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GDT - S.C. Finals, Game 5: Red Wings (2-2) host Penguins (2-2) (8:00)
by Jeff OKWingnut on 06/06/09 at 09:46 AM ET
Comments (28)
Been undecided about this post, vacillating between hockey minutiae and other content. The numbers are, as usual, below. However, understanding that this is game 5 of the SCF, I really don’t think they matter all that much anymore (well maybe the exception being the Wings inept PK). The series will be decided on heart and courage, or as Uncle Mike puts it, will. Is it coincidence then that this pivotal game is being played tonight?
I am confident that most of you realize the signifigance of this day, June 6, D-Day: The largest single-day amphibious invasion of all time, with 160,000 troops landing. 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. The landings took place along a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coastline. Total allied casualties (killed, wounded, missing, or captured) are estimated at approximately 10,000. May God cradle all of the participants, those still living, and those who gave their last full measure, in his arms.
The imagery of WWII is indelibly punctuated by British PM, Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill:
We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.
POST Season Team Stats (rank):
DET: 14-6 (w-l), .700 point% (1), 3.45 g/g (2), 2.20 ga/g (2), 1.87 5-5 f/a (1), 23.8 pp (4), 71.2 pk (14), 37.8 s/g (2), 28.8 sa/g (2), 53.5 fo% (2).
PIT: 14-7 (w-l), .667 point% (2), 3.57 g/g (1), 2.71 ga/g (5), 1.10 5-5 f/a (5), 21.7 pp (6), 84.5 pk (5), 33.8 s/g (4), 29.3 sa/g (4), 48.9 fo% (10).
PLAYOFF Player Stats:
DET Skaters:
POS Player GP G A PTS +/- ATOI
L Henrik Zetterberg 20 10 12 22 13 22:16
C Johan Franzen 20 12 10 22 19:40
C Valtteri Filppula 20 2 13 15 8 17:32
R Marian Hossa 20 6 8 14 5 18:41
R Daniel Cleary 20 8 6 14 17 17:00
D Nicklas Lidstrom 18 4 9 13 9 25:39
D Brian Rafalski 15 2 8 10 9 22:31
C Jiri Hudler 20 4 6 10 2 13:52
D Brad Stuart 20 3 6 9 7 24:28
R Mikael Samuelsson 20 5 4 9 7 15:11
D Niklas Kronwall 20 1 7 8 5 23:32
C Pavel Datsyuk 13 1 6 7 4 20:22
L Tomas Holmstrom 20 2 5 7 -1 13:52
D Jonathan Ericsson 19 3 3 6 9 19:19
D Brett Lebda 20 0 6 6 9 13:45
C Darren Helm 20 4 1 5 2 12:00
L Justin Abdelkader 10 2 1 3 2 6:58
L Ville Leino 7 0 2 2 2 8:43
R Tomas Kopecky 8 0 1 1 0 9:31
L Kirk Maltby 17 0 1 1 -1 9:11
D Derek Meech 2 0 0 0 0 4:04
D Chris Chelios 6 0 0 0 0 7:21
C Kris Draper 5 0 0 0 0 9:49
DET Goalies:
Player GPI W L GAA PCT
Chris Osgood 20 14 6 2.10 0.924
PIT Skaters:
POS Player GP G A PTS +/-
C Evgeni Malkin 21 14 21 35 3 21:13
C Sidney Crosby 21 15 16 31 12 21:34
R Bill Guerin 21 7 8 15 8 17:19
D Sergei Gonchar 19 3 11 14 4 23:05
D Kristopher Letang 20 4 9 13 4 19:30
L Chris Kunitz 21 1 12 13 4 17:10
L Ruslan Fedotenko 21 7 6 13 8 14:24
C Maxime Talbot 21 6 4 10 6 14:49
C Jordan Staal 21 3 5 8 -6 19:22
D Mark Eaton 21 4 3 7 7 18:04
C Tyler Kennedy 21 4 3 7 -4 13:43
L Matt Cooke 21 1 6 7 -3 15:11
R Miroslav Satan 15 1 5 6 3 10:01
R Craig Adams 21 3 2 5 0 9:31
D Philippe Boucher 9 1 3 4 -2 11:23
D Brooks Orpik 21 0 4 4 0 19:52
D Rob Scuderi 21 1 2 3 1 20:33
D Hal Gill 21 0 2 2 4 0 19:30
R Petr Sykora 6 0 1 1 -3 12:49
D Alex Goligoski 2 0 1 1 -1 10:21
L Pascal Dupuis 13 0 0 0 -4 8:24
PIT Goalies:
Player GPI W L GAA PCT
Marc-Andre Fleury 21 14 7 2.60 0.909
Injury Report:
DET:
Andreas Lilja (D) Concussion (Sidelined indefinitely)
Tomas Kopecky (W/C) Eye injury (Sidelined indefinitely)
Pavel Datsyuk (C) Lower Body (Day to day)
PIT:
Mike Zigomanis (C/RW) Shoulder surgery (Remainder of season)
HOT and NOT:
DET Hot:
Henrik Zetterberg (C) 3 pts in last 2 GP
Johan Franzen (LW/C) 15 pts in last 15 GP
DET Not Hot:
Nicklas Lidstrom (D) 0 pts in last 4 GP
Niklas Kronwall (D) 1 pts in last 5 GP
Mikael Samuelsson (RW) 0 pts in last 6 GP
Dan Cleary (LW/RW) 0 pts in last 4 GP
Chris Osgood (G) 0-2-0, 3.53, .863 in last 2 GPI
PIT Hot:
Kristopher Letang (D) 3 pts in last 2 GP
Sergei Gonchar (D) 2 pts in last 2 GP
Evgeni Malkin (C/W) 5 pts in last 2 GP
Sidney Crosby (C) 22 pts in last 14 GP
Maxime Talbot (C/W) 3 pts in last 2 GP
Jordan Staal (C/LW) 2 pts in last 2 GP
Marc-Andre Fleury (G) 2-0-0, 2.00, .941 in last 2 GPI
PIT Not hot:
Miroslav Satan (RW/LW) 0 pts in last 4 GP
Chris Kunitz (LW) 1 pts in last 5 GP
Jeff Sagarin NHL Ratings, from USAToday.com:
To make predictions for upcoming games, simply compare the RATINGS of
the teams in question and allow an ADDITIONAL .25 goals for the home
team. Thus, for example, a HOME team with a rating of 4.43 would be
favored by .57 goals over a VISITING team having a rating of 4.11.
Or a VISITING team with a rating of 4.56 would be favored by .42 goals
over a HOME team having a rating of 3.89NOTE: Use whatever home advantage is listed in the output below.
In the example just above, a home edge of .25 was shown for
illustrative purposes. The home edge will vary during the season.
NHL 2008-2009 through 2009 June 4, Thursday - finals
HOME ADVANTAGE= 0.37 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 | ELO_CHESS | PREDICTOR
1 Detroit Red Wings = 4.91 65 37 4.05( 9) 24 16 | 34 19 | 4.87 1 | 4.95 1
3 Pittsburgh Penguins = 4.55 59 44 4.04( 11) 22 18 | 38 30 | 4.57 4 | 4.54 4
The Highlander: penned an extensive column regarding the implications of #13 returning to the lineup, including helping Hossa light the lamp:
The Detroit Red Wings will get back one high scoring forward for tonight’s Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final (8 p.m., Ch. 4). But they’re hoping to get back two high scoring forwards.
Pavel Datsyuk will be making his series debut against Pittsburgh tonight, according to Detroit coach Mike Babcock, ending a seven-game absence because of an injury that is officially listed as being in his foot.
Having his regular centerman back could be the tonic for Marian Hossa’s scoring woes. Hossa, the Red Wings’ leading goal scorer during the regular season, has no goals and two assists through the first four games of the Stanley Cup final. He has scored goals in only three of the Red Wings’ 20 playoff games.
“Him and Pav got off to a tough start in the playoffs and it didn’t go good,” said Babcock. “And then that guy named Pav isn’t here. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that. So that affects lots of things. It affects lots of people. And it’s been harder for him.”
Datsyuk resumed practicing with the team eight days ago, but didn’t start going hard in drills until Wednesday. Datsyuk practiced for 90 minutes Thursday morning and said he was going to be a game-time decision for Game 4. . .
Datsyuk’s return will likely bump either Ville Leino or Kirk Maltby out of the lineup. Leino sat early in the post-season while Maltby played if that’s an indication of what Babcock will do tonight. That lineup change is also assuming the Kris Draper remains in the lineup and Justin Abdelkader out – a switch made for Game 4 in Pittsburgh.
Datsyuk’s return would be an obvious lift for the Red Wings, who have lost the past two games and watched the series be knotted at 2-2.
As Detroit’s leading point scorer in the regular season and with Hossa on his wing, Datsyuk’s line would force the Penguins to match up against two scoring lines.
Pittsburgh’s No. 1 match-up defense pair is Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi, who have been going against Henrik Zetterberg’s line. That would leave Orpik and Sergei Gonchar to check Datsyuk’s line.
Up front, Pittsburgh isn’t blessed with the same defensive talent as the Red Wings. Datsyuk and Zetterberg were both Selke Trophy finalist last spring. Draper is a previous winner of that award.
Both Datsyuk and Zetterberg could be used in a defensive role against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby has drawn Detroit’s top defense in this series, but Malkin has been the Penguins’ top offensive player.
Neither Crosby nor Malkin, however, is as defensively skilled as Datsyuk and Zetterberg.
“We’d like Pav to have the puck for 18 or 20 minutes like he normally does,” said Babcock. “That’s a great concept. When he has the puck, they don’t have it. It’s not even playing defense, you just have the puck. You don’t have to worry about it. Plus you’re faster coming out of your zone. You’re faster in the neutral zone.”
And that all suits Hossa’s game perfectly. The high-scoring winger played a lot of the regular season on Datsyuk’s right side. Hossa’s shoot-first mentality matched well with Datsyuk’s pass-first style.
“Here’s always this talk when one of the best players cannot play,” said Hossa. “And it’s basically, you know, it would be a huge boost and help for the team if Pav can play.”
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Comments
Never,
Never,
Never
Give
Up!
- Churchill
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 06/06/09 at 10:28 AM ET
Umm… yeah.
Morning skates at the Stanley Cup Finals, for the not-so-casual observer, involve a significant amount of page refreshing, peeking at Twitter feeds, and waiting with everything but baited breath for the coach’s morning press conference transcript to hit the web.
Thus far, the Free Press’s Helene St. James has confirmed that Red Wings coach Mike Babcock plans on starting tonight’s game with Pavel Datsyuk playing alongside Henrik Zetterberg…And then things get complicated:
June 6, Detroit Free Press: Update from Joe Louis Arena: Dan Cleary missed today’s morning skate and told me he’ll need to take warm-ups to know if he can play tonight.
In other news, Pavel Datsyuk will start tonight’s game on the wing, probably with Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen.
“I"ll be starting him on the wing, and if he’s the same old Pav, move him to center,” Mike Babcock said.
The Wings often reunite Datsyuk and Zetterberg when in need of a boost, and playing wing would also reduce the amount of skating Datsyuk has to do. He hasn’t played since May 19 because of a sore foot.
Cleary said his injury was lower-body, wouldn’t reveal results of tests, and said the fact there are at most three games left in the season was a motivating factor in pushing through the pain.
Brian Rafalski should be good to go…
Brian Rafalski didn’t skate either, but he told me he is playing.
But MLive.com’s own Ansar Khan received conflicting information regarding Cleary, which strikes me as pretty normal given the situation:
June 6, MLive.com: Dan Cleary’s status for Game 5 tonight will be determined after the pregame warmups. Cleary, who didn’t skate this morning, said he sustained a “lower-body’’ injury in Game 4. Cleary was vague, as you would expect this time of year. Asked if it was a new injury or something that had been bothering him, he said, “a little of both.’’ He also said he had tests done but would not reveal the results.
The Macomb Daily’s Bruce MacLeod updated his blog with news first reported on the wonder that is Twitter:
June 6, RedWingsCorner: Babcock just confirmed that Datsyuk will start on Zetterberg’s wing.
“We’re going to start him there and see how he does,” said Babcock. “If he looks like himself, we’ll move him to the middle.”
Also from this morning ...
Rafalski, Cleary and Abdelkader (flu) weren’t on the ice. All three will be available for tonight’s game, according to Babcock.
Who sits to make room for Datsyuk will be a game-time decision, according to Babcock.
That’s a blatant rip from George James Malik: http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/06/oh_goody_pavel_datsyuk_will_st.html#more
I supposeit’s a good thing because this is the the new and revamped circus I’ve been wanting to see. But at the same time, I would think if Dats has to start on the wing, why not just put him on Fil’s wing? Then if things look good, swap the two in places. I trust in Uncle Mike though.
I’m also taking the “who sits” thing means Uncle Mike wants Gator back in the lineup, but he isn’t sure who he’s going to scratch.
Cleary’s gotta play. Take the needle Buckets!
Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 06/06/09 at 11:12 AM ET
Is it too early to start drinking?
Posted by clups from Eugene, OR on 06/06/09 at 11:43 AM ET
Absolutely not, I’m already there. Then again, I’m on interstate 95 not 5, so 3 times zones difference.
so there’s that.
Damn we can’t stay healthy. even when he’s not scoring goals he’s a high energy gritty guy, so hoping Clears can go tonight. If Abdulkader has flu symptoms go with Drapes or Malts.
Datys, here’s hoping you can play at least 75% of potential.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/06/09 at 11:26 AM ET
I am confident that most of you realize the signifigance of this day, June 6, D-Day: The largest single-day amphibious invasion of all time, with 160,000 troops landing. 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved.
Ahhh, yes. American History. But honestly, doesn’t Sweedish history come easier for you?
Posted by Gretzky_to_Lemieux on 06/06/09 at 11:32 AM ET
Ahhh, yes. American History. But honestly, doesn’t Sweedish history come easier for you?
Ahhh, yes. D-Day and WWII, the uniquely American historical period.
Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 06/06/09 at 11:41 AM ET
Posted by Gretzky_to_Lemieux on 06/06/09 at 12:32 PM ET
Ass.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 06/06/09 at 11:42 AM ET
The Highlander says Pavel is going to start at wing on Hank’s line:
Babcock just confirmed that Datsyuk will start on Zetterberg’s wing.
“We’re going to start him there and see how he does,” said Babcock. “If he looks like himself, we’ll move him to the middle.”
Also from this morning ...
—Rafalski, Cleary and Abdelkader (flu) weren’t on the ice. All three will be available for tonight’s game, according to Babcock.
—Who sits to make room for Datsyuk will be a game-time decision, according to Babcock.
I am out till gametime, see you Bitches on the train.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 06/06/09 at 11:54 AM ET
Ahhh, yes. D-Day and WWII, the uniquely American historical period.
Posted by pilgrim from Ontario Plates on 06/06/09 at 12:41 PM ET
Right, that is why leaders from around the world are in France right now.
CBC is good for hockey, and hockey only. Using it for anything besides hockey results in dumb-ass comments like you just posted.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/06/09 at 12:19 PM ET
“We’d like Pav to have the puck for 18 or 20 minutes like he normally does,” said Babcock. “That’s a great concept. When he has the puck, they don’t have it. It’s not even playing defense, you just have the puck. You don’t have to worry about it. ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1bNtD8CCA0
2:43 mark
Datsyuk’s a great player, but not infallible.
Posted by Detroit_Is_Broke from Ottawa on 06/06/09 at 12:32 PM ET
Right, that is why leaders from around the world are in France right now.
CBC is good for hockey, and hockey only. Using it for anything besides hockey results in dumb-ass comments like you just posted.
Red Winger, I’m not sure if you noticed, but that was written in sarcasm font. If I could edit that post, I’d through a little 
in there.
But, well. I’m not sure why you brought up CBC. I was laughing because Gretzky To Lemieux made the implication that D-Day was American history.
Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 06/06/09 at 12:33 PM ET
Ahhh, yes. American History. But honestly, doesn’t Sweedish history come easier for you?
Nice, Americentric history revisionism. Comes naturally to idiots.
The British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, other Commonwealth citizens, French, Dutch, Danish, and many other nationalities thank you for your contributions toward helping to justify their views on American youth.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/06/09 at 12:38 PM ET
Gretzky To Lemieux made the implication that D-Day was American history.
it’s not?
it might not be ONLY American history, but it surely IS American history.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/06/09 at 12:38 PM ET
I was laughing because Gretzky To Lemieux made the implication that D-Day was American history
Well, it is. Just as it is Canadian history, and French, and British and…
But, yeah, an American sees it as part of American history. Not sure that’s all that controversial.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/06/09 at 12:45 PM ET
The British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, other Commonwealth citizens, French, Dutch, Danish, and many other nationalities thank you for your contributions toward helping to justify their views on American youth.
Views skewed by their media in many cases.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/06/09 at 12:47 PM ET
Views skewed by their media in many cases.
Views not helped by the views held by some of our youth, Red Winger, such as the impressive Gretzky_To_Lemieux. Make no mistake, I’m no apologist for the European mass media, but if idiots insist on opening their mouths, you can hardly blame those looking to do a hatchet job for listening.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/06/09 at 01:05 PM ET
Nice, Americentric history revisionism. Comes naturally to idiots.
The British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, other Commonwealth citizens, French, Dutch, Danish, and many other nationalities thank you for your contributions toward helping to justify their views on American youth
Exactly. Gretzky to Lemiuex’s comment only exemplified the perception that Americans have an arrogant and skewed view of “their” history. That’s the way it seems to the outside world.
No one would claim D-Day isn’t a part of American History. But it is clearly not only American history.
History is ambiguous. D-day is the history of EVERY participant and even the history of non-participate in that particular battle. What is worth remembering today is the impact of that battle and sacrifices made. Every citizen should be proud of their country’s contribution, but also remember a single nation did not win that battle. Every soldier should be respectfully thanked. That’s all I’m saying.
But can we not (light-heatedly) laugh at the American-centric comment made Gretzky to Lemiuex?
Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 06/06/09 at 01:14 PM ET
But can we not (light-heatedly) laugh at the American-centric comment made Gretzky to Lemiuex
Sure, if it wasn’t colored with your Canadian-centric feeling of moral superiority.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/06/09 at 01:56 PM ET
, but also remember a single nation did not win that battle
Show me where one American said as much.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/06/09 at 01:57 PM ET
Go Redwings go—It’s Swedens National day today JUN 6….. Du gamla du fria du fjällhoga nord…
Posted by Gary Bettman SUCK from Florida on 06/06/09 at 03:06 PM ET
Du gamla du fria du fjällhoga nord…
Posted by Gary Bettman SUCK on 06/06/09 at 04:06 PM ET
Easy for you to say.
Posted by calquake on 06/06/09 at 03:26 PM ET
Hey, D-Day is also Brazilian history! WE let you park your ships here!
(Ok, I’ll admit it… my country is coward)
Go Wings!
Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 06/06/09 at 03:31 PM ET
Agreed Okie, the stats now are trivia other than W’s.
Any honorance of D Day shouldn’t be any occasion for citizens of any nation to be thumping their chest. Take a minute and pay tribute to the tens of hundreds of thousands of sons, brothers & fathers who gave their lives for a greater cause.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/09 at 03:41 PM ET
For what it’s worth, Zigomanis is off the IR and is available to play. But he hasn’t been in a game since December, so he is probably behind most of the WBS Black Aces on the depth chart.
I couldn’t even fathom charging out of a Higgins boat into Hell. We had a brief ceremony here and I actually got to thank a D-day veteran. Asked how he did it, he said “I didn’t know any better!”
Let’s hope for a well called game.
Posted by DigitalGypsy66 on 06/06/09 at 04:09 PM ET
Let’s hope for a well called game.
I’ll second that hope.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/06/09 at 04:38 PM ET
Just a Caps fan dropping by for the evening, to thank your team from the bottom of my heart for the curbstomping I am witnessing. This gives my heart warm fuzzies to behold.
Have a good night.
Posted by got stanley? on 06/06/09 at 09:39 PM ET
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I hope Hoss knows since he didn’t get his 2 in Game 4, he has to get 3 tonight…Pavel, make it happen.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/06/09 at 09:52 AM ET