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Downey or Mac?  Uncle Mike’s On The Fence. Or Is He?

by IwoCPO on 04/10/08 at 11:42 AM ET
Comments (10)

The Anti-Digger deserves the benefit of the doubt. If Bruce MacLeod’s proven anything this year, it’s that his word is good—especially when compared to the Diggers.  Apparently, Uncle Mike’s playing it close to the vest as far as Downey and McCarty are concerned.  St. James, Kulfan and Khan(!) all say he’s waiting until after warmup to make his decision. 

MacLeod?  It’s a done deal.

Red Wings Corner

Darren McCarty will be in the lineup tonight with Aaron Downey a healthy scratch. Mikael Samuelsson and Brad Stuart will both be in the lineup. Detroit’s lines look like they will be ...

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom
Filppula-Franzen-Cleary
Hudler-Draper-Samuelsson
Drake-Hartigan-McCarty

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Lilja-Chelios

Hasek (starts)
Osgood

Healthy scratches ...
Downey
Abdelkader
Helm
Lebda
Meech

Injuries ...
Maltby (hamstring)
Kopecky (knee)

As for the Diggers?  Either they know and don’t have the nad to say so, or they just don’t know and MacLeod does. 

Kulfan

The only decision coach Mike Babcock said he had was to decide between Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey for a spot on the fourth line. “I’ll let you know after warm up,” Babcock said. “That’s the only decision I haven’t made.” Judging from some of Babcock’s other comments, though, regarding McCarty and McCarty’s progress in the last week to 10 days, it sounds as if McCarty might have an edge. “He has good hockey sense and we’re optimistic he can help us. He knows how to play,” Babcock said.

Babcock was “shocked” when the Wings signed Babcock earlier in the season, not thinking McCarty could progress back to where he is today. Even watching McCarty play his first game, Babcock wasn’t sure there would be a time McCarty could help at the NHL level. But Babcock said McCarty has put forth the effort and dedication to win back a spot in the NHL, and has made life altering decisions to get his career back. “We all deserve second chances when we’re putting forth the effort,” Babcock said.

Good stuff, honestly, from Kulfan.  Nice little retrospective on the McCarty situation.  You can see he hints at Mac playing tonite, but just can’t quite push himself to say it.  You’ll get there Teddy. Keep trucking little guy.

Naturally, his pal Ansar followed the party line too.

Khan(!)

Coach Mike Babcock said right wing Mikael Samuelsson will be in the lineup tonight in Game 1 vs. Nashville, after missing five games with a sore groin. Babcock said the only decision he still has to make is whether to use Darren McCarty or Aaron Downey at right wing on the fourth line.

Helene St. James covers her ass the whole way.

It’s all but certain the Wings will have Tomas Holmstrom, Brad Stuart and Mikael Samuelsson in the lineup tonight when they host Game 1 against Nashville.
All three told me they feel great and expect to play. Holmstrom and Samuelsson are both coming off groin injuries, and Stuart has had a broken finger.

Babcock would not reveal his hand as to whether McCarty will be in the lineup, but he’s been on a line with Dallas Drake and Mark Hartigan. Samuelsson has been practicing with Kris Draper and Jiri Hudler.

It’s all but certain I’ll be rocking back and forth in a puddle of my own feces come game time.  Guaranteed? No.  But, “all but certain.”

My call?  Both bring practically the same game until you start talking potential offense.  Go with Mac.

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Comments

it all depends on how much 5/5 they’ll get by my book.

Now with Hartigan and Drake on that line, you’d think they’ll get more than the 3 minutes they do when we have a real scratch 4th line out there, so i’d say Mac. He’s a better all round hockey player than Downey.

Posted by Pharazon from England on 04/10/08 at 11:51 AM ET

“Babcock was “shocked” when the Wings signed Babcock earlier in the season, not thinking McCarty could progress back to where he is today.”

Is that an exact quote from the article?  from Babcock?  Babcock was shocked when they signed Babcock?  Knowing Babcock, it would actually fit that he said it.

You know, Chief, I’ve noticed lately that this blog is like being in the 5th season of a TV series.  For anyone who just started reading it, they probably have no idea what/who you’re talking about half the time.  Diggers?  Anti-Diggers? Khan?  I love it.

Maybe you should put a link to the glossary at the beginning of every post throughout the playoffs, so the fans of the other teams have a clue.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/10/08 at 12:04 PM ET

Abdelkader should play.  Take Drake out maybe, but that kid should be playing.

Posted by TDeters on 04/10/08 at 12:14 PM ET

Why the hell is Hartigan in and not Abbadabbadoo is the real question.

Posted by Moocat on 04/10/08 at 12:24 PM ET

And McCarty can score goals… I agree, dump Hartigan and put in Abdelkader.

Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 04/10/08 at 12:29 PM ET

D-Mac has been to the big dance before. He might be a little chunky, but size can be used very effectively. He is a guy that brings it every game with plenty of playoff experience. I say go with D-Mac. Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 04/10/08 at 12:53 PM ET

You know, Chief, I’ve noticed lately that this blog is like being in the 5th season of a TV series.  For anyone who just started reading it, they probably have no idea what/who you’re talking about half the time.  Diggers?  Anti-Diggers? Khan?  I love it.

I can tell you from experience this was the truth when I stumbled upon this blog.  I had to refer back to the glossary almost every post at first.  But now I’m up to date and like the rest of you, securely fastened into my seat on the stress train.  I was nervous last night watching the games, thinking, oh sh$t only 24 hours and the Wings’ second season starts.  I also shaved off my beard today to grow out my playoff beard and document the progress from game to game.  Fun stuff.

Posted by Bryan from Athens, OH on 04/10/08 at 01:04 PM ET

TDeters: 

Abdelkader should play.

I couldn’t agree more.  The puck seems to follow that kid all around the rink.  Oh, and he HITS too!!!  I like his game.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/10/08 at 01:12 PM ET

Why the hell is Hartigan in and not Abbadabbadoo is the real question.

Posted by Moocat on 04/10 at 01:24 PM

My best guess:
Hartigan = Has demonstrated adequste 4th line center skills through play this season
Abbadabbadoo = Has not (at least not yet, but with his defensive awareness it seems he could handle it)

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 04/10/08 at 01:32 PM ET

adequste: adj. Almost adequate, but not quite.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 04/10/08 at 01:35 PM ET

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