Abel to Yzerman
Something Wacky This Way Comes
by IwoCPO on 03/19/08 at 02:42 PM ET
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1527 EST: Updated again. Filppula’s the injured forward, one of them anyway.
1504 EST: Updated below with quotes from Meech and Babcock.
Anti-Digger Bruce MacLeod says a vet’s sitting tonite and Derek Meech is in the lineup.
Oh…and he’ll be playing a wing.
Meech will definitely play forward tonight, according to coach Mike Babcock. Why there’s a need for him up front isn’t as clear. Aaron Downey will be in the lineup. So will Darren Helm.
That means that one forward who played in Sunday’s game in Columbus will be absent tonight, but when asked which forward, Babcock declined to name one. It might be that a veteran will be given a night off to rest a lingering injury.
Something sounds familiar, but I just can’t place it. Wait, I think I got it.
Yep, I got it.
When all the dmen are back and we’re all debating who the sixth guy should be…how about moving Meech up to a wing? I’d like to see it, and I’d be surprised if they haven’t already been toying with it in practice. Yeah, Lebda too…for those of you who have already brought it up. Consider this lineup with Meech as a forward (and yes, I know it’s drastic…but if the other guys don’t start popping some when everyone’s healthy, than drastic measures will be required):
Cleary/Datsyuk/Homer
Franzen/Zetterberg/Filppula
Maltby/Draper/McCarty (I’ll admit…it’s fun to type that again)
Meech/Kopecky/DrakeThat leaves some potential talent riding pine, I know: Samuelsson, Hudler, Downey.
Reasons I like Meech as a wing instead of Samuelsson: he’s fast, defensively responsible and aggressive. If Uncle Mike is so hell-bent on keeping Samuelsson in the lineup he can sit Drake or Kopecky.
Guess I’d better stop by the beer store on the way home. Tonite just got a lot more interesting.
——-
Update: Ted Kulfan says Uncle Mike told him multiple forwards are ailing.
“We’ll know more about it tonight,” Babcock said. “We have some players who obviously aren’t 100 percent. If they can play without hurting themselves, or putting themselves in a bad spot, we’ll see after the warmup who is going.”
Meech’s reaction?
“It’ll be awesome,” Meech said. “I’m really excited about being in the lineup again. It’s an opportunity to get back in the lineup and help the team.”
——-
Update: Thanks to Streaver for the pointer. Filppula’s got a groin thing. And interesting that Babcock’s not willing to give up a name, but Tick Tock’s only to happy to provide it.
Forwards Kris Draper (groin), Tomas Holmstrom (groin), Dan Cleary (jaw) and Darren McCarty (ribs) are unavailable and Wings coach Mike Babcock hinted that some other forwards may not be ready to play tonight.
I just talked to Ken Holland and he said Valterri Filppula has a sore groin and likely won’t play tonight or tomorrow as a precaution.
Holland said he didn’t think it was as serious as Draper’s groin injury.
“I don’t have any other options,” Babcock said. “I’m out of bodies so I brought Helm back to fill in and you gotta dress 20 players.”
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