GDT 12/3 GDT : Arizona Coyotes at Red Wings, 7:30 EST

[amato 3,210]

Great game.

-scored a lot.

-having two good goalies is awesome.

-Smith kicked some ass.

-We didn't blow a lead! (Regulation win, whaaaat??)

Lots to like about this game.. Marchenko looked good too imo. He pinches in well, something a lot of young defencemen seem to struggle with. He may need a speedy partner to make up for when he gets burned but I'm pretty happy with his progress so far.

LGW

[RyanBarnes! 293]

Nice to see Smith stand up for himself.

[e_prime 1,936]

I did not get a chance to watch the game last night except for the last few minutes of the third.

Looks like we had a pretty good game despite losing a couple forwards.

I am aware of Drew Miller's status insomuch that I heard he went out of the game early, but don't worry, I'm holding it together.

...and holy s***. Actually went to hockeyfights to see the Smith/Chippy fight. As Mickey said, that's as good a fight as I've seen with someone wearing a Wings jersey in years. Early right tagged Chipchura nicely. Chipchura, the obviously better fighter, got a few in on Riley's brother, then a couple sneaky rights underneath from Brendan. Wild right that misses from Smith. They both go down.

Two consecutive games with fights... who is this team?

[e_prime 1,936]

It's still super tight in the standings, even after the 9 game point streak. If the teams below the Wings win their games in hand that would put us in the second wildcard spot, and only 2 points ahead of 9th place.

Yeah. Assuming the teams don't win the games they still have yet to play. Wings played 26 games and hence hold the lead in standings. Most other teams right below us have only played 23-24 games. But the Wings have done what they needed to do so far , just gotta hope the others lose their games.

...but most importantly, we need to keep doing what we've been doing and racking up points. A few less, OT games with Divisional opponents would be swell.

[e_prime 1,936]

My 'brand' of hockey...Goals, physical, and a few scraps...What's not to like?

Exactly. ...and like you said, "if you've got an issue with the hit. Don't look to the refs."

Blash has pretty much given the green light to drop 'em as well. Which is nice.

It wasn't a bad time to have a fight either.

After a pretty physical 1st period with Pulkkinen and Miller taken out of play by hard, possibly questionable hits (hear the Miller hit might have been a bit high, haven't seen the video) it's good to see that a Wings player was like, "Nuh-uh. I'm not letting that one go. You're not just going to take the physical play to us without an answer."

It was at the end of the period, Chipchura lays a solid check that most times would have been shrugged off by a Wings player, the physical tone would carry on into the second, and Phoenix would continue to carry the physical play throughout the game.

Except Smith didn't like it. Took exception, laid in with crosscheck that unfortunately earned him the extra two, but had a nice tussle with a much more practiced fighter than himself. The fight and ensuing penalty wasn't untimely and didn't cost us a goal.

I see Brendan got 19:02 worth of icetime... how was Smith's game? Still paired with Marchenko on the third?

Smitty on his fight: http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/12/detroit_red_wings_brendan_smit.html#incart_river_index

Edited December 4, 2015 by e_prime

[barabbas16 499]

Have an issue with a hit - take it up with the guy who just nailed you.

I'm tired of players looking at the refs, and expecting them to make a call.

I suppose we'll give Drew Miller a pass on that one, though.

[The Datsyukian Deke 127]

Truth be told I felt the hit on Miller was clean - just unfortunate that Miller got his noggin rocked.

As for the hit on Smith - well - he was up against the glass with his back exposed, and Chipchura nailed him right between the numbers...I was under the impression that the league frowned upon those types of hits, and one could argue that the refs could've called a 'boarding' penalty, but instead Smith took it upon himself, and kudos to him for doing so.

Yup, I'd take those 2 minutes every game.

.....

My main point about his game...thank you, coaches challenge, to take back a soft goal Jimmy let in! Who knows how this game would've developed..

[Jacksoni 418]

Better game than the one before. I'll take it and pat the boys on the back.

Damn them Coyotes play hard and ugly. It's obvious they don't respect the Wings physicality one bit. Gordie Howe & company must shudder at how soft this team is compared to them. Different-era reasoning isn't enough, they are soft, the league knows it, and treat them accordingly. With pain.

Anyone have any updates on midget cannon Pulkky and Miller? Couldn't find anything on the severity of their injuries.

I guess Krsmith17 likes this scenario as it forces AHL-Jurco in the lineup by default unless both forwards return for tomorrow.

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

I for one have been critical of this teams sloppy play at times, and much of that is on Blashill - however I do like the fact that he made the public statement that he doesn't mind seeing the players standing up for themselves, or a teammate.

Babs always came across as the type that didn't want the players to drop their gloves - which makes sense seeing how he treated guys like Commodore, and Tootoo.

I remember on several occasions when we'd sign a guy that could drop the gloves (Tootoo, Comodore) Babs would seem to commit to some value of having this type of player on the team by stating his usual term of ..... "someone to keep the flies away". Almost like clockwork, that said player would play game 1 of the regular season and get into a fight (of course...right??). As Wings fans we'd be pumped that we have a player who will stand up and throw down....then all of a sudden, that player would play less and less and eventually not get any ice time. I never understood this. Why'd Babs seem to support this type of player/grit signing (he and Kenny assuredly conferred on player acquisition) then when they played like they've ALWAYS played, he'd rarely use them. People have always claimed that some of these guys got into Babs "dog house", but it seemed like more of a pattern and bias against their style of play. I mean, part of Tootoo's value is his toughness...not all, but if you were going for a pure point producer there were other options (in this particular case, especially considering some perceived off-ice baggage that Tootoo carried - Not my opinion, but he does come with a stigma of some things that have happened in his past). Just never got that about Babs.

[marcaractac 3,962]

Truth be told I felt the hit on Miller was clean - just unfortunate that Miller got his noggin rocked.

As for the hit on Smith - well - he was up against the glass with his back exposed, and Chipchura nailed him right between the numbers...I was under the impression that the league frowned upon those types of hits, and one could argue that the refs could've called a 'boarding' penalty, but instead Smith took it upon himself, and kudos to him for doing so.

While the hit was definitely clean according to the rules, players just have to know when to let up on a big hit. That was one of those times. The hit on Pulk was in the numbers, and Miller was in a vulnerable position right from the get go. There is almost zero respect in the game these days.

[kickazz 5,459]

Meh I blame the shoulder pads more than the players commiting the hit.

Those things are hard. Mickey eluded to it during the game as well.

[barabbas16 499]

I think the hit on Miller used to be clean. I'm not so sure that's true anymore. I don't think there is much of an argument that the head wasn't a principal point of contact (it clearly was) and Miller didn't appear to make any sudden movement that put his head into the hit at the last second. I think the onus is now (supposed to be) on the hitter to find a way to make that hit without significant head contact. The guy could have done something to avoid hitting the head and he chose not to.

In any case, I was moreso saying that we can give Miller a pass on not 'taking it up with the guy who just nailed him,' you know, since he didn't seem quite right at the time.

[Krayzie_Bone 58]

I hate to be a downer but all the tv guys are acting like the wings are all of the sudden playing great. Beating teams like arizona and buffalo really mean nothing. Not to mention blowing that buffalo lead and taking every game lately to OT. The D on this team is a joke. People carve right to the net like a hot knife through butter with everyone making bad plays. Kronwall is even letting guys walk right past him lately.

[marcaractac 3,962]

I hate to be a downer but all the tv guys are acting like the wings are all of the sudden playing great. Beating teams like arizona and buffalo really mean nothing. Not to mention blowing that buffalo lead and taking every game lately to OT. The D on this team is a joke. People carve right to the net like a hot knife through butter with everyone making bad plays. Kronwall is even letting guys walk right past him lately.

The team has shown to step it up against the tougher teams, so I'm not worried. While they are far from perfect, there has been slow but steady improvement all season so far.

[kickazz 5,459]

I hate to be a downer but all the tv guys are acting like the wings are all of the sudden playing great. Beating teams like arizona and buffalo really mean nothing. Not to mention blowing that buffalo lead and taking every game lately to OT. The D on this team is a joke. People carve right to the net like a hot knife through butter with everyone making bad plays. Kronwall is even letting guys walk right past him lately.

They mean 4 points in a tight conference. Which actually means a lot.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I hate to be a downer but all the tv guys are acting like the wings are all of the sudden playing great. Beating teams like arizona and buffalo really mean nothing. Not to mention blowing that buffalo lead and taking every game lately to OT. The D on this team is a joke. People carve right to the net like a hot knife through butter with everyone making bad plays. Kronwall is even letting guys walk right past him lately.

The Wings also beat teams like St Louis and LA, and got three out of four points against the Caps. And Arizona isn't exactly a bottom-feeder either. Even after losing to us they're still in a playoff spot. Edited December 4, 2015 by Echolalia

[barabbas16 499]

I must respectfully disagree with you here concerning the hit.

From what little I know - Dahlbeck isn't the type who looks to injure an opponent, and lets be honest here - Miller got lined-up, and was hit from Dahlbeck at the blueline face to face...It appears Miller may have leaned forward a bit as thus increasing the chance of getting a head injury.

Not sure how players are supposed to throw a check nowadays? Hip checks went the way of the enforcer, and now it appears a clean hit by using your shoulder is also deemed a 'no-no'...How can players in todays game deliver a hard check without potentially injuring an opponent?

As others have said - todays equipment does a wonderful job of protecting the player, but it also increases the chance of injuring an opponent...Maybe the league needs to go the way of no half shields, Jofa skull bucket helmets, and McSorley styled shoulder pads...Maybe Mickey has a point - make the guy throwing a check feel some of the pain as well.

Perhaps I have misrepresented myself a bit because I don't totally disagree with you. I wasn't saying it was a dirty hit, in my opinion. I was stating my thoughts based on my understanding of today's rules (which aren't always followed and are, as a result, a bit of a gray area for me). Or maybe my understanding of the rule is flawed.

Anyway, if you think that he was completely unable to lessen the contact with Miller's head, then we disagree there.... but that's about it.

Edited December 4, 2015 by barabbas16

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

Amazing that some people have still found ways to complain after such a dominant win. Great fight with a Wing standing up for himself? They're soft. Beat a decent team in Arizona, a crappy team in Buffalo, and good teams like LA and Tampa? They suck. We lose to bottom feeders and "this team sucks because they can't beat bottom feeders", we win against them and it's "wow we beat a crappy team, big deal." Can never please the haters.

Edited December 4, 2015 by Wheelchairsuperhero

[kickazz 5,459]

Datsyuk and Zetterberg on same PP unit for next game.

Glad they finally realized the PP is s*** and needed shuffling

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

Datsyuk and Zetterberg on same PP unit for next game.

Glad they finally realized the PP is s*** and needed shuffling

They've actually had them on the same pp unit a few times now. I can't think of another way to jump start the PP either, but so far it still hasn't looked good to me.

[kickazz 5,459]

They've actually had them on the same pp unit a few times now. I can't think of another way to jump start the PP either, but so far it still hasn't looked good to me.

I don't recall this? Was I on some sort of drugs? Which games?

[barabbas16 499]

Today's rules are a bit misleading - especially when the refs don't make the calls that the rule book states is a clear penalty (like Smith getting hit from behind).

We do disagree on the 'lessening' of any blow...I honestly believe if a player if gonna commit to a hit - he'll then finish it, and so be it.

Years ago - players were allowed 'some' clutch, and grab ie players could take 1 hand off their stick, and 'hug' their opponent as they shoved them hard along the boards...Today it's all about keeping both hands on the stick, and ramming your opponent like we had seen with Pulkkinen - going into the boards hard, and fast thus resulting in a shoulder injury, but hey - as long as there's no 'interference'.

As much as I appreciate todays speed, and skill - I look back at how the game was in the early 90's, and think that era was better.

Well, I didn't mean to say any blow could be lessened, I was only speaking in reference to the hit on Miller. Also, I think Hanzal's trip on Pulkkinen prior to the hit probably had a lot to do with the injury, didn't it?.... that injury seems like it could have happened in any decade with a trip like that that close to the boards.

Otherwise, I am in agreement. My understanding was that the rule changes (no more clutching/grabbing/'hugging'/etc.) were made for more offense. But, it seems to have led to more injuries... And, there hasn't really been more offense. The 90s game was better overall.

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

I don't recall this? Was I on some sort of drugs? Which games?

Part of this game and last. I don't think it was the set plan, I think it was situational. Like starting the period with a minute left so you know you're going to only get one unit out there anyway, might as well load up.

[TheXym 2,606]

IMHO, the Hanzal play on Pulkks was much dirtier, tripping him then driving him into the boards. Pulkks had no chance to brace for the hit. Tripping into the boards from that spot at speed can be dangerous enough even without a follow up boarding to make sure you hurt the guy. Nothing accidental on that at all. I didn't think Hanzal was that kind of a dirty player.

The Miller hit, while unfortunate, I have less of a problem with, as Drew was pretty low to the ground. Though, Dahlbeck could have eased up instead of just blowing Drew up, I think if the teams were switched most would be arguing clean hit a la the Havsplat.

[Rivalred 630]

Wings do have to get to bigger and tougher