31 replies to this topic

[YzerFan19]

The Red Wings and Sharks kick off their second-round matchup tonight and I'm not entirely sure what to think.

The quick turnaround from Phoenix to San Jose should be good for Detroit, as they were dominant on Tuesday and will want to carry that forward. The Sharks are rested, though, having finished off the Colorado Avalanche last Friday.

San Jose always annoys me. I know too many Sharks fans that demand respect for their team despite not having won anything yet (much like modern Blackhawks fans). I'm also just shocked at how many teams trade their star players to San Jose for next to nothing. Kyle McLaren (back in the day), Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle and Dany Heatley all came to the Sharks in deals that should have gotten their former teams' GM fired.

It's pretty easy to guess that this series will come down to goaltending. We don't know how Jimmy Howard will hold up to more playoff pressure and we don't know if this is the year that Evgeni Nabokov doesn't collapse.

If the Wings' offense runs like it did on Tuesday, there's nothing to worry about here. The problem is that offense wasn't there for the first six games so we can't count on it now.

This one's a 9:00 start time exclusively on Versus.

[RideTheRedWave]

just wanted to note the scheduling. Bettman p*ssed wings knocked off his yotes, so lets schedule wings two days later and have vancouver/chicago start game 1 on saturday...

[YzerFan19]

just wanted to note the scheduling. Bettman p*ssed wings knocked off his yotes, so lets schedule wings two days later and have vancouver/chicago start game 1 on saturday...

Sorry, no conspiracy this time. The HP Pavilion in San Jose is booked for concerts Friday and Saturday so the series had to start tonight.

Whether that shows a sign that the arena managers didn't think they'd have hockey to schedule at this time of year is up for you to decide.

[SYfanSD]

I'll save my thoughts till the end of the game. I have heard all of the hype and I am not sure how all of it is going to pan out.

[SYfanSD]

just wanted to note the scheduling. Bettman p*ssed wings knocked off his yotes, so lets schedule wings two days later and have vancouver/chicago start game 1 on saturday...

Sorry, no conspiracy this time. The HP Pavilion in San Jose is booked for concerts Friday and Saturday so the series had to start tonight.

Whether that shows a sign that the arena managers didn't think they'd have hockey to schedule at this time of year is up for you to decide.

Agreed, especially since game two is not until Sunday. Conspiracy or San Jose's faith in their team?

[YzerFan19]

Early chance, that could have been big.

[YzerFan19]

Surprise. Weak call leads to PPG.

[YzerFan19]

Anyone want to cover the slot?

[YzerFan19]

You are f*cking kidding me.

[YzerFan19]

Third one is on Howard. Way out of position.

[YzerFan19]

There we go! On the f*cking board.

[YzerFan19]

Bad call on the Sharks. Wings had damned well better take advantage.

[YzerFan19]

Ridiculously, I don't think the Wings played a bad period. Three bad plays, San Jose takes advantage on all. Wings can bounce back. We'll see if they do.

[YzerFan19]

Still alive. Great to see Franzen with a big goal.

[SYfanSD]

Wings look much better this period

[YzerFan19]

Can't lose Cleary tonight, he's been all over

[YzerFan19]

Franzen cut on the face and SJ gets the power play. Jesus.

[YzerFan19]

I wasn't going to complain about the officiating at intermission but that last minute was just awful.

If the Wings can kill this, they're in damned good position. San Jose is clogging up the neutral zone well but I think the Wings are getting their chances.

No PPGs for Detroit really hurts.

[YzerFan19]

Well f*ck.

[YzerFan19]

That's motherf*cking right, still in it. Way to go Raffi.