GAWing

Also look at how many teams in the West are better now compared to the last 4-5 years. The core players may still be good, but watching them in this series using everything in their arsenal and still hardly getting anything past Rinne, along with the Preds adjusting to playoff game conditions better than the Wings changes are certainly needed this offseason. I really don't see lightning striking again with 3 straight wins this time.

Tough to take, but the slimmest of margins between winning and losing is just the way it goes in the NHL. I don't see a complete overhaul happening, but definitely need a couple of big difference makers like the Sharks currently have.

The Sharks have just had their way against us for 2 years running. We'll really see what this Wings team has now for games 3 and 4.

How about another extra man advantage for us now?

Right now the Pistons are the runaway leader for worst Detroit team.

Hell maybe not as we'll never know, just venting more than anything. Right now they're just better.

1 goal in nearly 2 games, that will never get it done. But this is also a result of finishing 1 lousy point behind the Sharks in the standings, getting home ice would've made a difference here. Frustrating.

The Kings should be up 3-2, that sure would've made this series interesting. Still the Sharks seem vulnerable and if we play them next I like our chances a lot.

Here go the Sharks again, maybe, with another playoff flop. If the Kings at least take them the distance and we take care of the Coyotes like we should I like our chances a lot in the next round.

This. The intensity picks up a few notches at playoff time which I always love to see. And let's be honest, it's usually a foregone conclusion that the Wings will be one of the top seeds in the playoffs so I start to get anxious for the playoffs to start in February-March.

Good to get a win for the last game, now let's get in playoff mode and take on the Coyotes. Hopefully it won't go 7 this time, we should finish them off in 5-6 games.

Hope for a speedy recovery Matt.

You don't advance deep in the playoffs or win the Cup every year, no shame in that. Considering the difficult season the Wings had, they still finished with over 100 points and made it to the second round. Drastic changes aren't needed, just a few tweaks here and there. Hopefully Howard will grow from this experience and be the Wings goaltender for a while.

I think the signs were there most of the season, another Cup run seemed unlikely. But there's no shame, it just doesn't happen every year. Let's just try to avoid a sweep at this point.