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Beating Bubba: Keys To Game 4
by IwoCPO on 04/16/08 at 03:06 PM ET
Comments (20)
Yes. I know. Tardy today. How about some early afternoon intrigue for you? Lebda in. Lilja out. Saw that coming, did you? Yeah, you probably did. Gramps is all fired up. He’s been Lilja’s greatest defender for two years so that’s no surprise. But Uncle Mike’s throwing another wrench in the works. All the Diggers are united in saying Darren Helm’s got a chance at suiting up tonite.
For who(m)?
No clue. But we can guess, eh?
Babcock indicated one forward was potentially going to sit out depending on how the player felt after warm ups. If someone had to sit out, Babcock said Darren Helm would go in the line up.
Teddy makes no guesses, because considerate speculation isn’t his game. Just taking down the quotes, word for word. No interpretation required.
Helene St. James, at least, isn’t afraid to wade a bit deeper.
Based on the morning skate it didn’t appear anyone was seriously banged up, but guys like Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson and Kris Draper are all coming off recent injuries.
“There are lots of nerves going through me right now,” Helm said after Detroit’s morning skate at Sommet Center. “If I do get the chance, I definitely have to be as ready as I can to take this opportunity and really prepare. I’m just really excited and hopefully I get the chance.
“I’m going to take warm-ups and after that, I’ll find out. Nobody’s really hurt or injured too bad, so having to take warm-ups definitely caught me a little off-guard.”
By now you know that if a depth guy’s going to fill in for one of top twelve, my choice is Abbaddabadoo. And I think if it were Holmstrom who was hurting, that would be the move Babcock would make as he’d be replacing—at least partially—the abrasiveness that Homer brings. But if Helm is filling in for someone who is legitimately hurting? I’m thinking Draper as the two play a similar style.
On to the keys.
Hasek: This is exactly the kind of game the CMOI is famous for stealing. Coming off one where he admittedly didn’t play his best, pissed off for forty hours or so, probably on the verge of a sociopathic act. Definitely Dom’s kinda atmosphere. And it has to be. Is brilliance required? No. But 3 periods of extreme goodness may be.
Anger: The Wings, I hope, are incensed right now. Thinking back to what a Game 5 win last year could have meant and a fresh memory of their most recent gift of a defeat in the playoffs. I’d like to think that anger will turn to precision. 60 minutes of it. Not 20, then crap. Not 16, then a loss of focus. A sixty minute effort will send this thing back to Detroit in a family pleasing, Stress Train halting manner.
Ellis: He’s not the goalie we saw the last time the Wings played Bubba in the regular season. He’s an average goalie who isn’t playing over his head any longer. 26 shots on goal against Dan Ellis isn’t nearly enough. 40 will spell at least 4 goals.
Lebda: You wanted a change, Wing fans. You got it. Specifically, you wanted Andreas Lilja out of the lineup. Done. Prone to giveaways? Yes. Offensively challenged? Of course. But strong on the PK and a great shot blocker. Let’s hope getting what we wished for doesn’t spell sadness.
The Anti-Digger reports Datsyuk and Zetterberg skated together this morning. Good. Keep ‘em together until no-neck makes the kind of move that shows they need to be split up. Unfortunately, Trotz should be able to avoid the top line/top line matchup. Sad for us because I have a feeling Arnott’s line got some of the jump they needed in the third period of Game 3. They may cause issues this evening.
Those, briefly, are your keys. Will try to be back on for a pre-game post prior to the Game 4 Live Blog.
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Comments
The Wings must not sit back and play defense, as they did for the entire 3rd period last game.
That is a recipe for disaster…
Ask Lloyd Carr. :(
I hope Lebda has a good game.
Charley Buckets??? Rip that damn thing off your helmet so you can see to shoot the puck.
This game is where we see how good Babcock is…..
So we will win!
Posted by w2j2 on 04/16/08 at 03:21 PM ET
Let’s hope getting what we wished for doesn’t spell sadness.
Meh, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll go Uncle Mike and just say it wasn’t my idea.
Posted by O-Joe on 04/16/08 at 03:25 PM ET
For my money, the Wings need their power play to be better. Watch their entry into the zone with the man advantage—that’s been their problem so far. Normally, I wouldn’t approve of Lebda for Lilja, but the Predators power play is so hopeless that I don’t think it matters. Stuart and Rafalski are both downgrades from Lilja on the PK, but not by much. In fact, Lebda’s speed may even help through the neutral zone once or twice.
Also watch for pressure on the Wings defence as they try to move the puck up ice. They need to make better passes to gain entry. Once in the offensive zone, all four Wings lines can cause havoc, but they’ve often struggled getting there with control of the puck.
Finally, watch for long shots on Hasek. His positioning is terrible as always, and his style is non-existant as always, but at age 43 (or whatever) he no longer has the fastest reflexes in the NHL. Accurate shots from the tops of the circles will beat him. Wings defence need to be aware of that and keep the gap small. Better to risk Arnott going wide around you than to give him a free slap shot from 50 feet out.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 04/16/08 at 03:28 PM ET
No one in Detroit can block a shot like Lilja, that’s for sure. Gramps may be right on that but I still think we are currently better off without him.
Lilja seems to get very nervous in key moments, almost as if acting in panic. More often than not he plays to his potential but then he chokes when we need him the most — to make the easy play or decision.
Posted by lilja4ever on 04/16/08 at 03:28 PM ET
Re: Helm
Just remembered that Cleary took a pretty good shot in the opening minute of Game 3. Maybe something tightened up afterward.
Re: Lilja/Lebda
Neither is an offensive asset. Defensively, both are prone to mistakes/turnovers. Unlike Lilja, Lebda has the speed to overcome some of those puck mishandles.
Posted by O-Joe on 04/16/08 at 03:43 PM ET
Lilja seems to get very nervous in key moments, almost as if acting in panic.
When that happens, you are not looking back far enough. Usually the panic is trying to cover another player mistake or someone way out of position.
The fact that he is out there on key situations indicates Mikey knows what is going on.
The key to watch for tonight is takeaways.
If halfway thru the second you notice they are still absent…the Wings are toast.
We also have to give Nashville some credit.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 04/16/08 at 03:52 PM ET
If Helm is in tonight, my best guess would be Drake
or Draper out. That would explain their drop in ice time last game.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 04/16/08 at 03:55 PM ET
CONCUR:
This game is where we see how good Babcock is…..
Babs either adequately addresses the Wings’ issues, talked about ad nauseum in prior posts, and the Wings talent prevails, as it should; or . . .
We either go back to Motown up 3-1 or even. Does it make a substantial difference, you bet; from “The Highlander”:
What’s at stake tonight in Game 4? According to whowins.com, historically in NHL best-of-seven series, the difference between the higher seed being up 3-1 or tied 2-2 is 28.2%.
In other words, higher seeds that were up 3-1 have had a 90.2% record in series (194-21) while higher seeds that were tied 2-2 have had a 62.0$ record (119-73).[/quote]If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Bab’s. But this is “high-pressure”, and he has staked his reputation to this team’s success by calling it his best roster ever. Be interesting to see what happens in the 1st tonite, as NSH has played their best in the 1st.
I’m saying here and now, the Wings’ will own this game in its entirety. 60 mins of positionally perfect hockey. NSH won’t get many sniffs of scoring chances (maybe only 1 0r 2 odd-man rushes), and CMOI will save any that happen to get through.
NSH needs this game too though, low scoring game. I’m not usually one for predictions, but I’ll throw this out: DET 3, NSH 1. (DET gets 2 on the PP, and 1 from “secondary scoring”).
This series is over in 5. DET gets its hint of adversity, and moves on.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/16/08 at 04:00 PM ET
Should have previewed my comment. Sorry for the confusion. Bruce’s quote ends at:
record (119-73).
The rest is my gibberish (through rose-colored glasses).
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/16/08 at 04:02 PM ET
The only one out of position on the Arnott goal was Lilja.
As a defenseman on a line change, you cannot cheat toward the bench side of the ice until you’re absolutely certain the puck is going to make it into the offensive zone, especially with a one-goal lead and double-especially when there’s an opposing forward (read: Arnott) lolly-gagging up the ice, well behind the play.
Lilja owns that f-up free and clear.
Posted by O-Joe on 04/16/08 at 04:06 PM ET
I would like to see the Wings play 60 minutes of complete hockey. Once you get the lead, keep the pressue on! CMOI has to be awfully good, agree with Chief here.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/16/08 at 04:35 PM ET
Another key to victory: I can’t watch this game, either.
Busy for games one and two - tuned in on game three with the score 2-1 Detroit, to hear the tying goal scored by Nashville within 30 seconds.
Prior committment this evening as well. 
(And, no, I don’t really think it matters - but every little bit of luck helps, right?)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/16/08 at 04:35 PM ET
Baroque - agreed, every bit of luck helps. Remember my Tivoing last year?
Gah, is it game time yet? I feel sick.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/16/08 at 05:43 PM ET
OK Baroque, that’s it.
From now on you are sent up to the locomotive (no TV) till the game is over!
Somebody has to drive this train!
Posted by w2j2 on 04/16/08 at 05:52 PM ET
It’s the engineer that drives the train. The conductor collects the tickets. Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen. Slogan time. “BRING IT ON!” Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/16/08 at 06:38 PM ET
I’m trying to maintain a stoic, “bring it on” shell of composure, but it’s not working. I’m freaking out. I’ve been following these guys since 1983 (when I was freaking 9) and it’s always been a stress case. Even over the past ten years. I hope Hasek is pissed off and plays like it. I really wish Abdelkaber was the guy instead of Helm.
Posted by TDeters from Washington, DC on 04/16/08 at 06:50 PM ET
I’d like to see the Wings play 60 minutes of solid hockey too, but the scheduling geniuses have the first set of games starting only two hours before the Wings scheduled start. So those of us who are dependent on versus will likely join the Wings game in progress as soon as Rangers-Devils is over…unless that game goes to OT, in which case I will light myself on fire.
Posted by Matt from Chicago on 04/16/08 at 07:14 PM ET
So those of us who are dependent on versus will likely join the Wings game in progress as soon as Rangers-Devils is over
that is what Versus says - Wings to be joined in progress. if they’re smart they’ll go back and forth during commercials or split-screen it. of course, a 9pm start really means, what, 9:10? anyway, this is what I’ll be doing until it comes on Versus:
http://www2.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=10328&part=sports
with all those links, one of ‘em is bound to work.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/16/08 at 07:31 PM ET
just checked the Rangers game and the third period will probably start around 8:55pm. great.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/16/08 at 07:34 PM ET
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Interesting I gotta hope Babs mixes it up a bit if helm is in.
DZH (aint broke dont fix it)
Franzen Cleary Helm (we mean business and are going to crash the net)
Hudler Filp Sammy (both have chemistry with hudler) Option B would Hudler Helm Cleary (which aint so bad either but i like Sammy on the third line more)
Drake Hartigan McCarty (aint broke dont fix it)
Posted by solo16 on 04/16/08 at 03:20 PM ET