Jeremy Laura: Pre game thoughts - Detroit faces Carolina

Not thrilled but not surprised that Staal is in the starting lineup, although it looks like it'll be third pairing duty at least. I would hope that Djoos will dislodge him from the lineup once he's cleared to return.

Very interested to see what we get out of Brome. If he shows he belongs, and we get Helm and Ryan back, that would be ... not a horrible third line, honestly. Not great. But not horrible. Also am hoping Zadina takes a big step forward.

We shall see. I've never been this pumped to watch a team this bad!

Looking forward to some competitive hockey along with strong Goaltending from Detroit.
We’ll all be watching Larkins enthusiasm, and the blank face of Blashill.

Not thrilled but not surprised that Staal is in the starting lineup, although it looks like it'll be third pairing duty at least. I would hope that Djoos will dislodge him from the lineup once he's cleared to return.

Very interested to see what we get out of Brome. If he shows he belongs, and we get Helm and Ryan back, that would be ... not a horrible third line, honestly. Not great. But not horrible. Also am hoping Zadina takes a big step forward.

We shall see. I've never been this pumped to watch a team this bad!
- Sven22

Right?!! This is a touch matchup, many nights will be, but I’m all adrenaline

Looking forward to some competitive hockey along with strong Goaltending from Detroit.
We’ll all be watching Larkins enthusiasm, and the blank face of Blashill.
- Tee56

A step forward, that’s what we need. I think you put that well

I have a good feeling about tonight. I'll say 3-2 Red Wings. I'll likely be watching that 2nd line the most. We need an actual threat from a line other than the #1 line. I think our goaltending will keep us in games most nights. 10 months without Red Wings hockey. I don't even care if we lose tonight. I just want to see those red and white jerseys again. 😊

I have a good feeling about tonight. I'll say 3-2 Red Wings.
- gergeswillems

Mantha with 2 g’s

Mantha with 2 g’s
- Tee56

Mantha vs Mrazek? I like this matchup. Make that extra pass because we know Peter will cheat to make the poster save. Empty nets are fun to score on. 👍

I have a good feeling about tonight. I'll say 3-2 Red Wings. I'll likely be watching that 2nd line the most. We need an actual threat from a line other than the #1 line. I think our goaltending will keep us in games most nights. 10 months without Red Wings hockey. I don't even care if we lose tonight. I just want to see those red and white jerseys again. 😊
- gergeswillems

You may be right. My thinking is a last minute tying goal and into OT

Mantha with 2 g’s
- Tee56

Very possible! I listed Bert thinking he’ll tap in a rebound

Mantha vs Mrazek? I like this matchup. Make that extra pass because we know Peter will cheat to make the poster save. Empty nets are fun to score on. 👍
- gergeswillems

That belongs on a coffee mug. I love it

Good article on PLD trade possibilities:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ackets-pierre-luc-dubois/

Good article on PLD trade possibilities:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ackets-pierre-luc-dubois/
- HenryHockey

Probably would take Mantha, Fabbri and a 2nd (Detroit 2nd would probably be 32-35 OA, so it is close to a 1st) Too steep, follow the Yzerpan.

NYR could offer Kaako, Strome and a 2022 2nd....they might have a real shot.

Ok, 10 min in...need to calm down & play measured.
Am looking for a more established D, setting up in the O zone, stop the dump-n-chase crap, control the puck & set the tone, strong fore-checking, good out-let passes, no crappy goals.....and hearing MICKEY REDMOND AGAIN!!!!!!

BROME’S a BEAST!!! This kid’s gonna be something.
Hectic passing, Greiss is strong (1st goal.....meh, not upset), attitude seems good overall, very focused with rebounds going away from Cane’s players which something Howard couldn’t do. Surprised to see Frans with an “A” 🤔
Cannot wait to see Ryan get on the ice. ‘Cane’s are icing a great deal....

Rather lethargic start. Wings look like a bunch of monkey's humping football's. Brome came close to scoring. But it's like we rarely have the puck. Hopefully our intensity will pick up in the 2nd. Mrazek isn't even breaking a sweat right now.

Here are my first period thoughts:

Merrill may have the best hair in the league

Brome may be better than we thought, but consistency is key. Hopefully this is who he is and not just a huge adrenaline push

The Larkin line looks a little lost/slow.

Zadina looks a lot more confident with the puck on his stick.

Fabbri & Namestikov looked like they should swap positions a few times in the D zone. Makes you wonder.

Defense looked a little better at actually breaking the puck out

Overall, about what I expected. Would have wanted more zone time and shots though. Have to draw a penalty here at some point. Larkin needs to get the wheels going, that C must be weighing him down a bit.

I just posted my first period notes. Brome had the most exciting shift for Detroit with that pipe ring. He knocked a defender off Datsyuk style and got the shot. Very strong

Greiss is giving Detroit a chance. We need to win faceoffs. It’s killing the flow on offense and defense.

I just posted my first period notes. Brome had the most exciting shift for Detroit with that pipe ring. He knocked a defender off Datsyuk style and got the shot. Very strong

Greiss is giving Detroit a chance. We need to win faceoffs. It’s killing the flow on offense and defense.
- Jeremy Laura

Good dump, J.

Good snippet on Larkin being named Captain. Very humbling, but no one is more deserving, IMHO.

2d gets under way!!!!👊🏻👊🏻🤙🤙🤙

Greiss is a brick wall, Glenny’s really looking strong. We kick him around sometimes, but he really is a grinder in the truest sense of the word. Zadina just seems a bit lost to me, not horrible, but still standing flat-footed several times....

Jeremy Laura: Pre game thoughts - Detroit faces Carolina
- Jeremy Laura

1st PP unit was disheveled. 2d PP unit was buzzing...Zadina seems to be finding his feet, Ganger is so smooth, entry on the PP all around looked a little rough. Good looking PP overall.

GANGER THROWING HANDS 🤛🏻🤛🏻🤛🏻🤛🏻🤛🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

2nd period notes are up

If you don’t think faceoffs matter, keep this game on your DVR. Detroit is losing opportunities in the Ozone by being miserable at the dot. They are giving Carolina way too many chances by losing in the defensive zone. Thomas Greiss is the bright spot of this contest. Last year, the score would be 4-0 Carolina by this point.

Yeah, looking at CAR SOG v FOW, direct correlation. Had the same issue last year; crushed at the dot.

At the risk of reopening this can of worms for like the sixth time:

The argument is NOT that faceoffs don't matter. The argument is that people grossly overrate the relative value of guys who win like 54 percent of their draws over time.

In the context of a single game, when you might see one team win 60+ percent of the draws (especially on special teams and offensive / defensive zone), you will definitely notice the difference and it can matter a lot.

But over an entire season, those draw margins will ultimately nearly cancel out because in reality almost nobody who plays center in the NHL is meaningfully better or worse than 50-50 true talent in the dot. You'll have games where you lose a ton more than you win and games where the opposite is true, but IMO a lot of that is due to chance.

BTW, the Wings were 49.5 percent on faceoffs last year, and 24 teams were between 48 and 52. Again: it's not that faceoffs don't matter. It's that the margins aren't wide enough for faceoff skill to be a significant component of a particular player's overall value except in extreme edge cases.

shots 40 to 12. i know carolina is good but come on. 12 shots over 60 minutes? jesus this is gonna be another long season