GDT: WCSF Game 6 | Chicago @ Detroit | 5/27 | 8:00 PM EST | CBC / NBCSN

[sarcastro]

The most damning fact about this series:

Cleary has been the Wings' 2nd best player.

Ouch.

 

[Frk It]

No he wasn't. He started off well, had to recover from an injury, and started to play much more consistently.

He hasn't had a great playoff year. Has anyone on the team other than Zetterberg?

Franzen plays good for only 25% of the season, every season. It's nothing new.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

He didn't create much at all for his standards.

By his standard, no he didn't. I just found it peculiar that Datsyuk got singled out with no mention of Z for this game.

 

[SoupGuru]

The thing that leaves me proper smarting is that I allowed myself to get sucked in. Until game #4 I was more or less apathetic/resigned to the Wings sucking and going out, then we won game #4 and this thing called "hope" came into my mind. I knew game #5 would be a tall order but I was confident for game #6. I allowed myself a tiny bit of optimism that had grown to a nearly reckless moderate optimism after two periods tonight.

And then it all comes crashing down and now I am really pissed off and angry when really it's all what I expected from the start anyway.

I guess what we learned tonight is that pessimism and acceptance ought to be the approach for the time being, at least as long as Cleary and Abdelkader are out there expected to contribute offense and Smith is expected to play important playoff minutes.

Yeah, it's that pesky hope that kept me from enjoying these last couple of games too. I keep telling myself the post season is a wild success and we should be happy we're even in this series.... but then to have the fourth win just dangling out of reach.... ARGH!!!

 

[Vladdy84]

Sometimes I think posters don't watch the games at all. Just look at the box score and come in with their pre-conceived notions.

 

[Nut Upstrom]

Last time I checked, its a team sport, and when your team decides that the game was over after the 2nd period tonight, that was a big problem. The Wings melted down as a whole and the Hawks were the better team. That is what happened plain and simple. Its easier to blame the refs or blame a single player, but in the end, the better team won. Wings are going to have to play a full 60 minute game, and they haven't done that since Game 4.

Spot on and bravo. Really nothing else to say about game 6. Let's take it in 7 boys.

 

[inthe6ix]

The thing that leaves me proper smarting is that I allowed myself to get sucked in. Until game #4 I was more or less apathetic/resigned to the Wings sucking and going out, then we won game #4 and this thing called "hope" came into my mind. I knew game #5 would be a tall order but I was confident for game #6. I allowed myself a tiny bit of optimism that had grown to a nearly reckless moderate optimism after two periods tonight.

And then it all comes crashing down and now I am really pissed off and angry when really it's all what I expected from the start anyway.

I guess what we learned tonight is that pessimism and acceptance ought to be the approach for the time being, at least as long as Cleary and Abdelkader are out there expected to contribute offense and Smith is expected to play important playoff minutes.

Tough loss.. this is exactly how I felt during the Boston series - and we know how that ended for my Leafs.

Hope you guys fair better on Wednesday. Gotta hand it to Chicago - they never stopped coming after that soft 2nd goal Crawford let in. If you guys play with the same desperation on Wednesday, anything is possible.

 

[Vladdy84]

The most damning fact about this series:

Cleary has been the Wings' 2nd best player.

Ouch.

Based on?

 

[Frk It]

The most damning fact about this series:

Cleary has been the Wings' 2nd best player.

Ouch.

That extension is coming. You can book it.

 

[WingedWheel1987]

Same ole Wings.

I was really mad when the game ended, but I realized that this team should have lost in the first round.

 

[Frk It]

Based on?

I believe pt totals

 

[SoupGuru]

I'm still giddy with the thought of what these kids are learning right now.

 

[Space Coyote]

As a Leaf fan I can feel the pain. Wings should have won the series tonight after being up 3-1 in the series We blew a 4-1 goal lead against the Bruins and the lost the series. Well at least it's still not over yet. Hawks will be under pressure playing at home. Wings can still win the series.

 

[RedWingzz]

I was just wailing on a punching bag for 10 minutes straight, then chugged 2 beers. Feel soooooo much better

 

[Vladdy84]

I believe pt totals

That's a poor example reflective of play. Cleary hasn't been alright. But still ineffective as a top 6 player IMO.

 

[Vladdy84]

I'm still giddy with the thought of what these kids are learning right now.

How to gag away a series?

 

[SoupGuru]

Can we all agree that whoever runs our PP needs to be let go. I know this is practically season 3 with an awful PP and it's unacceptable.

 

[RedWingzz]

That extension is coming. You can book it.

I gotta give Danny some credit, he works extremely hard out there. You can tell hes trying, and has heart and wants to win. There is 1 small problem though, he doesnt have any skill. The only way I take him back is if its for a cheap contract (1.5 mil) in a 3rd/4th line role. His days as a top 6 winger have got to be over, especially considering we have guys like Nyquist and Brunner (we will sign him) ready to thrive in that role.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Can we all agree that whoever runs our PP needs to be let go. I know this is practically season 3 with an awful PP and it's unacceptable.

This is Renney's first season and I'd give him more time since this season was so wierd.

 

[SoupGuru]

How to gag away a series?

Actually, yes. They know you can't have a single moment of sitting back. You have to be on top of your game at all times.

I certainly hope that's one of the lessons they've learned tonight.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

The most damning fact about this series:

Cleary has been the Wings' 2nd best player.

Ouch.

Brunner IMO.

 

[Frk It]

I gotta give Danny some credit, he works extremely hard out there. You can tell hes trying, and has heart and wants to win. There is 1 small problem though, he doesnt have any skill. The only way I take him back is if its for a cheap contract (1.5 mil) in a 3rd/4th line role. His days as a top 6 winger have got to be over, especially considering we have guys like Nyquist and Brunner (we will sign him) ready to thrive in that role.

I'm not one to bag on Cleary's work ethic. Guy works his butt off. Same with Abdelkader, even though they aren't the greatest players.

If Franzen played with that kind of intensity all the time he'd score 40 goals every season.

 

[Sadekuuro]

Ugh, I just realized I'm not even going to be able to watch Game 7 if it's on Wednesday. I'll be on the road, in the midst of a 23 hour drive back home.

Did anyone watch the pressers? I'd love to know what the likes of Babcock and Zetterberg have to say after this one.

 

[Nut Upstrom]

We need more from guys like Franzen and Filppula. Dats and Z can't do everything, and Cleary and Abby are the other top six forwards. That's your problem.

Filppula is one hell of a con-man. For years the team, the organization and the fan base have been hoping and expecting more from him - and we generally get the same player game in - game out, season in - season out. Showing just enough to make you think more is coming, and he's been running this con for years. Used to love the guy, got his sweater his rookie season and now I despise what he has become: Exactly what he has been! None of the potential, expectations or hopes have been reached, he's been just good enough to make us think he could reach it tomorrow, or next season. But I agree with you, hopefully Franzen gives us more, and maybe Fil will come to the rink and decide he's going to give a crap on Wednesday.

 

[Soft Rock Renegade]

When it comes to Smith, I really think this is Babcock's approach:

He wants Smith to become good enough so that he can win a Cup with him. He's pretty sure that's not this year, but now that DK is out he has nobody else to play and so he has to go ahead and roll Smith out there and let him make his mistakes.

If he learns his lessons quickly, they might have a crack at the Cup this year. If he doesn't, well, the hope is that he will play better next year and so on, to the degree that maybe he helps take them to the Cup some day.

I don't know how wise that plan is, but I really do think that's the plan. It's not like Babcock has a whole bunker full of ninja assassins to throw out there, so I suppose it's as good a plan as any. They won more games this playoff than I ever thought possible.

thats not fair to the rest of the team though. smith could literally cost us this series. its been tight and most of our guys are playing on a high level, with one glaring exception.