Red Wings vs. Blackhawks: Who ya got?

Submitted by StephenRKass on

Tonight, the Red Wings and the Blackhawks play the first of two games in a home and home this week (with Chicago squeezing in a game at Boston). Who do you have winning tonight in Detroit? And in Chicago Sunday night? The Red Wings just beat Dallas, and are in striking distance of Florida. Can they beat the Blackhawks once? Twice? Not at all?

One clear link between the two teams is Scotty Bowman. Under Bowman's watch, the Red Wings won their first Cup in 42 years, and then repeated five years later. What a way to go out. Anyway, with Stan Bowman in Chicago, and Scotty serving as senior unofficial advisor, it has made a huge difference. Bowman makes it a lot of fun to be a Chicago fan.

I never thought with the salary cap issues that Chicago would do this well in 2016. With the signing of Ladd last week, along with wingers Fleischmann, Weise, and defenseman Ehrloff, the Blackhawks are making a real push to repeat and compete for the Cup.

Stephen Hawking

March 2nd, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^

Go Blackhawks! I live in Detroit and it's great to see my favorite team play here. I just wish they two teams played more often, like a protected cross-conference rivalry or something. It should be fun either way. Maybe they can meet up for the Stanley Cup (though I don't know if I'm emotionally capable of handling that).

MGoUP

March 2nd, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

Win 3-2 in OT tonight, and Blackhawks win 4-1 Sunday.  Hawks still don't have Hossa and Weise (Visa issue), but that's going to be an incredibly scary team in the playoffs.

Hotel Putingrad

March 2nd, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

but in all honesty Kane and Tires are the kind of dynamic playmakers who also raise their game exponentially in the playoffs. That's a difficult combination to beat, along with skilled defensemen and competent goaltending. As much as it pains me to say it, I could easily see them repeating. Though a part of me hopes Ovie raises the Cup this year.

nerv

March 2nd, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

Ugh. To hell with the Blackhawks. I hope the Wings can take one of the two. But, really, to hell with the Blackhawks.

Steves_Wolverines

March 2nd, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^

Picking the winner of a single game in hockey is a crapshoot. 

I think Chicago is the better team, but the games always seem to play evenly matched. 

Crawford vs. Mrazek. "Bread Man" vs. Larkin. All-Stars everywhere. 

In a 7 game series, I think Chicago wins in 6, with all being 1 goal games. 

Go Wings!

 

yossarians tree

March 2nd, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^

I like the fact that Detroit is sticking with the youth movement and letting the kids grow up. I want them truly Cup ready for the new arena in 2017. Keep an eye on Andres Athanasaiou. The kid looks like the real deal--incredible speed. I think he may be faster than Larkin and I think I heard Larkin admits this. They are teaming the two together a lot on a line with Brad Richards, the veteran centerman. Man, can these two put the defense on its heels.

Steves_Wolverines

March 2nd, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^

Glad to see we're not bringing in an aging player and a bad contract. Stick with the kids.

Off the top of my head, some recent signings that didn't work out (or aren't working out):

Green

Richards

Franzen

Alfredsson

Weiss

Samuelsson

Tootoo

Colaiacovo

Cleary

 

UM Fan from Sydney

March 2nd, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^

There is not an NHL team I loathe more than the bloody Blackhawks. Red Wings FTW.

I will have to split screen the game with the Republican debate.

MGoUP

March 2nd, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^

At best he'd flirt with being on the 3rd line, most likely though he'd spend a lot of time in the minors his first full season.  Still might be more beneficial to go pro to gain the experience of playing more that 2 games a week.  

CaptainSane

March 2nd, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^

I hope the arena collapses during the game, causing no fatalities but rending players on both teams unable to play hockey ever again, while fans of both teams suffer from amnesia which makes them forget hockey ever existed.

BOX House

March 2nd, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^

Is Mrazek back for tonight? 

Normally I would say we lose without him, but Jimmy has been outstanding in the last two for the Wings. I wouldn't like to see us give up 40+ shots to Chicago though.

Lou MacAdoo

March 2nd, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^

Wings fan here. I'm pumped that we get to watch this rivalry twice this week. I'm not very confident in the Wings though as they haven't played very well at the Joe and Chicago is a hard place to win at. Add in their lack of offensive production vs. Chicago's potent offense and it doesn't look good. But they looked pretty darn good against the Stars and Aves so we'll see... these games will give a glimpse into how prepared the Wings are for the playoffs.

xtramelanin

March 2nd, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^

but don't know how i'd rank the remaining three.  i will say that when toronto went to LA to play the kings in the playoffs in the early 90's i went to a game at the forum and they wore their old style, deep, deep blue uni's and i was somewhat smitten by them.  i had never seen them before except in old black and white pictures.  they were beautiful and worthy of original 6 praise.

SGBlue

March 2nd, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^

Red Wings FTW every time. Even though it's not nearly as fun as it used to be, being a Red Wing fan in Chicago. Going to Wing/Hawk playoff games here where there were more Detroit fans than Chicago fans. Going to the Winter Classic at Wrigley and being able to answer the "Detroit sucks" chants with "Stanley Cups!" Have to be a bit more circumspect nowadays.

But it's tough to really hate the Hawks...they play a great style of hockey and I've gotten to know some of the people in the organ-i-zation and they are top notch. Joel Quenneville's son played high school hockey with my stepson and I got to know him a bit. Terrific hockey dad, really generous when kids would come up for autographs. Even better, when I told him that I really enjoyed watching his team and that Jonathan Toews was my 21st favorite player in the NHL - after the 20 who wear the Winged Wheel - his response was "Fair enough!"  A part of what makes hockey such a great sport.

Badger

March 2nd, 2016 at 4:08 PM ^

I'm a lifetime Red Wings fan that moved to the Chicago area a few years back. I can't stand Chicago fans and their 90% bandwagon fanbase. My hatred is reaching Ohio State levels.

If they split, I'd rather them lose tonight's game than Sunday.. cause I'll be representing my team at the United Center this weekend. First away game I've ever gone to.

LGRW

 

 

StephenRKass

March 2nd, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^

I think they will split. But as the new guys assimilate into the Blackhawks, and Hossa comes back, I think they could go all the way again. I never thought that would happen in the salary cap era.

I like the way the Blackhawks play. I love Stan Bowman, and Quennville, and the fact they move fast and are not thugs. Bowman has done an incredible job to keep the core together, and will go all out to win the cup while the window is still open. Having Toews and Kane is incredible, and with Hossa, Crawford, and Anisimov and Panarin, the Blackhawks will always be competitive.

It would be incredible to have a Blackhawks vs. Red Wings Stanley Cup. I don't know that the Red Wings are quite there yet, though. 

StephenRKass

March 2nd, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^

He needs to grow up. Honestly, if he is guilty, I'd like to see him thrown out of the league or punished severely. Problem with the case this summer is that it appears there may have been an opportunistic gold digger. Now, I'm not saying that's what happened, but the details are pretty murky. I personally don't have a clue on the truth.

ZB75

March 2nd, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^

Go Hawks!!! Probably will split the two games. Wish they played more. Sunday my wife an I went to the UC for the Hawks-Caps game. First time there. It was fucking amazing. Can't wait to go back sometime. I did see two people in redwings sweaters there. Great rivalry.




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