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Beating Bubba: Keys To Round 1
by IwoCPO on 04/10/08 at 12:15 PM ET
Comments (28)
Let’s be real clear here. This series has nothing to do with how Bubba plays, and everything to do with what the Wings bring to the table every game. Detroit can play good hockey and beat Nashville playing their absolute best. Every game.
Keys for the Wings:
The power play. They absolutely must capitalize. At least one goal per game. Bubba’s got a kill that is ranked third in the league, but they haven’t faced anyone like the Wings. What? 8 times already? Nope. Doesn’t count. Bubba hasn’t seen the Wings with a (semi) healthy Homer and a scoring force like Franzen...on separate lines. Both units have the potential to be lethal. Bubba’s gonna pressure the blue line big time. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Filppula, Hudler: will all have room to move deep along the boards. As long as Rafalski and Lidstrom can handle the pressure up top, there will be many scoring chances. Slap shot opportunities, I believe, will be limited. But cycling and lanes down low will be available. If the Wings don’t win this series, we’ll be pointing at the powerplay when it’s over.
Hasek and Ellis. If the Wings put a 3 spot up on Ellis in the first period tonite: this series is over. Somewhere in some deep, dark, disgusting place there are bad images of Kipper and JSG and werewolves. Those need to go away. Putting a few behind Ellis right away will do that. Dom? As usual, we need him insane, active and abrasive. Steady would be good, outstanding would be better and spectacular sets the stage for a long run. If Ellis stands on his rookie head and Dom falters? It’s a long, painful series with lots of controversy and poorly constructed phrases written in a drunken rage.
Secondary scoring. Yes, we know. We know that Bubba’s going to come after Hank and Datsyuk and really go after Homer. But “going after” and stopping are two completely different things. Monty Babcock’s Flying Circus is going to have to take some pain, but they’ll have their chances. Detroit can win this series with exclusive production from the top line, but they won’t get past the next round if the other guys aren’t scoring. So it has to start now. Franzen has to stay hot. Hudler needs to produce, at least minimally. Filppula too. If adjustments need to be made, I believe we’re going to see Abbadabbadoo as the first replacement. Late word from the morning skate is that McCarty’s in and Downey’s out.
Speaking of even strength. Lidstrom is in the negative and so is Zetterberg against Bubba based on regular season numbers. I don’t have an explanation for that, and I’m not even real sure it matters all that much. But it’s something to notice. Bubba’s primary goal will be staying out of the box.
Violence. The Wings now know the right tactic when it comes to teams who feel they can outmuscle us. Babcock drilled it into their heads last year and it worked against three teams who were much better then Bubba. My hope is that the hitting is initiated by the Wings, often and with the occasional disregard for the safety of people like Tootoo and Webber. Hit them hard, cheaply and regularly. They’ll respond, powerplays will ensue, glory will follow.
Coaching. Barry Trotz has not proven he can win a series. He’s great at getting teams to perform in the regular season, past what’s expected of them. But he’s done nothing but fail in the playoffs. Mike Babcock is a proven playoff winner. The difference? Talent of course. Babcock has plenty. But so did Trotz the last two years, and has nothing to show for it. Things go on between the ears of coaches that I could never even guess at, so I won’t pretend to analyze this deal. But, I’ll say this: Babcock is a great coach, a coach who’s proven he can get a team ready to play the game he feels wins in the playoffs. Trotz hasn’t done that.
Motivation and memory. We’ve seen stories hint at it all year, that last year’s loss to the Poultry has stuck with the Wings the entire season, that it was painful enough to drive them to success this year. I believe that. As much as it hurts us to recall the fluttering puck from hell in Game 5 and the blowout turned almost miracle in Game 6, I hope that’s multiplied for the Wings themselves. Eclipse those memories. Erase them and replace them.
Those are the keys.
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Comments
Charles, I’m not real comfortable calling a grown man “chase”. Sorry. Write that down.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 04/10/08 at 11:54 AM ET
Things are simmering…
Nice keys.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/10/08 at 11:55 AM ET
Maybe Chase is a woman.
Chase Dakoda is a female decorator on one of those decorating/redo shows on HGTV.
(And he never once said it was going to be easy or the games were going to be blowouts, either. A close squeaky win counts the same as a six-goal rout.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/10/08 at 11:57 AM ET
nah, chase is a good word. it’s what Bubba is going to be doing for the next week or so.
think about how dominant Datsyuk and Zetterberg can be when they want to be? think about how much they want to be starting today…
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/10/08 at 11:59 AM ET
Another thing the Wings must do is keep the puck AND their feet moving in their own zone against Nashville’s forecheck. They forecheck us hard, and if the Wings (SMOK in particular) get caught flat-footed, it’s either going to lead to a quality scoring chance or a hooking penalty (again, a SMOK specialty). The Wings need to make sure that their responsible in their own end first, worry about the offense second. The offense will come.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/10/08 at 12:01 PM ET
Thanks for your respectful disagreement CHASE; let me be the first to tell you that “tough” means the score will be close but new Pred rectum(s) will be created. As they say in the prison movies, the more you fight the sweeter it is.
ewww…
God I miss Vladdy! Thanks for the tear jerking reminder Chief. It’s appropriate that the banner comes after Fedorov’s comments about the 98 cup run and Scotty’s emotion before the final game.
You know who will win this series? Babbles. I know the players on the ice do the work, but Babs will absolutely out coach Trotz.
Also, I disagree that either Hudler or Fil have to produce either points or goals. They won’t. Hudler may do some damage but I don’t see either of them doing much in the scoring column. What I want and expect out of both of them is that they create enough chances, puck possession havoc to warrant defensive attention. If they do that, they’ll open spaces for other people.
This is going to awesome!!! +1 for Xanex and the manic cycle kicking in just in time woohoo
Posted by Osrt on 04/10/08 at 12:01 PM ET
Baroque, I think there are a lot of men interior decoraters named Chase too. I’m just sayin’.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 04/10/08 at 12:05 PM ET
Wow, the Vladdy banner. Nice touch.
Goaltending and scoring from someone that we are not expecting, see Robert, Gary last night. See Stephane Yelle last night, he scored three goals all season and scored two last night for the Flames. Who will it be for the Wings?
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/10/08 at 12:06 PM ET
Detroit can play good hockey and beat Nashville playing their absolute best. Every game.
Wow, I was needing a good laugh today, and you provided it.
and then just a few sentences after, another great one:
If the Wings put a 3 spot up on Ellis in the first period tonite: this series is over.
Fantastic stuff. I hope you guys win, or you’ll forget how to talk since you won’t be driveling crap. Actually, you probably will even if you do lose. Which of course you won’t be doing. Right?
Posted by PredNeck from Hicktown on 04/10/08 at 12:09 PM ET
Chief, you’re dead on about our power play. ZDH are going to generate p.p. opportunities, it’s just going to happen because the ‘Turds can’t stop them legally. We need to make them and everyone we play in the playoffs pay for their mistakes, especially when teams resort to the cheapshots. We start scoring on the power play, and any team we face will be knocked right off their gameplan.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/10/08 at 12:09 PM ET
That’s awesome Chief. Yes! Bring. It. On. Write THAT down, Chase.
Posted by TDeters on 04/10/08 at 12:12 PM ET
My son has a dog named Chase. And just like Scraps, he’s a boy doggie.
Posted by RedWings on 04/10/08 at 12:15 PM ET
PredNeck, I give you credit for at least embracing your stereotype. Be proud of who you are.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/10/08 at 12:19 PM ET
All I will say is that anyone who completely discredits the opposing team and says the series has nothing to do with how they play is a homer and should have their hockey knowledge seriously questioned. I’m not saying that Nashville is going to win this series, but come on. Just because Detroit is a great team and had a great regular season doesn’t mean they’re going to succeed in the playoffs. You should know this from experience by now and it’s pretty brave (stupid?) of you to act like you have nothing to fear after your recent history. I’m excited to see how this plays out.
PS: CHAZ is short for Charles, not Chase. I thought this blog was about hockey not criticizing your reader’s names.
Posted by chase on 04/10/08 at 12:26 PM ET
Chris from TN, you see they’re blacking out vs for the fsn feed? Yeah, that’s was my reaction too.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/10/08 at 12:26 PM ET
I thought this blog was about hockey not criticizing your reader’s names.
You’re right. That was pretty juvenile.
Welcome aboard.
Say hello to your wife, Turleen, for us.
Posted by O-Joe on 04/10/08 at 12:39 PM ET
Turleen?
C’mon, O-Joe… we all know Chase’s wife’s name isn’t Turleen.
Brandon, perhaps, but certainly not Turleen.
Grow up.
Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 04/10/08 at 12:56 PM ET
AndrewB, no I didn’t see that, but that f**king figures (sighs, rolls eyes). Dammit!!
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/10/08 at 12:59 PM ET
LOL.
Chase, this blog was NEVER about hockey. It’s always been about making fun of people’s names.
And amen for that.
Posted by Nathan on 04/10/08 at 01:07 PM ET
I thought this blog was about hockey not criticizing your reader’s names.
You mean readers’ names. There are actually 19 of us.
Posted by lilja4ever on 04/10/08 at 01:20 PM ET
Chase, this blog was NEVER about hockey. It’s always been about making fun of people’s names.
Just imagine if Radek Bonk was playing in this series! 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/10/08 at 01:29 PM ET
Coaching. Barry Trotz has not proven he can win a series. He’s great at getting teams to perform in the regular season, past what’s expected of them. But he’s done nothing but fail in the playoffs. Mike Babcock is a proven playoff winner. The difference? Talent of course. Babcock has plenty. But so did Trotz the last two years, and has nothing to show for it.
Sad but true…
Posted by Predjoe from Nashville on 04/10/08 at 02:31 PM ET
Just imagine if Radek Bonk was playing in this series!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/10 at 02:29 PM
Or everyone’s favorite Star Wars characters:
Jarkko Ruutu and Tuukka Rask
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 04/10/08 at 02:45 PM ET
Chris and Andrew B, you can do what I do when the idiot twins are on, listen to Paul Woods and Ken Kal on the radio. There might be a delay but it beats the s**t out of listening to them for one second. Hopefully we’ll only have to put up with them for a couple of days.
Posted by D town in Bubbaville on 04/10/08 at 03:05 PM ET
“Baroque, I think there are a lot of men interior decoraters named Chase too. I’m just sayin’.”
Well, my gay stepson’s butt-buddy is named Chase, if that helps clarify the situation any.
Posted by dougie on 04/10/08 at 04:49 PM ET
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“Detroit can play good hockey and beat Nashville playing their absolute best. Every game.”
I don’t think that statement is as true as you think it is/want it to be. I think you’re going to be surprised at how tough this series is going to be for Detroit. Write it down.
Posted by chase on 04/10/08 at 11:37 AM ET