Wings meet Preds in First Round

[JPT 26]

This series is going the distance, both are good teams but the Wings I think have a slight edge. If the Wings can take care of business in this series then they are capable of going the distance. That being said its close enough where the bounce of the puck is going to have a big say in who moves on to the 2nd round.

[GoWings! 179]

Hey guys this is my first post here although I've been reading this forum for a few months. Just wanted to say what's up to all you Wings fans and make just a few comments: First off I've been a fan since 1990 but I gotta say this year's team looks the most bipolar out of all of them and they didn't seem to have that urgency that they normally do during the regular season which was,of course,marred by injuries. I'm praying this can change because Nashville has a solid team this year and I don't feel we are deep enough to make mistakes that we can just shrug off and answer back right away like our past few teams had the ability to do. We don't have that rested Osgood ready to bail out an off his game Hasek. But it is what it is. We have a lot to prove after the past few Shark debacles but now it's ever Wings fan's favorite time of the year! So let's start anew and wake up and win 16 more before anyone else! Go Wings! One of the greatest sports franchises of all time!

[Nightfall 871]

The intangibles are going to decide this series. Who is the hungrier team? We will find out when the series is over.

If the Wings have the heart, they will find a way to win it. Its really that simple.

[jachred 1]

The intangibles are going to decide this series. Who is the hungrier team? We will find out when the series is over.

If the Wings have the heart, they will find a way to win it. Its really that simple.

I have to agree with this. If the Wings want it bad enough I think they can pull it out.

[xtrememachine1 795]

Nashville in 4. Our Defense is weak, we have forwards that turn the damn puck over all the time, along with defensive errors over and over. Oh yeah, our Powerplay is nonexistant and they happen to have the best power play at home. Did I mention the fact this team is 17-21-3 on the damn road................... Game, Set, Match. Sorry Folks.

Yes, yes, and we were 26-11 on the road last year, then lost to the Sharks 3 times in SJ. Regular season is now meaningless. Wings in 6. We have better players and better coaching. Injuries is the only thing that will knock us out in this round.

[Nightfall 871]

Yes, yes, and we were 26-11 on the road last year, then lost to the Sharks 3 times in SJ. Regular season is now meaningless. Wings in 6. We have better players and better coaching. Injuries is the only thing that will knock us out in this round.

I have to agree here.

The troubling road record and special teams are a concern, but they should not be the measuring stick for playoffs. In the playoffs, all bets are off. Heck, if we go by the regular season that much, then head to head records would mean a lot. The Yotes beat the Blackhawks in the regular season series, but I see the Hawks beating the Yotes in the first round.

Throw all the regular season stats out the door, its time for playoff hockey.

I have to agree with this. If the Wings want it bad enough I think they can pull it out.

Case in point....

Look at the Oilers back in 2006 when they were an 8 seed and went through Detroit, San Jose, and Anaheim. Heck, the top 4 seeded teams in the Western Conference went down in the first round. I firmly believe that a team that has the determination, grit, and heart will advance (with health being a major factor of course). Any of these 16 teams could win the Stanley Cup. So lets see how this all works out.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

This is the 4th time in the last 5 playoff series that we'll be starting on the road. Before that, this team started at home in every series since Colorado in 2000.

Shows you how this franchise is slipping (albeit at a slow pace), but still slipping.

If we go down in the first round, there's no doubt who should be blamed for the loss.

Edited April 9, 2012 by GMRwings1983

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

This is the 4th time in the last 5 playoff series that we'll be starting on the road. Before that, this team started at home in ever series since Colorado in 2000.

Shows you how this franchise is slipping (albeit at a slow pace), but still slipping.

If we go down in the first round, there's not doubt who should be blamed for the loss.

Yup Big E=)

[LeonardSankar 434]

This is the 4th time in the last 5 playoff series that we'll be starting on the road. Before that, this team started at home in ever series since Colorado in 2000.

Shows you how this franchise is slipping (albeit at a slow pace), but still slipping.

If we go down in the first round, there's not doubt who should be blamed for the loss.

The blame should be all on Kenny Holland as he put this team together and hasn't finished the job since June of 2008.

[joesuffP 1,746]

I think the red wings are due to flip things around and the playoffs are the perfect way to do it. Detroit had 2 or 3 bad slumps like this but when they weren't slumping they were playing great and if they play like that then we will win. This team is better than last year... At least the personelle is... Franzen will be a bulldog that will shoot from anywhere and Ericsson will be a rock.. But i sure am going to miss helm

[wings_fanatic 677]

I was thinking last night about how I wanted Babs to start the playoffs with Hank and Pavs together like we finished the regular season, but then it hit me that it would be smarter for Babs to start the playoffs with the regular lines (Fil-Z-Huds, Mule- Pavs-Bert) and see how they perform. If they are not looking good, then Babs has the wonderful option to put Pavs and Hank together during either game 1 or game 2 or whatever, and during a game that could create huge momentum for the Wings... so i guess it makes sense to do that because it gives us more options going forward for any line changes.

I say this because I read the line combos at practice today and Babs did indeed go back to the regular lines. I expect if he doesn't like what he sees, he will not hesitate to switch things up because he knows he needs his team to get at least 1 of the 2 in Nashville.

[Guest Hatethedrake!]

I was thinking last night about how I wanted Babs to start the playoffs with Hank and Pavs together like we finished the regular season, but then it hit me that it would be smarter for Babs to start the playoffs with the regular lines (Fil-Z-Huds, Mule- Pavs-Bert) and see how they perform. If they are not looking good, then Babs has the wonderful option to put Pavs and Hank together during either game 1 or game 2 or whatever, and during a game that could create huge momentum for the Wings... so i guess it makes sense to do that because it gives us more options going forward for any line changes.

I say this because I read the line combos at practice today and Babs did indeed go back to the regular lines. I expect if he doesn't like what he sees, he will not hesitate to switch things up because he knows he needs his team to get at least 1 of the 2 in Nashville.

With Nashville having the last line change, Babs will likely keep Pavs and Hank separated until Games 3 and 4 at the Joe. Weber and Suter will likely both be logging 30+ minutes each game so the challenge will be to score when they are not on the ice. Of course, if the Wings are to win this series, they will also have to score when both these guys are on the ice as well.

[rrasco 1,312]

Looks like FSD has coverage after all...

[Jedi 1,865]

My desk at work is ready for the playoffs.

[NBCnothingbutcrosby 159]

Predators don't have the offense to keep up in a 7 game series. They will slump, and Rinne won't be a god all series long. Wings in 6.

We have too much talent, and I believe we will wake up come playoff time, especially if we lose game 1. The predators have Mike Fischer, Radulov, and Hornquivst... I'm shaking.

Once we find a way to crack Rinne and their defense, it's over. GO WINGS

F*ck you Dan Cleary, don't play.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

F*ck you Dan Cleary, don't play.

Your hate for Dan Cleary is beyond bizarre. We know he is not effective. Give it a ******* rest. We know your position on him, must you go out of your way to be like "f*** Cleary" every single post?

Edited April 9, 2012 by Bring Back The Bruise Bros

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

So no one is allowed to have an opinion other than Red Wings are Gods and they will win it all? Do you honestly believe they are going to throw a switch and become the team that you, everyone and Holland believes this team is? I hope they have one of those switches, but the team that I watched since the trade deadline has shown me nothing to prove they are going to win anything. Even after they returned from injury, this team still lacked something. I really hope they show up and I hope they look into their hearts and actually play like it matters, because guess what, now it does. I hope the 2011 Red Wings show up and not the 2012 ones...

I guess I look at this way, having a positive attitude no matter what is a lot healthier way of looking at things then going in with a negative one.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

Your hate for Dan Cleary is beyond bizarre. We know he is not effective. Give it a ******* rest. We know your position on him, must you go out of your way to be like "f*** Cleary" every single post?

It's like DraperFan with Bertuzzi.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

It's like DraperFan with Bertuzzi.

Sad thing is, when Bert scored the goal in the shootout against St Louis a few games back, Draperfan was complaining all night about the team, and disappeared when Bertuzzi scored. It's like Bert kicked his puppy into the middle of the road, and it got ran over.

Same deal with NBC and Cleary, I understand that you're not gonna love all the guys on the team, but my god the guy can score a hat trick and he'll disappear until Cleary has a bad game and be like "LOL WOW HE BLOWZZZ!!! f*** CLEARY!"

[PredsFanTheBayouState 263]

did you guys know that in all 7 playoff appearances the preds have been eliminated from the playoffs on home ice

Edited April 10, 2012 by PredsFanTheBayouState

[beachwing 426]

Im in Florida, schedule says Game 1 is on CNBC....is this correct?

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

did you guys know that in all 7 playoff appearances the preds have been eliminated from the playoffs on home ice

It dawned on me today when thinking about it the last 2 times we played, we eliminated you guys on home ice. Wasn't aware it happened in all series though, hopefully for us it'll stay the course at least this year

[rick zombo 3,739]

On NHL.com, 13 people chimed in with 1st round picks. 11 picked Nashville.

www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=626836&navid=DL|NHL|home

[wings_fanatic 677]

I am REALLY looking forward to what all of these so called "professional analysists" have to say when the Wings eliminate the Preds. They will be jumping on the Red Wings bandwagon so fast it won't even be funny.

[AceInTheSleeve 97]

I am REALLY looking forward to what all of these so called "professional analysists" have to say when the Wings eliminate the Preds. They will be jumping on the Red Wings bandwagon so fast it won't even be funny.

Can't wait for this either. Even with the wings current mediocre play, you have to expect a tight series here. Nobody seems to be giving the wings a chance!