gdt Post-GDT ECQF Game 1: Red Wings 3, Lightning 2 (DET leads, 1-0)

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Watching that Glendening goal on repeat. The quote "Hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard" basically describes Glenny's success thus far

Hey it's Herb Brooks

[lwing 68]

"It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game"

Yea, yea, that old line is supposed to be about sportsmanship, but maybe it can apply to hustle too. That was the most frustrating win I ever saw. A few players really showed up, but there is nothing to be proud of here as a team and if something doesn't change summer will be here very soon and Babcock will tell himself he can easily find a more willing team to coach.

[xtrememachine1 795]

Great win for the Wings last night. Mrazek is pretty much going to be our starter for the rest of the series unless he completely falls apart. "Our 23 year old rookie goalie had 44 saves in his first NHL playoff game and won" are words I thought I'd never say. I know a lot of people are freaking out about the lopsided shot totals, but isn't it nice to be on this side of it for once. I mean, over the years, how many times have we seen the Wings dominate, completely out shoot the opposition by a wide margin and lose the game? This kind of loss puts the Lightning in a tough spot now. They did pretty much everything right and still lost. What adjustments do they make for the next game? Uhh score more goals? Not really a strategy. They're probably just going to come out the same way they did last night and hope its good enough this time around. The Wings on the other hand have an opportunity to adjust. Adjust strategies, lines, personnel.

Datsyuk was his usual self. You knew Helm would be a force in the postseason like he's always been. Luke Glendening reminded me of Yzerman in this game. Hardworking, never give up, score the big goal. In those final 12.8 seconds, he lost the critical face off in his own end, but then blocked the shot and kicked the puck out of the zone with his skate, then blocked any easy re-entry into the zone. If everyone plays like that, we'll win this series, hands down.

[Fonzarelli 73]

"It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game"

Yea, yea, that old line is supposed to be about sportsmanship, but maybe it can apply to hustle too. That was the most frustrating win I ever saw. A few players really showed up, but there is nothing to be proud of here as a team and if something doesn't change summer will be here very soon and Babcock will tell himself he can easily find a more willing team to coach.

i agree 100 %. Sheahan's line was atrocious. where was Nyquist all night? When it comes to the playoffs, he's Franzen #2, no where to be seen. There must be a better alternative to Anderson. Third line, really? The stupidity of the penalties is outrageous. All year, the same thing - too many men, interference, hooking..on and on. The Wings were one of the highest penalized teams this year. Fix it or play golf really early.

[matt198913 932]

Does anyone have the gif of Babcock applauding the officials last night? That was gold

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

He definitely shouldn't split them up. I'd rather have one amazing line versus 2 mediocre lines. Don't call me buddy. Thanks chief.

why exactly should he not split them up then? It would only help our offense if Z can get going

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

We should consider splitting hank and pav ... Magic man will always do his thing like mrazekfanboy said we gotta get zetterberg going but more importantly we need Tatar and nyquist to wake up if we gonna beat tb

Our young guns need to step it up ... Sheahan needs to play better and jurco needs to find a way to get some points , he's got to much talent to go so many games without getting anything

If abs doesn't return ...

Helm datsyuk jurco

Tatar zetterberg pulkkinen

Nyquist sheahan Ferraro

Miller glendening Andersson

Jurco and helm have speed and can forecheck so I think they'd play good with pav ... Give 2 young scorers with the captain

Nyquist and sheahan together against tb's bottom lines and d pairs might help get eachother going and Ferraro has speed and had 27 goals with Grand Rapids so that 3rd line might have the ability to do some damage

And the 4th line ... Well let's hope glendening keeps it going ... I'd love more nasty on the 4th but it's what we got

Edited April 17, 2015 by nyqvististhefuture

[WingedWheel91 271]

Although logic suggests Abdelkader is not going to play tomorrow, I still have some hope...

Our lines should be:

TATAR - DATSYUK - HELM

ABDELKADER - ZETTERBERG - NYQUIST

JURCO - SHEAHAN - GLENDENNING

MILLER - ANDERSON/WEISS - FERRARO

PROS:

TATAR PLAYS BETTER WITH DATSUK (RATHER THAN SHEAHAN)

NYQUIST PLAYS BETTER WITH ZETTERBERG (RATHER THAN SHEAHAN)

ABDELKADER PLAYS BETTER WITH ZETTERBERG (RATHER THAN SOMEONE ELSE)

SHEAHAN PLAYS BETTER AS A 3RD LINER (THAN A 2ND)

CONS

ZETTERBERG PLAYS BETTER WITH DATSYUK

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Remember all those times in 2003 and 2006 playoffs when we badly out-shot the opposition and lost games? We are on the opposite side this time.

I remember when the caps and pens also out-shot Montreal by double every game in 2010 and Halak stole two series in a row. To say we don't have a chance because of the way we played is outright false. Not to mention Tampa the entire 3rd period was on PP's.

[Ekmanc 586]

We definitely have a chance, bigger chance now than yesterday in fact...

But we still have to play a lot better and start putting some pressure on Tampa if we wanna win this series.

[wings4thecup06 504]

So good to wake up this morning knowing we've nullified Tampa's home ice advantage and are up 1-0. As lots of others have said, the team as a whole needs to play a lot better. But, I thought the D was strong, and Mrazek was awesome, so poised and composed, didn't get rattled, exactly what I expected him to do.

Personally, I think the problem playing Nyquist with Tatar in the playoffs is that their games are too similar, and having 2 undersized guys on the same line is a problem at this time of year. I thought they played better in the 3rd when Babs swapped Jurco with Nyquist. Then you've got Sheahan's size and hands, Tatar's speed, and Jurco's speed and ability to crash and bang. There was a reason why these 3 played so well together last year, I've been surprised that they've hardly been together this year. Putting them back together would hopefully get the 2nd line going, which we need.

Keep Dats and Z together for now. They were our best line and besides some shifts from the 4th line, were the only group of guys able to sustain zone time in the Tampa end. We were on our heels and playing without the puck for most of the night. Splitting them up now makes no sense. Even if Abby is good to go, I'd probably keep Helm with them. his speed brings such a good dynamic.

Then you could slot Abby down with Nyquist, and maybe Weiss? And I'd keep the 4th line as it is. Ferraro plays physical and is fast. Those guys aren't counted on to score, and they played an excellent shut down role in game 1, so why change it?

Marchenko was good too. No real reason to bring Smith back in at this point is there?

If we can win tomorrow, then maybe we'll start to get in Tampa's heads a little. Swept last year by Montreal in the first round, what happens if they go down 2-0 and then have to hit the road?

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

Except for Bishop's bed pooping, I can't see Tampa playing any better than they did tonight. Detroit on the other hand. Plenty of room for improvement. Need more out of Nyquist, Tatar, and Sheahan, although it must have been tough for them with all the penalties.

If Mrazek can stay dialled in, this series could be a nightmare for the Bolts.

This exact fact could be Tampas psychological poison. They outplayed us in every department (except goaltending) and still lost. Watch out if we score the first goal tomorrow. I bet you will almost see the little thought bubbles reading "Oh no, not again" popping above their heads.

A few more positives : Bishop has a huge game tomorrow. He was suspected to be weak because of his playoff performances in the minors and was. The next guy who has to prove his mental toughness. Granted, it was not an easy game for him, but if he continues to give up weak goals Tampa is in real trouble.

On the other hand our greatest weakness during the last month, the atrocious PK and goaltending, has been great last night so that should give the Wings some confidence. And Zetterberg had an awful game by his standards. We all know what that means.

Regarding our second line : I'm not sure what the coaching orders were. Stamkos was nearly invisible during the game, so I don't consider the second line a failure. If they are able to hold Stamkos at the points total that he has now I don't mind them not scoring.

Edited April 17, 2015 by derblaueClaus

[Wing-in-avs-town 123]

Anybody here actually still doubting mrazek??? ... We have a future star goalie on our hands

I hope so!

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Why keep Z on Pavs Wings, Abby plays good with anybody Z can't use Datsyuk as his crutch forever I think we may see these lines when Abby comes back.

Tatar Datsyuk Helm

Abby Z Nyquist

Andy Sheahan Jurco

Miller Glenny Ferraro

I want the second to be Z Sheahan Abby and third to be Weiss Glenny Nyquist

Fourth would then have to be Miller Andy Ferraro which I think could work.

[gcom007 1,465]

And Zetterberg had an awful game by his standards. We all know what that means.

I was thinking the same thing. Could be a huge factor in going up 2-0.

Edited April 17, 2015 by gcom007

[8 Legged RedWing 367]

I'm sure it's been said but we probably can't play much worse besides for finishing and they definitely can't play better. That should bode well for game two but we're going to need the tats, tinky, Gus lime to show up badly. They looked lost last night.

[vladdy16 2,154]

So this is what having your goaltender commit highway robbery feels like. I could get used to this.

Bolts played a great game. Do they have more to bring to the table?

Wings played a mediocre game. We all know they can play so much better. The question is will they?

Bolts meet or exceed our speed, which Detroit isn't used to. Wings have to check, check, check, check, check. It simply cannot be overstated. Backcheck, forecheck, and everything in between. They also need to start throwing some of those good open-ice hits Tampa was so free with.

[wings7 62]

Yeah great idea.

Put Tatar on the top line where he should be. You know, because of how well he's played in the last month...

[Wing-in-avs-town 123]

PK looked good, mainly because of Mrazek. Goal tender needs to be your best penalty killer, and he was. But, we are playing with fire if we give them 7 power plays again. Tampa has way too much offensive talent to think they will go " O-fer" again.

[amato 3,210]

Wasn't sure where to post practice updates.. but it sounds like Abby is progressing toward playing but probably not until at least game 3..

@AnsarKhanMLive: Abdelkader skating again today in a gray non-contact jersey."

"@AnsarKhanMLive: Lines same as Game 1

Helm-Datsyuk-Zetterberg

Nyquist-Sheahan-Tatar

Weiss-Andersson-Jurco

Miller-Glendening-Ferraro"

"@AnsarKhanMLive: Abdelkader and Pulkkinen rotating in. Cleary is not skating."

Defensive pairings also the same

Edited April 17, 2015 by amato

[joesuffP 1,746]

Penalty calls were ridiculous, especially in the third.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Know what one of the great benefits of winning last night was?

Enjoying the perils of all the other teams tonight!

[ami 273]

Penalty calls were ridiculous, especially in the third.

Rooney is a *****, has always been.

event when home team were getting all possible and often impossible calls, home crowd was still chanting loud 'refs you suck' - that tells a lot about reffing

[Guest Playmaker]

I think that was Red Wings suck, not refs you suck. Apparently the didn't learn from Chicago, that it's Dee Troit sucks.

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Yeah great idea.

Put Tatar on the top line where he should be. You know, because of how well he's played in the last month...

I guess it's a bad idea to put your leading goalscorer with your best playmaker.. And they have good chemistry together why wouldn't you put him on the top line lol he'll be there once Abby returns so why am I even having this conversation.