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Up-to-the minute updates and insights from the Red Wings locker room at home and on the road. By Chuck Pleiness of The Macomb Daily.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thoughts on Game 6 vs. Anaheim

-- That was a cheap shot by Scott Niedermayer at the end, elbowing Pavel Datsyuk in the head. Niedermayer played chippy and/or dirty all game long.

-- The Ducks' shuffle on the blue line was effective. Anaheim put Niedermayer and Chris Pronger together against the Filppula line and James Wisniewski and Francois Beauchemin together against the Zetterberg line. A lot will be made in this game that the Zetterberg line didn't outplay the Todd Marchant line. I look at it that the physical play of Wisniewski and Beauchemin shut down the Zetterberg line.

-- Tomas Holmstrom was impossible to notice. The Wings need his net-front play in Game 7.

-- Detroit's first Game 7 since 2002 against Colorado.

-- Babcock shortened his bench in the third period. Kirk Maltby didn't get off it for even one shift.

-- Distinct lack of urgency in the Red Wings. I'm not sure why.

-- Teemu Selanne was flying.

-- Darren Helm drew two penalties. Datsyuk drew one and the Ducks had two too many men calls.

-- Ryan Getzlaf had a great game, but Jonas Hiller saved his butt in the final sequence with his save on Datsyuk. Big giveaway by Getzlaf.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Niedermayer played chippy and/or dirty all game long.I don't recall him being that kind of player when he was in New Jersey. Back then, I had tons of respect for him. Now: zero. Pronger gets well-deserved flak for his antics, but Niedermeyer honestly isn't terribly far behind, and gets almost no criticism for it.

Distinct lack of urgency in the Red Wings. I'm not sure why.That's the big mystery: how is it so tough for them to stay focused against the Ducks, one of the few teams they can truthfully call a rival. With all the history between the two teams, the Wings should have no trouble at all coming out firing on all cylinders. Instead, we get the bad side of the Red Wings coin, a side that's coming up far too often this season.

Who knows any more what side we'll see Thursday? I'd like to think it'd be their best, but before Game 6, I thought the same thing. This is a huge test of their will to succeed.

What a squandered opportunity should they fall short.

May 13, 2009 at 1:32 AM 
Blogger Unknown said...

2002 against Colorado.... I remember the day. I was anxious/nervous/scared... then we won 7-0.


GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on boys, you can do this.
You were born for this!!!

May 13, 2009 at 3:53 AM 
Blogger Borg said...

I wonder if the 08-09 Wings are going to be known as the team that plays like the best team in the world when they care. Think about the winter classic or game 4 of this series or the 2nd Pittsburgh game in the regular season. There are plenty of examples. Welp, its time to care about game 7 now.

May 13, 2009 at 5:11 AM 
Anonymous Matt said...

Have you heard if the Wings are lobbying for Niedermayer's suspension? (not that it will happen)

May 13, 2009 at 11:11 AM 
Anonymous Garth said...

I'm loving Helm, I can't wait to see him wearing the winged wheel for an entire season.

"Kirk Maltby didn't get off it for even one shift."

I wonder if he plays tomorrow. Do they put in McCarty or maybe Leino?

May 13, 2009 at 4:19 PM 
Blogger Chuck Pleiness said...

I don't know if the Wings are lobbying for a suspension. I sure would.

May 13, 2009 at 4:48 PM 

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