OT: Red Wings #2 in most recent ESPN NHL Power Rankings
http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings
13-3-2 since the Olympic break. Call me crazy, but I think that's pretty spectacular. Stanley Cup playoffs begin in 8 days.
Where's Crosby and the Penguins you may ask? #8.
That's pretty fair, Pierre LeBrun. GO WINGS!
Crazy.
Just wanted to do it.
Completely understandable.
5 days from now is actually the final day of the regular season. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, the 14th, 8 days from now.
The Wings boards are flooded with threads about potential playoff match-ups, and who is preferable. Count me as one who doesn't care. They'll play who they'll play. I just hope they get to 100 points to keep that streak alive!
2 wins and they'll have it!
I am a recent Michigan transplant to Phoenix. Therefore, they must win out and finish 5th. Self-serving? Yes.
The Wings are making a strong run at the right time. Hopefully, it will carry over into the playoffs.
For what it's worth, the Pens have been without Gonchar and Malkin for quite a few games. So soon we forget what injuries do to a team...
I'm a little worried about playing Phoenix in the first round. They're about the only team out there better at executing their system than the Red Wings this year. I'd rather face Vancouver with their injury depleted defense. Plus, Luongo has a history of folding under pressure (spare me the Olympic medal mantra, he played sufficient but wasn't anywhere near spectacular; not that he had to be or anything with the talent in front of him).
I completely disagree. I would much rather play Phoenix than Vancouver. I know it's cliche, but you have to lose before you win (see Wings '95, '06-'07, Pittsburgh '08, etc.). Phoenix had a great year, but I think they'll be an easy out in the playoffs for the Wings. Luongo scares me, even with his history and second half struggles, and I think Vancouver is really talented.
It won't happen now that they've played their way up to the 5-6 seed, but I would probably take Chicago and San Jose over Vancouver. And if the Wings get to the second round, I think they have a great chance to beat one of those two teams.
The Wings could still very easily finish 7th. As far as the 5/6 spots, they no longer control their own destiny. If Nashville and LA manage to win out, or at least lose no more games in regulation than Detroit does the rest of the way, the Wings will finish 7th and likely face Chicago or SJ.
The Wings are playing playoff hockey now, instead of having to "turn it on" once the playoffs start.
At least in the first round match up (regardless of who they play) they will be basically hitting the ground running. This will be an advantage as opposed to past years where they essentially treated the first round as something to simply endure after having been on autopilot for the last month of the season.
Lets hope they don't get a Pac time zone opponent for the first round. In a long series, that may make a difference going forward.
I'm also interested in seeing how Howard will stack up in his playoff debut. None of the goalies in the West really seem all that impressive. Luongo of course is very good, and i've been impressed by Pekka Rinne and Jon Quick, but there is no real monster this year. With Kiprusoff out there are no real game changers who can stand on their heads and win games alone.
I'm just happy to, for once, be the underdog team with the hot goalie no one had heard of before this season, instead of the team trying to score on him.
We may have a lower seed, but we're playing so well, I don't think I'd consider us "underdogs."