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Beating Bubba Sr.: The Keys To Game 2
by IwoCPO on 05/10/08 at 08:42 AM ET
Comments (17)
I was a nervous kid going into Game 2 against the Dive. I was all jittery because sometimes I feel like I jinx us all when I go on and on about the Wings’ brilliance, setting us up for an emotional crash, a self-flagellating in the Philippines like line of idiots shuffling their feet, waiting in line to get into the Hasek Club Car.
I feel the same way today.
Because there’s no way the evil Swedes can have that kind of access to Turco again. The refs won’t allow it. Tippett’s been sobbing and Little Gary’s taken notice. I imagine the memo’s have been flying. Tom Hicks has been threatening, but still signing his emails with the standard BFF. Look for plenty of goalie interference calls today. By “plenty” I mean two or three. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Lidstrom blast disallowed. It’s what I see happening. Please don’t scoff.
The Wings won some insane amount of faceoffs, got to every loose puck, were given little resistance in the Dallas zone. Bubba’s got to be better than that doesn’t he?
Turco gave up four, and we kinda saw that coming. Statistics don’t always mean everything, but they don’t lie. And the bottom line is that guy can’t win in Detroit. Re-phrase. He hasn’t won in Detroit. But he’s got to sooner or later. I mean, come on. Doesn’t he?
Maybe not. And if it’s not a matter of Turco having trouble getting past the bad things his brain does to him, then it could be just a little bit of destiny playing in our favor. I’m having a hard time not picturing a sunlit parade the second week of June...but I’m avoiding it. I’m avoiding it, but I’ll say this: I don’t think Mike Babcock is going to let this team lose a series. But, and I already told you this, I’m avoiding that kind of bravado this early in our 2008 playoff lives.
Tonite. Tonite I believe it will have to be the Flying Circus that does the job. 12 points on the scoresheet for the Wings in Game 1, only one of them registered by Zetterberg or Datsyuk. That’s just crazy talk, but it’s brilliant. 11 points out of 12 put up by a team with no secondary scoring? Eat that MSMers. But tonite, we may need a bit more from those two. Don’t get me wrong. They both looked as magical as ever. Tonite, though, we may need them a bit more than Thursday.
I’m not even talking about needing consistent play from Osgood anymore. It’s a ridiculous statement for two reasons. First, it’s obvious that we need it. Secondly, we’ve been getting it for seven straight games and most of the games he started this year. There is no reason to expect anything different. He’s been labeled the Wings’ “most underrated player” here the last few days, and that’s right on the money.
Does anyone on the Wings want a Cup more than Dallas Drake? His namesake will come out blasting tonite. Hopefully Drake and Kronwall do likewise. Again, no reason to think he won’t. Dallas’ D is nowhere near as resilient as the Poultry’s or even Bubba Jr.’s. They can be hit, and should be. Often.
No doubt in any of our simple minds that Bubba will come out breathing fire tonite. They feel they underachieved Thursday, that they didn’t have their legs, that the OT Game 6 affected them, that they weren’t “feeling it.” Little mention of the fact that the Wings played like a machine as they have the previous six games. Anyway, Dallas feels they can bring more to the table and they probably will.
Their enthusiasm will most likely equal a few more power plays for the Wings. As good as the PP was on Thursday, it was almost a revelation. At no point during the playoffs have the Wings performed like that with a man up. Hopefully, it’s not the exception.
Shut down the top line. Again. It’s the Wings’ mantra and it’s worked every series the last two years. It has to tonite. It’s more than keeping them off the scoresheet. When a team’s top line is rendered fetal, it affects the rest of them. They see that and get sad. We like them sad. Keep them that way.
Back to Turco. Buzz his ass. Buzz him. Distract him. Infuriate him. A two-goal lead could very well send him to the loony bin with his Uncle Eddy.
A 2-0 series lead with the way the Wings are playing could very well seal a spot to the Finals. And that’s the key of all keys.
Mike Babcock will not let this team lose. I firmly believe that.
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Comments
Great analysis Chief! Game 2 will, perhaps, answer two issues, or “keys to the game”:
(1) As I’ve said before, if the Wings keep skating like they have, I don’t think they can be beaten in a 7 game series. If DAL doen’t skate a helluva lot better than game 1, the series could be very short. MSM were all singing a chorus of DAL having tired legs. Until DAL actually keeps reasonable pace with the Wings, and I’m not thinking they have enough team speed to keep up, even with fresh legs—expect the DAL parade to the penalty box to continue.
(2) Turco—Game 1 4 goals on 27 shots. Lifetime at the Joe is now 0-8-2. Enough said.
Did you know, and I’m sure the 19 do, that since Ozzie was inserted into the lineup, Wings are 7 - 0. Did you know, in those 7 games, they have outscored the opposition 30 - 11!
As for the Power Play, in the 5 games played since the NSH series, the Wings are 10 for 30, or scoring at an amazing 33% clip!!
Chief, the “STARS” may in fact be aligning for DET; but the numbers certainly reinforce that averment.
If you really want to know just how hot the Wings are, look at these eye-popping numbers:
42 Goals for
22 Goals against
3.82 G/G (PIT is 2nd at 3.5, DAL is 7th at 2.77)
2.00 GA/G (PIT is 1st at 1.9, DAL is 3rd at 2.15)
DET has amazing 1.82 goal differential.
PIT has a 1.6 differential;
DAL is 0.62
Stressed, maybe just a little. I will see you all on the Hasek Express tonight. But I concur with Chief—Coach Babcock said his team was “scared”; I fully expect the Wings to come out flying again tonight. I don’t ever expect DAL to keep up.
As for Turco, perhaps Ray Davies said it best:
But Im really not as cool as Id like to be
cause theres a red, under my bed
And theres a little yellow man in my head
And theres a true blue inside of me
That keeps stoppin me, touchin ya, watchin ya, lovin yaParanoia, the destroyer.
Paranoia, the destroyer.
I’m predicting good things for the Wings tonight!!
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Hades on 05/10/08 at 09:49 AM ET
You know what I don’t understand about the “tired legs” argument. 1) They had a three day layoff and even Olczyk was saying it shouldn’t be a factor. I don’t think the Stars were ready for a team to keep speed through the neutral zone despite their trap system. And the only reason Dallas looked like they skated better at the end was because the Wings weren’t pressing nearly as hard. When Babs reminded them that the pedal was off the floor, they dominated again.
2) Why would their tired legs get any better after playing another game where they had to skate even harder? Where is the extra recovery time to get their legs back.
Yes, they will come out with passion, but the Wings already know that and will be prepared for it. Either the Flying Circus will start to establish puck possession early, or Drake’s line will to preemptively strike on the forecheck.
3-2 Wings win. Closer score, but generally tilted rink.
Posted by Osrt on 05/10/08 at 11:41 AM ET
It seems to me that the best way to disrupt the Wings’ attack through the neutral zone is to send one man on the puck carrier and block the passing lanes to the on-rushing forwards. If Dallas can pick off these passes it will make the Detroit forwards slow down and have to backcheck more often. As it stands now, the Wings haven’t thought much about defense when they have the puck, the focus is all offense from our blueline out. And yet the Wings have the most trouble when the puck is in our zone and being cycled by the opposing team. I thought Nashville had done that the best so far of any team the Wings have played. If Dallas can force turnovers in the defensive or neutral zone it will cause problems for the Wings. Saying that, I believe the Wings’ ability to get the puck out of the defensive zone and protect it thru center ice is what makes them so dangerous.
Or I could just be full of sh*t…
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 05/10/08 at 01:06 PM ET
“I’m lost on the river, the river of no
return,
I can’t make decisions, I don’t know
which way to turn”
Who knew Marty Turco was Ray Davies’ muse? Seriously, this is one of the first times in memory the Wings have gone into each round and I’ve felt we had the better goaltending. Not counting Hasek’s performance against Nashville, of course.
I liked the Stuart pick-up at the time. I’m loving it more with each passing game. I think the Wings are a team on which he could realize his potential.
Posted by BobS. on 05/10/08 at 01:12 PM ET
From Jim Reeves @ Dallas Star-Telegram, “One is that Bruunstrom has a chance to be one of those players who comes along only about once every 10 years or so, a player who can be a franchise difference-maker”. Really? Nothing like putting undue expectations on a player who has yet to skate in the NHL, let alone the minors. I’m no ekspurt but I don’t remember ANYONE giving this guy that kind of accolades. What is he… the second coming of Forsberg for crying out loud. Maybe this is just Mitch Albom writing under a pseudonym…
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 05/10/08 at 01:34 PM ET
Has anyone else noticed Helm and Stuart smashing people?
Indeed! Helm has looked good with his sped and hi physicality. Though sometimes it seems that line gets penned in their own end more than the others (more than I’d like). And even for his size and physical play sometimes Helm seems to be easily bodied off the puck. But he is young… I’m betting his technique will improve and we’ll see a lot of it next season.
It’s already been said above: Stuart has been a great pick-up and seems like he can reach his potential with Detroit. Another Wings reclamation success.
And yet the Wings have the most trouble when the puck is in our zone and being cycled by the opposing team.
Agreed, but that’s every team’s woe, isn’t it? When Detroit’s on their game, they seem to usually have more than one choice to break out of their zone. Quick decisions with the puck are key. Speaking of which, has anyone else thought that Chelios, on a few occasions in the defensive zone, has been a little slow with that decision, and ends up having a pass intercepted or has it taken away from him? Or maybe I’m full of sh*t, too…
Posted by BobTheZee on 05/10/08 at 01:38 PM ET
Mike, you are right. Barry Trotz’ team does the best against the Wings. A hard forcheck to deny Lidstrom & his defense the easy first pass, get the turnover, then cycle the puck in the Detroit zone. This means 2 or 3 forwards deep in Detroit’s zone.
Once the Wings have the puck, trap the carrier at the defensive blue line and block the passing lanes to get the turnover.
Posted by w2j2 on 05/10/08 at 01:40 PM ET
So what you are saying Mike is if the Stars could play like the Wings they have a chance at beating the Wings. Can’t go wrong stating the obvious....
Atlanta did it Jan 15, smoked the wings 5-1, and oh, thats right....Hasek relieved Ozzie in that one.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 05/10/08 at 02:42 PM ET
So what you are saying Mike is if the Stars could play like the Wings they have a chance at beating the Wings.
Not “could play like the Wings” HTT; I think Mike is saying that they need to have a guy track the puck carrier rather than play zone defense. Dats and Z are masters at it and Modano could potentially be one of those guys. They rely too much on a zone fall back defensive, manning 4 people at the blue line rather than Wings system of tracking players to the outside and forcing them into our D.
Posted by Osrt on 05/10/08 at 03:05 PM ET
Thanks Osrt, you understand what I was getting at. And HTT, sorry you feel I’m stating the ‘obvious’, perhaps I don’t possess the ‘hockey-mind’ you have, but then again saying “Atlanta did it Jan 15, smoked the Wings 5-1, and oh, that’s right… Hasek relieved Ozzie in that one.” is such an oustanding bit of hockey knowledge that I am truely humbled.
By the way, BobTheZee, I think you’re only half full… 
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 05/10/08 at 03:40 PM ET
Last game I was channel flipping during breaks and noticed they were running Mike Modano’s house on MTV Cribs, IRONICALLY, during the game. Seems even MTV is opposed to the Wings winning.
I disagree with you, though, Chief...the Swede’s will be JUST as effective, barring injury, which is the ONLY hope Dallas has of stopping the train.
The best thing Dallas can do is IGNORE Homer, but they won’t. Some ego driven D-man will think he is able to affect Homer, and will further increase the screen and cause Goal #1. Dallas MUST ignore Homer and focus on Z and Dats. That, however, invokes the catch 22.
******PREDICTION******
6-1 Wings. Homer, Lids, Oompa Loompa, Zetterberg (2 goals), and Fil. (Franzen will end his streak tonight)
Modano for Dallas.
Turco pulled after 4.
Posted by Scott H from Kalamazoo on 05/10/08 at 03:53 PM ET
Also, truely is the canadian way of spelling truly eh…
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 05/10/08 at 03:57 PM ET
Conn Smythe watch: I didn’t realise this until just now, but Franzen got the game winner again last night. The record for most game-winning goals in a postseason is 7, held by Brad Richards from the year Tampa won the cup (and he won the Conn Smythe). So of his team’s 16 wins (and thus game-winning goals), he had just under half. Franzen? Well, out of 11 wins and GWGs, Franzen has 5.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 05/10/08 at 04:53 PM ET
Remeber, Chief, just because we’re paranoid.... it doesn’t mean they aren’t really after us.
Posted by dougie on 05/10/08 at 06:19 PM ET
I think you’re only half full…
Thanks, Mike, I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m sure there are plenty who think otherwise… I even know some of them.
I’ll take 6-1, Scott, but I want Franzen’s streak to continue. Maybe he could have one of Z’s goals… even if it’s awarded after the game.
Posted by BobTheZee on 05/10/08 at 06:34 PM ET
No mention of Ribeiro disrespecting the Mule after Game 1? I’m surprised.
Posted by Justin on 05/10/08 at 06:37 PM ET
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Has anyone else noticed Helm and Stuart smashing people? “Little Nick” gets all the publicity, but, just for fun, watch those other two.
Posted by w2j2 on 05/10/08 at 09:22 AM ET