Wings_Dynasty

I think Ericsson has too much potential for a goal to justify taking him out in favor of Lebda. Example.

Final Score:

PIT 2 (Talbot x2)
DET 1 (Ericsson)

Painful memory, but he was the only reason we were even close to winning that game (on the scoresheet anyway).

Well..... Danny look on the bright side... it was a pretty nice shot. Most players go their entire careers without putting a back-hand in at that kind of angle.

I think that if your name is not Kronwall or Stuart there is no reason for you to pinch in as a defenseman on the Red Wings when the opposing team has the puck. When I see Brian Rafalski step up on a forward coming at him along the boards with the puck I cringe because only 2 things can happen:

a. The forward decides to play hockey and throws an elbow in his face and continues on past the small heap that momentarily slowed him.

b. The forward chips the puck past him and continues on with speed and another forward, forcing Lidstrom's +/- and legend down.

Ericsson and Lilja don't have the speed to get back of they step up and miss. Lidstrom doesn't hit. Stuart and Kronwall are not as fast as Rafalski, but their hitting ability compensate (meaning they know when they should step up and when it is a mistake).

Pinching in on a potential offensive play is another scenario. However, you must have puck handling ability. Leave that to Lidstrom and Kronwall. Rafalski makes poor decisions when pressured at the line, Lilja isn't offensive minded, Stuart is more defensive minded, and Ericsson should just wait at center ice and prevent break-aways.

The Yotes forwards are fast. If the defense continues to pinch to attempt hits, we will continue to see fast breaks and 2 on 1s.

If Babcock decided to switch, he would need to run full practices today and before the game to get Oz up to speed. I mean FULL practices, 5 on 5 with Howie at the other end.

Would I be comfortable with Ozzie in after a long break? No.

Do I think he is capable of saving our asses like he did in 08? Yes.

Can we queue the ones with our guys failing yet? Maybe Howard's pads made of Flubber, a wannabe playmaker making a spinning no-look pass to a Coyote in our zone, or a small, non-hitting defenseman pinching to make a hit and the resulting 2 on 1 (could be anybody. coughRafalskicough.)

Now if the Wings could go out of their way to hit some Coyote players not near the puck we could have a series worth watching and I wouldn't be as pissy this morning.

Aaaand 'boom' goes the dynamite.

Well, I guess victory is in the bag thanks to 8LRW.

There were more than 1000 posts in the thread for game 1 and we lost.<br />So it didn't work (big suprise...). So let's drop it, we're not 5 anymore.

I agree...

2000 POSTS FOR WINGS WIN IN GAME 2!!!

Quick impression of hockey fans in 10 years:

"Remember when Phoenix had a team?"

"No."

Show me why they call you "Pain Train."

For starters...

That's too much badass for the internet. It needs to be hung in a museum somewhere.

Count the rings *****.

1. Ovechkin
2. Avery (say what you want, he sells the game and I smile when he is on the ice)

Really?  Why?  

I would certainly enjoy another cup win but beating them doesn't make it any more special because we've seen that dynamic twice and it was annoying to watch both times.  On the ice, Pittsburgh only has one way of beating the Wings and that is to agitate and knock them off their game.  C-Word and Malkin provide most of the offense while the Cookes, Kunitzes, Talbots and Orpiks simply try to get under the Wings skin for 7 games.  Rules will be broken, the Pens will dish out their cheap shots and LGW will have too many angry threads labeling the Pens as 'classless'.  It's all too predictable and I truly feel like there's nothing left to prove in that situation.  

I can understand that you just want to see them lose but what makes it funnier and more entertaining is seeing them lose in the first round or something like that.

I want a sweep. I want there to be ZERO doubt who the better team is. I want total dominance in all possible ways down to blocked shots and beers sold. 2 wins, 1 loss.

Things that, were they to happen, would make me smile.

1. Hawks are swept in the first round. Don't care who does it, just make them leave in shame.
2. Joe Thornton has no points when the Sharks are eliminated by Detroit in WCF.
3. Jarome Iginla is laid out at center ice with the most legal hit ever... city of Calgary riots.
4. Red Wings sweep Vancouver in first round, commentators suggest lucky bounces and streaky goaltending helped advance to next round and see a fall for the Wings against the Predators. Mikael Samuelsson finishes with 0 points, -23 rating, and 92 SOG over 4 games.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins advance with NHL record 14 goals taken back from opposing team. Some suggest conspiracy, Pierre Maguire applauds veteran officiating.
6. Red Wings sweep Predators in second round, commentators suggest opponent was burnt out due to travel of previous round. Johan Franzen scores 13 goals in 4 games. Jimmy Howard records 2 shutouts.
7. Niklas Kronwall catches Jordin Tootoo with his head down. The hit makes SC top 10 and CNN's viral video segment the next morning.
8. Wings sweep SJ Sharks in WCF. Announcers swear that the Wings are the best team in the post season and reference several quotes they made in October.
9. Wings sweep Penguins. Cup hoisted in JLA. After initial victory lap Lidstrom hands Cup to Howard. Howard skates to opposing blueline and sets Cup on ice on its side. Penguins players watch with astonishment as Howard takes off all of his clothing and begins to make love to the Cup. Howard points at Crosby and keeps a very uncomfortable constant eye contact with him. After putting his gear back on, he skates the Cup over to Crosby, puts it in his hands and says "It told me that I #*&$% better than you." Then he skates off the ice. I die of laughter.