What’s the optimal line out there if the other team has just scored a big goal? Interested in others’ thoughts.  I say the circus line with lidstrom and ralph, but maybe not.

Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/15/08 at 03:54 PM ET

definitely need our top D out there, not frigging Lilja.  geez.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/15/08 at 04:02 PM ET

for forwards, I’d rather see a physical defensive line - maybe something put together just for these situations: Datsyuk for control, Draper for speed and defense, Holmstrom/Franzen for laying on the body.  I was saying after Nashville got their momentum going that we needed Kronwall to run someone again to suck that momentum away from them.  when Nashville is flying, the Wings have to hit hit hit and muck it up, slow it down, until the crowd settles down and they can play puck control again.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/15/08 at 04:13 PM ET

It appeared to me that it wasn’t so much what line was on the on the ice—rather they were so out of position.  Look at the stats from last night (NHL.com):

Detroit Skaters
G A +/- SH PIM TOI
Chelios 0 0 0 1 0 10:00
Draper 1 0 -2 2 0 12:29
Drake 0 0 -1 0 0 7:28
Lidstrom 0 0 -2 1 0 27:09
McCarty 0 0 0 2 0 6:03
Holmstrom 0 0 -3 2 2 19:03
Cleary 0 2 0 1 0 16:28
Stuart 0 0 -1 2 0 19:27
Samuelsson 0 0 1 3 0 16:46
Datsyuk 1 0 -1 2 0 23:24
Rafalski 0 0 -1 1 0 25:53
Zetterberg 0 0 -1 4 2 20:43
Kronvall 0 1 -1 1 0 22:44
Lilja 0 0 -1 1 0 12:22
Hartigan 0 0 0 0 2 6:05
Filppula 0 0 -1 2 0 17:31
Hudler 1 1 -1 1 0 11:24
Franzen 0 0 -1 0 0 19:27

Lidstrom -2, abberation, same with Draper’s -2.  Those two guys rarely are minus players. 

I know one score was clearly the result of a bad change.  One score Stuart wanted to crush someone and got way out of position.

Lilja gagged one on TooToo in game 2, but last nights 3rd period goal shouldn’t be laid at his feet—bad line change.  And no one expects Lils to “fly” down the ice to catch up.

I’ve been ranting all day about the fact that the Wings couldn’t drop the hammer last night and dispatch the Pred when they clearly had the chance. 

Combine that with the back to back goals, in two straight games now (with the assistance of some bad changes), and it all points directly to Uncle Mike.

It just may be that he is “feeling the pressure”.  You know, when he was coaching the ‘Duck, he didn’t have nearly as much pressure—no one expected that team to do much.  No expectation = little pressure.

He is now with the “Big Boys”, “Original Six”, Ken “Boy Wonder” Holland.  A reverered organization, with rich tradition.  Management that is widely recognized as one of the best in the league.  He has expectations to meet.

An early out two years ago, but last year made the C.F.  This year, changes to the roster, grit, etc.  I seem to recall even Babs himself stating (paraphrase) this is the best roster he has ever coached.  He, obviously then, recognizes the expectations. 

My money says he won’t wilt.  Continued poor line changes, and failure to address the momentum swings from back-to-back goals, poor positioning —those things need correcting BEFORE game four.

They will, you would think.  Wings have the better talent.  They will win, and in 5 games. 

If they don’t, Uncle Mike shouldn’t be seeing that contract extension—should he?

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 04/15/08 at 04:25 PM ET

I just don’t get why the Wings have to match Nashville, every line the Wings have can play with Nashville’s top players, it’s just a simple job of covering your man, as Nick said today. What makes me upset is that the Wings are shying away from the physical play for the most part in their own end. Hits create turnovers and will shut down Nashville’s cycles.

It doesn’t take much to fix what is going wrong, but the players and coaching need to all be on the same page for it to work. The Wings didn’t practice today but instead had meetings. Let’s hope everything gets resolved.

Posted by Jeremy on 04/15/08 at 04:38 PM ET

You guys are judging Babbles fairly, I think, and I’m glad to see that you think he’ll make it out of this.

Personally, I wouldn’t want anyone else behind our bench. I guarantee Babbles will out coach everyone on our run to the Cup. Period.

The necessary changes have been made, but we will all suffer--again--for the first 10-15 minutes. No practice today and a light morning skate tomorrow means that they will not have had time to practice their adjustments; the new lessons won’t be in the cells where they need to be.

No worries though; We have enough strong play, especially from Dats, to carry us through the rough period and come out on top.

RE: Post-goal line. We definitely need our top D out there, or our second pair at least. Then put one of our top two lines out there and own the puck. We won’t out hit them and putting grinders out there to play dump and pound hockey is not our style; it may also result in out-of-position plays/ mistakes. Playing keep away is. Do that well for a few minutes and remind them who Daddy is.

Posted by Osrt on 04/15/08 at 04:39 PM ET

I just don’t get why the Wings have to match Nashville

some matching is good, but maybe Babs was doing too much of it.  a botched line change points to that, IMO.  if the players are confused, that’s worse than not having exactly the matchup you want but those players on the ice doing their jobs.

RE: Post-goal line.

maybe treat it like a penalty kill.  you’re not trying to get any offense, you’re trying to stay solid defensively, don’t get out of position, and support each other.  how many of the goals in the three two-goal spurts were odd-man situations?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/15/08 at 06:15 PM ET

Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen.

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/15/08 at 07:21 PM ET

Kate and Paul make great points. Gotta slow things down until they can get back into puck possesion. I feel confident about tomorrow’s game. I think we’ll all be nervous throughout, and I think this will be the game that goes to overtime, but I feel good about it.  Got a ticket connection here in Nashville and will be at the game down near the benches.  Any word on whether MacGuire will be there?  If so I’d consider making a sign for the game.  “A2Y love Pierre “The Canoe” McGuire.” I’m not gutsy enough to take a sign reading ‘the douche canoe.’

Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/15/08 at 09:37 PM ET

maybe something put together just for these situations

All good points here, but I REALLY like this idea.  Remember that mixed-up lines mean scrambled brains for the opponent.  Just ask the Poultry after the 5-0 shutout last year.  Granted, it isn’t too hard to scramble that peanut that Sasquatch claims is his brain, but Niedermayer and Getzlaf should have known better.  So yes-- keep ‘em guessing, and treat the couple of minutes after a goal as a PK.

Babs has fixed up situations like this before, he’ll do it again.  There’s a reason we place our trust in this guy.  And there’s a reason we’re still in the mix.

Hope that Abbadabbadoo and Helm pay attention to what’s being done defensively-- it’s a sterling lesson to learn both what to do and what not to do in defensive play.

Eh.  At least this means I’ll be able to watch at least one game in this series.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from The Coach's Corner, stalking Don Cherry on 04/16/08 at 03:21 AM ET

AndrewB from TN I’ll be in sec 115 HH wearing a Zetterberg t shirt.

Posted by D town in Bubbaville on 04/16/08 at 10:13 AM ET

D town,
I’ll look for you. the zetterberg shirt jersey? maybe i’ll wear mine and we’ll be twins. Soon as I get the tix I’ll know which section I’m in, but all i know from the guy who’s supplying them is that they ‘are down near the benches.’ 115 or 116, not sure how close they are but i’m hoping double letters. that place will be loud tonight, but hopefully that won’t last long. i got good odds that if wings go up three we all get to see mccarty and tootoo sit down for tea before the end of the second period.

side note:not sure what it means that the password now is ‘39never’

Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/16/08 at 11:55 AM ET

Lilja a healthy scratch.
Lebda in.
Put your money on Nashville.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 04/16/08 at 01:51 PM ET

Lilja a healthy scratch.
Lebda in.

At this point I would rather see 52 Ericsson.

Lebda and Lilja have time and again shown the Wings that they cannot perform well the added pressure of the playoffs.

Posted by lilja4ever on 04/16/08 at 02:16 PM ET

Lilja a healthy scratch.
Lebda in.

Well drown my heart in a bucket of tears…

(13heart)

Posted by O-Joe on 04/16/08 at 02:54 PM ET

(13heart)

No, I haven’t gone puck bunny on Datsyuk.  That was the SecretNOFORN authentication code for that comment.

Posted by O-Joe on 04/16/08 at 02:58 PM ET

Lilja a healthy scratch.
Lebda in.

Oh man, the Club Car is gonna be packed tonite!

Posted by Rumbear from the den.... on 04/16/08 at 03:08 PM ET

considering Lilja has been the goat on many important Nashville goals so far, how can anyone be upset he’s out and Lebda is in?  I would expect Lebda to look at it as an enormous opportunity and work his ass off.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/16/08 at 03:26 PM ET