Abel to Yzerman
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Late Night Digging
by IwoCPO on 04/15/07 at 12:10 AM ET
Comments (17)
Before we get into the game day stories, I need to tell you all something. And this is it: I’ve never had a problem calling a Ho a Ho. This may get me fired from the Empire, but I’m going to say it even stronger. Some Ho’s are, and have been, proud to be Ho’s. And I think it’s time we all reflect on the contributions of Ho’s, and what they’ve meant to our society. If you find that offensive, you need to take a long look in the mirror and asked yourself why you don’t place that kind of value on a Ho, especially one in particular.
That’s right, Don Ho died Saturday. No Ho ever sang tiny bubbles like that Ho did. America lost a Ho yesterday, a big-time Ho.
On to the subject at hand.
Good article in the Royal Oak Daily Tribune today that hits on Zetterberg’s recovery, Stillwuzzi’s condition and the value of being up 1-0 (especially when the Wings have proven they kinda don’t like the early Sunday afternoon games).
Two days after the Wings’ 4-1 win over the Flames and two days after he dished out a team-high five hits in the game, Zetterberg returned to the Joe Louis Arena ice Saturday in preparation for Game 2 today.
“I really wanted to test myself (Thursday),” said Zetterberg, who last played Feb. 24 against Nashville. “I think it’s better to make some hits rather than take some hits. That was my plan and I’m glad it worked.
“I think my timing was a little bit off,” Zetterberg continued. “Otherwise, I felt good. I felt real good condition wise and my back was no problem at all. That was all real positive.”
The AP has a story on Jarome Iginla’s inability to shake loose of Nick Lidstrom Thursday.
“He’s truly one of the best,” Iginla said. “But I wasn’t very good in Game 1, and I didn’t make it hard enough on him.”.
Lidstrom makes plays that are subtly fabulous, not flashy.
“We call them `Nickisms,’ because there are things he can do that no one else can,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “How you can be in the middle of the ice, then suddenly you’re knocking a pass down on the far wall?
“He can slide on the blue-line better than anyone in the game and he knock pucks down as well as anyone.”
Pat Caputo at the Journal Register News Service makes a case for Lidstrom as the NHL’s best defenseman, best overall, best Wing dman ever and, perhaps, as the world’s top rodeo clown, harbor master, 8th grade geometry teacher and tax assessor.
You can debate who the best hockey player in the world is all you want. There can be a discussion about defensemen, too. Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer are very good. Still, it’s difficult to argue against Lidstrom—especially when you see him as much as we do. With all due respect to Red Kelly, Lidstrom is the best defenseman the Red Wings have ever had.
Much more later in the AM.
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Comments
I have no problem with best d-man ever; not sure I’m ready to go best ever ... yet.
Not related, but any chance Filppula is the reincarnation of Kozlov?
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 04/15/07 at 02:20 PM ET
Filpulla is my new favorite player. Compare his playoff goals per game to Datsyuk!
Posted by Paul on 04/15/07 at 03:03 PM ET
I wonder if my screaming at Babcock all season to give Filpula and Hudler more ice time has made a difference? 
(If only I did have that kind of power…)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/15/07 at 03:18 PM ET
But that’s the twisted part: how much icetime did Filppula actually get? twernt so much
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 04/15/07 at 03:34 PM ET
My brother and I were talking today about how all the tv timeouts are really making it so teams can play two lines and don’t have to play their 3rd and 4th lines so much. I was talking about how it makes it harder for players who don’t get a lot of ice time to stand out in the playoffs (i.e. Filppula).
Nice strong game for the Wings.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/15/07 at 04:32 PM ET
I think Filppula got about eight minutes or so (I’m feeling too lazy to check). At least he’s past three or four minutes a game now—that’s something, anyway.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/15/07 at 05:17 PM ET
Val played 7:30, least on the team. Hudler played a little over 8 minutes. Val had 11 shifts, 2 shots, 1 goal, and was +1.
I say make his line #2 and Lang’s line #4.
Posted by Paul on 04/15/07 at 05:25 PM ET
Val played 7:30, least on the team.
Ouch. The truth hurts ... thanks for the particulars - and I agree with you Paul.
I wonder if my screaming at Babcock all season to give Filpula and Hudler more ice time has made a difference?
Better start screaming a little louder at Babblecock dere, eh Baroque?
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 04/15/07 at 06:01 PM ET
Holy Schnikey! The Canadian MSM has gone off the deep end, eh? http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=204334&hubname=nhl
Now I generally think of Bob McKenzie (and his brother Doug for that matter) as a level-headed guy, but this is as drastic a suggestion as I can ever remember - especially considering the Flames still haven’t had a home game yet.
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 04/15/07 at 07:22 PM ET
Hey Baroque, he must have heard you:
“Six minutes into the final period, Detroit rookie Valtteri Filppula followed up his goal-scoring debut in the playoffs with a goal off a rebound.
“I’m nervous before the game,” Filppula said. “But as soon as the game starts, it goes away.”
Filppula scored again despite playing just 7½ minutes.
“He probably wonders why the coach doesn’t play him more,” Babcock said. “The coach wonders why, too.”
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=204302&hubname=nhl
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 04/15/07 at 07:26 PM ET
Will do, Hoser. But I make no guarantees, since I’m not sure I have the lung capacity for my voice to carry to Calgary.
(My younger brothers and sisters would dispute that, though!)
Change coaches now? That’s just crazy talk!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/15/07 at 08:45 PM ET
Yes, it is crazy talk. It shows how desperate Calgary fans know the situation is. Of course, after game three, if Calgary wins they’ll change their tune. Bottom line - Calgary must win at least one game in Detroit to win the series, and I don’t see that happening.
Posted by Paul on 04/15/07 at 10:05 PM ET
Change coaches now? That’s just crazy talk!
it’s not, actually… if you’ve had the opportunity to watch this team consistantly flail on the road and sparkle at home throughout the season, you would have fired him ages ago.
this is a team that, on paper, should be winning regularly. but this is also a team without cohesion of any sort, seemingly brought on by suspect coaching decisions (benching key players after mediocre, but not terrible, outings, shuffling lines like a deck of cards in every single game, icing 4th liners or 5/6 defensemen in clutch game moments etc. etc. etc.)
if playfair stays : we’ve got 2 games left this year.
if playfair goes : we’ve got 2 games and the possibility of turning this team around.
what have we got to lose ? you’ve been watching. the flames are a joke. they will be lucky to score another goal, yet alone win a game.
done now. thanks for listening.
Posted by walkinvisible from calgary/toronto on 04/15/07 at 10:56 PM ET
“this is a team that, on paper, should be winning regularly. but this is also a team without cohesion of any sort”
Funny, that sounds familiar. On paper, the Wings were the team to beat the last few playoffs…but then…
Posted by Paul on 04/15/07 at 11:35 PM ET
walkinvisible: I hear you, but if he’s that bad how come Sutter didn’t fire him mid-year, or right before the playoffs (ala Lamoriello)? If the Flames stink up the saddledome, then all bets are off - but thus far, this has simply been the home team holding serve - nothing more… yet.
And while this comparison is admittedly a bit ludicrous, your complaints of suspect coaching actions remind me of one jut-jawed ex-Wings coach who won a few Cups here…
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 04/15/07 at 11:36 PM ET
if he’s that bad how come Sutter didn’t fire him mid-year, or right before the playoffs (ala Lamoriello)?
because sutter is loyal to a fault, and playfair is a guy that he really believes (believed ??) in. playfair assisted when sutter was head coach, and i’d guess they’re pretty tight. playfair was promised the season with the team, and i think (because of the home record), sutter probably thought playfair could right the proverbial ship before playoffs.
Posted by walkinvisible from calgary/toronto on 04/16/07 at 08:24 PM ET
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“Lidstrom is the best defenseman the Red Wings have ever had.”
I don’t see how he’s not the best player the NHL has ever had. Maybe even world hockey overall. I know people will say “what about Gretzky” - but Gretzky was a one-dimensional player, IMO. Lidstrom doesn’t have good nights and bad nights, good seasons and bad seasons, ups and downs. He…just…is. Watching Lidstrom play is about as existential an experience as you’ll ever see on the ice.
Posted by Paul on 04/15/07 at 10:43 AM ET