I hate to say it but we have been atrocious at keeping opposing forwards away from the net for a few years now. The positional invincibility of even a Lidstrom is at this point a myth. I rarely see another team give up the low slot as quickly as the Wings do. A bit of movement on the offensive side and it's open and you gotta rely on a defensive move that keeps the pass or shot from going to its intended target.
It's like I said when the series started, Preds in 5. The first 2 games they were off and they still managed to grab game 1. We won't win another game this series and if we do it will be the only other game we take.
It's like I said when the series started, Preds in 5. The first 2 games they were off and they still managed to grab game 1. We won't win another game this series and if we do it will be the only other game we take.
You know this how? Wings have not been lucky enough so far.
Kronwall-Stuart. While technically not our worst pairing, they are matched against better opponents than dreadful Quincey, so their deficiencies are regularly exposed. Stuart is especially dismal, making more mistakes than usual.
Quincey. A disaster in both O and D. His shots on goal are truly pathetic.
Flip-Hudler. They both flat out refuse to shoot the puck. They are good at losing it though.
People that brought it up: Cleary, Holmstrom (that's what you need veteran presence for), Ericsson, Datsyuk (finally!), Zetterberg.
Franzen has just been inconsistent, and so has, unfortunately, Howard. He should have stopped that last shot, Kostitsin is not exactly Lemieux.
What bothers me is that Nashville plays better positionally. They block the shots much better because they are always in the best position to do it and do a great job clearing the crease.
I dunno wtf Holland was thinking when he went after him..
I would say the Wings should clean house if we lose this series, but since we're locked in on so many of our players there's no way we can.
Best thing for Detroit might be another lockout with a free buyout period. Think about what this team would've been like 06-08 if we were stuck with Hatcher and McCarty on their contracts. That lockout saved Holland's ass for a few years.
This team needs a rebuild but it's not going to be able to with all of our players signed for a million years.
I would say the Wings should clean house if we lose this series, but since we're locked in on so many of our players there's no way we can.
Best thing for Detroit might be another lockout with a free buyout period. Think about what this team would've been like 06-08 if we were stuck with Hatcher and McCarty on their contracts. That lockout saved Holland's ass for a few years.
This team needs a rebuild but it's not going to be able to with all of our players signed for a million years.
Buy out?
Who would you buy out?
Zetterberg? Future captain?
Franzen? Only goalscoring winger with size?
come on people, lets not get carried away. This nashville team is very good. Their size is giving us all the fits. Wings are playing hard.
Wings have plenty of reasons to win the next one. Its a very small margin at this point.
Like Lidstrom said, it's time to dig in little harder with more urgency. Wings are getting worked by Preds intensity. It can't happen. It has to be the otherway around next game.
Meh, I still have faith in us coming back. We're not getting the bounces, and our tempo is ruined by the penalties, but that third period was ours to lose. It's only 2-1.
The Wings won't be buying anyone out. The best we can hope for is that they let Hudler skate then bring in Parise or Semin. Next year the bottom 6 will be overloaded with the likes of Cleary, Helm, Gator, Emmerton, Mursak, Miller, Eaves etc. Perhaps the Wings can swing a deal and unload a couple of those guys. Don't forget about Tatar, Andersson, Sheahan either.
I'm still pretty unimpressed by the Predators. I don't know why some people are acting like the Wings have been outclassed in this series. Games 1 and 3 could've gone either way.
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From a GM, "Detroit is the best team we've played this year. It's not even close. Their puck control is incredible...You have to hope your goalie has a great night to give you a chance."
If this team returns next season without some serious additions, it's going to end the exact same way or even worse.
Roster just isnt talented enough to execute the Wings system.
C'mon dude. The Wings have plenty of talent. Most of its injured or playing hurt. Playoffs usual come down to a hot goalie, health and bounces. Series ain't over. And like I said in my last post. If they bring in an elite winger, they'll be fantastic next year. Maybe the Penguins should blow things up. They're about to go down 3 games!
I'm still pretty unimpressed by the Predators. I don't know why some people are acting like the Wings have been outclassed in this series.
The Preds haven't played their best yet.
And neither have the Wings.
But the Preds are winning.
And that's the bottom line.
People can be excited about the Wings owning the final 25 minutes of the game. But the Preds owned the final 20 minutes of game 2. Teams that are losing press harder late in the game.
RIght now, I'd say our best forwards and their best forwards have played to a draw.
Our depth forward and theirs are about the same.
But their best defensemen have been better than ours.
And their goalie has been better than ours.
It's not that the Preds impress me so much, it's that the Wings aren't any better and actually look a notch worse IMO. The series isn't lost by any means yet, but I don't see a deep run in this Wings squad.
Maybe the Penguins should blow things up. They're about to go down 3 games!
The Pens are a helluva lot younger and faster. Their goalie is also having a mental meltdown on national TV every two days. Howard is playing well, the vaunted offense if the Wings is crap. No finishers, only two forwards you can count on every game to create and way too many passengers on the roster (flip, huds, jackass, bert, kronwall, Stuart, Q and a average bottom 6 which can only prevent goals, not score them).
I had the Wings beating the Preds in 6 and I still believe they can and will. But I now know they're not advancing beyond the 2nd round...again. It's good that Nashville is still so inept offensively because if this were any other team who can score, you're looking at 5-2 losses in both games.
Positives; Howard has played well. Can't let that third goal in, but he is the only reason they got out of the first only down 0-1.
White has turned it around. Playing well.
Lidstrom is solid in his now limited role.
Miller is a G, Gator is even playing well, but they just can't score. Shame that.
Cleary and Homer are both playing well.
Nothing beyond that. Coaches are complete ****. The lines suck, the PP still sucks and Babs got outcoached on home ice. Can't get their team to start on time...EVER.
Old, slow, over confident and under skilled. 5th seed, right where they belong.
I foresee this same roster coming back next year. Same result.
