Jeremy Laura: Wings overcome 3 goal 2nd by Van and Walman wins in OT, goes gritty

Nice to Wally do the Gritty!
Lousy 2nd when Van scored 3 unanswered goals. But they sucked it up and came back in the 3rd!!!!!!!
This next Western Canada/Seattle road trip will be against 3 teams that are playing very well right now and Seattle, a team that usually manages to come out on top. It will determine just what we have in this team, a tiger or a paper tiger.

Nice to Wally do the Gritty!
Lousy 2nd when Van scored 3 unanswered goals. But they sucked it up and came back in the 3rd!!!!!!!
This next Western Canada/Seattle road trip will be against 3 teams that are playing very well right now and Seattle, a team that usually manages to come out on top. It will determine just what we have in this team, a tiger or a paper tiger.
- HenryHockey

I think there has been a big step forward. They really want to be in the mix. Enjoy watching how much this team likes beyond around each other.

Even though the Wings crapped the bed in the 2nd period... I have to admit they showed some heart and character in the come back win against an elite team. I'll happily take the 2 points just to keep their wildcard spot. Kane doesn't look like he's missed a step. Rasmussen had a beautiful tip / deflection goal. Let's hope they can keep the goals against down and stay focused on strong team defense. Tuesday at Edmonton will be a huge test for them. Walman is a stud top 4 defenseman... made the clutch goal when the game was on the line with that penalty shot. Too bad we can't clone him.

Nice comeback by the Wings. Glad they won. The more DET wins the less likely TB makes the playoffs and the Blackhawks get a higher pick in the 1st round since they own the Lightning's selection.

Too bad I didn't see the ending. I was watching the game on DirecTV's Center Ice package. The feed was Bally Sports Detroit. The alloted time frame was 12 noon to 2:30 Central. A little after 2:30 the screen goes blank. The game was 3-3 at the time with a few minutes left in regulation. Turns out the Bally Sports channel was airing the Detroit Pistons BB game starting at 2:30 and the Wings game was switched to the Bally Sports alternate channel. Goes to show you where the NHL stands in the pecking order when they pre-empt a good hockey game to show the worst team in the NBA.

Even though the Wings crapped the bed in the 2nd period... I have to admit they showed some heart and character in the come back win against an elite team. I'll happily take the 2 points just to keep their wildcard spot. Kane doesn't look like he's missed a step. Rasmussen had a beautiful tip / deflection goal. Let's hope they can keep the goals against down and stay focused on strong team defense. Tuesday at Edmonton will be a huge test for them. Walman is a stud top 4 defenseman... made the clutch goal when the game was on the line with that penalty shot. Too bad we can't clone him.
- Vladdie_Kon1

If i was going to clone Wings players, Walman would far from the top of my list...no offense to him. Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Yzerman, Konstantinov, Fedorov, Hasek would be much better options Heck we could use another Seider too.

Even though the Wings crapped the bed in the 2nd period... I have to admit they showed some heart and character in the come back win against an elite team. I'll happily take the 2 points just to keep their wildcard spot. Kane doesn't look like he's missed a step. Rasmussen had a beautiful tip / deflection goal. Let's hope they can keep the goals against down and stay focused on strong team defense. Tuesday at Edmonton will be a huge test for them. Walman is a stud top 4 defenseman... made the clutch goal when the game was on the line with that penalty shot. Too bad we can't clone him.
- Vladdie_Kon1

I love Walman. That trade seems to have paid dividends. The thought that he could at one point be depth as more D come up into the system is an exciting one. I still watch Seider and watch him do so many little things well. When I saw a website say, “Seider plays too many minutes” I just laughed. A lot of unhappy people that Yzerman got this kid that was nowhere near a top 6 pick on central scouting list. He’s a lot stronger than he looks too. I won’t lie, that’s my next jersey purchase. My wife has autographed Lidstrom and Osgood jerseys (plus an Osgood game prepped stick autographed). We’re trying to pick the wall that our autographed stuff will go on. (All before I was a blogger, the hard fast rule is NEVER ask for an autograph if you’re covering a team).

If i was going to clone Wings players, Walman would far from the top of my list...no offense to him. Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Yzerman, Konstantinov, Fedorov, Hasek would be much better options Heck we could use another Seider too.
- dcz28

Well yeah.... my thinking was of a current player... but I see your point. You forgot Holmstrom. Heck... we could even go back and clone Gordie Howe if we're talking HOF / superstar players.

Wings are still starved for another true top 4 defenseman. Another top tier center would go a long ways too. It will be really interesting to see if Yzerman does anything at the deadline if the wings make the playoffs.

Still impressed with the bottom 6 forwards on this team. Now that LaLonde has found two excellent line combinations it's made this team so much more dangerous with the balanced scoring. Sprong in particular seems to be on the scoresheet every night getting points.

Well yeah.... my thinking was of a current player... but I see your point. You forgot Holmstrom. Heck... we could even go back and clone Gordie Howe if we're talking HOF / superstar players.

Wings are still starved for another true top 4 defenseman. Another top tier center would go a long ways too. It will be really interesting to see if Yzerman does anything at the deadline if the wings make the playoffs.

Still impressed with the bottom 6 forwards on this team. Now that LaLonde has found two excellent line combinations it's made this team so much more dangerous with the balanced scoring. Sprong in particular seems to be on the scoresheet every night getting points.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Yeah i thought about Homer and even Shanahan to bring in a power forward. Even Larionov would be a good choice too. I stayed with players that are still alive which is why i didn't mention Howe or Sawchuck.

I agree they need a top 4 dman, more likely a RHD behind Seider until ASP (if he ever makes it and lives up to his potential) can take that spot. They have plenty of lefties on the roster and a lot in the system too but RHD is slim pickings even in the prospect pool. Jiricek could be a good pickup for now and the future if he wants out of Columbus but i doubt this is a deal made at the deadline. Tanev is the other option that could be a good fit for this season and maybe next as long as they can send Holl the other way and the price isn't too steep. I think he could be a steady defender with almost any partner.

I still would like a bit more physical and toughness on the bottom 6 but the scoring is a nice step forward.

Yeah i thought about Homer and even Shanahan to bring in a power forward. Even Larionov would be a good choice too. I stayed with players that are still alive which is why i didn't mention Howe or Sawchuck.

I agree they need a top 4 dman, more likely a RHD behind Seider until ASP (if he ever makes it and lives up to his potential) can take that spot. They have plenty of lefties on the roster and a lot in the system too but RHD is slim pickings even in the prospect pool. Jiricek could be a good pickup for now and the future if he wants out of Columbus but i doubt this is a deal made at the deadline. Tanev is the other option that could be a good fit for this season and maybe next as long as they can send Holl the other way and the price isn't too steep. I think he could be a steady defender with almost any partner.

I still would like a bit more physical and toughness on the bottom 6 but the scoring is a nice step forward.
- dcz28

Agree on needing more grit / toughness on the bottom 6. Kostin does add that... but he doesn't seem to be a regular in the lineup and he simply isn't as good at scoring as the other bottom 6 players.

Morgan Reilly on Toronto is probably going to get suspended (as he deserves) for that Bush league cross check to the head on Greig. I'm guessing 3 games... minimum. The dumbass should save his checks for the game. I get why he was pissed but that was just a stupid decision. The Leafs can ill-afford to lose him right now. Their defense is subpar even with him in the lineup. He should get as many games as Perron... 6 games suspension. But there's never any consistency in this dumb league.

Agree on needing more grit / toughness on the bottom 6. Kostin does add that... but he doesn't seem to be a regular in the lineup and he simply isn't as good at scoring as the other bottom 6 players.

Morgan Reilly on Ottawa is probably going to get suspended (as he deserves) for that Bush league cross check to the head on Greig. I'm guessing 3 games... minimum. The dumbass should save his checks for the game. I get why he was pissed but that was just a stupid decision. The Leafs can ill-afford to lose him right now. Their defense is subpar even with him in the lineup. He should get as many games as Perron... 6 games suspension. But there's never any consistency in this dumb league.
- Vladdie_Kon1

My guess is they probably only give Reilly 1 or 2 games. I don't really get why to be pissed off by a slapshot vs just guiding it in really. Either way it's a goal and if he missed it somehow he would look like a complete moron with the slapshot more than guiding it in since he likely wouldn't get a 2nd chance with the slapshot....unless he Patrick Stefan's it and they come back to tie the game.