servo

VAN/LAK: 4-3
STL/SJS: 4-2
PHX/CHI: 4-3
NSH/DET: 4-3
NYR/OTT: 4-1
BOS/WSH: 4-2
NJD/FLA: 4-1
PIT/PHI: 4-3

WC Champion: VAN
EC Champion: PIT
SCF Champion: PIT

Also going for Reverse Psychology Mojo

Since 1994, I've never ever ever ever thought that we would lose.  This is the first year that I don't really have much confidence in the team.  Too many 1/2 broken players, too many mental mistakes and lack of execution.  If Howard plays the best hockey of his life and one of our role players gets streaky and two of either Dats, Z, Fil or Mule carry the team on their back, we limit the turnovers to less than 1/10 of our passes and while we don't allow for any odd man rushes, we will win, however I predict we lose in six.  

I really hope they don't lose in the first round, but they have looked mediocre at best as of late with terrible lapses in defensive coverage.

I've been pissed off about the loss they handed to us back on December 15th.  Now, we realize how monumental that game was.  For those that didn't see it, we kicked their ass the whole game.  The Wings held on to the puck all night.  Rinne had 37 quality saves.  We went 2/2 on the powerplay and went into the 3rd with a 3-2 lead.  At that time, the defence was tight and the team was playing with a ton of poise and confidence.  And then came Weber :/  Weber had two goals – a power-play blast with 4:24 left in the 3rd and a blue-line flukey knuckler three minutes later.  Had we won that game, we would have home ice.  HUGE.

The best "X" factor is Filpula seems to really elevate his game when he plays opposite to Rinne.
GO WINGS!!!!!!!!

St. Louis is overachieving.  If their system gets into abit of a funk, they have to possibility to drop really fast.  But beyond speculation, their biggest issue staying competitive is going to be their schedule.  The last 1/3 of their season is PACKED with away games.  They too (like the Wings) have excelled at home, but that is unlikely to last on the road.  IMO, they are are really good team, but not as good as their points in the standings.

Chicago is Chicago.  What they do at the trade deadline is my biggest concern.  If they add a legitimate top 6 forward and stay healthy, they can easily beat us in a 7 games series.  Fortunately, they have a pretty tough last 1/3 of the season.

At this point, the Wings are winning, but not playing as well as they have and their schedule isn't bad down the road!  At no point in time (that I can recall), has winning the division ever been more important!

I feel so horrible for all of these players families. THis is so devastating.

Yeah, that was a really good interview.  It sounds like him and Babs worked their s*** out.  It was 8 or 9 years ago, so anyone still bickering about that needs to tuck their string in.

I initially met this move with horror, as my only real memory of Commodore was back in 2009 when he missed that hit and ended up in our bench.  I was looking over his stats and his play in Carolina was stellar.  It's the classic kind of signing by Holland and Co.  They picked a guy with good potential, he's 31, and he's definitely a reclamation project.  If he does well enough, he'll warrant an extension (low cap hit).

I don't mind this player since I'm not delusional like some on this board and know full well that he's a 5/6 guy.  He essentially  replaces Salei, and I was not impressed with Salei.  It'll be nice to have a guy who clears the crease out and plays physical.  He's definitely a defense first type of guy.  Maybe he can teach Ericsson and Kindl something about being physical.

Again, for 1 year at a $1 million hit, this is not a terrible signing.  People on these boards always want us to get physical players, yet when we do finally get one who really isn't all that bad (for the role we got him for), they ***** and moan.  Get over it.  You don't have to like the guy, but I guarantee after a few good hits, people will start to come around some.

Welcome Commy, work hard and you'll reap the benefits of being on a World-Class Team.

Fantastic post.  He usually sucks in the regular season, but this guy is a beast in the playoffs.  Everyone hates to play against him and he'll beat the s*** out of you when your in front of the net.  Only problem is we'll end up killing more penalties.  Safe signing.  Bottom line, is this years trade deadline will be like Christmas for Wings fans.  We'll move Hudler and maybe a minor league/picks and end up with another superstar and maybe a role player.  The thin layer of talent available today isn't worth spending money.  All of the GM's that are (over)paying for free agents are going to be regretting their cap situation next year when the CBA drops the cap.