Motown4013

I think it should be reversed......throw the moon at Dats to stay in Detroit and a superstar UFA gets paid a million dollars to play with the guy. WIN WIN!!!

I don't care if Zetterberg owns an iron. Doesnt bother me that Brunner wore a  hat that looks like he stole it from Kmart, or that Cleary's eye looks like he has a raging staph infection....that video is all class. This team is all class. The heart that they showed in the playoffs translated perfectly in that video. They are obviously are all devastated but to put that aside and say a genuine thank-you to the fans.......pure awesome. They should be proud of themselves and I know that I feel proud to be a Wings fan every day. They are the classiest bunch of guys from the BEST franchise in sport.
Thank you to YOU Red Wings, for bringing it every night and allowing us to enjoy Wings hockey for just a little longer than most expected this year! I can't wait for the fall!!!

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ahhhh....can someone embedd this for me??

I'll agree Ericsson has improved, but I don't think he is a top two D man!  He still turns the puck over too frequently, generally doesn't think the game all that well, and doesn't use his big body effectively in most situations.  And when you think about it, this is his sixth season playing with the big club!  I expect more from him for the salary he is paid and for the years of experience he has!  He has developed too slowly, and in my opinion, the Wings should look at trading him while they still might get something for him, rather than letting him walk as a free agent!

We can agree to disagree on where he should be in terms of lines but I do disagree with not using his body effectively- that's one of the features of his game that has become a weapon. He lead ALL defenseman in hits by a landslide ( 26 more in the regular season that Kronwall)
As for trading him.....we just signed him in the summer so he isn't slated to become a UFA  for 3 years. At a 3.25 million cap hit, I would also disagree with your assertion that he is overpaid. Quincey makes more!
Anyway, I am not arguing that he is the next Bobby Orr or that he should win the Norris....I simply wanted to give Kudos where they are due. We dog the guys when they don't show up...I think we should also praise when they excel.

I need to make an addendum as well Karen!  Since it looks like Toots may not reinserted in the series, I would like to offer Bert his money on the board. So, 2 bucks for every Bert fight, 2 bucks for every Bert goal AND since OT has been a pattern, I want to add 5 bucks for any RED WINGS OT winner. LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!

I have always been a supporter of Johnny...even when he struggled to find his game I always thought he could elevate. I thought last night that the Big E had the VERY best game of his career. I think it was overlooked by Pashas unbelievable shot and Bruns OT winner, but he has really impressed me in the playoffs and especially last night. He used his size to punish the quacks over and again. He has been a difference maker on the PK. He also made some really good decisions with the puck. Like a few guys on this team, he stepped up.
After being the goat on this roster, I wanted to give props where they are due. We are watching Ericsson turn into a legit shut down Dman and it's very cool to watch!

Jimmy was due for a bad game...he has been a wall the last five games. We were able to win it when he was terrible....that says a lot!

Totally in!
I'm going with the 22 special. 2 bucks for every 22 goal. 2 bucks for every 22 fight
5 bucks for every series win....another 5 for every shut out! LETS GO RED WINGS!! Make me poor

My Z jersey has no letter on it.  Maybe I should add a B for beard!

You should add a B for BEAST!

I just wanted to start a topic for us to say Thanks to the Red Wings for providing us with a great regular season despite all the adversities and drama and odds against us! (Thank God, we didn't hear the "Too Old" card this year.)
 
So, despite all of this:
 

• Nick Lidstrom retiring
• Tomas Holmstrom retiring
• Brad Stuart trade
• New Asst. Coach
• Losing out on Parise, Suter, Schultz, Doan and every other "Top" UFA
• Countless injuries to our Defense creating our youngest average D since Nick and Vladdy were Rookies
• Gustavsson hurting himself and never really turning into a reliable backup
• Losing Helm for the season (again)
• Losing Bertuzzi's experience and Sammy to injury

 
(I am sure that I am leaving something out)
 
But anyway, despite all of this and despite the experts having us out of the playoffs for the first time since I turned 20, THE Detroit Red Wings proved once again, that when it comes to being a perennial winning team in the NHL, nobody does it better! Eat that Olsen Twins!
 
SO, Despite all the above mentioned scenarios that were supposed to have us dwelling at the bottom of the NHL, you guys did it.  No matter where you go in the playoffs, this is a winning season and every other team in the league is just shaking their heads right now!
 
Watch out NHL, don't look now, because the Red Wings just rebuilt on the fly and will be back on top sooner than you can say 22 straight years!
 
THANK YOU DETROIT RED WINGS for a regular season to remember! (now lets spoil some parties!)

Great post!
When you look at the cumulative losses and changes to this team, it's not hard to admire what this team did this year. I think we can beat the ducks in round 1 but even if we don't, we have a young, talented team to build around. Says a lot about the character of this team. LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!! Here's to another 22 years!

I think we have to edit the OP title to DET, Columbus, Dallas and Minny in the playoff race. The Wild are in a downward spiral. The have won only 3 regulation games and 1 OT in the last 10. They laid a shard against Calgary yesterday ( hey, it happens to alot of teams!) but they are also a factor here. The sit tied in points with CBJ at 51, DET and Dallas with 48.

 

We are in a advantageous situation with GP having 4 games left, while Columbus only has 2. The rest have 3 to play. Minny has the easiest schedue BUT, in a slide...no games are easy, especially against opponents you KNOW you shoud beat....EDM and Colorado is how they finish the year.

 I think we still make the playoffs but to be confident, we need the next 3 of 4. Playing PHX, LA, Nashville and Dallas...its totally possible. We need two tonight in regulation to start this homestand.

Even though we are 3-4-3 in the last, I think we played great hockey in Vancouver and hopefully can match that type of intensity in the against the whiney dogs tonight.

GO WINGS GO!!!

Huh?
 
Howard was taking a coffee break for most of this game.  He made some saves, but we carried the play just like the Calgary game.
 
Once again, the other goalie was the star.

The OTHER goalie was the star because we can't score.....not because our goalie needs to be better. We can carry the play all we want but if you can put it in the net, you never win. It's absurd to even mention Jimmy as a reason we didn't win this game.

But when the other team's goalie stands on his head every game, then you should blame the Wings, and not give credit to the goalie.

Again, pushing the echo button here but friggin Darren Pang would look like a Vezina candidate if he was playing the offense of the Wings.

Yep.  Another game where we only score a goal.  How many does that make now in recent memory?
 
And Howard needs to study tape in shootouts.  Lapierre was going so slow that Howard should have just kept his ground and not committed.  Instead, he goes down quickly like he always does.

Howard was the ONLY reason we got a point in this game. I don't think he's the guy that needs to study tape. I think our forwards need to study some tape on how to score a F' n goal

I REAAALLLLY hope that isn't the case.  Dallas always brings it there against the Wings.

Yeah, where the he'll is Turco when we need him? He was brutal against the Wings!

Columbus won't make it in. Not enough games vs too tough of competition.
 
Dallas is your only worry, but both teams have 2 games that wash (vs Van, vs LA) in terms of schedule. From this vantage point, it looks like game 48 determines who goes.

I totally disagree here. Columbus is playing the best hockey in our division right now. They have won the last 5 in a row, 3 of which they came from behind. Bobbrovski has been unreal.....second in the league in save percentage at .931. They were in 13th spot before the trade deadline and they have played hard, physical hockey and deserve to be where they are. We have a game in hand but the last 5 games they have NOT been playing the oilers....they have consecutive wins against SJ, St. Louis! Minny, Col and Anaheim last night. Everyone on that team is contributing and they frighten me. Detroit needs to take a page out of that book....never say die, never give up and keep it SIMPLE! Let's hope we can do that