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Beating Bubba: Keys To Game 2

by IwoCPO on 04/12/08 at 07:22 AM ET
Comments (10)

Must win? Of course not.  Even for Bubba?  Maybe.  Heading to Nashville tied 1-1 leads to the possibility of a 6 game series, which does not sound fun.  Going there up 2-0 all but guarantees a quick resolution, and plenty of rest/preparation for whichever left coast opponent awaits.

Keys to Game 2:

Samuelsson, Cleary, Filppula, Franzen. I’m not even mentioning Hudler there because the thought of a goal from the Oompa Loompa is just not realistic at this point.  But the other three? Yes please.  It’s pretty clear that Bubba’s going to be all over the top line, expending any and all energy and strategy on stopping Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Homer.  Two goals from players not assigned to the Circus and we’re looking good.

Rafalski.  Not sure what the hell happened in Game 1 but he was a three-ring circus out there.  The fact that his turnovers didn’t hurt us is more testament to team speed and defense than anything else.  His mistakes were glaring, but overcome.  You have to think he’ll be much better today.

Holmstrom.  He hasn’t scored since January. I really believe his success is tied to the quality of Rafalski’s play.  If 28’s getting the puck on net during the power play then Homer’s going to be the benefactor.  I haven’t seen much of that the last few weeks.  It may not get better today because of Bubba’s tendencies to pressure the blue line.  Either way, if Homer starts scoring again there’s really no legitimate way to defend this team.

Hasek.  Idiots at the Cracker Barrell message boards are claiming that if Bubba gets 30 shots on Hasek, he’s somehow fallible.  Ok.  But the Wings have only given up 30 or more with Hasek in net 3 times.  No chance of that today.  But even if they somehow find a way to sneak thirty toward Hasek?  I get the feeling he’s getting into one of those grooves. 

A little more discomfort for Dan Ellis.  A bit more traffic.  Wouldn’t mind seeing a goalie interference call.  Speaking of? When’s the last time we saw one of those on Homer?  Yeah, it pisses us off, but it’s also a sign that he’s really bearing down on the goalie. 

And, again: Coaching.  Babcock made the first move, playing his top line against Bubba’s.  Results were a -6 with only 5 shots for the Arnott line, and a dominating performance by Zetterberg and Datsyuk.  Last change means this might be the last time Uncle Mike has that option.  Interesting to see if Trotz can counter it.  His options, talent wise, are limited.  If Legwand comes back today?  Different, but not necessarily dangerous.

Live blog at 1345.  Unique one considering I’ll be at the bowling/birthday party, DVRing the game.  Don’t any of you bastards think you can be smart and ruin the outcome for me. I’ve got safeguards in place.

Hey.  A big thanks to Clark Rasmussen at Detroithockey.net for the design and loan of the graphics we’ll use to count down the wins this year.

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Comments

It will take a few games for Homer and Cleary to get their rhythm back.  Sammy looks good already.  Cleary takes longer than the others.

30 shots on Hasek?  The more shots he faces, the better he gets.

This train is pretty special, to have a bowling alley!

Posted by w2j2 on 04/12/08 at 08:01 AM ET

I wouldn’t call it a “key” to winning game 2, but I vote for Mac (or anyone in a winged wheel jersey for that matter) absolutley pounding the Shi@-eating grin off that punk TuTu.  I’d love to see him turtled on the ice, and a big red stain on the white-painted ice underneath of him.

Yeah—thats the ticket.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 04/12/08 at 08:29 AM ET

The key to game two?  More of the same from game one.  This shit is clinical.  Babcock needs to apply the same pressure, rolling three lines, giving Mac’s line five or so minutes, and let the difference in quality between our players and theirs show.  I think Hasek is fine.  Rafalski will shake off game one.  Little adjustments here and there, but other than that, doubling Bubba’s shots in on the agenda for today as well.

Posted by TDeters from Washington, DC on 04/12/08 at 09:12 AM ET

Unique one considering I’ll be at the bowling/birthday party, DVRing the game.

Happy Birthday to the wee tyke!  Well, let’s make it unique...r.  Bowling pool in the Hasek.  $5.00 a ticket.  I got the red head kid down the block.  Roll strikes baby, roll strikes.

Hockey, gambling it’s a beautiful day.  Of course, all proceeds go to charity...I’m thinking the IwoCPO Youth Foundation.

Posted by Rumbear from the den.... on 04/12/08 at 09:17 AM ET

Must be the day for birthday parties.

My nephew is turning three - and if anyone thinks he is not the cutest, smartest little boy around, they are wrong.  He already knows his numbers and letters, can spell, and update computer software. 

Hoping for a Wings win while I’m not paying attention.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/12/08 at 09:37 AM ET

The biggest thing I noticed from game one was the wings ability to get back.  They didn’t allow nashville to get any second chances off initial shots, and thats huge.  If they can keep that relentless D going, Nashville doesn’t stand a chance… wings don’t tend to get off to the best starts on these early games, so we’ll see how this goes.  It didn’t appear that we had a lot of jump in the last game.... simplified They need to play the game they’ve played all year, and bring a little extra juice.

Posted by Jdunc from Flint, MI on 04/12/08 at 10:48 AM ET

Time for my slogan. “BRING IT ON!” Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/12/08 at 10:56 AM ET

Paul MacLean...gotta admit I didn’t see that one coming.  I was betting on a Pat “Little Ball Of Hate” Verbeek 15 jersey.

Posted by Matt from Chicago on 04/12/08 at 12:23 PM ET

Must be the day for birthday parties.

I concur.  Over here, as I’ve already beaten that dead horse, for my mother-in-law’s sixtieth, which comes on the heels of my little nephew’s third as well, Baroque!

I daresay he’s cuter than yours, and being a non-biological relative of his and thus lacking in those weird hormones that make you favor your relatives, I’m impartial But he’s not nearly as clever-- can’t read yet, only recognize a few letters, though he doesn’t know their names, and can only count up to sixteen reliably.  As for a computer?  All he knows is that you put a Thomas the Tank Engine DVD in the thing and it plays.  Not really his fault, though-- he suffers from nystagmus, a condition with the optic nerve, and couldn’t hear very well before he had tubes put in.  I reckon with his cuteness he’ll snag a bright girl to take care of him.

Checking the Wings scores are the only respite I get from his boundless energy and enthusiasm.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the land of bitten fingernails and frayed nerves on 04/13/08 at 02:11 AM ET

Andrew -

They are certainly exhausting at that age!  And all equally cute, so I’ll give you that. 

The fun thing (for me, not his parents) is that he also has his mommy’s temper.  I tease my sister because he’s an only child (so far), but his parents have two dogs and two cats, so sometimes he barks or meows instead of talking (although he has a good vocabulary because he gets read to a lot), and I tell her that her son is being raised by wolves.

One of his cousins has had a lot of trouble with his ears, too - now that that is fixed, and he spends time with my nephew, his speech is improving a lot.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/13/08 at 09:15 AM ET

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