Comments on: Wings 4, Blackhawks 1

By: Matt Saler

Matt Saler — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:06:22 +0000

Yeah, they definitely won’t get so much time once Zetterberg’s back, and it’ll go even lower once all the forwards are healthy (if such a time comes). They’re getting valuable experience, though, and will benefit from being with such a deep team, even if kind of sucks for them now. Down the road, they should be be the ones logging the big minutes.

Yeah, it’ll be interesting to see how the team does with so many youngsters on the roster.

I think 5′9″ might be stretching it a bit…. It was a sight, though.

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:08:30 +0000

I’m sure once Zetterberg gets back their time will drop again, but it’s so nice to hear they got it and even more that they worked with it, obviously, considering the results. I like the sounds of those lines though. Although I can’t help but laugh at that our Young Guns line is all split up and yet we now have a line full of kids even younger – at least in terms of NHL experience.

I am really sad I missed that though – little 5′9″ Jiri defending Kris Draper of all people would have been quite the sight.

By: Matt Saler

Matt Saler — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:37:09 +0000

Steph,

I agree. It was a long time coming and is probably only temporary, but it was definitely good to see those two on the ice so much.

The lines were, generally,

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Filppula
Calder-Lang-Franzen
Maltby-Draper-Hudler
Hussey-Ellis-Langfeld

You would have liked to have seen Hudler defending Kris Draper after James Wisniewski roughed him up. He waded in like some 6′2″ enforcer, looking seriously pissed.

By: Steph

Steph — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:28:18 +0000

I missed this whole game thanks to class, but I’m glad to see Calder step up – let’s hope it stays that way.

Equally glad to see the ice time Filppula and Hudler got so much ice time. As much as I love Pavel and Hank, it’s good to see other players getting relied on a little more lately, especially when we’ve looked like such a one-line team – how were they mixing up the lines with the addition of Calder?

By: Matt Saler

Matt Saler — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:47:33 +0000

Yeah, let’s hope that scoring on his first shift is his only similarity to Cory Cross.

I meant the second line as a whole had four points, and its members were plus-5 combined.

Thanks for reminding me about Calder’s number. I did mean to mention it..

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:26:58 +0000

Cory Cross also scored a goal on his very first shift and shot as a Red Wing last year. But let’s hope Calder’s stay in Detroit goes better than Cross’s.

I think you meant 2, not 5. It was nice to see him get 2 points, and it would’ve been nice if his goal had stood up to be the GWG. I really hope I’m wrong about him and that he can be a very productive member of the Red Wings. It has only been one game so far though, so let’s wait and see. Hopefully Cleary and Franzen can develop some offensive chemistry.

I was pretty disappointed that we let in a goal with one minute to go in the game. The extra fantasy points from a shutout would’ve helped. It was also somewhat surprising to see such a weak game from the Hawks, especially after they just beat the Blues 5-1. They usually play a good game against the Wings, no matter how bad they’re doing. Part of it was probably due to Havlat missing the game due to the flu though. If he’s back by Friday it should be a better game. Also, we really need a guy who can fight. Someone better than Brad Norton. I wonder if Bertuzzi will be willing to drop the gloves if the need arises once he’s able to play. *Insert Bertuzzi sucker punching joke here*

PS – You didn’t mention it, but Cleary wore #17.