OT: Red Wings - Hawks Open Thread

Submitted by BOX House on

The last day of the season is upon us, yet so much left to be decided today throughout hockey. 

Red Wings scenarios:

Win and a Nashville loss in regulation means we host Nashville in the 4-5 matchup. (probably not going to happen).

Win and Nashville gets any point and we are the 5 seed travelling to Nashville.

Lose and the Wings head West to face the Pacific Division winner (a whole other story to be played out today) as the 6 seed.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if we tanked it today. I don't think we stand a chance against Nashville - especially on the road. But I think we could take Los Angeles or Phoenix in a best of 7 and perhaps build up some momentum in that series to carry us into the second round.

justingoblue

April 7th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^

I grew up outside Chicago, and it was much better being a Wings fan when everyone wasn't a "lifelong Hawks fan".

I can deal with the shit talking from old hockey buddies just fine, but seeing "lol NEVER seen the Hawks lose to the Wings...Ears ringing from the Madhouse on Madison!!!" makes me want to do things I would regret when I woke up the next morning in a jail cell.

Happy Gilmore

April 7th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^

As the standings sit now, Phoenix is ahead of the San Jose/LA Kings by one point. The Kings play the Sharks today, so one of those two teams will be guaranteed 2 points to jump Phoenix.

Phoenix is in the driver seat to win the Pacific division. They play Minnesota, and with a win (or getting 1 point in an overtime/shootout loss due to the tiebreaker [wins - shoot out wins] depending on how the other game goes) they will win the division.

I said this in a thread a from few games ago and got 'flamebaited' real quick, but I don't mind the Wings losing this game and taking on the winner of the Pacific because I think any of those 3 teams would be a better match-up than playing Nashville as a 5 seed (despite San Jose taking us out the past few years).

weasel3216

April 7th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^

Making all 30 teams play today may be one of the smartest moves the NHL has made in recent memory.  There are so many possibilities that can occur today and it insures diehard hockey fans will be tuning in all day.

Doesn't make up for the other dumbass moves they have made though.

ItlnWolverine

April 7th, 2012 at 1:19 PM ^

Mike Smith, the Coyotes goaltender, has allowed only 1 goal in the last four games. That team is on a roll and im sure it would be tough to knock them out of the playoffs for a third straight season.

BOX House

April 7th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^

Valid point. And the Yotes looked really good last night against St. Louis. They should beat Minnesota tonight, and clinch the Pacific. 

I'm not saying a matchup with Phoenix would be easy, just that I think we have a better shot against them in a best of 7 than against Nashville. I just can't see us beating Nashville the way we're playing.

bacon1431

April 7th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^

It's almost as if there are too many games going on for me today. I'm watching Wolverhampton take on Stoke, got the Wings on, The Masters starts in a couple hours and the Tigers play today as well. Life could be worse though.

bacon1431

April 7th, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^

I don't think it's an excuse...just a reality. You don't get a break when you have injuries. But Franzen, Datsyuk, Helm, Cleary and Howard are not 100% right now. And those are some big players when looking at the Wings playoff chances. Detroit expects to go deep in the playoffs every year, injuries don't change that, but they certainly don't help the cause.

bacon1431

April 7th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^

Where did I say otherwise? We do have some young fowards that can fill in on our 3rd and 4th lines. But nobody in the league has the depth to fill in for a Datsyuk, Franzen and Cleary and Howard (McDonald is even injured right now). If we had players good enough to fill in for them, they'd already be on the team. Just a fact of life for the Wings right now. I won't blame a playoff exit on injuries. But I also won't deny that they played a factor.

weasel3216

April 7th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^

Pav is by far my favorite player, but sometimes i think he is too creative for the players on his line.  He does something that no one expects and it just leads to a turnover becuase no one is expecting the pass.  I guess this is a good problem to have though.  

exmtroj

April 7th, 2012 at 2:19 PM ^

Chance wasted there, Franzen just seemed to stop caring and half-heartedly backhanded the puck at an impossible angle after just sort of lazily gliding right out of a good shooting lane. What in the world...

BOX House

April 7th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

Hello West Coast. The way the Wings are playing right now they are the probably the worst team in the playoffs momentum-wise, not really sure we're going to beat anyone in round 1. 

AKMuskie

April 7th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^

I've never had such low expections heading into the playoffs with the Wings. Even the season they finished 5th or 6 they were playing out of their minds to get there.They worry the shit out of me. I guess it'd be better to play LA/SJ than Nashville on the road?

exmtroj

April 7th, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^

Franzen's probably still valuable off of his past reputation, if anyone wants to pick up his contract we could get some value for him. Use it to put some depth on the bench so we don't turn into a Junior A level team overnight if someone gets hurt. Sure could use some speed and youthful intensity out there, too

snackyx

April 7th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^

I'm a diehard Wings fan, but I have to hope they tank this one...NO points, please.  Any series against Nashville, home ice or not, will be a major problem.  Lets take our chances out west, hoping that San Jose does not weasel into the third spot--our record against San Jose in the playoffs speaks for itself.  At least with LA or Phoenix we have a puncher's chance.

In ANY event, I simply do not see any way this team goes deep into the playoffs.