GDT 12/11 GDT : Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7:00 EST

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Edited December 12, 2015 by Hockeytown0001

[luvmnger 125]

this game has one of those "feelings" about it.

if the wings go in tired, or looking past..it could get ugly quick.

call up AA.

[NerveDamage 4,176]

haha.. it came to mind

Edited December 11, 2015 by NerveDamage

[amato 3,210]

Time to spoil their big night

LGW!! Keep up our play and we'll catch the habs in no time!

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4viAaRWU4nU

Edited December 11, 2015 by Hockeytown0001

[Jacksoni 418]

Howie has been good if we discount the shootouts of course. He's going to have to keep it up tonight.

We are favored by Vegas in this game, despite being on a back to back and playing our 3rd game in 4 nights(!). It's a nice compliment, but I won't advise anyone to bet on the Wings moneyline.

I predict more dump-ins & letting the youngsters go chase. The veterans are gonna have tired legs for sure, better save those for the power play.

I'll sit back and enjoy, tender and cozy after some on-ice scrimmage.

LGRW!

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Their top two centers are both not playing tonight should be an easy win

[barabbas16 499]

Howie has been good if we discount the shootouts of course. He's going to have to keep it up tonight.

We are favored by Vegas in this game, despite being on a back to back and playing our 3rd game in 4 nights(!). It's a nice compliment, but I won't advise anyone to bet on the Wings moneyline.

I predict more dump-ins & letting the youngsters go chase. The veterans are gonna have tired legs for sure, better save those for the power play.

I'll sit back and enjoy, tender and cozy after some on-ice scrimmage.

LGRW!

Considering the current state of the Wings' power play.... I would say the fewer penalties overall in this game, the better for Detroit.

[wings_fanatic 677]

Howie has been good if we discount the shootouts of course. He's going to have to keep it up tonight.

We are favored by Vegas in this game, despite being on a back to back and playing our 3rd game in 4 nights(!). It's a nice compliment, but I won't advise anyone to bet on the Wings moneyline.

I predict more dump-ins & letting the youngsters go chase. The veterans are gonna have tired legs for sure, better save those for the power play.

I'll sit back and enjoy, tender and cozy after some on-ice scrimmage.

LGRW!

Blash said last night he'd decide on today's goalie on the plane so we don't know that Howard is playing. That really tells me that mrazek is our guy the fact that blash is even considering playing him back to back. Frankly I hope mrazek plays as we just win with him. I have a feeling tonight's game might be grinding and end in a shootout and so I want mrazek playing. Go wings!

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Apologies if I said at some point I was going to do today's game thread (I can't even remember) been back and forth to Michigan so much due to a sick family member the weeks just haze together.

Anyway I will be going tonight and will hopefully have some good pics I can share.

[sleepwalker 512]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and predict this one goes to overtime....

[canadian wings fan 305]

Go with Mrazek. I just watched the highlights from last nights game and Petr is so damn good at stopping breakaways. Anytime they get a breakaway on Howard its in the net.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Go with Mrazek. I just watched the highlights from last nights game and Petr is so damn good at stopping breakaways. Anytime they get a breakaway on Howard its in the net.

Usually in the shootouts. He's pretty decent in regulation one on one.

[kickazz 5,459]

Go with Mrazek. I just watched the highlights from last nights game and Petr is so damn good at stopping breakaways. Anytime they get a breakaway on Howard its in the net.

Better to rest Petr.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Is it an unwritten rule not to switch your goalie in a shootout? Howard is so awful in the shootout, that i keep wondering why Mrazek isnt warming up for it in OT in the tunnel, and then coming in for it. Is that embarassing the goalie or something?

[amato 3,210]

My guess is they don't want to put a cold goalie in and risk him getting hurt.

[kickazz 5,459]

Is it an unwritten rule not to switch your goalie in a shootout? Howard is so awful in the shootout, that i keep wondering why Mrazek isnt warming up for it in OT in the tunnel, and then coming in for it. Is that embarassing the goalie or something?

the tunnel warm up wont be enough, especially if you have to possibly stretch your groin 2-3 shots in a row within like 5 minutes

Edited December 11, 2015 by kickazz

[DRW Dominance 255]

tough call for tonight. this should be a win but schedule losses happen....we need to keep building up points while our sked is on our side.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

So it isn't on the NHL network tonight?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

So it isn't on the NHL network tonight?

Looks like just FSN and MSG+.

[Echolalia 2,961]

the tunnel warm up wont be enough, especially if you have to possibly stretch your groin 2-3 shots in a row within like 5 minutes

Theres actually a lot of conflicting data about how much stretching before engaging in sports actually prevents injury, but regardless, for a professional athlete as a member of a professional sports team, I don't think it's that big of an obstacle to get into game-shape for a shootout if that's what the coach wants. Especially considering thats essentially what a back-up's role on the team is to do. It would be a bit insulting for Howard, though, but I personally value the point total of the team more than the ego of team's goaltender. If I was coach I would definitely consider it.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Theres actually a lot of conflicting data about how much stretching before engaging in sports actually prevents injury, but regardless, for a professional athlete as a member of a professional sports team, I don't think it's that big of an obstacle to get into game-shape for a shootout if that's what the coach wants. Especially considering thats essentially what a back-up's role on the team is to do. It would be a bit insulting for Howard, though, but I personally value the point total of the team more than the ego of team's goaltender. If I was coach I would definitely consider it.

I agree with this. I think the psychological warm up might be harder on Mrazek than the physical.

[kickazz 5,459]

Theres actually a lot of conflicting data about how much stretching before engaging in sports actually prevents injury, but regardless, for a professional athlete as a member of a professional sports team, I don't think it's that big of an obstacle to get into game-shape for a shootout if that's what the coach wants. Especially considering thats essentially what a back-up's role on the team is to do. It would be a bit insulting for Howard, though, but I personally value the point total of the team more than the ego of team's goaltender. If I was coach I would definitely consider it.

There's research showing both ways but that doesn't conclude much. I said "warm-up" not stretch (which is only part of an routine warm up).

But anyways, Mrazek would have been sitting on bench for quite a while before being called in for a shootout. The question becomes is his reflexive ability at his 100% after sitting there for 65 minutes (+30 from intermissions)? Usually when goalies get replaced mid game, the first few shots against them are high risk for being scored on. But with a shootout, the first few shots IS all he'll be seeing to make or break the game.

It's a gamble to replace the goalie. It's just a matter of whether or not the coach will take it. Then again Howard sucks at them, so maybe the risk IS worth it.

Edited December 11, 2015 by kickazz

[kipwinger 8,492]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the "ego" of Howard. Goalie tandems are important for success, and given how Blashill is utilizing ours it looks like we are going to see them splitting time roughly 50-50. If Howard is going to play another 30 odd games, I'd prefer the coach not do something that's going to undermine his confidence. Especially for a shootout, which at this rate we will only see another 4 or 5 of all season (some of which Mrazek will already be in net for).

So far our goalie play has been excellent. I don't want Blash to do anything to jepordize it. Status quo is fine with me given how well they're both playing.

[Echolalia 2,961]

There's research showing both ways but that doesn't conclude much. I said "warm-up" not stretch (which is only part of an routine warm up).

But anyways, Mrazek would have been sitting on bench for quite a while before being called in for a shootout. The question becomes is his reflexive ability at his 100% after sitting there for 65 minutes (+30 from intermissions)? Usually when goalies get replaced mid game, the first few shots against them are high risk for being scored on.But with a shootout, the first few shots IS all he'll be seeing to make or break the game.

It's a gamble to replace the goalie. It's just a matter of whether or not the coach will take it. Then again Howard sucks at them, so maybe the risk IS worth it.

I don't think getting warmed up to go into a game is much an obstacle to overcome. There are exercise bikes for aerobics, there are players who are perpetually benched for OT that can take practice shots with a practice puck in the back, or even the trainer or something, goalies can throw a super ball against a wall to keep reflexes sharp once OT starts. If you're in the group that believes that warming up is an issue, then it's an issue that can be solved without too much trouble. And even if someone argued that no amount of prep can truly get you into game form the way 30 minutes of practice on the ice before a game does, we're still weighing whatever perceived disadvantage that brings against Howard's very quantifiable disadvantage in the shootout, warmed up or otherwise.

Specifically pertaining to the bolded: I'm interested to know if this is actually true and if there is quantifiable evidence that supports goalies having a lower save % for the first handful of shots they take relative to the rest of the game, or even their running average. As of now I'm skeptical.