Mark Spizzirri: GAMEDAY: Wild vs. Red Wings

I was unable to watch the Columbus game. Did Babcock split up the Miller-Helm-Abdelkader line that game? I just noticed you had them apart and I sure hope not, because they have been outstanding for some time now when they were playing as a line.

I was unable to watch the Columbus game. Did Babcock split up the Miller-Helm-Abdelkader line that game? I just noticed you had them apart and I sure hope not, because they have been outstanding for some time now when they were playing as a line.
- Striker7

Yeah, Babs demoted the Mule. Odd that Babs would mess with the chemistry that the HAM line had, but he did.

Happy that the Nucks beat the Blues. We need that team to slow down. Sheesh.

seeds dont matter in the west

nucks ,wings, blues finish first they could easily play a team like the sharks,kings,hawks
doesnt matter in the west as long as you get in

Brendan Smith looked poised for the puck
wings need a star to develop out of Kindl,Ericsson and Smith

hopefully Smith can do that, looked good ,poised
when a defensemen goes unnoticed it means he's usually doing a good job, he didnt appear on the scoresheet but, he played a solid game

I was unable to watch the Columbus game. Did Babcock split up the Miller-Helm-Abdelkader line that game? I just noticed you had them apart and I sure hope not, because they have been outstanding for some time now when they were playing as a line.
- Striker7

doesnt matter against a AHL team like Columbus

seeds dont matter in the west

nucks ,wings, blues finish first they could easily play a team like the sharks,kings,hawks
doesnt matter in the west as long as you get in

Brendan Smith looked poised for the puck
wings need a star to develop out of Kindl,Ericsson and Smith

hopefully Smith can do that, looked good ,poised
when a defensemen goes unnoticed it means he's usually doing a good job, he didnt appear on the scoresheet but, he played a solid game
- wingz4life

Must be a sign of the apocolypse.... I agree with you

Must be a sign of the apocolypse.... I agree with you
- drice97

thing is, beyond my tirades on here I actually know a thing or two

thing that sets me off is some of the obvious homerism posted on here

doesnt matter against a AHL team like Columbus
- wingz4life

Against a team like Minnesota it could. Although they aren't great they have a tendency to produce good defensive performances against us. I'd like all the advantages we can get, especially with Pav and Lids still out.

Against a team like Minnesota it could. Although they aren't great they have a tendency to produce good defensive performances against us. I'd like all the advantages we can get, especially with Pav and Lids still out.
- Striker7

its not the beginning of the season, wild are a lottery team now
wings should start gearing up for the playoffs here and start burying these teams

Just read a little excerpt about Lidstrom being a little concerned that his ankle injury is possibly more severe than just a short term injury. I'd hate for that to be the case.

Flipulla 20 goals

thought his time would never come
but, better late then never

Just read a little excerpt about Lidstrom being a little concerned that his ankle injury is possibly more severe than just a short term injury. I'd hate for that to be the case.
- snipesydangle

they can finish out the season without Lidstrom,need him for the playoffs
and to be honest its time for a new wave a wings stars to emerge
filpulla has made big gains this season
it's brendan smiths time to play in the NHL

they can finish out the season without Lidstrom,need him for the playoffs
and to be honest its time for a new wave a wings stars to emerge
filpulla has made big gains this season
it's brendan smiths time to play in the NHL
- wingz4life

First gino for Smith. Let's hope that breaks him in.

First gino for Smith. Let's hope that breaks him in.
- snipesydangle

i had serious doubts that Filpulla would ever become a top 6 nhl forward

you can score a lot of goals in this league with his talent
especially if u stop being a perimeter player and start going to the net

@Wings4life... meh on the homerism. I dont see it as much here as in other forums.

What I like about our forum is I find everyone can speak their mind freely without fear of having anyone be too much of a dink if they dont agree. Also I do find that we are all on the same page about many players and where they stand what the team needs.

We all get down at points, but I think that is only normal as a hockey fan, particularly when you have a high expectation such as us.

Just read a little excerpt about Lidstrom being a little concerned that his ankle injury is possibly more severe than just a short term injury. I'd hate for that to be the case.
- snipesydangle

Meh....my take is that he is use to taking a game off and bouncing back like he did when he was 30. Maybe he is realizing he is going to be 42. Might be good in the long run in more than one way 1) He is getting a glimpse of what retirement looks like (and it sounds like he doesn't like it) 2) Gives him (and Dats) a little break mentally and physically b-4 the playoffs 3) Gives the other D-men a chance to shine and prove the team can excel without their two stars (like when Howard was down).

Good game by the Wings even if the Wild look like an AHL level team. Smith should gain some confidence with it...he has played well in the few games he has played this season. Nice to see Howard get back to winning with a shutout. Nice to see Z keeping it up with Datsyuk out.


I was never really for trading Filppula when some thought he wasn't earning his salary and would never achieve his potential. I'm glad the Wings stuck with him as he has taken a big step to becoming the player we all knew he could become. Hope he keeps it going not only to end the season and into the playoffs but next season and beyond.

Meh....my take is that he is use to taking a game off and bouncing back like he did when he was 30. Maybe he is realizing he is going to be 42. Might be good in the long run in more than one way 1) He is getting a glimpse of what retirement looks like (and it sounds like he doesn't like it) 2) Gives him (and Dats) a little break mentally and physically b-4 the playoffs 3) Gives the other D-men a chance to shine and prove the team can excel without their two stars (like when Howard was down).
- MedicineMan

I like that some of the top players are getting some time off and resting before the playoffs and like you said it does give the Wings a chance to see who can step up if injuries hit during the playoffs which they likely will if the Wings go on a long run. Granted the Wings haven't exactly faced good teams since Lids has been out but still nice to see some guys step up.

I disagree that seeds don't matter in the West.

Sure, you're going to have to play good teams all the way through, but 1) having home ice advantage in as many situations as possible, and 2) being able to limit the number of elite opponents (I consider Vancouver and St. Louis elite) you play are both very good things.

Here's a list of potential West playoff opponents, in order of how scared I am to have the Red Wings play them:

1) Vancouver
2) St. Louis
3) Nashville
4) San Jose
5) Chicago
6) Phoenix
7) Everybody else

Depending on how the playoffs break and the kinds of upsets that may or may not occur, any of their likely finishes (1st, 2nd or 4th) could result in the most favorable draw overall. But if they finish 4th, there's a decent chance it looks something like this: Nashville (home), Vancouver (away), St. Louis (away).

Meanwhile, if they finish 1st or 2nd, they still might end up with something ghastly like San Jose/St. Louis/Vancouver, but at least they get home ice in at least 2 of those series. And generally, they're in a better position to take advantage of upsets. If, say, the Canucks get upset in round 1, the Red Wings might end up with something like Phoenix/Dallas for the first two rounds. That sort of breakdown would be impossible if they finished in fourth.

Good game by the Wings even if the Wild look like an AHL level team. Smith should gain some confidence with it...he has played well in the few games he has played this season. Nice to see Howard get back to winning with a shutout. Nice to see Z keeping it up with Datsyuk out.


I was never really for trading Filppula when some thought he wasn't earning his salary and would never achieve his potential. I'm glad the Wings stuck with him as he has taken a big step to becoming the player we all knew he could become. Hope he keeps it going not only to end the season and into the playoffs but next season and beyond.
- dcz28

Agreed regarding trading Fils....when Holland was trying to resign Hossa, Mark wanted to throw him under the bus
along with letting Franzen go (which was the only way to make it truly happen). Hossa is more consistent than Franzen, but you would have lost Filppula (at 27) in the fray.

Hawks are dealing with too many players at big salaries (think Tampa after '04 Cup)....which makes my expectation that the Wings landing a big UFA this summer unlikely (unless someone takes a discount) because it would throw off the salary structure..

I disagree that seeds don't matter in the West.

Sure, you're going to have to play good teams all the way through, but 1) having home ice advantage in as many situations as possible, and 2) being able to limit the number of elite opponents (I consider Vancouver and St. Louis elite) you play are both very good things.

Here's a list of potential West playoff opponents, in order of how scared I am to have the Red Wings play them:

1) Vancouver
2) St. Louis
3) Nashville
4) San Jose
5) Chicago
6) Phoenix
7) Everybody else

Depending on how the playoffs break and the kinds of upsets that may or may not occur, any of their likely finishes (1st, 2nd or 4th) could result in the most favorable draw overall. But if they finish 4th, there's a decent chance it looks something like this: Nashville (home), Vancouver (away), St. Louis (away).

Meanwhile, if they finish 1st or 2nd, they still might end up with something ghastly like San Jose/St. Louis/Vancouver, but at least they get home ice in at least 2 of those series. And generally, they're in a better position to take advantage of upsets. If, say, the Canucks get upset in round 1, the Red Wings might end up with something like Phoenix/Dallas for the first two rounds. That sort of breakdown would be impossible if they finished in fourth.
- Sven22

Totally agree regarding seeding...really its about match-ups..

Three things, I've always said regarding the Cup..

1) Injuries
2) Match-ups (seeding)
3) Bounces (luck)

Being the SECOND seed may be where it is at depending if Phoenix is to hold on to the third seed. The idea of being the first seed and playing St. Louis (or Nashville) in the second round doesn't seem as appetizing..