If the Red Wings have proven anything over the past eleven years, it’s that, “Bigger, stronger, and faster” (and younger) don’t matter one bit in April, May, and June.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/26/08 at 06:28 AM ET

I thought they’ve been bigger, stronger, and faster than almost every other team for about the last three years?  That’s exactly the reason they get pegged as a Cup favorite at the beginning of every year by the media.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/26/08 at 07:36 AM ET

nice to see that the article makes no mention of the fact that the 4-2 wings by the Sharks was the end of the Wings 5 in 7 nights..

nothing like shaping the facts to fit the story

Posted by Pharazon from England on 12/26/08 at 08:55 AM ET

Hah, I knew there would be Wings comments over here as soon as I saw it at George’s place. Sorry, but until you prove yourself in the playoffs, you haven’t earned the right to compare yourself to a championship team.

There is a real difference with Todd there, but that will take more than one season to fully blossom I think.

The Hawks too are talking it up and we’re going to spank those little bastards like stepchildren.

Posted by Osrt on 12/26/08 at 09:10 AM ET

There is a real difference with Todd there, but that will take more than one season to fully blossom I think.

I think it depends on who they meet in the playoffs.

Detroit - San Jose would be (assuming both teams are healthy) pretty close to a toss-up over a series.  I wouldn’t be shocked to see either team win a long series.

Pretty much any other team would get steamrolled by San Jose, though.  Although they haven’t advanced past the second round yet, they do have some playoff experience, which gives them the edge over a team like Chicago.  A Chicago - San Jose series would be entertaining, but awfully short, I suspect. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/26/08 at 09:44 AM ET

It all changes in the playoffs. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sharks tense up in their first or second round matchups.

We’ve seen experienced, Cup-winning Wings teams do it. The Sharks have a bunch of guys that know nothing but flaming out against teams in they playoffs. I still refuse to believe Joe Thornton is a changed player till he does it in the playoffs.

Posted by Nathan on 12/26/08 at 10:36 AM ET

Let them hype the Sharks all they want.  Come playoff time, it is anyone’s game and the Sharks have a very large monkey they need to get off of their backs.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 12/26/08 at 11:16 AM ET

nice to see that the article makes no mention of the fact that the 4-2 wings by the Sharks was the end of the Wings 5 in 7 nights..

That was my exact thought when I read that, Pharazon. The writer also neglects to mention the Wings got “manhandled” by the Sharks the night after they played a bruising game against the goons in Anaheim. But he makes sure to point out that the Wings 6-0 smackdown came against a “tired” Sharks team (who played the oh-so-tough BJs the night before).

But I’ll give it to McLellan. He’s managed to “Babcock” the Sharks in a short period of time, and they look like a far more dangerous team than they were before. The only question that remains is how that will carry over to the playoffs.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 12/26/08 at 11:35 AM ET

That was my exact thought when I read that, Pharazon. The writer also neglects to mention the Wings got “manhandled” by the Sharks the night after they played a bruising game against the goons in Anaheim. But he makes sure to point out that the Wings 6-0 smackdown came against a “tired” Sharks team (who played the oh-so-tough BJs the night before).

Let me do you one better. Not only did the Wings play a tougher team the night before the Sharks beat them 4-2 in San Jose, but it is also (in my opinion) much tougher to adjust to the time change going out West than it is coming out East. When you go out West, games feel like 10:30pm starts. When you come out East, games feel like 4:30pm starts. Which one do you think is easier to deal with?

One more thing—cumulative goals on the season put the Wings up 8-4. The 6-0 Detroit win was much more convincing than the 4-2 Shark win.

BUT—neither of these games mean anything. And frankly, we won’t really know much more after the other two games these teams have yet to play against each other.

Bottom line is that this article is sour grapes from a St. Louis writer that’s tired of losing to Detroit, and is just grasping for ANYONE to be better than Detroit. Typical Blues fan stuff. Hate Detroit more than you like your own team.

Posted by Nathan on 12/26/08 at 12:50 PM ET

Not only did the Wings play a tougher team the night before the Sharks beat them 4-2 in San Jose, but it is also (in my opinion) much tougher to adjust to the time change going out West than it is coming out East.

Agreed, Nathan. I made that same point in a post a few days ago. The miles traveled by the Wings and the Sharks may be equal, but the effect on the body definitely is not. And the Wings will face some of that again tomorrow when they play two time zones away in Denver after finishing their game at about 11:00 tonight in Nashville. Lil’ Gary’s schedulers must have gotten a bonus for that one.

As for the Eastern Conference teams? All I can say is those bus rides between Philly and Pittsburgh or NYC and Jersey must be just brutal.

Verification word: hell22. I guess that means Lebda will either play like hell or have a hell of a game tonight.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 12/26/08 at 01:58 PM ET

Here is what Detroit coach Mike Babcock is saying about San Jose Sharks:
“They’re for real.”

Sharks are playing in similar style as Red Army team, but more physical.

More can be read in excellent report by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Title is “Hot or Not, this Sharks club has been built to last.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=3793442

Sharks against Red Wings in playoffs will be great contest, but Nabokov is superior to Detroit goaltender. If it is Osgood or Conklin doesn’t matter. For this reason chances are very good for Sharks.

Posted by Yuri Gagarin from New York on 12/27/08 at 01:02 AM ET