Babcock will simply play the top two lines one after the other to keep the duo from going up against both of them.
If that doesn't work, they will at the very least have one of their top two playing against a tired shutdown pair.
It is a playoff axiom that the benches get shortened... will be very interesting to see how both sides manage ice time..
I suspect the preds will alternate having Suter/Weber with less of a shutdown group of forwards and our best shutdown forwards with the 2nd defensive pair against the Dats and Z lines...
If Nashville can play puck possession hockey they are in good shape. If they let Detroit play possession hockey then the Preds are going to be the first team to wear down. This is where youth helps and hurts. More energy, but more prone to turn over the puck.
If Nashville can play puck possession hockey they are in good shape. If they let Detroit play possession hockey then the Preds are going to be the first team to wear down. This is where youth helps and hurts. More energy, but more prone to turn over the puck.
This is where I believe Detroit has the advantage, we do not have that many youngsters in the bottom 6 and nearly all of them have plenty of playoff experience.
People have been referring to Detroit as "Old" and "Past their Prime" but the playoff's are a different beast and it comes down to experience and knowing how to handle the pressure.
I think all the games will be decided by one goal and that's when the pressure starts mounting
The only thing about home ice is that Detroit's last road win over a playoff team was December 26(ironically against Nashville). Meanwhile, Nashville has the second best road record among playoff teams and one of the best home records. It may not be a huge advantage for Nashville, but certainly Nashville's demonstrated ability to win at the Joe is noteworthy.
Too bad they don't make videos for every time Weber and Suter stop Datsyuk. Besides I never said they were going to shut down him completely. Players like him don't get shut down completely. The goal is too contain and they are capable of doing that.
Dude, don't be like that. For the most part, this thread has been pretty civil. There's been a couple of cocky Wings fans, but for the most part, they, like us, are expecting a close series either way. Do you even realize that Kivairejo, whom you were arguing with earlier, is a Preds fan?
As you can tell...I am pretty knew to this board. Never realized it existed until yesterday. So I am trying to learn who has allegiances to what teams.
I came across as sort of an ass in my last post however, it is still true what I said. Wings fans(not all, some) keep saying how great they were in February. I get it, the wings were the best team in jockey in February but it's not February anymore. 2 months have gone and the wings have limped into the playoffs.
As you can tell...I am pretty knew to this board. Never realized it existed until yesterday. So I am trying to learn who has allegiances to what teams.
I came across as sort of an ass in my last post however, it is still true what I said. Wings fans(not all, some) keep saying how great they were in February. I get it, the wings were the best team in jockey in February but it's not February anymore. 2 months have gone and the wings have limped into the playoffs.
It does matter though. The last time the Wings were completely healthy they were 1st place in the NHL and hadn't lost at home in 3 months. Now they are completely healthy once again sans Helm. You don't think that's relevant? Really?
It does matter though. The last time the Wings were completely healthy they were 1st place in the NHL and hadn't lost at home in 3 months. Now they are completely healthy once again sans Helm. You don't think that's relevant? Really?
So at what point did you become completely healthy? You looked completely outplayed and overmatched in the final game against the Hawks...I know, small sample size means squat. I'm just saying, because the last month the wings have not looked good at all.
Too bad they don't make videos for every time Weber and Suter stop Datsyuk. Besides I never said they were going to shut down him completely. Players like him don't get shut down completely. The goal is too contain and they are capable of doing that.
Exactly! You don't shut down Datsyuk. You contain him and minimize his chances. He's going to get his looks, he's simply too good.
Man I'm nervous about this series. Can't believe we drew the GD Red Wings after the year we had. *Insert old complaints about current playoff division winner format*
Though I'm sure Pens fans are equally thrilled about being #4 behind the Panthers and drawing the Flyers.
I can't believe the Central and Atlantic put forth 4x 100 pt teams each; crazy.
Well, our very young history has us making the playoffs 7 of the last 8 years and only 1 of 2 teams to have 40 plus wins the last few years straight. The other being Detroit. So I'd say we definitely aren't awful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Holliday
A few teams have had 40+ wins the last few years. San Jose and Pittsburgh being two of them.
The actual stat is Nashville and Detroit are the only two teams to win 40 or more games each of the last 7 seasons.
Hell of a defence, hell of a goalie. Little playoff experience, weak as hell in the scoring department.
Now?
Hell of a defence. Hell of a goalie. Good amount of playoff experience. Hell of a forward core.
They are a darkhorse Cup contender to be sure.
The only reason Nashville has a "hell of a forward corps" is because Radulov is a ****ing god. Otherwise, they'd be in the same boat as they were last year, mediocre in scoring. Their 5-on-5 scoring output is almost the same as last year; their power play is better this year, though.
The only reason Nashville has a "hell of a forward corps" is because Radulov is a ****ing god. Otherwise, they'd be in the same boat as they were last year, mediocre in scoring. Their 5-on-5 scoring output is almost the same as last year; their power play is better this year, though.
the power play isn't just better than last year, it's borderline absurd. that's a huge difference. the PP could do nothing against Vancouver, and might have been the biggest difference in the series. This year...it's number one.
And Radulov is a difference maker, sure...but even before he showed up,t he offense was in the top ten. That seems to me to be less than "mediocre."
I think only Boston has as many people with 12 or more goals. The makeup\style of the Predators is modelled pretty closely after the Bruins, actually.
So at what point did you become completely healthy? You looked completely outplayed and overmatched in the final game against the Hawks...I know, small sample size means squat. I'm just saying, because the last month the wings have not looked good at all.
They haven't been healthy for the last month, only the last couple weeks, if I'm remembering correctly. By the time the Wings got healthy, the division title was already out of reach and they were basically locked in for 4th or 5th place. When you've been going to the playoffs for 21 straight years and have a team full of veterans, motivation kind of fades when there is not a lot to play for. All January and February show us is that this team has the potential to be the best, or one of the best in the NHL and, in my opinion, can play at a higher level than Nashville. I fully expect them to be at there best on Wednesday. This their real season
the power play isn't just better than last year, it's borderline absurd. that's a huge difference. the PP could do nothing against Vancouver, and might have been the biggest difference in the series. This year...it's number one.
And Radulov is a difference maker, sure...but even before he showed up,t he offense was in the top ten. That seems to me to be less than "mediocre."
I think only Boston has as many people with 12 or more goals. The makeup\style of the Predators is modelled pretty closely after the Bruins, actually.
Both the Wings and Preds have 11 players with 10 or more goals. I agree the Preds are pretty similar to the Bruins..
The only reason Nashville has a "hell of a forward corps" is because Radulov is a ****ing god. Otherwise, they'd be in the same boat as they were last year, mediocre in scoring. Their 5-on-5 scoring output is almost the same as last year; their power play is better this year, though.
