Red Wings

[gjdodger]

With six games left and two wins or two losses by somebody else to clinch the division, it's clinched. They're kind of like exhibition games in the sense Babcock is trying to get everybody in the best shape possible for the playoffs. Hard to do with so many geezers and gimps. I hate to say it, but I think the Wings are in for a massive rebuilding over the next couple of years; they're not replacing oldsters fast enough.

[FCRhodes]

We have a tough schedule and Nashville easy after Saturday. We need to win Saturday. Our final 3 games will be against teams facing must win situations to make the playoffs. Nashville plays teams already eliminated.

[gjdodger]

I don't risk hurt guys like Datsyuk for games of this magnitude.

[jaadam4]

true..

[WingsFan]

With six games left and two wins or two losses by somebody else to clinch the division, it's clinched. They're kind of like exhibition games in the sense Babcock is trying to get everybody in the best shape possible for the playoffs.

Word

Unless you fear playing a certain team in the first round? There is no buy, wrapping up the division means nothing, seeding means nothing either and were not going to slip enough to play Vancouver in the first round. Don't matter anyway bring them on.

[gjdodger]

I see no evidence, at all, that it makes any difference who any team in the NHL plays in the playoffs, at all. The results are virtually random; if your goalie gets hot you can go far, and if not you get knocked out. We've had Ducks and Lightning and Black Hawks and all sorts of teams winning that never come close to coming back. I don't even think there's a home ice advantage; the last Cup the Wings won under Bowman, in the first two games of each series--all at home--they went 4-4. The following two games for each, all on the road, they went 6-2. There is no benefit to jockeying for a higher playoff seed. If you're in, you can win.

[gjdodger]

In fact, I will embellish that, since I went through last year's games. The home team won 46 out of 89 games, but the team with home ice advantage only won 7 of 15 series. The Eastern finals were between the 8 and 7 seeds. It's just random. It's the Anti-NBA.

[WingsFan]

McCarty-Lemieux autograph signing

[Fraquar]

In fact, I will embellish that, since I went through last year's games. The home team won 46 out of 89 games, but the team with home ice advantage only won 7 of 15 series. The Eastern finals were between the 8 and 7 seeds. It's just random. It's the Anti-NBA.

Or is it NCAA Basketball 2011?

[gjdodger]

Or is it NCAA Basketball 2011?

NCAA basketball usually isn't like it was this year. The Stanley Cup, as I said earlier, is this way every year. It's to the Wings' credit that they have maintained such a high level of excellence that they've won four Cups and six conference titles over, whatever it is, 20 years, I guess. But they've been eliminated in the first round a few times, too.

[WingsFan]

I think the year to year huge turnover for the traditional powerhouses makes the smaller schools more competitive, with more players staying in school. All theses kids leaving as fast as they can to go to the NBA (if they think they will be drafted) is a good reason IMO why there are no more powerhouses in college. Just heard no team has made the NC game 2 years in a row now but Butler. :Note in the last ten years.

[Fraquar]

Barkley, for all his bullishness (or appearingly drunkedness) said one smart thing, it's the lack of senior leadership that it the deathnell of the power teams. Sad thing is he predicted that this season was a one-off.....

The NHL isn't much different when you consider the playoffs is a totally different game than the regular season.....

[WingsFan]

Agree on both points. Only 3 games left for the Wings, lot of rest for the guys need for the real season.

[chemiclord]

I find it amusing that Wingsfan has such interest in a league with the most unimportant regular season in American sports.

[WingsFan]

Glad your amused, but I don't make the rules as to how many teams get in.