Great GDT as always, Top Gun. And now I look forward to your titles!
Hmmm....this is an interesting one. For starters, can Kronner and Stuart stay out of the penalty box, please? I'd really like Lidstrom to not have 6:21 SH TOI again, k, thanks. Babs said they were half-asleep for the first four games against the Hawks last year and that they wouldn't be this year, so does fully awake = 60 minute effort? We shall see....
(but please let us not see yet another Sharp shorthanded goal)
I don't think it matters if Kronwall takes penalties as long as they're not hooking or holding variety. A lot of our defensemen will get interference penalties based on the style that we play.
As for Lidstrom, he may have played 6+ on the PK but he was under 24 overall. With Lilja out (unless he's back) the lack of Chelios is going to force Lidstrom and Stuart into more PK situations.
I don't think it matters if Kronwall takes penalties as long as they're not hooking or holding variety. A lot of our defensemen will get interference penalties based on the style that we play.
As for Lidstrom, he may have played 6+ on the PK but he was under 24 overall. With Lilja out (unless he's back) the lack of Chelios is going to force Lidstrom and Stuart into more PK situations.
Right, with Lilja out, Kronner and Stuart should be more mindful of their play. I think it did matter last night. Babs initially started with the Lebda-Meech pairing, they got scored on, so he went with Kronner-Meech, Stuart-Lebda. The 1-1 tie became a 4-1 lead. Then early in the 3rd when the penalty parade happened (some were ridiculous calls, but anyway) Kronner and Stuart were either in the box or forced to kill penalties for a huge bulk of time, forcing Babs to put the Lebda-Meech pairing back out again. Some extended pressure by Atlanta in our zone, and bam, they score.
Lidstrom may have played under 24, but 6+ on the PK is a ton. Especially when you have a back-to-back and five games in seven nights. And I'd rather not see Rafalski out there for 5+ on the PK either. He's not terrible, but he would normally be the 5th choice on D. As you said some penalties are bound to happen based on style of play but hooking? puck over glass? Not worth it, when we're already strapped on D as is.
You know, I got over game 5 surprisingly quickly, as I just felt that once the Wings went up 3-1 in the series they weren't going to lose three in a row and blow their chance completely. But game 6? The last two minutes of game 6? I don't think I'll ever see worse officiating in any game in any sport than in those two minutes, starting with Hudler's "hooking" penalty. It actually took me awhile to enjoy their Stanley Cup celebrations because I was so ticked off at how close it ended up being after the Wings were just dominating, dominating the 3rd period (didn't the Pens have like 1 or 2 SOG for the first 18 minutes?) before the refs decided to get involved. But a Cup is a Cup is a Cup, so I got over it eventually.
It's important to not give up on anything when you have a lead but the most important this is that you have the lead when the final horn sounds. I don't care if it's 1 goal, 3 goal, 5 goal.
i wonder why bruce thinks meech will make room for lilja. lebda is awful so far and meech got more ice-time than lebda whenever he played. so isn't it likely that babs prefers meech?
Based on Bruce's gut it seems Maltby will be scratched to get Mac in. Im trying to think when Maltby has been a healthy scratch here in Detroit. I can't ever remember it happening.
Based on Bruce's gut it seems Maltby will be scratched to get Mac in. Im trying to think when Maltby has been a healthy scratch here in Detroit. I can't ever remember it happening.
No official word on who he will replace, as coach Mike Babcock wasn't at the optional morning skate that featured only 10 players. But Tomas Kopecky said he didn't know if he was playing.
I really wish I could go to this game tonight. I love nothing more than seeing the Blackhawks play the Wings in Chicago. They're my favorite games to go to, aside from playoff games.
This is the most important game of the season so far, gotta make a statement. LET'S GO RED WINGS. I wanna drive down the streets with my Lidstrom jersey on, my Al the Octopus sticker on the back of my truck, and DETROIT ROCK CITY playing as loud as I can. LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!
It's important to not give up on anything when you have a lead but the most important this is that you have the lead when the final horn sounds. I don't care if it's 1 goal, 3 goal, 5 goal.
It just that you get to that point of having the lead, Just stay ahead. I know a win is a win even yesterday was a good example. up 4-1 i can see winning 4-2 but, don't let your opponet back in the game. Detroit played shutdown well all season last year. Played great with the lead. Playing the full 60 minutes. I know i'm sounding cliche' it's just something i have not seen this year yet. Just an overall more convincing effort i guess.
Even this year the puck posession has tailed off a lil. Some of the passing hasn't been there. Little more dump and chase opposed to carrying the puck into the zone. Zetterberg made a ton of rushes with posession into the zone and got the offense set up last year. Aside from Datsyuk this year not seeing it as much but, it is early.
It would be nice to set the tone in this rivalry to get the first one in their barn with the new coach. I'm sure Quenneville would love to send a message to the hometown fans and to the Wings that they will be a factor. I see the Hawks playing an inspired game but the Wings have looked sharp on the road and will keep their perfect record away from the Joe.
Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2...Franzen, Datsyuk, Rafalski
