Red Wings run Starts Tonight
If this doesn't get you pumped for the playoffs, I don't know what will. Really hoping for a Red Wings - Avs final for old times sake. Especially since Roy is the coach now, it would be awesome to see some type of rivalry rekindled. Maybe a Varlamov - Howard fight or Roy v Babcock
April 18th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^
If the Wings can keep their heads up and avoid too many hard checks, I think they've got a pretty good chance of stealing this one from the Bruins.
Of course, I'm a hopeless Wings slappy too, so that may influence my outlook.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
in the regular season; I don't think you're a slappy for saying they have a good chance to win the series. Should be a fun one.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
They got outplayed in most of those games though. I would have rather faced Pittsburgh.
April 18th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
Agree. If Z and Big E were back healthy, I would give the Wings a decent chance. Without those two, I feel like a deep Bruins team can exploit the Wings a bit on D. Howard will have to be very strong.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
I Love the Wings but people in Michigan have overestimated the actual team for years now. The organization and team have created a cup or bust attitude which is great (especially with how the Lions and Pistons are run) but the Wings are simply not as good as Boston or a lot of other teams. However it is hockey so anything can happen but my guess is Bruins in 6.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
... and ends in about a week and a half. The future is bright though, as the Grand Rapids Griffins did enough to make the playoffs. The Wings will return. I just don't see them being able to do much in this series...
April 18th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
What channel it be on in da south?
April 18th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
Probably NBC Sports
April 18th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
Wings in 7.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
Thankfully, the NHL no longer reseeds after every round. That means that if the Wings do win, they take over the "draw" of the #1 team. The old Wings won a lot of President's Trophies that didn't turn into Stanley Cups. I can't wait to see how this round plays out.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
You just contradicted yourself. Since the NHL doesn't reseed, there is no "draw" for the #1 team.
April 18th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
There is no "draw" of a #1 seed. It is the Atlantic divisons side of the bracket. They would play the winner of TB/MTL, the 2 and 3 seeds in the Atlantic.
April 18th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
LGRW!!!!
April 18th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
I think the Wings chances hinge on just how soon Zetterberg can get back. the B's have a significant edge on the blueline, but the Wings have a speed edge. If they find a way to steal one in Boston and Z can return in game 4ish, I could see the Wings stealing this series.
He skated with the team this morning in Boston, but I don't think he will realistically play in this series.
If we can somehow survive this and get to the 2nd round, watch out. Z is our most valuable player. The guy makes everyone around him so much better. It is incredible watching him forecheck along the boards in the offensive zone, shielding a guy off and controlling the puck with one hand. Combine that with Pavel's skill and our offensive zone cycle is a thing of beauty.
if we somehow grind out a series win, we are the team to beat. Zetty, Ericsson will be back..dangerous.
April 18th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
Big E for this series is going to hurt. Bruins are too freaking deep. Love my Wings but I see a 6 or 7 games series in favor of the bad guys.
But hey, thats why you play the game right....GO WINGS
April 18th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
It all comes down to Howard. The Wings have the speed and youth of the type of team that used to knock them off when they were one of the Cup favorites, and even without Z they have plenty of leadership in Datsyuk, Kronwall, Alfredsson, and Legwand to keep the kids stable. However, what the teams that used to slay the Wings in their giant years also had was otherworldly, frustration meltdown-inducing goaltending. If Howard provides that, they can definitely win this series, but that is a massive question mark.
April 18th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
I don't think Howard is a question mark. He's been very good the past couple of playoffs, the guys in front of him were the issue.
April 18th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
I'm definitely not saying he hasn't been solid, I probably should have been clearer. It is because of the shaky defense that he needs to perform so well. Solid won't cut it, game-stealing will be the requirement.
Gotcha. No disagreement then. I certainly think he's capable.
Howard has been solid in every playoffs except the 11-12 season.
Right, but like I said, "solid" would be OK if their top two D pairings were still Lidstrom-Rafalski and Kronwall-Stuart. I think with the defense they now have, Howard's going to need a performance along the lines of the great ones that have knocked them off before, think Giguere '03/Kiprusoff '04/Roloson '06/Rinne '12. I've seen Howard look damn good in the playoffs, but he's never put up that kind of series-stealing performance.
Our defense played like hot garbage in front of him. I can't remember how many times Nashville passed out it from behind the net to a guy standing in the mid to low slot for a point blank goal. We couldn't buy a goal either.
Howard wasn't the reason we lost that series.
April 18th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
But was surprised Roy was the coach of the Avs. It seems a bit odd to have a goalie as a head coach, if only because goalie (in any sport) is so much different than any other position on the playing surface. Sure, you have to understand other parts of the game, but still. Am I correct about this, is this an anomaly or normal in the hockey coaching ranks?
he's canadian. I think that's the only prerequisite
Not sure. I know Ken Holland was a goalie, and he is doing fine running a whole hockey team. Again, not really comparable to coaching maybe?
But I am pretty sure positive the Red Wings handed Roy his first career loss as a coach.
EDIT: Confirmed
14 Minutes of Pissed Off Goalies on the YouTubes. Some pretty good ones in there. Roy is well-represented, including his one-on-one with Vernon. Good times.
Goalies see the game better than anyone. Easily the best position on the ice :)
say Red Wings run 3 times fast...
I hope so, but I think they lose this series. They will likely lose tonight, too, as one of the hardest things in sports is winning game one of a playoff series on the road.
With many players back our team is too good. The 3rd and 7th best player in the game have been out. We got the 3rd, and Hank is back soon. I am not saying we are much better than the Bruins, but adversity and the experience our 3rd and 4th line players got was mind blowing. We had 4th line players on the ice as much as any teams top two lines. This is a huge deal in hockey.
Let's add an 8 over a 1 seed to our history. Wings in 7. Get Z back in Round 2.
Some communist deleted my comment!
...though I'm having trouble believing someone else needed your comment.
No wonder why you like the Pens. You complain and cry just like their "fearless leader".
That's because it was weak and annoying.
Because you troll every post related to Detroit sports.
It's weird to me for the Wings to be considered a massive underdog. For the past 20 years, words like "inexperienced" and "fast" and "plucky" applied to Detroit's first round opponent. Not only does everyone think Boston wins this series, but most people have Boston as heavy favorites for the Cup. It's not hard to see why, Boston is really, really good. The last time the Wings and Bruins played, I thought the Wings were badly outplayed but big saves from Jimmy and a huge goal by Nyquist stole the game.
However, this is hockey and anything can happen. Since the Wings first went to the Cup finals in 95 they've almost always been a 1 or 2 seed and it seemed like if they weren't going the the finals, they were getting bounced in the first or second round by a heavy underdog who made the playoffs by going on a tear at the end. So this is their opportunity to exact some measure of revenge. This may sound crazy, but I actually think its more important to get E back than Z. The Wings are way deeper at forward than defense and Ericsson coming back would keep Quincy and Smith on the bench more and hopefully push Lashoff off the ice entirely.
Not expecting a series win here, but I wouldn't be shocked if it was a 6 or 7 game series.
I had to upgrade my DirecTV package so I have the NBCSN. Sheesh. But, I gotta watch the Wings in the playoffs. Besides it was only 8 dollars extra
Go Wings!
Wings in 7
The kids find a way.