game because teams know we aren't going to get into the stupid s*** and if they want to put the Wings on the power play all night it will come back to hurt them.