Tonight we get to see if the apparent gains made by the Flames the last two games are real or artifacts of playing the less-than-impressive Colorado Avalanche.
The Red Wings aren't the invulnerable machine they were last season, however: Chris Osgood is worst than ordinary so far, although the team in front of him has been able to out-score his terribleness most nights so far.
Im nervous about the Auoin/Regehr pairing tonight. It's worked alright, but if anyone is going to expose shinpad in his own end, it's the likes of Datsyuk/Hossa. I guess we'll see how it goes.
Prediction - None tonight.
Go Flames
12 comments:
Predicting this game would scare the hell out of me.
One the one hand, if you predict the Flames to win, then you jinx them.
If you predict the Wings to win, then you're a pessimist who has no faith.
All you can do is pray. Pray that Sore Thumb decides to show up as, well, not Sore Thumb. Pray that Aucoin doesn't look entirely inept. Pray that Keenan decides to pick lines and stick with 'em.
And just generally pray.
Apparently we get to face Conklin tonight. Numbers-wise, that's a bad thing.
I'm most interested in seeing what the Detroit D is like. In the past a big part of their edge has been Lidstrom being strong against Iginla. But we've got more scoring depth now, and shutting down Iggy isn't a surefire way to shut down the team.
For some reason my posts are coming under my real name, not under ngthagg. Anyways . . .
I was satisfied with the game tonight. Between Detroit's first goal and Detroit's third goal, I thought we were the better team, if only by a bit. Defensively we prevented passing plays and had a quick turnaround, and offensively we were unrelenting except for out top line. Basically, we looked like a playoff team, despite the loss.
I like the changes on the defense, especially Gio on the #1 PP. That will pay off, no question.
I thought the game went pretty well too. If Kipper had managed to better than average (that 4th goal was ridiculously soft) it may have been a different outcome.
Again, however, the first line can't continue on like this.
i wonder how the lines are going to look with 18 back.
according to timeonice.com 18 played with 23 and 19 against the wings but he cant be buried on the 4th line very long imo. with 16 doing some good stuff in a top 6 role whos going to end up with the pluggers?
my wet dream is trading 33+7+parts to buffalo for henrik tallinder (hes in ruffs freezer:) but has been solid against tough competition since the lockout, 2.6M caphit, ufa 2011) and go:
17-22-12 tough
13-18-16 soft
20-24-25 2nd tough
23-19-23 pluggers
28-tallinder
3-5
6-4/55
or just hope bertuzzi gets on the ltir.
28-tallinder
3-5
6-4/55
this makes perfect sense to me but the layman would think this is code...
i love the idea, shep, but methinks 7+33 are not our most tradeable commodities, and to unload either/both would probably mean piggybacking them on a boyd/lombo type. y'know... someone with actual skills.
;)
Plus Aucoin would have to waive that pesky NTC. Damn that thing!
I bet you the Sabres would try to slip Afinogenov in there too. Ruff just hates that guy.
Afinogenov: QualComp -.14 QualTeam .08 GFON/60 1.55 GAON/60 3.72
Bertuzzi: QualComp -.01 QualTeam .29 GFON/60 1.85 GAON/60 3.50
Ruff might have his reasons, Kent.
Oh, I wasn't condemning Ruff at all. Afinogenov has been abysmal. At least he sees it and benches the guy accordingly *ahem*.
Figured as much, re: Ruff. Unless Keenan wants to keep Boyd on the 4th line, something has to give, because Calgary has 10 guys for 9 spots. There's no point in putting Bertuzzi on the 4th line, because whatever skill he still has doesn't translate to a 4th line role, and you increase the possible sulk factor. He either has to play better in the top 6, or be gone. Warehousing Boyd or Lombardi with Primeau et al is also a waste. BTW, Cammalleri didn't have much happening last night, either. Maybe he and Bertuzzi need to switch lines. if for no other reason than to get the big dude on the right wing, which still seems like a better spot for him. More backhand passes, you know ;).
And speaking of ahems, the only Sabre defenceman with decent advanced numbers? Lydman. Harrumph.
i love the idea, shep, but methinks 7+33 are not our most tradeable commodities, and to unload either/both would probably mean piggybacking them on a boyd/lombo type. y'know... someone with actual skills.
yeah i know but maybe regier is as dazzled at 7's 21GP 5G 10A 15P statline and those oMFG BACKAHAND PASSES SkilLZ FTW as the average hf clowns. or not :-/
keep the dream alive.
Is it too early to predict a Wings/Sharks western final come May?
Between what I saw from the Sharks last night against the Caps and what I saw out of watching the Wings three times this week....well, the gap between them and the rest of the conference in the baseball style standings, there's a good reason for it, methinks.....
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