25 replies to this topic

[Sentell]

Which team would win or go further in a series Wings or Blues. Wings have better offense and D but St.Louis goaltender is a bit better. I'm sure we have all asked ourselves how blues are ahead of Detroit and other better teams but its all Hitchkok and their Goalies.
What do you guys think?

[irishock]

We have the experience factor, are 3-2 against them this season and Babcock is the only coach in the league who can say he is just as good if not better than Hitchcock.

[arag]

Blues worked hard all season long. Wings did not. Our team is more talanted and experienced than blues. If Wings work hard and play with passion, they should have a good chanse to beat the blues. Much like the " bad ass, physical Dalas" team years ago.

[MabusIncarnate]

Its really going to depend on how they handle their goaltending situation, do they start Halak in the playoffs who has proven to be very lethal in that enviornment, or do they stick with Elliot who in 4 career playoff games has a 4.14 GAA and .853 SV%?

Elliot has three straight shutouts, which pretty much means they will take him into the playoffs, but one goalie collapse can drag a whole team down in the playoffs. Time will tell but hopefully something thwarts the blues and they see a very early elimination.

[Bluenote#24]

Wings should be the clear favorite; they have more skilled forwards; more trophys, more experience and skill on the blueline; probably a wash with goaltending and coaching and finally the "Lidstrom" factor.

[b.shanafan14]

Wings should be the clear favorite; they have more skilled forwards; more trophys, more experience and skill on the blueline; probably a wash with goaltending and coaching and finally the "Lidstrom" factor.

It all has to do with the goaltenders in this situation.

I wouldn't say the Wings are the clear favorite by any means. Otherwise, your analysis had good points. The Red Wings forwards when they are healthy with some rest (like they are now) have to be in conversation with best in the league; Blues don't have much answer for Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Filppula, not to mention if Franzen starts playing like he means it. The Wings defense on paper is great, but has been prone to several game-breaking miscues; unfortunately for the Blues, most of said miscues occurred when the "Lidstrom factor" was negated by injury. You can't discount experience, especially since this is essentially the Blues first rodeo. Coaching is definitely a wash; two great ones in Babcock and the Hamburglar.

Looking at goaltending, the Blues have the clear advantage, considering both the strong play of Halak and Elliot and the injury to Howard. Will Howard be prepared after missing time? Will the defense insulate him enough for him to get his "sea legs"? Elliot is playing on fire, but Halak has been there before and excelled. The Blues pairing could easily be seen as comparable to Hasek and Osgood in 2008, with Osgood being the better goaltender all season (Elliot) while the call went to Hasek, the guy with more historical/perceived success (Halak). Either goaltender has the Blues as the envy of the league going into it, but playoffs are a whole different monster, especially with goaltenders. Some thrive when most think they wouldn't; more tend to fail when the lights get bright. A switch midstream worked for a hungry and experienced 2008 Red Wings team, it might not for this years Blues.

Edited by b.shanafan14, 28 March 2012 - 07:48 AM.

[F.Michael]

Wings should be the clear favorite; they have more skilled forwards; more trophys, more experience and skill on the blueline; probably a wash with goaltending and coaching and finally the "Lidstrom" factor.

Hmm - dunno about that.

Personally I get the feeling it'll be another early exit for the Red Wings (unless of course we get favorable calls, and both the pp/pk get red hot).

I'm of the opinion the Blues will be the Western Conference "dark horse"; a team that not many talk about, but has the potential to win the Cup...If it's not the Red Wings representing the Western Conference - then I honestly hope it's the Blues...A Blues/Bruins, or a Blues/Rangers Cup Finals is certainly possible, and would be a good series.

[AceInTheSleeve]

I'm of the opinion the Blues will be the Western Conference "dark horse"

Not sure id go so far as to call the presidents trophy front runner and #1 western seed the "dark horse", but I do agree they have the potential to win the cup. I think St. Louis is going to choke, however.

Edited by AceInTheSleeve, 28 March 2012 - 05:37 PM.

[Doc Holliday]

Hmm - dunno about that.

Personally I get the feeling it'll be another early exit for the Red Wings (unless of course we get favorable calls, and both the pp/pk get red hot).

I'm of the opinion the Blues will be the Western Conference "dark horse"; a team that not many talk about, but has the potential to win the Cup...If it's not the Red Wings representing the Western Conference - then I honestly hope it's the Blues...A Blues/Bruins, or a Blues/Rangers Cup Finals is certainly possible, and would be a good series.

How can you be a dark horse as the #1 seed?

They are in the perfect position to be upset.

[Jericho613]

First of all I would just like to say that St. Louis should be proud of their season, fantastic job to that organization. As far as playoffs are concerned, I'd say the Wings would win a series against the Blues, or go farther into the playoffs.

[F.Michael]

How can you be a dark horse as the #1 seed?

They are in the perfect position to be upset.

The Blues haven't done anything great in the playoffs in over a decade (at least)...Winning the President's Trophy, and being the #1 seed means squat...It's why I see them as the dark horse.

I'm of the opinion that teams have gotta go thru some adversity to win the Cup...So far other than having a crappy start, and getting their coach fired - I'm not convinced the Blues are the favorites...I'm thinking this year could quite possibly be the Canucks year.

[F.Michael]

Hmm - dunno about that.

Personally I get the feeling it'll be another early exit for the Red Wings (unless of course we get favorable calls, and both the pp/pk get red hot).

I'm of the opinion the Blues will be the Western Conference "dark horse"; a team that not many talk about, but has the potential to win the Cup...If it's not the Red Wings representing the Western Conference - then I honestly hope it's the Blues...A Blues/Bruins, or a Blues/Rangers Cup Finals is certainly possible, and would be a good series.

Gonna reply to my own post here due to the negs...After watching them play like crap against the BJ's tonight (poor performance on the road all season long) - how can we expect them to get outta the 1st round?

[haroldsnepsts]

It depends on which Red Wings team shows up.

[Dimaline312000]

I would hope the Wings but based on the two teams this season I'd have to give the edge to the Blues in a series between each other.

[F.Michael]

I would hope the Wings but based on the two teams this season I'd have to give the edge to the Blues in a series between each other.

Agreed.

The Wings have the experience which could be the difference - however the Blues could surprise us all.

A Blues/Canucks Western Conference showdown is quite possible.


EDIT - or for that matter the Preds could be in the mix as well.

Edited by F.Michael, 29 March 2012 - 08:26 AM.

[cprice12]

Taking it one series at at time.
Not predicting jack squat.

With that said, this is the most fundamentally sound Blues team I have ever seen...and they have turned in the best team goaltending stats in modern history and their defensive system is rock solid.

Injuries were an issue earlier in the year, but that didn't seem to slow the team down much. And barring any more injuries, they are expected to have everyone back and healthy going into the playoffs. Getting Steen back a few games ago was huge. He's such a big part of this team and has missed most of the season with a concussion.

I like their chances against anyone...especially with home ice advantage, where the Blues have been freakishly dominant.

Red Wings vs. Blues Matchup
Offense = Detroit
Defense = St. Louis
Goaltending = St. Louis
Special Teams = St. Louis
5 on 5 = Push
Playoff Experience = Detroit
Coaching = Push

Anything can happen in a 7 game series. A goalie can get red hot for a few games, steal a couple and that's enough. I'm only cautiously optimistic about the Blues because I've been let down in the past when the Blues have had good teams, but this team has the goaltending and system that those teams didn't have.

I'm just really excited that the Blues are back in the playoffs and could realistically make a run at it for the first time in a while. It's good to be back. We'll see what happens.

Edited by cprice12, 29 March 2012 - 11:24 AM.

[CrimsonFlame]

I think we should worry about the prednecks before we start looking towards the blues.

[crispychris]

We have Pavel Datsyuk, we win.

[RusDRW]

We have Pavel Datsyuk, we win.

rephrasing to make it ok. Our stars are better than yours so that we willl win

Red Wings vs. Blues Matchup
Offense = Detroit
Defense = St. Louis
Goaltending = St. Louis
Special Teams = St. Louis
5 on 5 = St. Louis
Playoff Experience = Detroit
Coaching = Push

that's incorrect

[cprice12]

that's incorrect

How so?

edit...I went back and made 5 on 5 a push... the last I heard, St. Louis led the league in 5 on 5 ratio...but Detroit is right there with them, and actually a tick ahead right now.

Edited by cprice12, 29 March 2012 - 11:35 AM.