WingNut722

I think the issue the Wings are having this season is rather simple...

Shoot the bleepin' puck!

I can't remember how many times I said that to my TV last night.  I don't understand why these guys have to wait until just the perfect opportunity opens up.  Shoot the bleepin' puck!  DeKeyser did, and look what happened!  That was an unbelievable goal!  Had Nick Lidstrom written all over it!  Ya know why?  Because Lidstrom would shoot the bleepin' puck!  Last two minutes of the game and Detroit is on a power play and needs two goals,  Pavel Datsyuk, the master, floating around the slot, looking lost.  Stood there with the puck for about 10 seconds and did nothing.  Shoot the bleepin' puck!  The Jets registered 47 shots on goal last night, clearly, they were not afraid to shoot the bleepin' puck!

There, I'm done........

I hear old number five might be around for the upcoming oldtiemrs game, lol. Maybe if we promised him to only play the power play.....

I kinda like that idea.  But since the Wings are so close to the cap, Lidstrom would have to play for federal minimum wage, but he'd get bonuses for every point.

@yave1964  Understood.  In that case I agree with you.  These next two games should be fun.  Darren helm has been reactivated of LTIR and should be in the lineup by Saturday.  Kronner is due back tomorrow as well as Ericsson.  Having Helm back should probably take The Dump Truck out of the centerman's position, so the faceoff circle will probably see Datsyuk, Weiss, Andersson, and Helm.  Franzen should be on the third line until he starts showing some decent, CONSISTENT play.  

Here's my Mike Babcock moment:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader

Cleary - Weiss - Alfredsson

Franzen - Andersson - Bertuzzi

Tootoo - Helm - Miller

The only negotiable point would be switching out Tootoo with Samuelsson, but it's really based on who can throw rubber at the net.  Tootoo only had two shots on goal last night, but given the stingy defense the Sharks played, it might as well have been a donzen.  I'd like to see Cleary on the second line playing netfront from Alfie's point shot.  Cleary is more tenacious in front of the net than Franzen.  Weiss would be perfect in close somewhere to fish rebounds.  

I prefer not to discuss the (lack of) performance from The Dump Truck....

@yave1964  There is no way you can consider their point to be "stolen" by any stretch of the word.

I agree that the defense was huge for the Wings despite being short-handed.  They really mustered up to the challenge.  Neither team was able to generate any real, sustained pressure in the zone.  The Wings have been consistently allowing way more shots on goal than they should, but to keep the Sharks, who up until this point had been averaging close to 40, down to 27 SOG, including overtime is a huge feather in the cap for this young defense.

The fourth line of Miller, Tootoo,and Andersson really had some jump.  I wouldn't call this a boring game at all.  Normally I despise 1-0 shootouts, but this was a gem to watch.  

The Sharks have developed a suffocating defense strategy, and they can easily frustrate the likes of Datsyuk and Zetterberg.  Still, the Wings didn't get a lot of help from the officials (again) on this one.  The Sharks got away with several minor penalties, not to mention Cleary's offside call in the third when the puck hit the linesman.

The Wings should be proud of this performance, despite taking the OTL.   

Say, when is McLeod's hearing, anyway?

I was not able to watch this game, but I did see the clip of Kronwall getting destroyed.  Ugly hit.  First impressions say he has a concussion but it responsive.  I'd hate for him to be out for too long.  Drew Miller mixing it up too!  I guess 1998 isn't THAT long ago, is it....  I wonder if Paddy showed all the old videos to his team before they went out on the ice, and asked them to resurrect the rivalry...for old times' sake! 

Still, looking at the box score, it seems Detroit is taking too many penalties and allowing WAY too many shots.  Thrilled with the victory.  I'm also impressed that The Dump Truck has finally found the back of the net.  I will continue to call him The Dump Truck until a successful scoring trend has developed, though.  

@SpikeDDS

I think maybe times have changed.  I've proudly worn my Wings sweater to MSG on a couple of occasions and never got to much as a foul look.  Most people are too self-absorbed these days to notice things like that, I suppose.  Especially in NYC.  I've never really had a problem, but I've never acted obnoxious in enemy territory either!  That might have something to do with it!

@Commander Clueless

I'm sure he'll suit up once or twice against the Leafs this season.  We'll see how that works!

@Haliax  @SpikeDDS

The rules on penalties are so strict these days, but the game moves so much faster.  The officials are still humans, and what looks like a hook, or a trip, or interference will usually get called.  I don't fault them too much, but the European players aren't used to such strict rules regarding stick handling.  Nicklas Ldstrom for crying out loud would be in the box for hooking at least once a week.  It's the way these guys (mostly Swedes) learned to play the game, and now it doesn't jibe with the North American rules of the 21st century.  I wouldn't necessarily say they're undisciplined.

The good news is that despite the elevated number of 5-on-3 situations the Wings find themselves in, they haven't yielded a single goal yet.  And I don't believe the lingering power play after the first penalty expires has been successful either.

Three-game win streak heading into undefeated Colorado.  Jim Howard listed by the press as "questionable" for that game.  I'd say they'll lean on Gus one more time while he's in the zone.

@SpikeDDS

Agreed.  With all the competetition for forwards, I'm surprised Babs is giving Tootoo some quality minutes.  Tootoo hasn't fought anybody at all, but in favor of some of the younger and perhaps,more offense-minded, talent he has on the bench, it's interesting to see Babcock's decision.   

@Haliax

Latest reports say Jimmy Howard is "doubtful" for tonight's game against the Jackets.  Looks like Monster will suit up again

@Polaris922 

I have gotten a few things thrown at me at Ranger games before, but nothing serious.  No beers or food or anything.  Mostly just from young knuckleheaded punks.  Whenever we visit a venue other than JLA we try to get seats down with the season ticket holders.  They're the ones who really talk hockey

@goalnut3133  I didn't notice the Bergeron hit (or almost-hit) on Datsyuk.  I suppose there is still a measure of respect for a player like that in this game.  Datsyuk is pretty tough and he's taken his share of hard hits.  Chances are though, from what you're telling me, Bergeron might have been called for boarding, or at least have to explain himself to Jordin Tootoo.

On another note, I have seen Vermont in the fall and it is unbelievable!  We went up several years ago and spent a long weekend in a small, quaint country inn, neat Mount Snow.  I certainly can't wait for the opportunity to go back.  This year though, we'll have to let the foliage come to us.... 

Hey.....I'm in Vermont.

 

If you see an old guy with a Long Trail, wave.

Of course! How many of you can there possibly be?

. We didn't really taunt or draw attention to ourselves when the Wings went up 3-1 we figured we were still outnumbered 20,000 to 2 so we just clapped quietly to ourselves. The fans around us were good natured.

Absolutely. Boston fans are great. We went up a few years ago with a friend of mine (Rangers fan) for a game against the Rags. We borrowed some sweaters from him and headed on out. Even in the blue shirts we met some pretty great people at the bars before and after the game. Can't wait to go back sometime

@WingNut722

 

Oh I think I forgot to mention we blocked about a million shots!! Everyone stepped up with the backup in net going against the big and bads and sacrificed their bodies for the good of the team. 

And the Bruins still managed to get 31 pieces of rubber into Gustavsson.  

By the way, did you head out to bars after the game?  I find there's no better place to hang out and talk hockey over a few beers than Boston, just outside the "Gahden", no matter who's jersey you have on!

There I fixed it for you.............

Slick...........!

 I had the pleasure of taking an extended lunch break to watch the first two periods of this contest.  I loved it.  The Wings looked real sharp.  By the way, before I go any further...

Be It Remembered Among All Members Herewith - I declare henceforward to never to refer to Johan Franzen as "The Mule".  he will now be referred to as "The Dump Truck".  Why?  Because he's big, ugly, and slow.  And he serves no purpose other than to haul dead weight around.  

Now that that's settled...

The Wings looked very sharp, other than The Dump Truck.  All three goals were executed perfectly (yes, even The Dump Truck's pass to Weiss was right on the tape).  The penalty killing unit was perfect again tonight, even taking on nearly two minutes of 5-on-3 early in the third.  The Bruins managed to spend a lot of time in the zone on these power plays, but the Wings kept the shots on goal to a minimum, which is a positive.  However, you can't go to the well too many times, and asking for 5 successful kills is a lot.  I realize the Wings had no power play opportunities, and I would have liked to see how they would have fared, but Boston's PK is also one of the best in the league, and I think we would have been disappointed with the results.  

Even Monster was a monster this afternoon.  He had a little trouble with the rebounds but that has to be a sigh of relieve for Jimmy Howard.  He needn't rush his return from a bruised hand as long as Gustavsson plays like that.   I wouldn't be surprised if Gustavsson gets the nod for the game against Columbus and leave Jimmy to take on the Avs.  

I agree with @yave1964 that Luke Glendening has made a huge impact on the Wings' lineup.  He brings a lot of energy and speed to that fourth line.  I think it will be a long time before we see Corey Whats-his-name again.  

It's all starting to come together now.  A quick rest on the plane and then we'll meet the Blue Jackets tomorrow evening.  The Jackets are 2-2 after dropping their most recent contest to the Bruins Saturday afternoon.  They'll be hungry...

@sarsippius

Courtesy of @flyercanuck.  He gets a quarter from the tooth fairy every time that particular phrase is used, or when @ruxpin loses his lunch...i mean lunchbox 

Well maybe, but I really suspect the Tooth Fairy.  Only because it was a really nice lunch box and all that was left was a damned quarter.

Can't argue with that logic...

Does he also believe the Easter Bunny stole his lunch box?

Ya know, I never thought to ask.  Is that what happened to yours, ore you just a conspiracy theorist?

 

 Don't blame ALL us Flyer fans for ONE delusional psychotic wackjob. I mean in this case. I will fully admit there is more than one delusional psychotic wackjob Flyer fan. Heck the owner is another.

It's a safe assumption.  I've found that Philly fans in general, regardless of sport, more often than not are delusional psychotic wackjobs.  Nobody on this site of course qualifies for that moniker.  No, you guys are all straight up regular folks.  Really.......I mean it......................really...............................................................................really?

@yave1964

Glad to see Babcock wasn't afraid to shuffle the lines.  Was widely impressed to see he brought in a call-up too in Luke Glendening (who had a helluva night too).  I know we had a discussion about this last season...Babcock needing to show his players that poor play gets you a seat on the bench.

There's still some work to be done. Detroit was better in the faceoff circle than they were against Phoenix, but there's still room for improvement.  Still allowing a few too many shot.  But this was a fun game to watch.  Datsyuk and Zetterberg were their old selves again.  Just plain pretty...Gives you the giggles watching them......

I'm not going to comment really on Newberry's thwack at Tootoo, however I will say that it looks like Tootoo gave Newberry the evil eye from center ice, and Newberry looked like he realized he just made a terrible mistake.  Look for Tootoo to go after this kid the next time these two teams meet.  

 After 2 decades of beatings? Sympathy?

I talked with guy a few months ago who STILL believes the Flyers could have, and should have, won the cup in 1997, and that despite being swept, he felt that Lindros and the Legion of Doom were just going easy because they wanted to play a "real" opponent.  So no, no sympathy    

Count on @WingNut722 to apply salt to the wound. ;-P

Wasn't trying to salt the wound..just to mention that Filppula has apparantly learned how to shoot.  Thanks for throwin' me under the bus! 

For what it's worth, Valtteri Filppula has 3G/1A and is +3 in four games with Tampa Bay.  Just sayin'...