Red Wings

[froot loops]

Of course he's slowed down some over his career. He's 40 years old today. Hell, I'm sure he'd be the first one to tell people he's not as fast as he was when he was 25. If his game was predicated on speed he'd probably be not as effective.

But his game isn't based on speed. He's always been a technical defenseman; proper positioning, sound stickwork, knowing when to play the body and when to play the puck, mechanically mistake free hockey. The quickness was an added bonus.

The more I look back on it, the more I think Lidstrom looked somewhat average because Rafalski has been horrific. I mean, he has been truly bad, especially in this first round.

If the radio callers want to rag on someone, it should be him.

You would have thought Lidstrom was Gerald laird listening to these people.

[Rocky Bleier]

Montreal knocking out Wasington was a big surprise. They played great team defense.

[FCRhodes]

Washington was not as good as the point total. Their division sucked big time.

[chemiclord]

What is Detroit's face off percentage in their own zone in these playoffs?

It has to be dismal.

[chemiclord]

It doesn't look like Detroit has fully recovered from Phoenix two night ago.

They really do not look very good at all. 2-0 Sharks early. My fear that this game could be ugly looks to be bearing out.

[chemiclord]

Wow.

3-0 Sharks.

This game might be over already. The Wings looked they were standing still on that third goal. If they already look gassed... what's the rest of the game going to look like?

And hey, the Sharks are a giving group it seems. No one watching Cleary and he buried a gimme for a 3-1 game.

And then give up a really bad penalty to put Detroit on the Power Play. Wings don't convert and still look real lethargic despite the goal.

[chemiclord]

Stat of the first period:

Wings only win 38% of the face-offs. That needs to improve... a lot.

[ghandi]

You never know in the NHL playoffs but the WIngs are in for a tough matchup in this series.......The Sharks have alot more talent than the Coyotes have......They cant have the sporadic spurts here and there and win against the Sharks...It will take 60 minutes of solid hockey throughout the series.

[chemiclord]

You never know in the NHL playoffs but the WIngs are in for a tough matchup in this series.......The Sharks have alot more talent than the Coyotes have......They cant have the sporadic spurts here and there and win against the Sharks...It will take 60 minutes of solid hockey throughout the series.

Ya know, I'm not buying that.

Outside of one spurt of goals, the play has been fairly even... and the Red Wings look positively gassed. I'd really have to see how things look in Game 2 before I start getting concerned that the Sharks are going to win this series.

[chemiclord]

Got to give credit to the Wings. No matter what they might say to the press; it seemed pretty clear to me they were a step slow all game, but gave it a good solid go and almost completed the comeback.

Good effort despite tired bodies. All things considered, you can't ask for much more than that.

[Tom]

They should be able to beat San Jose.

[YT]

I watched the 3rd period and they looked slow, tired and a little shell-shocked.

To me, it seemed like SJ wanted to turn it into a track meet.

[chemiclord]

I watched the 3rd period and they looked slow, tired and a little shell-shocked.

To me, it seemed like SJ wanted to turn it into a track meet.

They looked slow and tired all game. San Jose figured this, and indeed tried to keep a high tempo. Detroit did real well considering the situation they were in.

[jaadam4]

We took some absolutely stupid a$$ penalties in this game that really put us behind the 8 ball. Filppula didnt play a good game at all and took two of them that really hurt.

I was actually surprised we even came back and made that a game.

Howard has gotta stop giving up so many rebounds.

[Fraquar]

We took some absolutely stupid a$$ penalties in this game that really put us behind the 8 ball. Filppula didnt play a good game at all and took two of him that really hurt.

I was actually surprised we even came back and made that a game.

Howard has gotta stop giving up so many rebounds.

Been doing that pretty much since the Playoffs started - both the penalties and Howard's rebounds.