16 replies to this topic

[YzerFan19]

I've heard this series described as "If the Wings get past San Jose, they'll win the Cup." With how tough the Sharks are expected to be, it's easy to see why someone would say that.

Detroit comes into Game One without Tomas Holmstrom or Brett Lebda. Holmstrom still has blood in his eye from the high stick he took in OT on Sunday night / Monday morning. Lebda will miss his second game after suffering a concussion and ankle injury in Game Five against Calgary.

Another concern will be that Henrik Zetterberg has apparently come down with the flu, so the Wings' top line is pretty damaged.

Detroit went 1-3 against the Sharks this regular season but it's easy to chalk a couple of those up to flukes. Chris Osgood and Joey MacDonald got the majority of the playing time in those games while Hasek will get the starts now. One of the losses included the mystery goalie interference non-goal (not to say that kind of officiating can't happen now, of course).

I'm not feeling as scared of San Jose as I was when the Canucks beat the Stars on Monday. Maybe I should be. Somehow, seemingly all of the pundits have picks San Jose in this one, so the pressure is on them. I don't think I've ever seen a more underdog #1 seed than this Red Wings team.

[skyguy52]

Any team the Wings face in the West is going to be difficult. I watched the Anaheim/Vancouver game last night, and thought, how complete the Ducks are looking right now. PP, PK, Goalie, checking, scoring. They are heavy favorites to win the WEST. The WINGS do seem like an underdog.

As for Det - SJO ...... the WINGS MUST solve their PP problem & fast. Without it, they will not beat SJO. Some other WINGS must also step up their play. I'm going to say that CLEARY was their most consistent and most valuable player in the series with Calgary. Guys like MARKOV, LILIA, LANG, SAMUELSON, MALTBY, BERTUZZI, CALDED will have to find ways to either get the ugly goal OR keep SHARKS from getting them. The WINGS are not going to out finesse SJO. They just have too good a team for that. As much as I want to see the WINGS prevail, and know they can if they play like they are capable AND get some bounces their way, I also know, that if they can't of don't bring their A game to this one, I predict a short series. Short and simple -- it probably has as much to do with Character as it does Skill at this point.

[YzerFan19]

That was quick. Wings need to slow things down. They looked good in the couple chances they got in the San Jose zone and got set up but they're not doing that now.

[YzerFan19]

Not the way the Wings wanted to start the series but they got some momentum going at the end of the period. Still plenty of time.

[skyguy52]

WINGS need to stay patient and keep working the puck down low. SJO keepings WINGS shots from the point, and then blocking them. WINGS should keep strong forecheck, as they have been doing this period. I don't see SJO over powering or controlling this period. Main thing now is for WINGS to maintain pressure with strong transition game thru the middle and to work the puck down low to keep Nabokov moving.

[YzerFan19]

Second period was much stronger overall. Helped by the power plays, of course, but even at even strength the Wings did a better job of controlling the play. They've gotta find a way to get around the shot blocking. If they can get some rushes, they can take advantage of the fact that Nabokov comes out to cut down the angle, put a shot off the back boards to get it to the guy on the open side of the net.

[YzerFan19]

The Versus guys were just surprised that a call wasn't made. I think I've been surprised for most of the night. It's probably been in the Wings' favor but I think the calls have been pretty inconsistant. Worse things than San Jose got called for in the second have gone unnoted throughout the game.

[YzerFan19]

Damn, if only the Wings hadn't had that lapse in the first, they've been playing so well in the second and third and just have nothing to show for it.

[skyguy52]

Damn, if only the Wings hadn't had that lapse in the first, they've been playing so well in the second and third and just have nothing to show for it.

I don't want to sound too simplistic here, but the 'bounces' just aren't going for the WINGS tonight. SJO is doing a stellar job defensively, but helping them out, is that SHARKS are either in great position to clear lose pucks or they're just being incredibly lucky. How many blocked shots tonight too .... has to be 14-15. The difference tonight is the SJO defense, stifling the WINGS down low, and keeping shots blocked from the Point.

[YzerFan19]

What were people doing booing there? Wings played well, just couldn't get it to go. Better than their losses in Calgary.

[drwmike33]

This is what we in the business like to call "frustrating."

We played well, but they had a defense that were able to neutralize us. Nabakov was outstanding as well--not to mention how many close calls that we were either not able to get close to or were wide.

Shooting practice? Hudler? Maltby?

UGH.

We need to find a way around their bodies... it seemed like there were 3 people on the puck at all times!

Lets watch some game film and figure out how to get around this.

[skyguy52]

This is what we in the business like to call "frustrating."

We played well, but they had a defense that were able to neutralize us. Nabakov was outstanding as well--not to mention how many close calls that we were either not able to get close to or were wide.

Shooting practice? Hudler? Maltby?

UGH.

We need to find a way around their bodies... it seemed like there were 3 people on the puck at all times!

Lets watch some game film and figure out how to get around this.

Some good points. The WINGS have had problems with SJO all season long. Game films will hopefully expose strengths and weaknesses on both clubs. Again, if you read my earlier posts, I think the WINGS need to be quicker, crisper with their passes and shots. SJO blocked a dozen or more shots. The WINGS have to be smarter, quicker, more resourceful and capitalize on SJO weaknesses. SJO "D" seemed to out-position the WINGS. By that the seemed to be in the right spot at the right time too often. Too many times a centering pass by a WING, or a WING rebound went to a SHARK. Head to head play isn't going to work here, either. SJO has size, speed and smarts. They were able to "handle" the WINGS, and did so with a very weak offense -- Only 17 shots on HASEK. Once again the WINGS "OUTSHOT" the SHARKS by a 2 to 1 margin. I agree that NABOKOV was good tonight, in that he made a "couple" outstanding saves, but the WINGS hardly were a threat, but "at times" controlled the play in the Second and Third periods. Neither team, in my opinion, brought their A game in to the JOE tonight. The WINGS MUST solve their PP or I'm afraid its going to be a lot shorter series than anyone wants to admit.

[foster016]

If it weren't for detroits puck control which they had most of the game, i would figure this would be a very short series in favor of the sharks. detroit controlled the 2nd and 3rd period, however they couldn't find the back of the net, a lil unfortunate. I have faith in them, Babcock needs a good practice out of the boys to find a way to get more pucks on net. In addition, detroit needs the screen-machine holmstrom back, lebda to penitrate the D, and datsyuk at his best, it was clear he wasnt on his game.

Go Wings!

[choyer]

Tough loss, but the Wings will come back. Anyhow, if the Wings dont advance, then I want San Jose to win the cup. Thats my second favorite team. However, luckily for us this series still has a long ways to go. We all know Detroit wont just give up and go home over 1 tough game. Go Wings!

[RideTheRedWave]

The teams that block the most shots in the playoffs usually are very successful. San Jose coach Ron Wilson has preached this to his players for years now. San Jose has gone deep in the playoffs for many years now I think they'll be tough to beat. 18 - 1 blocked shots, in favor of the Sharks in game 1. This series is already reminding me of the calgary '04 series, Anaheim '03 series, and Edmonton '06 series. I remember when former coach Dave Lewis was spraying the center of the ice with spray paint to show the players where to shoot from, hopefully this isn't Deja Vu. I thought Wings played good in game one except for the first 10 minutes. San Jose basically shelled up and protected the lead. Nabokov sure looks confident when he's able to see the puck, Holmstrom we need ya! Sharks in five, (fingers crossed)

[L.M. Slapper]

The teams that block the most shots in the playoffs usually are very successful. San Jose coach Ron Wilson has preached this to his players for years now. San Jose has gone deep in the playoffs for many years now I think they'll be tough to beat. 18 - 1 blocked shots, in favor of the Sharks in game 1. This series is already reminding me of the calgary '04 series, Anaheim '03 series, and Edmonton '06 series. I remember when former coach Dave Lewis was spraying the center of the ice with spray paint to show the players where to shoot from, hopefully this isn't Deja Vu. I thought Wings played good in game one except for the first 10 minutes. San Jose basically shelled up and protected the lead. Nabokov sure looks confident when he's able to see the puck, Holmstrom we need ya! Sharks in five, (fingers crossed)

I agree Red Wave! The problem in game one seemed to be the defensive stance the Sharks took once up by 2 goals. It was clearly sufficient enough to stall any progress through the neutral zone. Blocking shots and clearing the zone was clearly better than Detroits aggregate offensive strategy. What to do....what to do?

They looked like the Edmonton team that beat us under the coaching of the Helmetless Wonder. I think the only way to beat a team that scores first and becomes a 5-man neutral zone is to spear and dump, with Defensive chase from the boards. Crack the egg with the spear up the middle, dump the rock after initial contact , allow one defenseman from either side to chase, and follow through. Sharks too big for a Hudler, or the likes, to chase it down at this point. "My opinion only"

Go Wings!

[YzerFan19]

to RedWave and Slapper.

Can't disagree with anything that was said.

One of the things that the Versus guys were mentioning about Datsyuk was that it seemed like he was taking too long to make a decision. I think that might be the case with Detroit's shooting in general. Get shots off faster and it's harder to block them.