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Abel to Yzerman

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

by IwoCPO on 04/10/08 at 12:42 PM ET
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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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