Wings looked real good last night.. albeit they played a very tired Flyers team who just finished an 11 game road swing.
They should come out of the west if they play better defense.
Shoalzie
Moderator: Shoalzie
The Flyers get a little bit of a pass because of the road trip but that game didn't get away from them quickly. Gagne was awesome though. I actually was going to go that game last night but I had to sell my ticket on StubHub.
The first 30 minutes wasn't much to write home about but that third period was a passing clinic. Zetterberg and Datsyuk were reunited on the same line and they were magic. I don't mind seeing the Wings three best forwards on one line...Shanahan being the other...as long as guys like Lang, Samuelsson and Williams can chip in too. Williams is having a career year and Samuelsson has been a pleasant surprise.
The thing I'm looking forward to is the return of Niklas Kronwall...should be back around the Olympic break and he's supposedly going to play for Team Sweden. If he's able to make a healthy return and contribute like we expect, that's going to be a very strong blueline. They miss Fischer's size back there...that's probably the one thing they are lacking. Lidstrom and Chelios are the yodas of the blueline but neither physically intimidating. Legace played really well to start the season...I'm not as concerned over goaltending as I was going into training camp. We'll see how things go...last night was just an example of what kind of firepower they have.
The first 30 minutes wasn't much to write home about but that third period was a passing clinic. Zetterberg and Datsyuk were reunited on the same line and they were magic. I don't mind seeing the Wings three best forwards on one line...Shanahan being the other...as long as guys like Lang, Samuelsson and Williams can chip in too. Williams is having a career year and Samuelsson has been a pleasant surprise.
The thing I'm looking forward to is the return of Niklas Kronwall...should be back around the Olympic break and he's supposedly going to play for Team Sweden. If he's able to make a healthy return and contribute like we expect, that's going to be a very strong blueline. They miss Fischer's size back there...that's probably the one thing they are lacking. Lidstrom and Chelios are the yodas of the blueline but neither physically intimidating. Legace played really well to start the season...I'm not as concerned over goaltending as I was going into training camp. We'll see how things go...last night was just an example of what kind of firepower they have.
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jiminphilly
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They Flyers had no legs in the 3rd period. Remember the Red Wings had the previous day off and the Flyers were in Chicago the night before. Flyers play fine down a goal but when you're down 2 with tired legs, it becomes extra hard. The 11 game road swing was the longest in their team's history.Shoalzie wrote:The Flyers get a little bit of a pass because of the road trip but that game didn't get away from them quickly. Gagne was awesome though. I actually was going to go that game last night but I had to sell my ticket on StubHub.
The first 30 minutes wasn't much to write home about but that third period was a passing clinic. Zetterberg and Datsyuk were reunited on the same line and they were magic. I don't mind seeing the Wings three best forwards on one line...Shanahan being the other...as long as guys like Lang, Samuelsson and Williams can chip in too. Williams is having a career year and Samuelsson has been a pleasant surprise.
The thing I'm looking forward to is the return of Niklas Kronwall...should be back around the Olympic break and he's supposedly going to play for Team Sweden. If he's able to make a healthy return and contribute like we expect, that's going to be a very strong blueline. They miss Fischer's size back there...that's probably the one thing they are lacking. Lidstrom and Chelios are the yodas of the blueline but neither physically intimidating. Legace played really well to start the season...I'm not as concerned over goaltending as I was going into training camp. We'll see how things go...last night was just an example of what kind of firepower they have.
Gagne's 1st goal was a laser. I think besides getting great passes from Forsberg, he's also playing with a level of confidence he lacked in years past. The one guy who was playing with a ton of energy was Mike Richards. I don't think I've ever seen him take a shift off. Niny has played every game since Esche's injury and thats a lot to handle for a guy who wasn't geared to play that much. Nonetheless he's looked pretty good.
Datsyuk looked real good last night. He has nice stick work in traffic, jumps up on plays very quickly etc... The Flyers announcers were really impressed with him. (as was I). Detroit is a fun team to watch. I'd really look forward to a finals between those 2 teams.
I picked the Flyers to go the Finals before the season started and considering what the Wings did when they met in the Finals in '97, I'd be all for it.jiminphilly wrote:I'd really look forward to a finals between those 2 teams.
When or if Philly gets healthy, I think they can match up with Ottawa. Is Primeau going to play again this year? I heard Pitkanen should be back soon...that'll help greatly.
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jiminphilly
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The word on Primeau is.. well there isn't one. This makes me think the concussion was really bad and it might have ended his career. There is no talk either way but there really must be a fear for this guy's health if they aren't saying anything one way or another.Shoalzie wrote:I picked the Flyers to go the Finals before the season started and considering what the Wings did when they met in the Finals in '97, I'd be all for it.jiminphilly wrote:I'd really look forward to a finals between those 2 teams.
When or if Philly gets healthy, I think they can match up with Ottawa. Is Primeau going to play again this year? I heard Pitkanen should be back soon...that'll help greatly.
Pitkanen should be back soon. I think because the team has been playing so well, no player who is injured has been rushed back. The depth they have is pretty good. The farm team they have- Phantoms, has been a gold mine of talent..
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jiminphilly
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For all the money Clarke spends and for all the talent he trades for and drafts they have never had a stellar goalie since Ron Hextal from 1987.Shoalzie wrote:You can say what you want about Clarke but the guy can accumulate young talent in addition to being able spend on free agents...at least pre-salary cap. I still wonder why they haven't won a Cup though.
Exactly right, Jim.
Bob Clarke's drafting history is nothing short of spectacular. The Flyers are continually top 10 in the league (bottom 10 in the draft) and still draft stars. Pitkanen, Richards, Carter, and even Niittymaki. The Flyers were able to spend in the years where that was the best way to build a team and now in the age of team-building, they'll be successful as well.
But as Shoalzie mentions, sooner or later, they gotta win that Cup. Someone will eventually fall on the sword if they don't.
Bob Clarke's drafting history is nothing short of spectacular. The Flyers are continually top 10 in the league (bottom 10 in the draft) and still draft stars. Pitkanen, Richards, Carter, and even Niittymaki. The Flyers were able to spend in the years where that was the best way to build a team and now in the age of team-building, they'll be successful as well.
But as Shoalzie mentions, sooner or later, they gotta win that Cup. Someone will eventually fall on the sword if they don't.
Still a FlameFan