Mark Spizzirri: GAMEDAY: Red Wings vs. Senators

Wait, when did Chiasson get injured?... sigh..

Boro's undisclosed injury is either neck or concussion, no bones about it..

Need Franzen's usual magic against Ottawa to really show up tonight. 5 point game for the Mule. Too much to ask for?

franzen or franzens ghost shows up tonight

franzen or franzens ghost shows up tonight
- Jurco_28

Hell, if his ghost shows up, he'll still probably pot one goal and an assist. I just Datsyuk's head doesn't end up with Cowen concussing it again.

Hopefully Tatar can keep on track with the scoring

Hopefully Tatar can keep on track with the scoring
- Feds91Stammer

Tatar hat trick. All assisted by Franzen.

Tatar hat trick. All assisted by Franzen.
- YzermanIsTheMan

I know Abdelkader has an interesting season so far but with Detroit not scoring as much as usual.... expected to see Franzen with Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

I know Abdelkader has an interesting season so far but with Detroit not scoring as much as usual.... expected to see Franzen with Zetterberg and Datsyuk.
- Scabeh

No

Probably should be a win but we don't have to go back very far to see what missing chances leads to. Gotta put teams away when you're playing better and gotta best teams you should beat...sounds simple but it's the difference between good teams and great teams

I know Abdelkader has an interesting season so far but with Detroit not scoring as much as usual.... expected to see Franzen with Zetterberg and Datsyuk.
- Scabeh

Wings haven't been a high scoring team since Lindstrom retired (probably before that). They're actually looking pretty good offensively this year, the power play was just terrible to start the year.

There is no way Babcock puts out a Franzen - Dats - Z line. It just doesn't work. If they actually really get desperate for scoring he would split up Dats and Z up and pair Franzen with one of them.

Probably should be a win but we don't have to go back very far to see what missing chances leads to. Gotta put teams away when you're playing better and gotta best teams you should beat...sounds simple but it's the difference between good teams and great teams
- HomestyleMelt

Wings have always seemed to played up...or down to their competition. I remember for years everyone said they had an easy schedule because they were in the Central and all of the other Central teams were terrible. If you looked at their record they were barely .500 against the other Central teams, but something crazy like .800 against over .500 teams in other divisions.

So it wasn't terribly surprising to see them beat the Kings on Friday and lose to the Sabres on Sunday. At least they got a point out of it I suppose.

Wings have always seemed to played up...or down to their competition. I remember for years everyone said they had an easy schedule because they were in the Central and all of the other Central teams were terrible. If you looked at their record they were barely .500 against the other Central teams, but something crazy like .800 against over .500 teams in other divisions.

So it wasn't terribly surprising to see them beat the Kings on Friday and lose to the Sabres on Sunday. At least they got a point out of it I suppose.
- noffsin6

Yeah that's been their thing for years. Kinda how they always had a tough time with Nashville, even when they really sucked.

Wings haven't been a high scoring team since Lindstrom retired (probably before that). They're actually looking pretty good offensively this year, the power play was just terrible to start the year.

There is no way Babcock puts out a Franzen - Dats - Z line. It just doesn't work. If they actually really get desperate for scoring he would split up Dats and Z up and pair Franzen with one of them.
- noffsin6

What I would like to see (since Weiss is not an option) is Franzen centering the 2nd line. I wouldn't do it right now since he is coming off an injury and not fully back into the swing of things but I do think he plays better and is more involved when he plays center.

Maybe go something like this:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader
Tatar - Franzen - Nyquist
Sheahan - Helm - Jurco
Miller - Glendening - Andersson

What I would like to see (since Weiss is not an option) is Franzen centering the 2nd line. I wouldn't do it right now since he is coming off an injury and not fully back into the swing of things but I do think he plays better and is more involved when he plays center.

Maybe go something like this:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader
Tatar - Franzen - Nyquist
Sheahan - Helm - Jurco
Miller - Glendening - Andersson
- dcz28

That's actually not a bad second line. Gus and Tats on the wings would mean franzen has to move his feet to keep up.

Now if that third line could start producing some offence then the wings would be in great shape up front

I know Abdelkader has an interesting season so far but with Detroit not scoring as much as usual.... expected to see Franzen with Zetterberg and Datsyuk.
- Scabeh

The likely lines will be

Zetterberg Datsyuk Abdelkader
Nyquist Helm Franzen
Jurco Sheehan Tatar
Miller Glendening Andersson

That's actually not a bad second line. Gus and Tats on the wings would mean franzen has to move his feet to keep up.

Now if that third line could start producing some offence then the wings would be in great shape up front
- daredwingsman19

I feel Babcock is slowly ruining Jurco into this dump and chase defensively responsible forward. He needs to just wheel and fire the puck.

I feel Babcock is slowly ruining Jurco into this dump and chase defensively responsible forward. He needs to just wheel and fire the puck.
- Feds91Stammer

I think Jurco needs a couple goals/points to get his confidence up a little. Once he gets a little confidence he'll be better. The skill and size is there, just needs to use his time and space a bit more efficiently

Looking like absolute crap out there.

Looking like absolute crap out there.
- YzermanIsTheMan

What an absolutely horrendous first period. Howard standing on his head

What an absolutely horrendous first period. Howard standing on his head
- daredwingsman19

He's going to be solid for us this season. Wings need to learn that a pass means giving the puck to a teammate, not an opponent.

The PP is just terrible. Desperately need some right handed shots out there. Definitely one area where a healthy Alfredsson would be huge

The PP is just terrible. Desperately need some right handed shots out there. Definitely one area where a healthy Alfredsson would be huge
- daredwingsman19

Agreed. Miss Alfie for that reason. Give him a back brace and use him exclusively on the PP.

Ericsson has been awful, not to mention both goals came off of his failed clearances.