Tonight is do or die time for the Wings, as they are down 3-2 in their Western Conference Finals series with the Anaheim Ducks. To get to this point, they lost the last two games, blowing a chance to go up both 3-1 and 3-2 in the series. The Ducks have taken advantage of Red Wings mistakes and have won games in which they were outplayed. Now, they have a stranglehold on the series.
For the Ducks, some keys for tonight:
- Stay out of the box. They can’t count on the Wings’ power play woes continuing and they best way to ensure they don’t score with the man-advantage is to not give them one.
- Opportunism. The Ducks are where they are now in the series because they pounced on Wings mistakes. They’ll have to do that again tonight.
- Don’t be outplayed. They’ve been able to find a way to win despite being outplayed, but tonight, they probably want to be the ones dictating the play.
For the Wings, some keys:
- Capitalize on the power play. The Ducks, in spite of my advice, are probably going to take a few penalties, and when they do, the Wings need to make them pay. Expecting them to score every time they’re on the power play may be a bit much, but they need to at least put it in the net the majority of the time.
- Finish chances. They have got to find a way to finish what they start. Too many great scoring chances were not seen through to the end in Game 5 and if they can get things going in that regard, the game may not even be close.
- Win. In the end, the above things don’t matter so much as this: the Wings need to find a way to win, whether by completely dominating the Ducks up and down the ice; by playing an even game, but having that slight edge; or by getting dominated themselves, and still getting the edge on the scoreboard. It has to happen or they’re done.
I have confidence going into the game tonight because I believe in this team and in its ability to stand up to adversity. These guys are not going to roll over and give in. I know they’ll play their best and will fight to stay alive. Will it be enough? That’s another question, because I fully expect the Ducks to do the same. I think it will be enough. The Wings at their best are better, I think, than the Ducks at their best. We’ll see tonight, but I believe we’ll have a Game 7.
Lets just say this..
In ’02 the Wings were down 3-2 against the much better then the Ducks Avalance.
We all know how that ended up.
They have played so well – its about time for it to pay off tonight. This is step one.
GO WINGS!!!!!!!! Bring on game 7 in Detroit!
Matt,
I feel the exact same way about this team. It’s definitely not like the previous three incarnations. Lucky bounces and JS Gigeure are what have propelled the Ducks to their lead. If the Wings just keep the pedal to the metal, I think there will be a game 7.
Of course it will also help to not have a BS penalty called on us in the final two minutes.
GO WINGS!!!
I think the Wings will take the series. They have outplayed the Ducks nearly every game this series. Game 5 was crap. That interference call on Datsyuk was crap. At first, I thought it might have been a good thing for the Wings, since they could have just cleared the puck at the empty net without suffering an icing call. But seriously, the referees pretty much gave the Ducks the win (except for Selanne’s goal).
Also, the Wings can’t retaliate, either. There have been so many plays where Hasek covers the puck and then gets completely smothered by the Ducks. Then one of the Wings will crash the net to knock a Duck player off of Hasek and then get called with a roughing penalty. It’s ok for the Ducks to crash into Hasek after the whistle and knock him in the net, but heaven forbid a player in a red jersey to defend his goalie. I think the refs are doing just a terrific job at that………………..
Ok, that’s all for now.
I realized a couple weeks why the officiating seems to be so lopsided in every game (in all games, not just playoffs or Wings series). It’s because of the two ref system. One ref watches half the ice, and uses his own standards…while the other ref watches the other end of the ice with his own standards. Yes I know the back ref (depending upon the end the play is in) pays attention, but it’s still not the same. That’s why you see things like this where the Ducks get away with more contact on Hasek but the standard is different at the other end.
I think the refs should switch ends every faceoff.
“They got the girly goal…”
Mike Babcock is my hero! He cracks me up. C’mon Wings lets get some goals of our own – I don’t care if they’re girly or not.
I apologize in advance for some language that will be used.
But it has to be said. This team, for all intensive purposes, has mailed it in. not one of them has played well. They’re getting outworked, outplayed and in 20 minutes will be ousted. This is the most pitful attempt to keep a season alive that I’ve ever seen.
Dominik Hasek has played like shit. If he would stop flopping around like a fish out of water and actually focus on the puck, two of Anaheim’s goals would not be scored. He needs to go and we need someone who can stay upright while playing goal.
Robert Lang has looked disinterested in playing defence. The Penner/Getzlaf/Perry line is just skating circles around him, and his linemate, who i’m getting to now.
Todd Bertuzzi is a shell of his former self. He can’t keep up with young legs, and he won’t go to the front of the net. I certainly hope he isn’t retained, because Jiri Hudler could actually do something in Bertuzzi’s spot.
Pavel Datsyuk and Hank Zetterberg need to stop trying to go in 1-on-4. It isn’t working, and it’s costing them quite frankly.
Val Filppula must start burying his chances. Almost doesn’t cut it.
And Dom Hasek? He just needs to go. his flopping style doesn’t work in the new NHL and his stupidity burns the Wings more than it helps. We need to either give the ball back to Ozzie, or just call up Howard and let him get experience.
All that hard work, all that adversity overcome, and for what? To fucking roll over and let the Ducks have a free pass to the Stanley Cup Final.
When the team plays like this, i’m ashamed to be a Wings fan. This is pathetic.
GO SENS!!!!