OT: Red Wings - Hawks Open Thread

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

OT: Red Wings - Hawks Open Thread

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 12:51 PM

soupsnake

Joined: 09/20/2009

MGoPoints: 2570

Would way rather end with the

Would way rather end with the 4th seed. Traveling out West round 1 obviously doesn't work well for us.

April 7th, 2012 at 12:58 PM

(Reply to #2) #3

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

Agreed. But with Nashville

Agreed. But with Nashville playing Colorado today, I think it's unlikely they don't win that game. But I guess anything can happen in hockey.

April 7th, 2012 at 12:53 PM

Incredible Hoke

Joined: 06/23/2011

MGoPoints: 249

Just win, baby. I don't ever

Just win, baby. I don't ever want to see the Wings lose to the Blackhawks.

April 7th, 2012 at 12:54 PM

(Reply to #3) #5

Flamebait

Joined: 04/05/2012

MGoPoints: 241

Seconded. Go Wings!

April 7th, 2012 at 1:12 PM

(Reply to #3) #6

justingoblue

Joined: 11/16/2010

MGoPoints: 29685

It's gotten so much worse since 2010.

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:02 PM

goblueram

Joined: 08/18/2009

MGoPoints: 8577

Either way, we just need

Either way, we just need Nashville to lose. I would take 4th or 6th. Prefarably the 4 for home ice. Let's go Wings!

April 7th, 2012 at 1:09 PM

Happy Gilmore

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 2649

Via Nightmare On Helm Street

A simple flow chart showing who the wings will play first round depending on the outcomes:

April 7th, 2012 at 2:53 PM

(Reply to #7) #9

Happy Gilmore

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 2649

Winner of the Pacific

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).

April 7th, 2012 at 1:17 PM

#10

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

NHL actually made a smart move

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:19 PM

#11

Joined: 01/31/2012

MGoPoints: 243

Be careful what you wish for

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:25 PM

(Reply to #10) #12

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

Valid point. And the Yotes

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:24 PM

#13

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Big Rebound

That is the type of shit that will doom us in the playoffs.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:24 PM

#14

ToDefyTheFrizzleFry

Joined: 08/12/2010

MGoPoints: 1135

Big rebound

Big rebound turns into a goal. C'mon Wings!

April 7th, 2012 at 1:24 PM

#15

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 10330

It's almost as if there are

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:32 PM

#16

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 585

Filippula down...

Curse of the injuries continues...Also, 0 shots on the PP. If that doesn't get fixed it may be another early exit for the Wings.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:34 PM

(Reply to #15) #17

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 10330

Phew. He's back.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:37 PM

(Reply to #16) #18

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 10330

I don't think it's an

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:41 PM

(Reply to #18) #19

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Highest expectations

The Wings by far have the highest expectations every season for any major US sports franchise.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:38 PM

#20

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Fippula

By far his best season with the Wings, but just like the play a second ago, so many missed chances.

April 7th, 2012 at 1:58 PM

(Reply to #20) #21

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 10330

Where did I say otherwise? We

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:05 PM

#22

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Wings don't look like they are even there

Chicago is just taking it to us right now

April 7th, 2012 at 2:09 PM

#23

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Pav is too creative

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:17 PM

(Reply to #28) #24

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Sad

I am sad to say that he is also a alumni of BGSU

April 7th, 2012 at 2:20 PM

#25

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

Here comes the worst PP

Seriously they are really bad on the PP

April 7th, 2012 at 2:29 PM

#26

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 585

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Atrocious play today.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:34 PM

#27

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

Hello West Coast. The way the

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:50 PM

(Reply to #37) #28

Joined: 01/31/2012

MGoPoints: 243

Im going to say Yotes in 5

Im going to say Yotes in 5 with the Wings current play.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:39 PM

#29

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 585

I guess we really want to play out West?

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?

April 7th, 2012 at 2:49 PM

(Reply to #38) #30

Joined: 01/31/2012

MGoPoints: 243

Right now

they would be playing Phoenix.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:56 PM

(Reply to #40) #31

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

Haha. Why the hell are there

Haha. Why the hell are there like 100+ Nordiques fans at the Joe today?

April 7th, 2012 at 3:29 PM

(Reply to #45) #32

WMUgoblue

Joined: 12/06/2009

MGoPoints: 12146

Ken, and Paul were talking

Ken, and Paul were talking about this on the radio today, apparently a lot of Quebec fans going to multiple games across the league today to show their presence and hoping for a franchise to return to Quebec City.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:56 PM

#33

Evil Monkey

Joined: 09/16/2010

MGoPoints: 508

They played well

In the 1st but have been getting outplayed sense then.

April 7th, 2012 at 2:57 PM

#34

Lionsfan

Joined: 06/03/2011

MGoPoints: 1962

I just started watching, so

I just started watching, so maybe it's been answered. But what's with all the Quebec fans at the Joe?

April 7th, 2012 at 3:07 PM

#35

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 647

I'm a diehard Wings fan, but

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.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:23 PM

#36

GoBlue0420

Joined: 11/25/2011

MGoPoints: 265

RED WINGS!!!

Come get some! Shame on the fair weather fans complaining earlier

April 7th, 2012 at 3:24 PM

#37

Joined: 01/31/2012

MGoPoints: 243

Looks like Wings guaranteed

Looks like Wings guaranteed themselves a matchup with the preds. Let see if they get home ice now...

April 7th, 2012 at 3:24 PM

#38

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 647

Detroit just sealed a first

Detroit just sealed a first round exit. They were less than a minute away from a respectable 2-1 loss and a CHANCE at a first round win against Phoenix or LA.

Oh, well. Maybe someone didn't get the memo.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:30 PM

(Reply to #53) #39

GoBlue0420

Joined: 11/25/2011

MGoPoints: 265

You are pathetic...seriously

You are pathetic...seriously that attitude is ridiculous. You sound like someone that left at half time during the Wisconsin game before our huge comeback.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:35 PM

(Reply to #58) #40

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 647

Keep those rose colored

Keep those rose colored glasses on, pal...and watch a few WIngs games to get a feel for where this team is at before you start chiming in.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:41 PM

(Reply to #60) #41

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

Yeah I would hardly call your

Yeah I would hardly call your outlook pathetic. I'll admit I'm a bit of a cynical fan, but having watched the Wings over the last month, I don't see any chance of us beating Nashville. I would have much preferred the Pacific winner. I'll be cheering my head off against Nashville, but the way we play on the road, and the caliber of team Nashville has, I don't like our chances.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:42 PM

(Reply to #60) #42

GoBlue0420

Joined: 11/25/2011

MGoPoints: 265

I've been watching. I can't

I've been watching. I can't say if we are going to win or lose in the playoffs, but you expecting a loss is just sad. We are very much equally matched with Nashville, so I don't know why you are already forfeiting.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:42 PM

(Reply to #53) #43

TheJon

Joined: 04/20/2011

MGoPoints: 16

Respectable Loss?

When you have a chance at home ice, you're just supposed to lay down and lose? That's how sports work? Am I missing something here?

April 7th, 2012 at 4:01 PM

(Reply to #68) #44

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 647

I'm not going to debate the

I'm not going to debate the morality of this, but for those who just arrived in town by falling off the turnip truck, it happens.

Detroit and Nashville are numerically equal--same number of points. If that tells you these teams are equally matched at this point in the season, I've got a bridge in NYC I can give you a great deal on. Nashville dramatically improved their position at the trade deadline, picking up Andrei Kostitsyn AND getting Alexander Radulov back from the KHL because he had a year left on this contract with Nashville when he defected to play in Russia.

The Wings? We got Kyle Quincey.

This was simply about giving the Red Wings the best possible chance to win in the first round of the playoffs. They do not now have that chance. Chicago came out of this with the best possible situation: Detroit picks up ONE point and locks up the fifth seed, AND the Blackhawks still get a win and get to play the Pacific division winner. If I were the Blackhawks I would be popping champaign in the locker room right now.

April 7th, 2012 at 4:15 PM

(Reply to #69) #45

TheJon

Joined: 04/20/2011

MGoPoints: 16

Fair Enough,

the way I see it is that if the team is as bad as the seem right now, and cant "flip that switch," then I don't really care about what matchup they get, because they'll have to play the top talent down the road anyway. Though if they were able to play and beat the Pacific winner, it could have given them momentum, and with that who knows what could've happened in the next round. That's in the past though, and its time to look ahead and pray the team can get it together. I really think having Helm back will help them, even if just a little.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:25 PM

#46

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2881

This may be the least happy

This may be the least happy I've ever been with the Red Wings goal in my life.

In other absurdity, Chicago pulls their goalie in a tie game.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:27 PM

(Reply to #54) #47

Avant's Hands

Joined: 10/22/2011

MGoPoints: 9098

Smart move IMO. A win in

Smart move IMO. A win in regulation was the only thing that was going to help the Blackhawks. Now they are locked into the 6th spot no matter what happens.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:28 PM

#48

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 647

Now they will lose in OT or

Now they will lose in OT or shootout and take away any chance at home ice advantage...not that home ice will mean squadoosh playing against Nashville.

April 7th, 2012 at 3:39 PM

#49

Joined: 08/09/2009

MGoPoints: 3462

On to

Nashville

April 7th, 2012 at 3:39 PM

#50

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 647

Worst possible playoff

Worst possible playoff scenario for the Wings: opening on the road at Nashville.

Final playoff matchup for the Wings: opening on the road at Nashville.

April 7th, 2012 at 5:15 PM

#51

BlueRude

Joined: 11/17/2011

MGoPoints: 324

As in Any Sport Your Strength is Always up the Middle

I'm ok right now with our middle and Helm coming back. We got a lot of wingers that are small who lost a step, older ones who also lost a step. Do not be surprsied to see Grover's kid play, smith on D, maybe, Tatar a maybe. I still have not forgot President's Cup and it was first round out of town.

Fielder!! Yes

April 7th, 2012 at 8:29 PM

#52

CoachBuczekFHS

Joined: 01/05/2012

MGoPoints: 150

WOW! Terrible attitudes once again on here.

I'm seriously so sick of the negativity on this blog from some of the fans. "We have no chance against Nashville." Blah. Blah. Blah. What kind of Red Wings fans are you? Seriously? Not the kind that deserve to be cheering for the team. Okay, so we did not play well at the end of the season, but come on. We had half a minor league team playing for us, and we just got all of our guys back. It takes a few games to get the mojo and flow going again. We're back and we're healthy now. We NEVER lose in the first round and we CERTAINLY WON'T lose to Nashville. I'm a realistic fan too. And I've been watching the RED WINGS my WHOLE life and I gurantee we will win this series. If you're one of those fans on here saying we're going to lose to Nashville and we have no chance why don't you not watch. Why waste your time? In fact why don't you go be a fair weather fan for some other team. I'm talking to YOU SNACKYX, AND THE POSTER OF THIS THREAD! Like are you guys kidding me? What kind of fans are you? Some of the posters on this thread fit the generalizations given about MgoBloggers.

April 7th, 2012 at 10:08 PM

(Reply to #72) #53

I Bleed Maize N Blue

Joined: 09/27/2008

MGoPoints: 16692

I agree with you about the

I agree with you about the excessive negativity, but to say the Wings "NEVER lose in the first round" is just wrong.

During this twenty-year playoff streak they've been sent home early six times (four when they've won the division, twice as the 1st seed, twice as the 2nd) by the: Blues in '91 (1st year of the streak); Leafs in '93; Sharks in '94; Kings in '01; Ducks in '03; and Oilers in '06.

It wouldn't be that surprising if the Predators won, though I'm not going to count the Wings out before they've actually lost four games.

Go Wings!

April 7th, 2012 at 10:41 PM

#54