Hey, how about that? My cousin, who lives in Nashville of all places, commented on the “There will be blood” rant below. Bastard won’t call or email me, but when it’s time to stab some Dive fans in the temple, boy, there he is. For you, cous, we may have a Rocky III reference coming up real soon.
As I write this it’s 6 hours until game time. I’m ready to present to you the keys to victory, and happiness.
Foote. Not only is he their best defenseman, but he holds the key to whatever miniscule bit of soul that rests in that room. That says a lot, considering he had no problem shafting the team he left like Irsay in the middle of the night. Ask the BJs what they think of “their captain.” Ask Columbus fans to compare him to Chris Pronger and I’ll bet they have plenty of ammunition to do so. He needs to be run, because Uncle Mike likes watching people run defenseman. Dallas Drake would be nifty guy to do just that, every shift if possible. Damage Foote. Break the Foote. A lot.
Jose Three or Four. Denver’s giving up 33 shots per game in the playoffs. Simpler? K. Minnesota put up 33/game over a six game series. If they can stick 33 on 3/4 than the Wings should average 45 at least. That, my friends, is a recipe for family fun. 45 shots per game seals the deal. Maybe the little fella can steal one game seeing that much rubber, but not four.
Forsberg. One player on that team scares me. One. And that’s him. Wolski, Stastny, Sakic, Smyth...nobody else makes me sad, really. Forsberg? He must be dealt with. Uncle Mike has a plan and that plan probably includes the words, “norris”, “nicky”, “kneetothenuts” and “no room to breathe”. Yeah, I think Lidstrom’s going to take every shift that Forsberg is on the ice, and probably Draper too. Don’t be surprised if Zetterberg’s matched up with him either. And if the Wings put the Circus up against Floppa’s line? Advantage Wings. Because while he used to be a defensive kinda guy, Floppa’s tender ankle--like the tender sensibilities of all the candy asses who populate the Ass Can to stare lovingly at a jersey that hangs from the rafters placed there after 15 months of time in service--isn’t exactly made to cover the likes of Hank and Datsyuk. Oh, and speaking of his ankle? Place a target on it please.
The blue line. Anti-Digger is reporting that Stuart’s out.
Brad Stuart and his wife Melissa have a newborn baby boy, Logan Michael. (Coach Mike Babcock joked that he can’t believe Stuart wants on the power play so badly that he’d name his son Michael.)
Stuart will be in Detroit later today and he will practice with the Red Wings tomorrow. He will be back in the lineup for Game 2.
Andreas Lilja will partner with Niklas Kronwall tonight on the second defense pairing. Lija has been a healthy scratch the past three games.
For the record, as if this needs to be said, I for one harbor no ill feelings toward Stuart or anyone who would make the choice he did. Nothing in the world is better than being a Dad. Nothing. Not even a Cup, or watching your team win one. Congrats to him and his wife.
Having said that, if he’s in Detroit...and he’s not playing? I’d take a dead-tired Stuart over a healthy Lilja any day of the week. It’s 1244 EST and the official word (because MacLeod says so) is that he’s out. I believe that now. But if he’s there in time, I have a hunch he plays.
Kronwall must maintain his anti-social tendencies. God, he was a frigging freight train against Bubba. He hit Bubba so hard that Bubba’s sister/cousin/wife felt it while she was cleaning the outhouse. That has to continue. If it means a few PKs, so be it.
Rafalski and Lidstrom are going to be huge this series. Huge. It’s their play against the Dive top line, their outlet passes, their blasts on net that will make the difference. Those 45 shots on net I mentioned earlier? 15 have to come from 12 feet in. Rebounds, end board ricochets, deflections, whatever. Rafalski and Lidstrom have to make that happen.
Osgood. Billy frigging Beroo. Oh Billy. This is a big one. Chris Osgood is not going to lose us this series. I’m convinced of that. I think we can anticipate him allowing 2 goals/game. It’s up to the offense to do one better than that. He’s calm and as positionally sound as he’s ever been. He will not be rattled and there will be more than a few situations where nerves would fell most other goalies. Plus, he’s on a bit of a mission.
Datsyuk. There is no forward or defenseman who can contain him, not the way he’s playing. He’s your Conn Smythe winner should the Wings bring the Cup home to its rightful spot. If his linemates get, and stay, hot they’re good for at least two/game. If he stays healthy, I really believe he is key, the main key.
There are your keys to Game 1, and I think the series. Live Blog tonite? Yes. 422’s the record. 500 tonite is a given.
Depth will be huge in this series. The top 6 forwards on each team cancel each other out, so the battles will be won with the 3rd and 4th lines.
Also, keep in mind Quenneville’s poor playoff resume against the Wings. If Uncle Mike can outcoach him on the road, the Wings can win this series without many problems. The key will be in Babcock not giving into Joel in Denver.
Lastly, the Wings need to play their game and not get sucked into what the Avs want to do. The Wings were guilty of that against Nashville, especially early on in the series.
Posted by Jeremy on 04/24 at 01:49 PM