10/29 GDT - Red Wings 4 @ Capitals 2

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Was a good shoulder by Smith.

Wasnt it Smiths helmet that snapped into his nose on the hit?

[Yzerman19 334]

Just watched the game. The league really need to do something to actually use the video to overturn referee's decision. I just can't believe the glendenning penalty in the first for something that did not even exists, and it lead to the canceling of a goal. Referees were bad during the Holmstrom era, but here this is even worse!!! I'd like to see a coach challenge, like they do in the nfl!... All in all video becomes fairly useless if we can't use it to actually help making the right call on the ice. Sure you can't use it for every penalty, but every time a goal decision is pending, they should automatically use it.

Oh and is Nestrasil actually bringing anything? pains me to see him doing nothing and having a 5,5million guy benched!

[Ram 240]

Coming around on Abby deserving to be in the top 6, great start by him. What a snipe by the magic man. Great win!!!

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Nesty will be fine....I seem to remember a certain Nyquist not doing too much last season until January then he lit up the league. Not saying Nesty is going to light up the league, but lets give him some time to get acclimated to the NHL. I'd rather be paying Nesty his small contract for his production than paying someone $5.5M for he same production. Besides, Nesty is an RFA this off season, you don't want him lighting up 30 goals and then have to pay him $4M as well as Nyquist do you? I'd rather him have a learning season in the NHL and then get a modest pay increase in the off season. When Weiss returns, he is either going to bump Jurco (waiver exempt) down or Cleary, or he just may waive that NTC in order to get top playing minutes elsewhere.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

The thing about Abby in the top 6. He is good, but no doubt Datsyuk and Zetterberg make him look better. This goes to show that yes, if you put someone on their line, they will perform better. So all the guys who are maybe struggling elsewhere that we have all talked about signing or acquiring, would indeed re-discover their scoring playing with the Euro-Twins. I believe included in that would be Heatley and Iginla as well as Semin, etc...speaking of which, is Heatley hurt? I noticed he has only played in one game. Iginla is right up there in scoring on Colorado, but he cannot be enjoying being in last place... Oh well, I just hope Abby keeps this up and Franzen returns in tip top shape. That could only be a better thing for us!

[CMatt89 63]

Nesty will be fine....I seem to remember a certain Nyquist not doing too much last season until January then he lit up the league. Not saying Nesty is going to light up the league, but lets give him some time to get acclimated to the NHL. I'd rather be paying Nesty his small contract for his production than paying someone $5.5M for he same production. Besides, Nesty is an RFA this off season, you don't want him lighting up 30 goals and then have to pay him $4M as well as Nyquist do you? I'd rather him have a learning season in the NHL and then get a modest pay increase in the off season. When Weiss returns, he is either going to bump Jurco (waiver exempt) down or Cleary, or he just may waive that NTC in order to get top playing minutes elsewhere.

Nyquist lit up the league from the time he was called up until datsyuk came back towards the end of the year. I dont think that was the best comparison lol.

[krsmith17 7,191]

You cannot be seriously comparing Nestrasil to Nyquist? Really? Nestrasil is a border line NHL player while Nyquist is a future elite NHL player... Also Nyquist had 2 goals in his first game last season and 9 points in 16 games before January. So if by, "not doing too much" you meant, not being a top 5 player in the entire league like he was from January on, you're right, he didn't do much...

Edited October 30, 2014 by krsmith17

[dat's sick 1,002]

I guess when there's nothing much to complain about people will pick on a guy like Nestrasil for no reason. The guy is hardly making any mistakes on the ice. He's hard on the puck, good on the forecheck, makes great decisions defensively, stays calm under pressure.. reminds me a little bit of Sheahan who also isn't as flashy as Tatar and Nyquist but just does a lot of good things. Easy to see why Babcock has kept Nesty in the lineup.

He just needs confidence. He's had chances, I could see him really benefit from getting a goal.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I don't see Nestrasil as ever being more than a third / forth line player in this league. However, my intention was not to bash Nestrasil, but to state that he should not be compared to either Franzen or Nyquist. He's not even close to the potential of those two, in my opinion.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Yeah, it's not an anti-Nestrasil thing, but when you've got the guy compared to one of your better goal scorers on the team... I don't get going after Mule every chance possible. When he's coasting and playing below his ability, sure, but why dog him when he's playing well? The guy is making less than four million, and when you compare him to other people being paid about that much, it's worth the cold streaks he goes through. He's started the year off with five points in four games. Let it go.

[arag 308]

Wasnt it Smiths helmet that snapped into his nose on the hit?

Maybe. Smith used his shoulder to protect himself and leveled Chimera.

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2014/10/29/justin-abdelkader-leads-wings-past-capitals/18154129/?fb_action_ids=767527263300976&fb_action_types=og.comments

Capitals coach Barry Trotz was impressed with what he saw from the Red Wings.

"Detroit checks well," Trotz said. "They get a lot of back pressure. They don't make too many errors and clog up the neutral zone. They do all the hard things that you have to do. When you're chasing a game against them, it gets tough."

That's a nice quote to read.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

and this is not a bashing Nyquist thing....if you krsmith want to get technical about first season in the league, in Nyquist's first 40 games in the NHL he only had 13 points prior to him hitting on all cylinders last season, lets gice Nesty a chance to get his feet wet for a bit. Nobody is calling him the next Yzerman or even the next Nyquist (btw, calling Nyquist a future ELITE player is really pushing it, that would mean he will be up there with Crosby, Malkin and Stampkos...not happening.) And Jesusberg, regarding Mule, he has had years to get his feet wet, he is what he is and nothing better. He is not the difference in us being Cup contenders and not being Cup contenders...You let it go, he will never be that impact player that Holland was hoping for when he chose to let Hossa walk...BTW Mule had 5 points in 1 game before, hasn't changed the type of player he has turned into.

Nesty is doing just fine in his rookie campaign and does not deserve to be waived after only 9 games. It would be different if he had waiver exemptions, then yes, maybe send him back down to hone his skills some more, but no way is he bad enough to be put on waivers. Jeez, give him a chance to prove something rather than condemn him to waivers after 9 games on the 3rd and 4th lines playing with checkers...

Edited October 30, 2014 by LeftWinger

[rick zombo 3,739]

Stop calling him "Nesty" all the time. What is he, your mob buddy?

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

Just watched the game. The league really need to do something to actually use the video to overturn referee's decision. I just can't believe the glendenning penalty in the first for something that did not even exists, and it lead to the canceling of a goal. Referees were bad during the Holmstrom era, but here this is even worse!!! I'd like to see a coach challenge, like they do in the nfl!... All in all video becomes fairly useless if we can't use it to actually help making the right call on the ice. Sure you can't use it for every penalty, but every time a goal decision is pending, they should automatically use it.

The penalty was enacted before the puck was in the net. Even if the penalty could have been overturned, the goal wouldn't have counted. The play was dead when Miller touched the puck.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

stop calling him Mule, stop calling him Pav, stop calling him Z....jeez, these names are used so we don't have to type the entire name out. If you enjoy writing Nestrasil everytime you talk about him, go for it. I for one, do not care if people call him Nesty.

[e_prime 1,936]

Regarding last nights game: Looked pretty flat for most of the game. Glad to see that they overcame some horrible officiating and that Babs switched up that top line to get both Z and Dats going. Z didn't have his best game and honestly, I thought Dats looked invisible for most of it too. There's no denying that Abby has been great on that top line. If you're thinking otherwise, you're wrong. Two goals that Echolalia pointed out were not a result of shots being banked off of him by Dats.

Moving Nyquist down to the second may get a spark going for them. Ideally having a top line of Z-D-A second line of Nyquist - Weiss - Mule, and third line centered by Sheahan or Helm would be spectacular. I don't see a Sheahan or Helm centered second line being all that formidable.

And let's all be real boys and girls; Jurco, Tatar, and Nestrasil still have a lot to prove in this league. While so far they're off to a slow start in the 2014-15 campaign, you really shouldn't be all that surprised. They're young, unproven, and two of the three are really just seeing their first shot at making the dance.

So let's let them play while we wait for Mule's return and Weiss' eventual coming out party.

(being highly optimistic on that second one, but I'm not going to give up just yet.)

Edited October 30, 2014 by e_prime

[krsmith17 7,191]

Leftwinger, "if you want to get technical", Nestrasil has played 9 games in the NHL and has one assist and is a -1. After Nyquist's first 9 NHL games he had 4 assists and was a +2, and then went on to get another assist in each of his next 3 games. So no, 7 points (all assists) through 12 games, is hardly lighting the league on fire, but it is actually really good for a player just entering the league. Nyquist was also a year younger than Nestrasil when they entered the league...

Nestrasil is nowhere near the player Nyquist is, so there is no need to compare them.

Also, myself like much of the hockey world, probably use the word "elite" loosely. No he is not going to be a Crosby, Malkin, or Stamkos, but I consider elite players to be much more than the top 3 in the league. I consider Zetterberg an elite player, and yes, I do think he could one day be as good as Zetterberg. You don't have to agree, but that's the type of potential I think Nyquist has.

[wings87 1,290]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2014/10/29/justin-abdelkader-leads-wings-past-capitals/18154129/?fb_action_ids=767527263300976&fb_action_types=og.comments

That's a nice quote to read.

The Wings had a hell of a game, the checking was especially awesome to see- If only they could bring that same level of intensity to every game.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I don't see Nestrasil as ever being more than a third / forth line player in this league. However, my intention was not to bash Nestrasil, but to state that he should not be compared to either Franzen or Nyquist. He's not even close to the potential of those two, in my opinion.

Yeah, it's not an anti-Nestrasil thing, but when you've got the guy compared to one of your better goal scorers on the team... I don't get going after Mule every chance possible. When he's coasting and playing below his ability, sure, but why dog him when he's playing well? The guy is making less than four million, and when you compare him to other people being paid about that much, it's worth the cold streaks he goes through. He's started the year off with five points in four games. Let it go.

I wasn't really talking about Nestrasil being compared to Franzen, or Nyquist. Just the casual "why is Nestrasil in the lineup" comments that pop up pretty often. Or saying we should waive him, when Jurco is not impressing at all and we can send him down.

Nestrasil is very new to the NHL. If he is starting out on this level and can add a bit of confidence when it comes to his offensive game, he will be a very solid player. He's not a defensive liability at all and he seems to be just quietly doing a good job regardless of situation. I can understand why he's not impressive to a lot of people, but he's been solid and he has earned the icetime he's getting.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2014/10/29/justin-abdelkader-leads-wings-past-capitals/18154129/?fb_action_ids=767527263300976&fb_action_types=og.comments

That's a nice quote to read.

Trotz gave a lot of credit to the Wings and most of all Dats and Z. He knows them well from his time in Nashville.

[krsmith17 7,191]

And yes, Franzen is what he is, no one is expecting much more from him, but what he is, is a threat every single night. You said yourself and we all know that he is capable of scoring multiple goals any game, those are the types of players that the opposition need to match up against. No, he doesn't give it 110% every single night but you never know when is going to explode and take over a game. He is worth much more than his cap hit, and it's really time for you to realize this. You make him out to be this anchor, when he really is part of the engine.

[rick zombo 3,739]

stop calling him Mule, stop calling him Pav, stop calling him Z....jeez, these names are used so we don't have to type the entire name out. If you enjoy writing Nestrasil everytime you talk about him, go for it. I for one, do not care if people call him Nesty.

This coming from the guy who tried to get that whole "Deisel" thing going? Aka "the worst nickname ever". You're trying to hard.

Those other three guys have earned nick-names. Mule came from Yzerman himself. You are not Yzerman, and Nestrasil is no Franzen. He's slightly better than Emmerton. Emdog - another horrible moniker btw.

[krsmith17 7,191]

dat's sick, I agree that Jurco should be the first to be sent down. I'm not just looking at the fact that he is waiver exempt either. I said before this season even started that I wanted to see Jurco start the season in Grand Rapids. He is going to be a great player, but as of right now there are still a lot of holes in his game and inconsistency is an issue. I'd love to see him sent down and spend the rest of the season ripping up the minors. It would go a long way in his development in my opinion...

[dat's sick 1,002]

This coming from the guy who tried to get that whole "Deisel" thing going? Aka "the worst nickname ever". You're trying to hard.

Those other three guys have earned nick-names. Mule came from Yzerman himself. You are not Yzerman, and Nestrasil is no Franzen. He's slightly better than Emmerton. Emdog - another horrible moniker btw.

Nesty comes from Babcock himself...

But I guess nicknames = serious business.

[CMatt89 63]

Hey look on the bright side, anyone not named oulette or pulkkinen (sp?) Are really s***ting bed down in gr. Maybe the wings brass made decisions based on actual reasoning and proper evaluation