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?
While no one can dispute that the Wings are in better shape and have reason to be optimistic, it IS relevant because at this very moment you still aren't the team you were a couple months ago.....you just have the potential to be. The last we've seen of Detroit they've been playing well in spurts, poorly in others. Believe me, nothing in this league scares me more than a healthy Wings squad firing on all cylinders but the fact is you haven't been doing that for awhile now. Like I said, you certainly have the potential to again now.....and I sure hope you dont.....but it's a little premature to assume it's all automatically going back to the well-oiled machine you guys were back in the winter. It would be one thing if this was March and you had some time to play a weaker team now and then to get back in the groove, but it's the playoffs and although I'll never count the Wings out, ever, it's gonna be that much harder to get it all back to the way it was.
While no one can dispute that the Wings are in better shape and have reason to be optimistic, it IS relevant because at this very moment you still aren't the team you were a couple months ago.....you just have the potential to be. The last we've seen of Detroit they've been playing well in spurts, poorly in others. Believe me, nothing in this league scares me more than a healthy Wings squad firing on all cylinders but the fact is you haven't been doing that for awhile now. Like I said, you certainly have the potential to again now.....and I sure hope you dont.....but it's a little premature to assume it's all automatically going back to the well-oiled machine you guys were back in the winter.
I agree. January and February only show us what the Wings are capable of, obviously not how they have been playing recently. I hope they are ready to play come Wednesday
I used "otherwise". Hence, I did not say you guys were mediocre in scoring or 5-on-5 scoring this year. Stat-wise, you have enough 5-on-5 goals to be considered a possible Cup contender...although if any team goes "LA" on you and hems your team in their own zone with physical and rough play, you guys are done.
I agree. January and February only show us what the Wings are capable of, obviously not how they have been playing recently. I hope they are ready to play come Wednesday
Agreed. The Preds are going to come out blazing and hungry. If the Wings can recapture their New Years form, it should be a good, intense series where the Wings come out on top. If they play the way they have recently, I expect to see early and large Nashville leads that are cut down by a goal or two in the third, just like the recent games.
The actual stat is Nashville and Detroit are the only two teams to win 40 or more games each of the last 7 seasons.
I remember hearing in the offseason that 4 teams had 40+ wins since the lockout (Nashville, Detroit, San Jose, and Calgary). Nashville, Detroit, and San Jose did it again this year. I think maybe what you're quoting said that before the Sharks got 40 this year.
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.
Absolutely true.
But you don't completely shut down Radulov either. He's going to get his chances, and he's going to set up his linemates for beautiful chances.
Series will be decided on whether Nashville's more run-of-the-mill forwards finish their chances or not. If they do, Nashville can certainly win. If they don't, Detroit has a huge advantage, since they typically DO finish.
But you don't completely shut down Radulov either. He's going to get his chances, and he's going to set up his linemates for beautiful chances.
Series will be decided on whether Nashville's more run-of-the-mill
forwards finish their chances or
not. If they do, Nashville can
certainly win. If they don't, Detroit
has a huge advantage, since they
typically DO finish.
Buddy, if our D like Lidstrom and Stuart, with Kronwall can shut down Crosby and Malkin, i'm pretty sure we can shut down Radulov. He's overhyped.
Buddy, if our D like Lidstrom and Stuart, with Kronwall can shut down Crosby and Malkin, i'm pretty sure we can shut down Radulov. He's overhyped.
based on what? He's been absolutely dominant in every game he's played since coming back...even games in which he didn't necessarily get a point, it's chance after chance when he's on the ice.
based on what? He's been absolutely dominant in every game he's played since coming back...even games in which he didn't necessarily get a point, it's chance after chance when he's on the ice.
...okay...then, our superstar goaltender can stop your players...?
Goaltending is not that big of an advantage for the Preds. Howard wasn't an all star for nothing. Rinne is just so damn good at moving the puck, i swear every time we dump the puck on him he makes one good pass and the Preds clear the zone.
Goaltending is not that big of an advantage for the Preds. Howard wasn't an all star for nothing. Rinne is just so damn good at moving the puck, i swear every time we dump the puck on him he makes one good pass and the Preds clear the zone.
I'm not going to get into the merits\lack thereof of ASG appearances, but I will disagree that the gap isn't that big between Rinne and Howard.
Put it this way...aside from MAYBE Lundqvist, there's not a goaltender in the league I'd rather have than Rinne. Not even close. I like Jimmy Howard, and have since his college\WJC days...but I think he's in the next tier of goaltenders.
Buddy, if our D like Lidstrom and Stuart, with Kronwall can shut down Crosby and Malkin, i'm pretty sure we can shut down Radulov. He's overhyped.
That's the beauty of the Preds forward corps. If you concentrate on shutting down 1 line they can roll 3 others that can play good two way hockey. The Preds don't have the plethora of top end forward talent some other teams do but they make up for it with solid two way players on all 4 lines. The Preds have the depth to play any way they need too. Need to play a grinding gritty game? OK, insert Tootoo,Yip to go along with Gaustad, Bourque, Spaling etc. and have at it. Need to ice a more skilled line up? OK, go with Wilson,Smith, Halischuck. Preds can play it any way they need too and they have proven all year they can score before they even added Radulov.
GPG this year Preds are tied for 8th. Wings are in 7 .09 in front of the Preds.
Preds are icing a deep forward corps and trying to emulate Boston of last year IMO. On paper they won't be the weakness that they have been every other year.
Pre-injury, the Wings were 4th best team defensively. During the injuries they were BAD. They dropped to 12th at one point (or around there, I cannot remember). They managed to creep back to 7th at the end of the year, but only after they were healthy.
I think it's fair to say the Wings are a top 4-5 team defensively. Also, they are the best 5 on 5 team in the league. I'm sure that helps their defense.
I say that because we are talking about Radulov. I say we wait until the playoffs. Predictions are going to make people here look foolish. Remember the first 4 games of the series? ALL Detroit. Nashville won 1, but they were still out played that game.
Last two games? Game 5 I wouldn't take much stock in. It was Nashville VS Detroit Griffons. Nashville earned it, but that wont gauge much going into the playoffs. Game 6? Rinne earned that, and Howard was rusty (comming of 2 groin injuries would even hurt Rinne's game, you gotta admit). It was a defensive battle... All it took was 2 defensive break downs (and a good line change by Trotz) that game and Nashville scored.
But Radulov wasn't much a threat that game. It took a horrible 4th line defensive break down in the slot (thanks a lot Emmerton) to give him that point blank chance. What I read on here is the Wings better look out... Like he's going to make shredded wheat out of the Wings' defense, you know the team that was 4th in the league. Went 12ish due to injury, and clawed to 7th by the end of the season? If he is a problem, Babcock has a playoff weapon: Zetterberg.
That's right. Zetterberg is used in a totally different way in the playoffs. This man shut down Crosby in 08 and 09. I think people tend to forget what Zetterberg does best as a defensive forward: Play defense.
So with the Wings being a top 4-5 team defensively in the league, and Zetterberg shadowing Radulov, if need be...I think this series will be a low scoring, tight checking defensive battle. Oh, don't underestimate Howard. He's very capable of matching Rinne on the other end.
As for special teams. The Wings seem to have fixed their PK (killed 20+ in a row). Their PP is "clicking", but still cannot finish. I think they are 4 in their last 16. Better than their 1 in 70ish...heh
I don't think anyone is confident that Radulov will be shredding the Detroit defense. We are saying that he is the type of forward who can quickly take advantage of a bad change, botched coverage, or a weird bounce in the slot. Nashville hasn't really had a forward of his caliber since he left.
Similarly, I don't think Datsyuk is going to shred the Nashville D just because he's done it before. Again, he absolutely will make you pay for mistakes, but for the most part I think both Rads and Dats are going to get their chances without making the other team's D look like a high school hockey team (very often).
I'm not going to get into the merits\lack thereof of ASG appearances, but I will disagree that the gap isn't that big between Rinne and Howard.
Put it this way...aside from MAYBE Lundqvist, there's not a goaltender in the league I'd rather have than Rinne. Not even close. I like Jimmy Howard, and have since his college\WJC days...but I think he's in the next tier of goaltenders.
Explain why please. What makes Rinne so good in your mind compared to someone like Jimmy Howard who is just considered average?
Rinne's playoff stats are also very mediocre: 2.60 GAA, .908 S%
Compared to someone like Jimmy Howard: 2.63 GAA, .919 S%
Not trying to say that Howard = Rinne....I just dont understand why by most Howard is considered average at best in the NHL and Rinne is a superstar goaltender despite both having the luxury of playing behind very good defenses and both still having to prove themselves in the playoffs.
Serious question, not trying to flame. I do not understand how goaltenders are evaluated.
I guess Lidstrom was supposed to be in the corner AND the slot at the same time? That was a blown coverage by Cory Emmerton, the 4th line center.
Also, if you ask me, that was on Ian White...He went for a poke check instead of taking the man (the guy who passed)...Far from a superstar.
Radulov scored on the 4th line, Ian White and Lidstom. Lol
Maybe he didn't make Lidstrom look bad, but those very players will be taking shifts during this series. Sometimes they will be on the ice when Radulov is on the ice.
Explain why please. What makes Rinne so good in your mind compared to someone like Jimmy Howard who is just considered average?
Serious question, not trying to flame. I do not understand how goaltenders are evaluated.
Personally, I don't think there is much of a gap between the two. Each is a good goaltender, and they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I think Rinne's style fits the Preds better than Howard's style would. It's really just a matter of preference IMO
btw your comments were no where near flaming or violating any other rule
Maybe he didn't make Lidstrom look bad, but those very players will be taking shifts during this series. Sometimes they will be on the ice when Radulov is on the ice.
That was a terrible defensive breakdown between the forwards. Detroit has to limit those plays to compete in this series, because Radulov is the kind of guy who can finish off the plays of his hard working line mates (not saying he isn't a hard worker, but I think that would be an adjective to describe most of the Predators offense).
