GDT ECQF Game 3 GDT : Lightning 0 at Red Wings 3 - DET Leads series 2-1

[Echolalia 2,961]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Wings hit just as many posts as the Lightning? Helm and Zidlicky, Hedman and Johnson each hit a post.

[greenrebellion 415]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Wings hit just as many posts as the Lightning? Helm and Zidlicky, Hedman and Johnson each hit a post.

I remember Helm's, not sure about Zidlicky. But the game was close...shots were even. I don't have a source for scoring chances or zone time, but I feel they were likely pretty even as well based on my watching of the game. And the Lightning did miss at least two open nets that I can recall. Maybe three if you count the one with less than 2 minutes to go but I never saw a replay of it so not sure.

A game of inches, the game could've gone either way...but the Wings did what they had to do and if they can put this same effort through the rest of the series and Mrazek plays consistently, then I feel good about this series.

[Mckinley25 677]

I remember Helm's, not sure about Zidlicky. But the game was close...shots were even. I don't have a source for scoring chances or zone time, but I feel they were likely pretty even as well based on my watching of the game. And the Lightning did miss at least two open nets that I can recall. Maybe three if you count the one with less than 2 minutes to go but I never saw a replay of it so not sure.

A game of inches, the game could've gone either way...but the Wings did what they had to do and if they can put this same effort through the rest of the series and Mrazek plays consistently, then I feel good about this series.

I didn't see the game but the recap on NHL.com stated Zids hit a post as well.

[kliq 3,755]

While the game was MUCH closer than the score indicates, I'll be the first to admit that was by far our best game since before the deadline.

Did you just break kayfabe lol!

They played well last night, hopefully they can keep it going!

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

While the game was MUCH closer than the score indicates, I'll be the first to admit that was by far our best game since before the deadline.

Yea, can't be too positive right.

Btw the game was not really close at all. Detroit dominated possession.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

So for everybody who said Smith would choke the puck up and blow our lead, it didn't happen. What did happen is Smith contributed to offensive puck-position time with good skating, outlet passes and offensive pinches. Thatta boy Smithy!

Consistency is his problem. That's what separates good from bad players. He needs to continue to play well, not have one good night and then look like a train wreck the next.

Hopefully, being benched sent him the right message, but likely not, because the problem with Smith is mental not physical. Nobody has questioned his work ethic or determination. He just makes silly decisions sometimes, and I'm not sure if benching a player fixes that issue.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I just watched Coopers press conference. He was claiming that the game depended on a lucky bounce we got on the Datsyuk goal and they on the other side didn't get, calling it a "game of inches". If thats the message he is sending into the Bolts locker room good for us, because they will loose the series then. While we certainly had our fair share of luck yesterday, but we also outplayed and outworked them. It sounds like he is a little too sure of his team, let's hope they have to pay for it.

Ironically he said similar things last year against Montreal.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I remember Helm's, not sure about Zidlicky. But the game was close...shots were even. I don't have a source for scoring chances or zone time, but I feel they were likely pretty even as well based on my watching of the game. And the Lightning did miss at least two open nets that I can recall. Maybe three if you count the one with less than 2 minutes to go but I never saw a replay of it so not sure.

A game of inches, the game could've gone either way...but the Wings did what they had to do and if they can put this same effort through the rest of the series and Mrazek plays consistently, then I feel good about this series.

Zidlicky's post I believe came on the powerplay, a couple minutes before Hedman hit the post on the other end of the ice. Datsyuk threw the puck across the ice, and Zid got it behind him, spun around and just fired a shot that ripped off the iron.

Anyway, not to take anything away from Tampa, because they certainly had their chances, but I feel like Detroit was controlling the pace of the game until they got into trouble with penalties. And most of the penalties called against us weren't the result of Tampa pushing the play on the Wings. They were stupid offensive holding, puck-over-the-glass, idiotic unforced errors on the powerplay that result in a penalty kind of stuff. Things that can easily be avoided if the Wings play more disciplined. Take away those brain-fart penalties, and I think this game looks decidedly one-sided in score, scoring chances, possession, posts, open nets missed, inches, and whatever other metric people are using. And I believe more discipline should be the focus for game 4, and I look forward to seeing whether the Wings can deliver in that regard.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

I didn't see the game but the recap on NHL.com stated Zids hit a post as well.

He did. I watched the recap and he rang it hard off the post, it was a bullet for sure

[Internet.Unknown 422]

While the game was MUCH closer than the score indicates, I'll be the first to admit that was by far our best game since before the deadline.

#TANKIT

[chaps80 1,591]

I just watched Coopers press conference. He was claiming that the game depended on a lucky bounce we got on the Datsyuk goal and they on the other side didn't get, calling it a "game of inches". If thats the message he is sending into the Bolts locker room good for us, because they will loose the series then. While we certainly had our fair share of luck yesterday, but we also outplayed and outworked them. It sounds like he is a little too sure of his team, let's hope they have to pay for it.

Yeah, I just read some of his comments. He was really focused on that Datsyuk goal. lol

"Datsyuk's goal, he doesn't see it, hits off the back of his leg and it's an inch inside the post," Cooper said. "We had open nets that were an inch outside the post so, if you're ready for the cliché game, that's what I'm throwing at you, and we had to play from behind and they are a really good defensive team."

[joesuffP 1,746]

Wings played great, all the way down the lineup but I do agree that it was a game of inches. I never felt comfortable watching the game until Glendening scored that empty netter. That SH breakaway Mrazek saved, the 5 on 3 and a handful of missed nets. I still think the Wings were the better team and deserved to win but all the dumb penalties kept Tampa in the game

[canadian wings fan 305]

How huge was Mrazek's save on Boyle after Kronwall screwed the pooch there late in the game on the PP? That's something Jimmy lets in 9 times out of 10

[ash11 78]

Anybody have a video of when petr gets tripped and abby went after the guy

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest Playmaker]

What message do you want Cooper to send? We suck and we had no chance? People read way too much into what's said in the media. Its no wonder that coaches and athletes don't want to speak. Had the Datsyuk goal not gone in and Tampa scored first, it could have been a different game.

[amato 3,210]

Anybody have a video of when petr gets tripped and abby went after the guy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/21/red-wings-abdelkader-says-trip-on-mrazek-was-a-dirty-play/

Hopefully Paquette has to answer for that. I know Abby would fight him but I don't know since he's just coming off his hand injury.

Maybe smith or someone will make him pay.

Edit: disclaimer, I don't know if that's the full video or not.. my work internet has restricted access and apparently hockey videos are off limits

Edited April 22, 2015 by amato

[canadian wings fan 305]

I don't feel like starting a new topic, does anybody have any idea what the start time of game 5 might be?
Pondering going into work or not...

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

How huge was Mrazek's save on Boyle after Kronwall screwed the pooch there late in the game on the PP? That's something Jimmy lets in 9 times out of 10

Huge save. Kronwall is the pooch, sadly. Glad Mrazek didn't let Boyle beat him again like he did in game 1.

[rick zombo 3,739]

What message do you want Cooper to send? We suck and we had no chance? People read way too much into what's said in the media. Its no wonder that coaches and athletes don't want to speak. Had the Datsyuk goal not gone in and Tampa scored first, it could have been a different game.

Look no further than what Babcock said after Game 2. Tampa had at least three pucks end up on their stick for easy goals. Did he complain about lucky bounces? Nope.

What he said was "we played well, made some awful mistakes but we'll clean those up here for Game 3"

He also said "we need more compete out of a bunch of our players"

No team has ever won a playoff series without getting bounces. Good ones happen randomly to teams all the time, and so do bad ones.

I didn't actually see the Cooper scrum but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that he probably should be asking for more out of some of his players now that he's down 2-1 rather than leaving the fate of his Lighting in the hands of puck luck.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

@RedWingsFeed: The Red Wings arent better than the Lightning, but that doesnt mean they cant win http://t.co/XcWQjSHH0yvia @michaelflorek #RedWings

No, it's still winning, thanks. But let's take it one game at a time...

[amato 3,210]

I don't feel like starting a new topic, does anybody have any idea what the start time of game 5 might be?

Pondering going into work or not...

Still has not been decided. I'd guess another mid afternoon game since it's in Tampa on a Saturday again.

Last Saturday was 3pm, so I'd say probably around there..?

I'm sure we'll know by the game tomorrow.

[rick zombo 3,739]

@RedWingsFeed: The Red Wings arent better than the Lightning, but that doesnt mean they cant win http://t.co/XcWQjSHH0yvia @michaelflorek #RedWings

No, it's still winning, thanks. But let's take it one game at a time...

What a pile of sheeeite. Last time I checked, the goalie was part of the team. Basically, by this logic, Montreal are a lottery pick team. Except for that Price guy helping them out.

Edited April 22, 2015 by rick zombo

[amato 3,210]

@RedWingsFeed: The Red Wings arent better than the Lightning, but that doesnt mean they cant win http://t.co/XcWQjSHH0yvia @michaelflorek #RedWings

No, it's still winning, thanks. But let's take it one game at a time...

Apparently they did not watch game three..?

I don't care what the fancy stats say, detroit was clearly the better team in that game.

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Agree. I think Mrazek is locking down the starter role right now moving forward, and I think it's very possible that Howard could get moved this summer. But there's no bad guys here. Howard isn't a terrible goalie. He's not an *******. We're just lucky to have a guy like Mrazek coming up who's pretty damn good, and he's making the most of this huge opportunity. It's a rough deal for Howard. I'm happy for Mrazek, I think he's proving why he's the future starter for this team. But I genuinely feel bad for Howard. Again, he's a good goalie who's had some tough luck. If we move him, I wish him all the best.

realgud

Yea, can't be too positive right.

Btw the game was not really close at all. Detroit dominated possession.

it was only close because they had so many pps they were trash on even strength(the lightning)

[kipwinger 8,520]

I don't see Howard getting moved. One, because nobody really needs a goalie of Howard's caliber all that bad. Two, Ken Holland (and Mike Babcock's) M.O. is to keep guys around for "competition". Remember two years ago when we had more players than roster spots and cap money? That would have been an ideal time to waive/trade someone and it didn't happen. As long as Mrazek is cheap (and he will be for a little while), they'll keep Jimbo around.