Series Thread: Red Wings and Lightning - Round 1

[RP-29]

That said, it'll probably be Bolts in 4.

 

[dare2be]

That said, it'll probably be Bolts in 4.

That would probably be my luck, denying my attendance in game 5.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Misguided Series Predictions:

Game 1 @ TB: 2-1 Wings - Most of the game is played in the neutral zone. Not many scoring chances for either team. A seemingly harmless point shot is double-deflected past Bishop early in the 3rd and Mrazek makes it stand despite a strong late push by Tampa.

Game 2 @ TB: 3-2 OT Bolts - Smith takes a needless hooking penalty in OT, Bolts cash in right away.

Game 3 @ DET: 5-3 Wings - Wings score midway through the 3rd to take the lead, add an empty netter. Lots of penalties in this game - 5 of the 8 goals are scored on the power play.

Game 4 @ DET: 3-2 OT Wings - Datsyuk adds another marquee highlight to his 24-hour-long reel with an OT winner goal-of-the-playoffs nominee.

Game 5 @ TB: 6-0 Bolts - Wings send a plane of stunt doubles with them to Tampa for the game. Tampa thoroughly dominates this game from the opening faceoff.

Game 6 @ DET: 4-3 Wings - Tied 3-3 with three and change to play, Detroit in the offensive zone, Nyquist tries to pass the puck back to Quincey, but Tyler Johnson reads it, deflects the puck and is off to the races. DeKeyser manages to double back just in time to hook him and thwart a Grade-A scoring chance. With DeKeyser subsequently in the box and the score still tied, Tampa goes D-to-D on the PP, but the pass flubs off Hedman's blade a little and Glendening cuts it off, races all alone on a breakaway and nets a beautiful forehand-backhand shortie game winner.

Needs more Gustavsson.

 

[sherbert1421]

i am surprised that babcock is going with the kid over the vet in goal. I think mrazek's puck moving abilities will help tremendously with getting the puck out of the zone, since the wings dmen are atrocious at moving the puck

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Thank God Babcock is going with Mrazek. Howard would have given up 3-4 goals a game minimum.

 

[postmaster]

Thank God Babcock is going with Mrazek. Howard would have given up 3-4 goals a game minimum.

This. With Mrazek, I think we have a shot.

 

[sherbert1421]

Thank God Babcock is going with Mrazek. Howard would have given up 3-4 goals a game minimum.

idk. they have both had some shitty games. but mrazek is known for playing well in big moments. hopefully that is the case this time

 

[postmaster]

idk. they have both had some shitty games. but mrazek is known for playing well in big moments. hopefully that is the case this time

Down the stretch, Mrazek was more consistent while Howard was more consistently shitty.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Come on Wings, make it to the finals so that Zidlicky trade turns into a 2nd rounder for the Devils!

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Come on Wings, make it to the finals so that Zidlicky trade turns into a 2nd rounder for the Devils!

You guys have a better chance of McDavid.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

You guys have a better chance of McDavid.

Why not both! It's the rebuild baby! We're bringing Kovy back too!

 

[sherbert1421]

@WingedOctopus
Today's fun fact: there are 17 players from the 2013 AHL Calder Cup Finals that will be on the roster for the Detroit/Tampa series.

 

[sherbert1421]

Down the stretch, Mrazek was more consistent while Howard was more consistently shitty.

it's really of matter of who sucked less. i don't have confidence in either one of them

 

[RP-29]

it's really of matter of who sucked less. i don't have confidence in either one of them

At this point, I have more confidence that Mrazek has the ability to get hot and steal some games than I do Howard. And if we can limit the three-soft-goals-allowed to one game per series instead of every other game, we'll be in pretty good shape.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

idk. they have both had some shitty games. but mrazek is known for playing well in big moments. hopefully that is the case this time

It's not like I'm expecting Mrazek NOT to give up 4+ goals in a couple of games...it's more like I know Howard would allow 4+ goals in more games.

Have I mentioned how much I'm not looking forward to this series yet?

 

[sherbert1421]

Craig Custance over at ESPN ranked all 16 playoff teams by their defense groups.

Detroit was 14/16. only Pittsburgh and Calgary were worse and they are decimated by injuries. I would suspect that Detroit would be dead last if letang and giordano were healthy

 

[dash]

Craig Custance over at ESPN ranked all 16 playoff teams by their defense groups.

Detroit was 14/16. only Pittsburgh and Calgary were worse and they are decimated by injuries. I would suspect that Detroit would be dead last if letang and giordano were healthy

Leave Deryk Engelland alone!!!

 

[RP-29]

Craig Custance over at ESPN ranked all 16 playoff teams by their defense groups.

Detroit was 14/16. only Pittsburgh and Calgary were worse and they are decimated by injuries. I would suspect that Detroit would be dead last if letang and giordano were healthy

Well, we all know ESPN and NHL go together like Katy Perry and Slipknot. Take whatever they say about hockey with a grain of salt.

That said, the collective talent of Wings defensemen deserves to be towards the bottom of the list, but their abundance of defensively proficient forwards is at the top of the list and often nullifies that weakness.

 

[higgyfan4]

Wings in 4

BOOK IT!!!

 

[higgyfan4]

At the risk of getting higgy-glared, I think the Bolts take this series. Also, I read a tweet that Mrazek is indeed getting the start for game 1.