Red Wings

[Panoptes]

Conspiracy theories now?

What level will Detroit fans eventually hit bottom at with their attempts to blame officiating for everything that ills their pro teams?

Come on man.

[chemiclord]

Conspiracy theories now?

What level will Detroit fans eventually hit bottom at with their attempts to blame officiating for everything that ills their pro teams?

Come on man.

The current one is that the NHL is... slanting the play and calls in Phoenix's favor in the hopes that a deep playoff run will make the team more enticing to prospective buyers.

I don't buy that garbage, but you know taking away goals that look pretty damn conclusive are just going to start that talk up again. I honestly am confounded that Toronto apparently didn't even look at it, or if they did they didn't look very long.

The NHL doesn't necessarily have the same angle views as the broadcasts. I suspect they didn't get the one that pretty conclusively showed a goal... but the conspiracy theorists aren't going to care about that.

[chemiclord]

My God, Rafalski can't even judge the blue line correctly anymore.

He has been straight garbage this series.

[chemiclord]

This is one thing I have always disliked how the Wings play defense.

When Detroit has the puck on the point, Phoenix has defenders dropping flat to the ice and taking away the lower side of the shot. Detroit defenders stand straight up and make themselves as small as possible, and making shots all the more likely to make it through.

I have never understood why they do that.

[Panoptes]

I'm guessing to give their goalie a better look.

[ghandi]

There is no conspiracy theory...The Wings were simply outplayed in game 3.....Their stars need to step up big time or they may be out in the first round.

[chemiclord]

The Coyotes look as slow this game as the Wings did in Game 3.

Difference is that Bryzgalev is stopping everything that gets to him.

[chemiclord]

Red Wings called for their second offensive zone interference call of the night.

Penalty Kill will need to be sharp... this could be a classic trap goal that turns the momentum completely around.

[chemiclord]

Red Wings might just get another one stolen from them on a "high stick."

EDIT: Nope. Goal stands. 1-0 Red Wings.

[chemiclord]

Now, Lidstrom, I hope you were watching.

That is how you break up a 2 on 1. You get down and force them to go over you.

[Kstat]

Are you really lecturing the best defenseman of his generation on how to defend an odd-man rush?

[chemiclord]

When Lidstrom's attempt is to look like a cripple that had his walker knocked out from under him?

Yes.

Up until this game, none of the Wings defensemen had been playing well. That includes Lidstrom.

With that said; this is a much better showing from everyone on the Wings' defense. They haven't been giving up the zone without a fight, and are winning the battles to and with the puck. Rafalski has only made one glaring mistake; hell, that's a huge improvement.

If they can continue that, the Wings will have a chance in every game and every series. Howard has looked a lot more confident and sure of himself as well. Hopefully this means he's shaken off the nerves.

[chemiclord]

Datsyuk drives one in for some breathing room.

This is the sort of game the Wings need to play. They do this every game from this point out, they might not win every game, but they'll win 16.

[Kstat]

No more questions about Jimmy Howard from this point on.

[chemiclord]

No more questions about Jimmy Howard from this point on.

There shouldn't have been to begin with.

You're not going to win many games, any goalie, when your defense is playing as sloppy as the Wings' D-men had the first three games of this series.