Mikko's 2008 Running MN WILD Thread

J_Taffe:

What's with all the empty seats near the glass in the corners?  Are the conference finals really that passe in "Hockeytown"?

Started thinning out in 06. From what I hear, the recession hits the Detroit area pretty hard. Looks really lame. Not like it did before the lockout. Illitch must buy the tickets because each game is reported as being sold out.

J_Taffe:

Brendan Morrow is climbing my list of favorite NHL'ers this playoff year.

Agreed. Talk about a solid captain. That dude's got some leadership/hockey skillz

I gotta go back to the Fox Valley this weekend. Miss tonight's game (driving). Miss tomorrow night's game (meeting people at a 'supper club' for dinner. you think they'll have hockey on a tv there? right, me neither). Miss Sunday's game (driving). Miss Monday's game (uber geek dream theater concert). Annnnnd I'll miss Tuesday's game (work).

Phone has NFL network on it but of course it doesn't have NHL network. Boo. I'm screwed. I'll record the games but still.

I'd also like to add that the refs (McCreary) need to let them fricken play.

That first 5-3 the Wings had was a sham. You can't set a tone with a 5-3 call. Esp when it was a rabbit punch that really didn't amount to anything.

Holmstrom has gotten called for less, down by the net. He should have gotten 2 for interference on his goal. Turco had a legit beef.

 I was chasing my little girl around during the first period and a half....actually missed most of the calls, but looked up every couple minutes and the wings would be on another man-advantage.  Sounds like they got a lot of not moving their feet on other plays so we'll call this one type penalties.  College hockey refs do that all the time....its extremely lame.

I wanted to change my Phi/Pitt vote once I heard Timonen is out for what looks like the entire playoffs. I really don't know what impact he has (besides reading about it) on the team and what it means. Obviously, any team that loses a defenseman in the playoffs is a big blow.

And in other news...

Dallas signed Fabian Brunnstrom. He's a top Swedish prospect (23) and was being wooed by several teams including the wings. Wings had told the kid that he would have to earn a spot on the pro roster. Guess he didn't take kindly to that.

Don't have his stats in the Swedish league but wonks are saying he's a zetterberg type player. We'll see how he does in the bigs.

My goodness...

Too much to talk about. Too much precise, team hockey to salivate over.

What amazes me is how the Wings can hang the playoff's 'hot goalie' out to dry.

Franzen gets concussed. No big deal I guess. Datsyuk just goes out and scores a hat trick. Zetterberg scores short handed. Hudler gets a highlight breakaway. The machine keeps rollin'.

Take note: this team is a replica of the 97/98 cup winner. Grit, determination and talent. Gimme the left wing lock, neutral zone D (how it's supposed to work Jauques) and 3 scoring threats and I'll show you a team bound for Cup glory.

And in other news...

Lemaire agrees to coach the Wild for another year. Smashing. I tip my hat to another under-achiever.

 Watching that game reminded me of one of those mid-season Gopher non-conference games where the Gophers are literally posessing the puck for 90% of the entire game.  The Stars have had the life completely sucked out of them by the red machine.  Pretty impressive hockey club, man.

 <---- Salivating over the prospect of a Detroit/Pens Finals.

And before you hammer Lemaire too much... I think the Risebrough probably has the bigger target on his back for the Wild's woes.

... that and we don't have a Euro scouting department that turns up hidden gems like Zetterberg, Lidstrom, and the like. 

mikko:

And before you hammer Lemaire too much... I think the Risebrough probably has the bigger target on his back for the Wild's woes.

I guess so. I've said it before. My thoughts on Lemaire still remain. BUT, in the grand scheme of trying to win 'now' a coaching change wouldn't be the smartest move.

Ronny Wilson is available! hah!!!! Let's keep him in the west. Great to have a pushover team in the playoffs each year.

daryllh:

mikko:

And before you hammer Lemaire too much... I think the Risebrough probably has the bigger target on his back for the Wild's woes.

 

I guess so. I've said it before. My thoughts on Lemaire still remain. BUT, in the grand scheme of trying to win 'now' a coaching change wouldn't be the smartest move.

Ronny Wilson is available! hah!!!! Let's keep him in the west. Great to have a pushover team in the playoffs each year.

 As far as the Wild's prospects of "winning" now... I don't know how they do that with the expected departure of Brian Rolston (50-50%, at best, we resign) and Pavol Demitra (0% chance... and ... good riddance -- but we don't really have scorers ready to replace him).

Next year looks like a rebuilding year with the likes of youngsters like Pouliot, Sheppard, Kalus, and maybe even Gilles having to step up into roles they may not be ready for.

Risebrough has a lot to do this offseason -- and without much cap room if 2nd-line wingers are going for $4-5M a year.

I haven't been able to watch the last 2 pens/flyers games.

I know Malkin was blanketed in game 2. Didn't see him in the box score for game 3. Seems that the flyers are doing a pretty good job of containing him.

However, that leaves the other cats open. Obviously, any team with that much firepower will have looks at the net even when their scorer is being stopped.

I am prematurely salivating to see Wings and Pens. Lot can happen but oh god, the next 2 weeks are gonna be fu-uhn.

I don't know that it's premature..  given both series are now 3-0.

Short of a miracle, I think we can begin speculation on Wings - Pens for the cup.  

P.S. - While the Flyers have (mostly) held Malkin in check the past two... he was a monster in Game 1 (2G, 1A).

3rd jersey news. Some interesting ones.

http://nhllogos.blogspot.com/search/label/thirds

stars played really, really well. they finally showed some spirit out there.

I'm not bummed. Well, a little bummed but Saturday is another day.

I think NHL refs are on par with NBA refs as some of the worst homer-callers in any sport. Datsyuk's goal should have counted. Holmstrom was not in the crease. But, because the refs screwed up the call in the first game, they decide to call this one the other way. I understand it's a judgement call but come on.

Wings get that goal and it's probably lights out for the stars.

Franzen will be back for Saturday's game. Hook up the Mule, it's go time.

Darn.

Franzen is cleared to play but they are sitting him for game 5.

 Daryll, any concerns tonight?

J_Taffe:

 Daryll, any concerns tonight?

Been busy the last few days.

Was more bummed about the game 4 outcome than the game 5 final score.

Does Chelios have to blow position in every WC Finals series he's in? He made a couple mistakes last game that gave me fits.

Dallas played better last game. Game 5 was a 'whatever dude' game for me. Wings did almost everything right game 6 except keep their heads. Oh, and they weren't getting enough traffic in front of Turco. It's obvious they are missing Franzen for stuff like that.

I'm concerned for tonight. I won't lie. I think that if they come out tough and score early, they can take Dallas out of their game. Wings played into Stars plan last game.

Sucks that I have to work a session tonight. Am going to be stressing up until the Wings (IF) get a 3 goal lead

Again, fricken Morrow. What a spot on dude. Good to see tough back in the captaincy.

And in other news:

Brent Burns scored twice for team Canada in their loss to Russia. Guess he was voted best defenseman for the Worlds. Noice!

 While I may be premature... I think Burnssssss is gonna add his name MULTIPLE times to the Norris Trophy some day (at least when Lidstrom finally retires).

It may be a few years away... but I believe.

 Yet another reason why I love Kris Draper and the entire family tree of "grind liners" of the past 10+ years in Detroit.  Scored a goal off of his own face.  Awesome.

Found this on a different forum I belong to. The guy who posted it is a big Wings fan (living in Detroit area) and I've known his internet existence and personality for the last 6 years. Pretty die hard fan, pretty legit guy who doesn't write nonsense whenever he hears it; and if this 'rumor' is true, it's pretty sad.

Course, anything could be possible. Hell, even a story started to instill a sense of ease for the Pens wouldn't be too far-fetched. It is the season of NHL non truths. lol

Apparently there is a local rumor circulating that Johan Franzen may never play again and that the Wings are waiting until the end of the season to announce this. The rumor has it that there was some bleeding in his brain that could be career threatening.

I have no idea if this rumor has any truth to it, but it's out there. I certainly hope it's not true. The guy was really coming into his own and could have had a very bright future in the game.

If it does turn out to be true, between Fischer and Franzen those are some significant losses of promising young talent for the Wings over the last 3 years.

Again, no idea if there is any truth to this. I'm hearing this third hand and am not sure who or what the original source is.

 damn, that's brutal.  shitty, shitty news if its true.  He was on his way to a Con Smythe too. 

Looks like the dire news isn't as bad as rumored.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3408283