right on about Cheli and Homer, they were awful. the old saying “he can’t side of the barn if you were in it” fits for Homer.  Nick looks a little like the Anaheim series last year...is he tired. Their Captain is much better than ours so far. I hope “Z” is ok, we need him to be great in game six.

Posted by rocketman from detroit on 05/18/08 at 08:20 AM ET

Chief, you have a good point about Bubba Jr.  We can’t go into mourning just yet.  We just can’t.  I know I’m not.

Posted by WingBitch from Virginia on 05/18/08 at 08:35 AM ET

I can’t find my hubris this morning, and I’ve looked EVERYWHERE!!

Posted by dougie on 05/18/08 at 08:53 AM ET

Enjoy the air show Chief!  It is always to fun hear the sound of Freedom. 

Of course it would have been much more unjoyable if the Wings would have had the day off today.  They must have gotten their calendar confused and took yesterday off instead of today—EGAD someone screwed up and they grabbed their itinerary from Mule.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 05/18/08 at 09:58 AM ET

One more thing to think about.  Mondays forecast for DAL/Ft Worth—a balmy 94.  Skating on sno-cones again.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 05/18/08 at 10:41 AM ET

Well, for what it’s worth, I had a dream last night that I was on the Red Wings’ bench during the pre-game warmup, sitting next to Dan Cleary, when Mule walked in and said he was playing. He also said he was going to take a vacation to Germany at the end of June. Could be a premonition. Unfortunately, I woke up before the game started, so I didn’t get to see the final score.

The funny part, to me, is that I was dressed to play in the game, too. Now, in the spirit of honesty, I was never a very good hockey player. Not a great skater, not very good with the puck, and not very good away from the puck… so I can only assume I was taking Samuelsson’s spot.

Posted by Ryan from Syracuse, NY on 05/18/08 at 10:55 AM ET

No Mule the rest of this series, time for Clears to fill in.  A gutsy hero in last year’s playoffs, Clears hasn’t done much to fill the net this year though he is a non stop competitor.

You’re right chief, I didn’t like the way the game was going yesterday except for much of the 3rd period, more and more was going Detroit’s way, right up until Homer swatted at someone on the bench.  That sucked more than just 2 of the remaining 7 minutes out of the Wings, I didn’t even see any real scoring chances after that.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 05/18/08 at 11:18 AM ET

Give Max credit to Tippett for his matchups.  The Circus hasn’t put much on the board the last 2 games since he realigned his defensive matchups.

Withstand the first 10 minute onslaught Monday night, we might even be able to capitalize on over-emotioned home team mistakes to put one in the net.

I know this, Dallas has always been a bitch to play from behind against and still is.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 05/18/08 at 11:20 AM ET

so I can only assume I was taking Samuelsson’s spot.

Laughed loud enough to scare my daughter.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 05/18/08 at 11:24 AM ET

KHAN! confirms no Mule for game 6:

Wings coach Mike Babcock said today that forward Johan Franzen won’t play in Game 6 at Dallas Monday. Babcock said Franzen is feeling better and is no longer experiencing headaches but still hasn’t gotten the OK to play. Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) hasn’t even been on the ice since in nine days. Babcock said the Wings must win in order for Franzen to play again, meaning he’s out for a potential Game 7 Wednesday but might be back if the Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 05/18/08 at 11:51 AM ET

Jeff - ugh.  I’m going to be sick again.  The Wings need to find that extra gear.  I was disappointed in the game yesterday.  So many chances and no conversions.  19 missed shots.  Homer, Cleary, Sammy - no one is scoring.  Ack.  I’m going to stop thinking about it for now and enjoy my Sunday.  Really.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/18/08 at 12:17 PM ET

Before the series, I thought it would take six, possibly seven games - I just thought it would be a split in Detroit, then a split in Dallas.

The permutation is a little off, but the numbers aren’t completely out of the bounds of possibility.

It just goes to show how incredibly fragile a winning team is with the lack of depth for anyone.  Too bad - I always like to see teams that are healthy play against each other.  Better hockey.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/18/08 at 12:23 PM ET

some “experts” are saying Babcock has to split up Zetterberg and Datsyuk.  I say hell no.

anyone else think the second line should be Filpulla, Hudler, and Helm?  I do.

they actually skated yesterday.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/18/08 at 12:40 PM ET

Well, we have two games to win this.  Lines can be juggled.  I don’t think Chelios or Holmstrom will make those same mistakes again.  Franzen’s headaches are gone, so maybe he comes back for the finals.  People will talk about how bad the Wings look and how Turco is hot and so great now, etc.  It really boils down to one thing.  Can the Wings play one tight-checking, playoff style game in two opportunities?  I think they can.  They played terribly the past two games and were very close to winning.  We’ll see.

Posted by TDeters on 05/18/08 at 12:47 PM ET

I’m feeling musical today.  I just heard an old Tom Petty song that made me think of the current situation here.

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part…

But perhaps another…

Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down.
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down…

I could go on, but I’ll spare you.  Just think of the day (tomorrow, hopefully) when we can send Dallas home to lick their wounds while listening to their Michael Bolton albums.

Posted by WingBitch from Virginia on 05/18/08 at 01:18 PM ET

I wonder what we would be saying about the way the Wings played yesterday if they had cashed in on some of their glorious scoring opportunities.  Would we be saying “we certainly played horribly the last couple games, we were lucky to escape the Stars?” I suspect not.  All that matters is the ‘W’, and right now we have 3 to their 2.  We have margin for error; they have none.  I don’t like the way this has gone, but I still think they are going to get this done.

Stolen from The Highlander:

“He’s getting better,” said coach Mike Babcock of Franzen. “He hasn’t been cleared to play. ... Does he have to skate for a month as soon as he’s cleared? No, he’ll play the day he’s cleared.”

The one thing that’s right about this ship is Babblecock’s relentless approach.  We saw it against the Avs, we’ll likely see it again before all is said and done.  I’m not at all happy, but I’m not exactly worried either.

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 05/18/08 at 02:08 PM ET

I think Pav and Hank are just tired from doing all they can for this team to win. The talent drop off up front is immense. Outside of those two, everyone else is just a mess of who fits where. I vote to get Homer off the top line, he’s been worthless there since he came back from his injury.

If Dallas wins tomorrow, they win the series. The Wings have to play the best game of the season in Game 6, and I expect that. There was too much sideshow crap going on yesterday that the Wings engaged in, which showed a loss of composure and focus.

Watching Pittsburgh do what they’re doing today, just shows how poorly the Wings played yesterday, and it pisses me off.

Wings in 6 or God help us all.

Posted by Jeremy on 05/18/08 at 04:02 PM ET

Jeremy, not sure I agree with your assessment of Homer being worthless, though he’s definitely not been as dominant as he was the during the first half of the season.

But you’re absolutely right about the Penguins. They absolutely destroyed Philly...they absolutely embarassed the Flyers to avoid a game 6.  The Red Wings? Well they just embarrassed themselves to ensure one. Facing the Pens - assuming we get to - will be the biggest challenge this team faces.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 05/18/08 at 04:47 PM ET

I disagree. The Penguins are good but they are not the end all be all. They played the Flyers who barely made it to the playoffs. They were in last place in the begining of the season. IF the Wings get to the finals I think the Penguins will be over confident. Not to say it will be easy; it is nonetheless, not impossible. I have faith and I think the Wings will gain their confidence and deserving rightful place.

Posted by dwingsrock on 05/18/08 at 05:06 PM ET

anyone else think the second line should be Filpulla, Hudler, and Helm?  I do.

Filppula?  Yup.
Helm?  Sure, he’s been very solid.
Hudler?  Hell, yes - wanted that for a while.  The spunky little guy just plays hard no matter how big his opponent is.

No Sammy?  Woo-hoo!!!!

Worth a shot.  They can always be shifted during the game if it isn’t working all that well.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/18/08 at 05:25 PM ET

Drop in Abadoodoo for Mac, let him throw the body,block shots and play with youthful reckless abandon and cause havac. Crazy ass MF SpartyParty.  He got some shots on net purely off of energy when he saw action in the final games.  Limited minutes why not??  Tired of watching Mac act tough from the bench after the play while 38 year old Drake is the only 3rd or 4th liner with balls enough to throw the body without any fear of injury.

Posted by Bhernard Bhudznev from Hockeytown North Traverse City on 05/18/08 at 05:41 PM ET

-Lidstrom needs to step up, if he has it in him.  Personally, I don’t think he brings that to the table.  Someone needs to remind these guys how they were playing up until two games ago, and what kind of opportunity they’ll be missing if they blow this.

Re: Lidstrom’s leadership, I personally think he does bring it to the table.  I thought he brought it last year (he would have been a unanimous Conn Smythe winner had the Wings gone all the way) and whether or not he’s bringing it again this year is not directly tied to their wins and losses.  You questioned it after the consecutive losses against Nashville, and now again against Dallas.  I’m curious what you need to see from him (or the team) to know that he stepped up, or has it in him?  Wins all the way through? 

There are tangible reasons why the Wings lost then and are losing now.  Hasek simply wasn’t good enough; Osgood comes to the rescue and reels off 9 straight wins.  Now, the fact of the matter is, none of the secondary scorers are pulling an “Osgood” and stepping up after Franzen went down. 

As for Lidstrom’s play itself?  He’s been fine.  Maybe not as many points as you would expect this deep into the postseason, but he had 6 SOG in game 5.  He was getting the shots on net, rebounds were there to be put away; but alas no goals because as George already mentioned in Snapshots, the Wings weren’t crashing the crease nearly as much as they were in the beginning of the series.  They need to get back to doing that, as it’s not in the Wings best interest to make game 6 a goaltender duel and try to win a 1-0 game, so they simply have to score more.

Anyway, I agree with your other points.  And it’s not just a matter of how the Wings played in the last two games; Turco stepped up big time and answered the bell, now every single one of the Wings better respond.

Posted by yetanotherwingtransplant from norcal on 05/18/08 at 07:10 PM ET

I was thinking the same thing about Helm.  I was wishing Babcock would float him around a bit, he has great energy.  I would be happy if DMac did not play and Home Keys was in but that is a gamble.  Heck, I don’t think Home Keys could play any worse than DMac.  Homer is playing hurt, how seriously we won’t know until all of this is done.

Baroque, I picked Wings in six at the beginning of this all.  I sure hope to heck I was right because I don’t even want to think about a Game 7.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/18/08 at 09:45 PM ET

dwingsrock,

i don’t know why you think the pens would be overconfident… they won their first two series with ease, but both times they came back ready to play in the next series. on top of that, all they’ll be hearing for the next week is how whoever they play in the finals will be ten times tougher than anything they’ve faced so far. it’s gonna be a tough series, for sure, but i guarantee the penguins come to play, regardless of who it’s against.

Posted by bryan from new york, ny on 05/19/08 at 01:01 AM ET

Oh boy, Bob Sturm…

http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=363779

“I always enjoy a movie reference to sum up my feelings.  But, I can’t take credit for this one.  Many of you have been sending me the Rocky IV clip where Rocky realizes that Ivan Drago bleeds.  Once he bleeds, you realize he is human.  Once you realize he is human, you realize that your punches can hurt.  Then, you realize victory can be had.  It all starts, though, with a drop of blood.  The Wings were just cut.  Let’s see how that affects the two teams.”

If there’s one way to rile up the Chief, it’s a Balboa V. Drago reference...Sturm, you don’t know what you’ve let yourself in for.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum on 05/19/08 at 03:37 AM ET