Pre-Game Talk: Wings at tampa 1/29/15

[Actual Thought*]

Win. I have come to expect this team to play well in measuring stick games for some reason.

 

[Frk It]

Practice lines were posted today, fyi:

 

[DatsDeking]

Practice lines were posted today, fyi:

Hot damn, I was right about keeping the 90-15-41 line!?

 

[Henkka]

He almost has no choice but to keep that third line in tact after last game. But that production was obviously an outlier and they'll be broken up soon enough.

Ultimately, I think our long term lines will be:

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

But that's a guess. I think that top line is locked in. The +/- ratings of Zetterberg and Gus have skyrocketed since Franzen went down, and I don't think that's due to a drop in competition. Hint hint.

Realistically, there is so much chemistry that has developed in our top nine that we can roll a bunch of different combinations without complaints. 40/13/8, 21/15/14, 21/15/26 have all proven to be effective combinations in addition to the ones above. The only real problem is finding a place for Franzen to play full time - and I'm not the type who is typically a Franzen hater. If he's not skating hard he won't help either of those bottom six lines much. Sheahan has been great with almost every single player he's been paired with, but I think that's largely because a lot of the chances on his shifts are gritty, high effort based situations that may not be entirely up Franzen's ally. He gets the benefit of the doubt over Weiss for now, but I liked what I saw with Weiss next to Sheahan an awful lot last night.

Wouldn't mind Franzen-Andersson-Miller as 4th line. he would be a big scoring threat from there.

Abdelkader - Zeta - Nyquist
helm - Datsyuk - tatar
Weiss - Sheahan - Glendening
Franzen - Andersson - Miller

 

[DatsDeking]

Wouldn't mind Franzen-Andersson-Miller as 4th line. he would be a big scoring threat from there.

Abdelkader - Zeta - Nyquist
helm - Datsyuk - tatar
Weiss - Sheahan - Glendening
Franzen - Andersson - Miller

I'm not sure how that 4th line would do, I think Franzen would just be lazy with it and that it wouldn't be as defensive as it is meant to be.

 

[HomersWorld]

Wouldn't mind Franzen-Andersson-Miller as 4th line. he would be a big scoring threat from there.

Abdelkader - Zeta - Nyquist
helm - Datsyuk - tatar
Weiss - Sheahan - Glendening
Franzen - Andersson - Miller

No Jurco?

 

[TatarTangle]

Granted the refs gave Detroit a penalty or two they shouldn't have but...if they take as many penalties as they did last night Stamkos will score a hat trick. He will have a field day in the slot.

They play smart hockey and they have a good chance to keep the winning streak going. Start playing undisciplined though? Game over.

 

[Henkka]

No Jurco?

At this point, stint in Grand Rapids would do good for him.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

At this point, stint in Grand Rapids would do good for him.

Not really an option until Franzen is cleared.

 

[mjlee]

OT but should Zetterberg really go downhill skiing in the Rockies during the ASG?

On Topic, Tampa has had the Wings number so I am not holding out too much hope. But hey at least they are in the playoff hunt.

 

[JPE123]

babcock apparently getting his say on ouellet/XO.

Yep. As long as Ouellet is not making any glaring mistakes the playing time is just going to help him improve. Kindl is not going to improve, that ship has sailed.

 

[Dotaz]

I don't get it..how you could have 4! goalies on ice when there are only 2 for main team who travel?? Like Babcock and somebody put goalie gears on??

 

[Claypool]

At this point, stint in Grand Rapids would do good for him.

You mean Franzen?

 

[Mijatovic]

I don't get it..how you could have 4! goalies on ice when there are only 2 for main team who travel?? Like Babcock and somebody put goalie gears on??

Howard and Gustavvson are still on IR. So its Mrazek and McCollum as well.

 

[Actual Thought*]

OT but should Zetterberg really go downhill skiing in the Rockies during the ASG?

On Topic, Tampa has had the Wings number so I am not holding out too much hope. But hey at least they are in the playoff hunt.

If by having our number you mean that Tampa managed a shootout win back in Nov you are right. They have really had our number!

 

[theYman]

Looks like Jurco could be in for this one?

 

[Jusek]

Looks like Jurco could be in for this one?

Yes:

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive

Babcock confirms Jurco is in tomorrow. He replaces Cleary. Kindl cleared to play but Ouellet will remain in lineup for now.