SDavis35

I don't remember any specific plays that were blatant penalties by the Wings that got overlooked. If you have the puck and are controlling play more, the less likely you are to commit infractions. Toews should know this on a puck possession team.

This was just one team being far better than the other. The refs influence outcomes all too often in the NHL these days, but it's silly to claim a little physical play prevented Chicago from winning. Toews doesn't care that Shaw skates around like an idiot though nearly every shift?

CBC was replaying the "should've been called" highlights several times, and Zetterberg was rough on Toews, but nothing that deserves a playoff penalty (probably not even a regualr season call). It's a part of the game, Holmstrom made a career off taking far worse clobberings. 

OH MAN! I was on the NHL site RIGHT before coming here and it said Anaheim won the series 4-2.... Way to give me a heart attack!

Haha, not only did we beat the Ducks tonight, we also beat the NHL!  

That being said, YES. The Ducks are not a scary team. 2 Powerplay goals & an open netter. Half our team played their 1st playoff game. Mule & Abby need to bring what they did last week. if that happens & we stay out of the box, we'll be alright

Don't count on that one... the way the refs were calling penalties tonight it's anybody's guess when they'll make the call. We got away with several, Ducks got bad calls, Wings could've had a couple more PPs and the penalties that were missed were atrocious! Then they call little ones as if they're trying to please the fans... make the right call the first time! It's elementary my dear (Brad) Watson! 

As for the way we played... sloppy all around. I like the third line still and don't want to screw with that, but Filpulla needs to show up. Howard did okay, he wasn't really tested a whole lot until late game. He also didn't look like last week's goaltender. Z and Dats were totally neutralized, but I expect them to bounce back (as I do with Howard).  If not for the really bad penalties, I think we could have squeaked out a win, the teams showed they're equals, the difference was the momentum killing Tootoo trip and Kindl's delay of game. 

if sj takes em columbus can 

Well I for one will be hoping against that! Of course, I'll be busy cheering for the Wings! 

Booyah! Now lets take it to the preds with this same mentality!!!

Can we take care of the Kings first please? 

It was basically a 1-0 game which means: a) we suck at scoring, and b) team needs a shutout to win

I disagree that this was a 1-0 game. Rinne made a few huge saves that we had a legitimate chance to score on. We still suck at scoring, but I'm hoping we can get that going for the next 22-34 games. 

And Franzen scored with a goalie in net. 2-0 game + the EN. 

During the course of this season there have been several posters who have criticized this team's Coach, GM, Owner and all of the players (if not most of them). So, it got me to wondering: Why do you cheer for the Red Wings? 

For me, I cheer for this team because of the character of the organization. From Illitch to Holland to Babcock and all the players.  There is something about the members of the organization that seems to come across as competitive, yet humble. We have had some great players and some great success, and now in facing adversity, the players, Babcock, Holland and Illitch all seem to still be focused on winning. 

So why do you root for the Red Wings? 

The well wishes are appreciated, I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see that. There's a number of players in the league that I'm not a fan of but wouldn't want to see them hurt. For me personally I can't get too worked up about what people say about a player but I draw the line at injuries. They're still living, breathing human beings.

 

From all I've heard his teeth pretty much just got annihilated, the surgery was for his teeth (yes, many "oral" jokes abound) Didn't hear anything about a break in the jaw (that is what worries me most right now) but they would likely want to take precautionary measures with the concussion as well though I am hoping that's not going to be an issue.

 

The guy may as well just go and make the full turn to heel and just come back with a damn grill, hopefully that's all it will come to.

 

That pic just cracked me up! Hope he's not out too long, he's had it rough with head injuries. 

still no reason we cant get it going

Your pep talk worked on them. 

Good win, puts some good separation between us and 9th!

Would love to see it happen vs. Minnesota.

"Goal scored by number 8 Justin Abdelkader! *crowd cheers* assist by number 13 *crowd erupts* Pavel Datsyuk!" 

Holland has not been sitting on his hands like you guys seem to believe. Most importantly, he brought in stellar additions with Brunner and Tootoo in the offseason after steadfastly trying to get Suter (who wanted a ludicrous contract and hasn't even propelled Minnesota to new heights).

 

Gustavvson is a serviceable back-up. Samuelsson had 31 points last year; it's not Holland's fault Samuelsson got hurt. 

 

I can't help but feel like the Wings are still a piece or 2 away from a Cup-caliber team, but it's hard to truly confirm this when half of your team is actually from Grand Rapids (which have actually been a pleasant surprise) and nobody wants to trade to the team with the longest active playoff streak.

 

Holland knows what he's doing and he's not just standing pat.  

Sometimes I wonder if the users on this board realize just how difficult Holland has it... 

We don't have a clue what's going on behind the scenes, maybe Holland is trying to work out a deal with another team that would get us our valued top 6 guy who has size, grit and hands. We can't know for sure that he's just "standing pat". He's kept this Wings team competitive for 15 years and yet all I hear is how bad a job he's doing? This isn't as easy as a video game where you keep adding players until a deal works out, you have to realize that there has to be a seemingly equivalent trade and right now Detroit can't do anything that wouldn't result in weakening our team. Just because there's players on the trading block doesn't mean that they're going for a fair price. I sincerely believe that Holland has done the best he can with what he's been given to work with. There are times when you just can't make the ideal moves and/or signings. 

Plus, I feel the need to point out that Holland said the return of these players is "like a trade deadline acquisition..."  That tells me that he looks forward to seeing them play again, not that it's his replacement for a trade. 

For the first time this season... we won because of our special teams! 

This was given a 5-game suspension and totaled $125,000 in fines back in the playoffs of 2007 (prior to suspension crackdowns).  Both plays were malicious attacks against the opponent using the hockey stick as a weapon, although McLennan gave more of a slash than a spear.  Personally, I think these two cases are fairy similar, but everyone else is free to make their own judgment.  Nonetheless, if the league thinks the above penalty is worth 5 games, in the playoffs no less, than I don't think its reaching to see Franzen get one game, or maybe even a fine.  Granted, there have been a few notable spears in recent memory which didn't result in suspensions, so if he gets nothing I wouldn't be surprised at all.  I'm not about to try to predict the outcome of this situation.
I still stand by my belief that this type of behavior is a joke and should be punished.  If Franzen wants retribution for a hit he doesn't agree with, then he needs to do it like a man and use his fists, face to face with his opponent.  Otherwise get on with the game because frankly its embarrassing and a waste of time.

 
I disagree on them being similar, however I wouldn't be surprised if there was a fine and 1-game suspension either. I was perfectly fine with Franzen's actions, but I expect him to get reprimanded for it. If this was reversed this entire board would be fuming and calling for his head. On the bright side, at least Franzen showed some emotion.

What the hell are they reviewing here?!?!

Most likely the forward motion of the puck. Not a big deal, but it is fair. 

Win #1 in the books. Go Wings! 

Oooooh!  Let me finish this sentence!

 

If we miss the playoffs......

 

A bunch of fairweather fans will leave the forums?  *Check*

A bunch of fairweather fans will stop buying tickets?  *Check*

A bunch of fairweather fans will start cheering for another NHL team?  *Check*

A bunch of fairweather fans will come back when the Red Wings start contending for a cup again?  *Check*

 

As a fan of the Red Wings, I am not concerned if the team makes the playoffs or not.  I am going to support the team no matter what.  Yes, I want to see a winner, but I don't put conditions on my support.  I support Ferris State Hockey because they are my Alma Mater.  They are playing .500 hockey this year, and there were years they were in the bottom half of the CCHA.  Yet, when they had a great run like last year, it was great.  Do I wish they could have a run like that every year?  Yes, but its not realistic considering the size of the school, importance of hockey in the program, and their budget.

 

The Red Wings have given me 20+ years of great memories.  I never even watched hockey before I went to college, and I fell in love with the sport when I went to my first game.  That being said, if they don't make the playoffs this year, big freaking deal.  The management will turn things around next season.  You have to realize that there are 29 other teams that are going to be competing for a playoff spot, and there are 22 teams that are playoff caliber teams.  Some playoff caliber teams are going to miss the playoffs this year.

I didn't get to be a Wings fan until 2002-03, but I've experienced everything as a fan except a rebuilding period. A part of me is excited for that chance, while the other part of me dreads missing playoffs. At the same time though, I know that regardless of where they stand I'll support the Wings, but if they don't look like they're heading for the playoffs I won't be sitting on the boards here watching 90% of people whining about how X didn't do this properly.