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Bubba-Licious
by IwoCPO on 04/05/08 at 07:16 AM ET
Comments (24)
We wanted Bubba, now we got him. We wanted Ellis instead of Kipper, Luongo or even Jose Three or Four. We got him. We wanted Arnott instead of Iginla. Got that too.
But we weren’t displeased with Edmonton once. And LA was a nifty matchup once too.
Whatever. Whoever. The playoffs suck no matter who the opponent is. 8 months of irritation leading up to full-blown physical pain and suffering.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering...Bubba wants you too. Bubba was fetal at the thought of playing San Jose in the first round, the team that’s made a postseason tradition of kicking redneck tail. Bubba wasn’t unhappy at all about losing to Chicago last night, as if I had to tell you that. They want them some Wings and some Wings they’ve got.
“If you go based on the past couple of playoffs, we didn’t do very well against San Jose,’’ Predators goalie Chris Mason said. “But Detroit’s the best team in the league and there are plenty of reasons for that. So regardless of who you in the playoffs, you know you’re going to have a big challenge on your hands.’’
Not your hands tough guy. Ellis’. Mason won’t see a minute of time against the Wings unless Ellis is pulled. Rephrase, once Ellis is pulled, that’s the time we’ll see Mason.
Oh, we’ll get to Bubba. Yes we will. Port side of the page will be loaded up today with all your first-round resources: blogs, newspapers, roadkill recipes. All the fun stuff.
But first we have internal issues to handle. Serious issues. You’re going to read today and for several days afterward that it takes a lucky team, a healthy team, to win the Cup. The team that suffers the least, loses the least amount of man games to injury, and has nearly the talent the other teams do? That’s your winner.
So I guess we should just frigging quit now, because this team is far from healthy. Far from it. Maltby, Samuelsson: both out for Game 1. Draper, Homer: both coming back tomorrow against Chicago, but far from fully healthy. Kopecky: done. Stuart: maybe for game 1. Cleary: recovering, but scoreless since his return. Oh, and Zetterberg and Datsyuk?
Targets.
It’s more physical and guys are playing harder on Pav and Hank, it makes it tougher on them.
That’s Chris Chelios talking there, and he put it mildly. If I were an 8 seed and had nothing to lose, an unproven goaltender and a sketchy offense? I’d do my best to drill both of them early and often, before and after the whistle. Every chance I got. And Bubba will. Count on it. And if we lose one or both, this round, next, the third or the Finals? Sayonara sister.
But that’s theoretical paranoia, and you know we’re not into paranoia here. Nope. And plus, Uncle Mike will tell us that one man’s injury is another player’s opportunity. I know he’s said that so he must feel it, because Uncle Mike never frigging lies.
And now we have the potential story of the Spring. Michigan boy, Muskegon hero, MSU star, Detroit Red Wing: Justin Abdelkader.
Wasn’t it so typically Red Wing the way the dailies just dropped in a small story Thursday? Kind of..."Hey, umm, the Wings signed Abdelkader today...and, yeah, he might just, you know, stay with them for the ENTIRE FRIGGING POSTSEASON.”
WTF? Was this a panic signing? How else do you view it? And that was before Kopecky’s knee got wrecked and Maltby tweaked his hammy. Yeah, it probably was. Sammy, Draper, Homer: no one knows the extent of the injuries they’ll have to play through. So Tick Tock Kenny gave the kid a shot and, wouldn’t you know it, we may be on to something here Stress Trainers.
11 minutes, 3 shots, 3 hits and 3 for 6 on faceoffs. Interesting. And, guess what? The kid can defend. Eleven minutes for a 21 year old kid who three days earlier was probably trying to score in Cedar Village?
“I thought he was good, determined, physical, he should have scored a goal,” said Detroit coach Mike Babcock after the Wings beat Columbus 3-2 at Joe Louis Arena. “Whether you’re 46 like (Chris Chelios) or 18, if you’re a really good player and you come in the league, it doesn’t take you very long.
“It looks to me like this guy’s got good hockey sense. He’s mean, he’s trying to run over top of you, which I really like.”
Oh, he’s gonna get his minutes. I got a feeling, and so do you. And since that’s the case, somebody better come up with a damn nickname and fast. Because I’m already tired of typing that name, despite the fact that most of it occurs on the home keys and that’s always fun.
And hey, guess what Abdelkader’s emergence makes Kirk Maltby? Wally Pipp, that’s who. Abdelkader’s gonna show up in some strange places tomorrow. Like the penalty kill, like on a line with guys like Cleary or even Datsyuk. Maltby’s got years of playoff experience behind him so it’s tough to say he’s out of the mix completely, but like I said, I’ve got a feeling we’re going to see much more of Sparty.
Do we have to get into goaltending today? Is that mandatory? I’m having a nice Saturday morning, relatively stress free. Can’t we just avoid that subject, just for one day?
No?
Ok, I’ll give you something to think about today, just a tidbit.
Our Czech Miracle of Insanity has a save percentage of a flat .900. That’s over 40 games. Ranked 37th in the league.
Dan Ellis? .924 over 44 games. Yeah, that would be 1st. And, um, yeah...he and Bubba have been fighting for a playoff spot all year, so every game’s been kinda important.
You wanna stress today? Don’t worry too much about the injuries. If you’re looking to ruin your Saturday and obsess about bad things, start thinking goaltending. It’s April and that’s what Wing fans do in April.
Suck. Suck. Suck. That’s what the playoffs do.
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Comments
Geography is the winner in my book. I didn’t want to stay up late watching a game that started at 10:00 pm and then try to decipher the sampling requirements for EPA methods. Any team is going to by tough - they are all too close together.
Suck. Suck. Suck. That’s what the playoffs do.
This is why (well, one of the reasons anyway) I want to see Montreal and Detroit in the final series.
One group of fans on a Stress Train (many since February), and the other continually Fearing the Collapse and wanting to throttle the home crowd for singing Ole, Ole with a one goal lead and 15 minutes to go in the second period! 
Two excellent teams with illustrious histories, and fans arguing about which one is suckier.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/05/08 at 08:30 AM ET
I’ve been told that Abdelkader’s current nickname is “Abs” (I was concerned if we didn’t find one for him quick he’d end up “Abby” and no one wants that).
I like your use of “Sparty” but it won’t work once the Wings pick up Ryan Miller in a couple years.
Posted by Clark on 04/05/08 at 10:10 AM ET
Friggin’ injuries.
My stool is already black and tar-like. That usually doesn’t begin until the morning of R1/G1.
Hopefully, it’s just colon cancer or something and not a bad omen about the Wings’ upcoming playoff fortunes.
Posted by O-Joe from aboard the USS Crapper on 04/05/08 at 10:37 AM ET
I like Abby let’s go with that. It’s a girly nickname, but on a tough guy, makes him sound even tougher. It’s like Charlie Sheen’s character in “Red Dawn”. His name was Matt, but everybody called him Maddy. I’m a nerd.
I’m terribly nervous about the playoffs, but I would be in any case. Goaltending, goaltending, goaltending. We need a top five, young goaltender in Detroit. It’s been a need for years.
Posted by TDeters from Washington, DC on 04/05/08 at 11:09 AM ET
The “Bubba” thing is truly fun. I love how you ignore your current surroundings though. I know. It makes you feel better not to. That’s ok. We’ll play along.
Posted by Predneck from Hicktown on 04/05/08 at 11:13 AM ET
TDeters: If you want to do a Wing fan get together on Thursday, let me know and I’ll promo it here on A2Y.
Predneck: Glad you enjoy my tribute to your family branch. Stay a while if you’d like.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 04/05/08 at 11:23 AM ET
WTF? Was this a panic signing? How else do you view it?
I think it’s a matter of timing. Abdelkader decided just this past week that he was going to forgo his senior year at MSU. When he told the Wings, they had two routes they could take: 1) sign him by the Saturday deadline and have him available for the playoffs, or 2) let him hang out for a summer and sign him by the August deadline so that he could join the organization next season.
The benefits of Option 1 are obvious: you can bring in a highly-touted prospect who would be idle otherwise. He brings a fast, physical style as well as buckets of motivation to play for his home team. If nothing else, he can join the group of young guys the team will be calling up at the end of the Griffins’ season and give the Wings a heck of a practice squad.
So, they signed him to an amateur tryout in order to whet his appetite. He then signed the entry level contract and now has the chance to play hockey in real life this summer instead of on his Xbox.
Not a panic signing at all. Just a realization that an idle Justin Abdelkader is a waste of talent.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 04/05/08 at 12:04 PM ET
Not much of a nickname, but we call him Abs. It’s sad to see him go, but at the same time it’s really exciting to see him play in a Wing’s sweater. I can’t wait to hear Murphy and Babcock to pronounce his name, it’s already fun to hear commentators say really fast on a scoring rush.
Posted by Sp4r7an on 04/05/08 at 12:35 PM ET
I agree with Matt, signing Abdelkader now was a prudent move, not a panic one. There’s just no upside to waiting, and potentially a big upside by signing him now. I don’t think Holland or Babcock panic much, if at all.
I’ve been on the stress train since February, and I’m glad I boarded when I did. Now I’m familiar with my surroundings, and I know it’s OK to assume a fetal position anytime in any car.
O-Joe: nothing personal, but I hope it’s cancer, too. 
Posted by BobTheZee on 04/05/08 at 12:58 PM ET
”Cleary: recovering, but scoreless since his return”
Actually, Cleary had an assist his first game back from his injury and has played pretty well.
Posted by Puck from San Francisco, CA on 04/05/08 at 01:03 PM ET
I like the Sparty pickup. As someone already said, he’d decided to skip his senior year, might as wel. throw him in the deep-end and see if he can swim with the big fish.
With the forward corps thinning, the McCarty doesn’t look like such a bad idea; hopefully we can see a timely goal or two, a few big hits at key times, and maybe he’ll dent up Tootoo’s face. I feel that the annoying little twit is going to do something Claude-ian in the coming games.
I’m on Stress Train standby for the time being. the CMOI can flip on a dime once the games really matter again. If he hasn’t found his A game by game 2 i’ll clamber aboard.
Posted by wingsfanindenver from 'lancheland on 04/05/08 at 01:46 PM ET
Abdelkader nickname: How about, “Justin Time”?
p.s. I think Ozzie should be our starter for this round till Dom gets his composure back.
Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 04/05/08 at 02:36 PM ET
p.s. I think a Drake/McCarty/Downey line could easily make the rough-riders of Bubba all look like they’re wearing Too-Too’s.
Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 04/05/08 at 02:38 PM ET
Because I’m already tired of typing that name....
Type it? I can’t even say it! Tried spelling it out on the SCRABBLE board here in the Club Car...not enuff vowels. Nickname needed ASAP. Where’s the guy that came up with the “SoGay Center”. Find em Chief...payem, ya must have an Ovechkin jersey or something else laying around.
Posted by Rumbear from Sun Diego on 04/05/08 at 02:44 PM ET
Abner, as in Lil’ Abner, as in the comic strip, as in an ironic nickname for a guy who’s 6’2”, 220, and actually plays like it.
As glad as I was to see the Wings hang on to Kopecky at the deadline, it sucks equally hard to see him knocked out so close to the start of the playoffs… I was expecting a big postseason for him…
With Kopy out, I think Uncle Mike needs to play Abdelkader, and play him a lot, until the kid shows he’s not up for it- which he definitely did not the other night against Columbus. He was one of our best players that night!
Hopefully, the kid, along with Mac, Drake, Downey, etc., can step it up to make up for Kopecky’s absence, which I think will be noticeable, especially in a series against the hacks in Nashville…
Even if that means Happy gets a seat on the train to Pressbox-ville… We all have our own train to ride, no, Stress Trainers?
Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 04/05/08 at 03:14 PM ET
[while strapping myself to the train’s cow catcher]
I could hope for a better first-round matchup. We went 5-3 against them in the regular season, and their last ten have been identical to ours, 6-3-1. We’ve seen more of Mason than Ellis, and Ellis played hard in that last game.
Most of my hockey buddies here in TN are Preds fans; if the unthinkable happens, I will never, ever hear the end of it.
But that’s not going to happen, right? Everything is going to be just fine, and the Preds will end up like their beloved road kill cooling slowly beside the road.
Right?
Posted by Matt from Tennessee on 04/05/08 at 04:37 PM ET
Georgums just cited a St.James article in which Babs says the Preds blew their game against Chicago to avoid San Jose. Right on.
Bring It On!!
I have waves of panic followed by waves of calmness, a rush of adrennaline quelled by a deep serenity; in other words, I’m going bi-polar on this shi-i-te.
I thought Abdelkader’s name was Abdel-Decker, so I offer “Decker” as a nickname. No pop-reference or irony here, just a misreading and a hope that he’ll be what we hope.
I didn’t realize how big Kopecky was playing until he had three huge hits in one shift the other night. His loss is important, but I think we have the bodies to play plenty rough. Remember how the boys stepped up against Calgary last year? How big they played?
This is also the year that Cleary will prove himself to be a huge playoff performer, ala Homer or Fedorov. Different style obviously, but this is his time.
The CMOI will take a period or a game to get steady, but he’ll flip out and play solidly. No doubts from me.
Wings in 5.
Posted by srt on 04/05/08 at 07:42 PM ET
Georgums just cited a St.James article in which Babs says the Preds blew their game against Chicago to avoid San Jose. Right on.
Why wouldn’t they? A flight from Nashville to San Jose is a lot longer than Nashville to Detroit. Logically they would like to minimize their travel, too.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/05/08 at 08:13 PM ET
OK, I’m finally in full playoff mode here......I got up this morning, and my previously half-full playoff possibilities glass was EMPTY.
Every other team in the playoffs looks 8 feet tall and bulletproof. My team, well, we needed 2 goals in the final two minutes to get a happy ending from the BJs.
We’re finding hope in the form of Abdelkader
(The A-Train, anyone?), and although he looks to be a fine addition after one game, I’d much rather be contemplating how we are going to be getting our number two goalie enough ice time to stay sharp, with our number one guy playing so well.
But this year, I’ve decided not to board the Stress Train. I’ve got a better idea. I’m just going to lay down on the tracks in front of the train, and just get it friggin’ OVER with, when you pull out of the station.
Posted by dougie on 04/06/08 at 07:45 AM ET
I dunno, dougie. The idea of calling an MSU product “A-Train” just doesn’t seem right.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 04/06/08 at 09:20 AM ET
It’ll probably take some time before a nickname sticks. He’ll get tagged with one soon enough.
I’m just going to lay down on the tracks in front of the train, and just get it friggin’ OVER with, when you pull out of the station.
Go down the tracks a kilometre or so. It will give the train the time to pick up more speed!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/06/08 at 10:06 AM ET
Call him Kades. (Rhymes with blades). Not Addy. Addy is a little girl down the block who plays with my daughter.
Posted by Chris from DC on 04/06/08 at 11:18 AM ET
“I dunno, dougie. The idea of calling an MSU product “A-Train” just doesn’t seem right.”
Yeah, I can see why you think that, after hitting that link. I don’t know much about the nuances of Big Ten football. The name just popped into my head, because “Take the A-Train” is the title of one of the 3 jazz songs I recognize when I hear it.
Posted by dougie on 04/06/08 at 11:28 AM ET
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Chief: I agree, we need to find Abdelkader a nickname, and soon; his name—as you noted isn’t hard to type—well its just that you ahve to think about it, and thats just too freaking hard first thng in the morning.
Ohh, and I think we will be typing his name alot this post season. The kid brings energy, seems pretty fast on his skates, plays sound defense, and he really delivers the hits in a big way—but, not so far anyway, at the expense of taking himself out of the play. Hit, hit, hit—and a damn good nose for the net too. He could have easily scored against the BJ—maybe even twice.
So yes, a moniker for Abdelkader is needed. Alas, that requires some thought too. Maybe during Sunday’s game an epiphanhy will present itself. Too early right now.
I actually thougt Hasek was pretty good against the BJ’s, except for that Blew-liner he gave up (you know the one Abdelkader tried to block from the top of the circle, face first). The only thing about this post-season that concerns me is the Wings goal-tending. Generally it has been good—due in large part to the League best shots against. But it is, especially lately, inconsistent = unreliable. You really don’t know what to expect. Inconsistent, unreliable, equals unknown = stress.
If the Wings manage to play the postseason without injury to the main guys, we know what to expect from the skaters. League bests shots per game, top 10 PP and PK. Win alot of games that way; provided your goalie can make his stops.
That, IMO, is the $64,000.00 question. Hasek hasn’t played enough to be “consistent” (Ozzy was really good when he played that stretch in NOV/DEC/JAN; but that was months ago). Uncle Mike appears to be going with the CMOI. Question that decision we will.
I like the Bubba match-up for two reasons: (1) it is geographically close, and (2) most importantly, they remind me of adolescent punks(from their stupid chants, assinine P.A., awful play-by-play, and that punk of punks TooToo)—and isn’t it always fun to watch a punk get his comeuppance!!
Homer where art thou!! Too bad on Kopecky, he was, IMO, really starting to play solid minutes and learning how to use that big frame of his. Draper needs to get back in, if for nothing else to win the freaking face-offs (Wings were bad against the BJ in the circle).
Time for more coffee—heres my ticket Chief, wheres my damn seat??
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 04/05/08 at 08:22 AM ET