The Wings will face Edmonton in the 1st round of the playoffs.

The Wings have never beaten Edmonton in a Playoff series.

On the season the series is 2-2. With the two losses coming on OT.

GO WINGS!

Edmonton papers

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/index.html

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/home.html

[The Oakland Press]



Wings ready to begin their main quest (http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/041706/spo_2006041711.shtml)
by PAULA PASCHE

In this first season of the new world of the NHL, absolutely no one knew how it would all shake out. The initial year of building a team with salary-cap limitations put more pressure on the general managers. Some, like Detroit's Ken Holland, figured it out, while at least a handful of GMs are likely to get the ax this week. Two - the Islanders' Mike Milbury and the Bruins' Mike O'Connell - didn't even make it to the end of the season.


[Booth Newspapers]


Red Wings Bulletin

Oilers get their wish
(http://www.mlive.com/redwings/weblog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_redwings/archives/2006_04.html#131621)
A first-round playoff matchup between the Red Wings and Edmonton was made official late Saturday night when Colorado gained a point in its overtime loss to Vancouver.

Oddly, even before knowing for sure they'd be playing Detroit, some Oilers were saying they'd rather play the Wings than meet Dallas, who they faced six times (losing five) in a span of seven seasons from 1997 to 2003.

I was surprized and not surprized to find Hasek on the shelf. He sounds like he's almost ready to go.
So what is playoff hockey like now? How did the new rules shake out. I know fighting was much reduced.
Hasn't the Prez Cup been an enigma for the Wings? If we win it we fail in the playoffs?

We have won the President's Cup 5 times in the last 11 years, I think. We won one of those years, and 2 other years we didn't get it, so... who knows.

As far as I know, playoff hockey will be much like it used to be. Less holding and interference, but other than that, it's pretty much the same. (other than, no 2 line-pass and the icing "penalty")

The shoot-out is not active in the playoffs.

So what is playoff hockey like now? How did the new rules shake out. I know fighting was much reduced.
I think fighting was reduced because the new NHL places a premium on speed, and many of the power grinder/fighters are not the most fleet of foot players.

I expect the usual drama and excitement. The great thing about the NHL playoffs is that no low seed is a push over. There is almost always a significant first round upset.

Edmonton. They were relieved to get the Wings instead of the Stars. Now it's time to make them pay.

Edmonton. They were relieved to get the Wings instead of the Stars. Now it's time to make them pay.

I know Edmonton was relieved to get the Wings, just because the Stars have knocked them out of the playoffs so many times lately... but it may have been a mistake to state so publicly.

Time to make them sorry they got the Wings.

(1) DET vs. (8) EDM (http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/playoffsked.html#seriese)
Game 1: @ Detroit (http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/playoffsked.html#seriese)
Fri., 4/21, 7 p.m. ET, OLN, CBC (http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/playoffsked.html#seriese)


Red Wings are 'Lords of the Rink'
By Larry Wigge | NHL.com columnist

Everyone is always looking for a prediction before the first puck drops for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Most of the time, you pick your favorite stat and try to make it a trend and run with it. It could be a regular-season matchup between the playoff teams that is lopsided one way or another. Or the way a team finished the regular season. Maybe a hot goaltender down the stretch.

I'd like to introduce what I call the "Lord of the Rings" theory ... as in an Olympic equation. And while it's true no one country has dominated in the last three Olympics -- the Czech Republic winning the gold medal at Nagano, Japan, in 1998, Canada winning at Salt Lake City in 2002 and Sweden capturing the gold at Torino, Italy, earlier this year -- there is truly a "Lord of the Rinks" from 1998 and 2002.

It's the Detroit Red Wings.

[read more] (http://www.nhl.com/columns/wigge/redwings042106.html)

I couldn't believe how many shots the Wings had compared with the Oilers tonight. Glad they got the win. It's never a lock in the NHL for the No. 1 seed to get by the No. 8 seed as the Wings have shown over the years. If you run into a hot goalie, you never can tell. Hopefully, the Wings broke a little of Edmonton's spirit with that tough first game.

Wooohooo!

What a game. When the second OT started, I was ready to pass out. Thankfully, Maltby scored.

What was up with Datsyuk?

Datsyuk is out with a thigh injury. He said would "maybe" play on Sunday.

Wooohooo!

What a game. When the second OT started, I was ready to pass out. Thankfully, Maltby scored.

What was up with Datsyuk?Thigh injury...he'll be in Game 2. I still miss the ESPN crew, But good game anyways. I hate the Red home jerseys, I'm so oldddddddddd! Why did the NHL do that?

Datsyuk has missed the last 2 weeks or so, with a "charley horse", suffered on a big hit in the Calgary game I think. From what I've read, they expect him to play Sunday.

Maybe Babcock will put him back on a line with Zetterberg, who was invisible in game 1. He had 33 shifts and just 3 shots on goal, 2 of which I remember as weak little back handers right at the goalie's chest. I don't remember the other one.

My point is, if neither of these guys shows up in this run for the cup, all their big numbers this season are useless. And especially for Zetterberg, who is being labeled as one of the best all around forwards playing right now.

HQ, they look like a bunch of skating Santa Claus.

HQ, they look like a bunch of skating Santa Claus.i know....rrrrrghhh!!!

Thats why are road record set an NHL record!!!!Bring back the whites!!!:nod:

Wings are gunna have to play really good in Edmonton. The game will be sold out and those northern Albertan's are darn loud.

They seem to have a lot of problems countering speed. Legace needs an "A" game.

I was trying to put the wings loss in perspective today, and all i can think of was..........There is a scene toward the end of Poltergeist where the devil is coming back to take little Carolanne thru the closet again. As the room begins to open , she stares at the closet and murmurs, "No More"......That's how I feel when the Wings take my stomach thru this ride again. Sigh>>>>>>>:doh:

Hey, we weren't the best road team for nutin'.

Great post by someone on RedWings Talk over on detnews. Many over there not happy with Manny Legace's play:

"Someone put some pads on BEN WALLACE and stick him in there."

As a Canadian who knows a little about Hockey, I gotta tell you that Legace has been ok. The Wings are too slow, the Euros are playing gutless.

The best player in the first period and a half has been Chelios, then Yzerman. Both North Americans and not these dipsy doodle puck handling Fedorov wannabee sissies.

WOOOHOOOO

TIE GAME. WOW. Datsyuk is still MIA. What else is new?

Wings finally get to Roloson. GO WINGS!

Com'mon Babcock, figure the Oil out. You're worse than our last coach.

i hate how every time the wings get in the playoffs they just throw the puck at the net and hope for lucky bounces rather than try for better scoring opportunities. they always outshoot their opponent by 20+ shots and lose anyway.

i knew it was over after that goal went under the net in OT and didn't count. just psychologically that would be tough to get back on the ice in that situation and try to score again after you thought you won.

Great post by someone on RedWings Talk over on detnews. Many over there not happy with Manny Legace's play:

"Someone put some pads on BEN WALLACE and stick him in there."i STAYED UP for thaT! I am dead right now...I need a pasting by our boys tonight!

TIE GAME. WOW. Datsyuk is still MIA. What else is new?


Datsyuk made a huge faceoff win on the 1st comeback goal. Come on man, the guy missed 3 weeks before the playoffs.

How about, where is Shanny, OR Homer, OR Schneider?

We had, what eight 20 goal scorers? Where are they? It's not just Datsyuk. And this is the first game that Zetterberg looked anything like Zetterberg.

Supes, a day later, my mind is clearer, and you are right. Shanny AWOL. Lidstrom flat out sucked considering his reputation.

But please stop beating on Zetts. He's not playing great, but easily top 3 on the Wings thus far which speaks volumes about how far behind the pack Larionov Jr. is.

I'm half giving you the business because I know you like to hug the Vodka drinkers and not the Whale Fishermen, but still, 24 straight playoff games without a goal. If he doesn't end the streak this series, I am officially placing him in the Uwe Krupp hall of shame.

Wings are screwed if Yzerman can't go. Stevie, Williams, Draper and Maltby brought them back by playing with energy. Lang is a disgrace.

I hate seeing Manny hung out to dry when Lilja has no business being part of the defensive rotation.

As an aside, man was it nice to see the Edmonton fans cheering the US anthem and the guys on WDFN today said that it was spine tingling how everyone sang the Canuck anthem. It makes me proud to be a Canadian.

Now please Wings go out and win this series, so the midnight phone calls from my Albertan friends can stop. I really don't want to cheer for the Habs, Senators, or Flames.

I don't know who is going to win tonights game, but I do think the winner tonight takes the series. I believe the Wings need to bring their offense tonight. Score early...score lots.:fingerscr

If this game is like the others...:pout:

I just don't get them. :confused:

:nod:

WHAT A GOAL!

DATSYUK FINALLY DOES SOMETHING!

i can breathe now...jeesh!!!!!!!!!

I'll say three things:

(1) Whew!

(2) Whew!!

(3) Whew!!!

It's a best 2 out of 3 now. Gotta take care of home ice on Saturday (3:00).

Legace is one scary dude. He's so far in over his head.

Let's pray Stevie can come back. :fingerscr

1 Goal and 2 Assists from Lang.
3 Assists from Schneider.
2 Assists from Datsyuk.
1 Goal by Lidstrom.
1 Goal by Zetterberg.
1 Goal from Holmsrom.
1 Assist from Kronwall.

That's more like it.

If I was Edmonton, I'd be wetting myself.

The Wings won't lose another game in this series.

Rest Yzerman.

Go Wings!

Game on at 3:00, LET'S GO WINGS!

How about the Lanche doing Dallas? Is that not perfect?

Huge game tonight at 8:00 on OLN & CBC.

Game 6, Wings down 3-2.

LET'S GO RED WINGS!

Is Shanny even on the team?
F'in Pronger is in "HIS" zone.

Shanny sucks. He's played like poop.

Manny better be ready to steal a game. If he wants to be known as an elite goalie, he'll have to steal one or two playoff games to make his rep. After the last two games, he owes us.

The Wings need a big game from everyone. I'm sick of watching the stars play soft all game. Lang, Datsyuk, Shanny, Manny, Chelios, Draper. Someone has to come up. It ain't gunna be Cleary, Franzen or Samuellson.

Man...

I don't even want to talk about this.

Wings turn some no name goalie into a household name.

we must score first tonite or its ovah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Don't blame Manny. 3 goals is too much. But this is the 2sd? best scoring team all season. Earn your GD pay.
We need more cowbell.

recap:

The offense was lousy for the entire series.

Legace was lousy for the entire series.

The officiating sucked today (they were almost as biased as the CBC announcers).



Thank goodness for the Pistons!

How many games is that Russian primadonna holdout, contract backstabbing little fedorov wannabe at in his playoff goalless streak? 25? 26? Your leading points producer cant go scoreless in the playoffs and hope to win. Plenty of scapegoats, Datsyuk is the most obvious.

It's time to move Dats for a goalie. We can keep Zetts because he is learning how to find the net in the playoffs and finish. Mr. Dipsy Doodle is a joke. That crap never worked in the playoffs, and it still doesn't work in the playoffs.

At least Feddie was a two way player.

I'm mad. Embarassing to blow a 2 goal lead. Pissed.

I'm mad. Embarassing to blow a 2 goal lead. Pissed.

Me too.

Deflated and Pissed.

I feel like I just got done watching a Lions game.

Please do me a favor ...after 24 hrs, shut this post down. This was my most disappointing loss ever cuz I knew we didnt have a goalie that could steal a game 4 us. Datsuk was gone, but we lost back to back last playoffs 1-0, 1-0 to Calgary. If we could have only give up 1 goal this series we'd have won in 5! I'm so WAAAHHH!!!

Scoe bring back the Wayno avatar. That's why the Wings lost, you went Darko on us.
I gotta Datysuk bobble. And I still think Manny aint the prob. And neither was CuJo. Sure I'd like a young Hasek. And bring Bowman back.

Definitely need to bring Scotty Bowman back....and give him a helmet, some pads, a goalie stick and put him in the Net!:frusty:

So we are 1 for 11 with the PresTro.
How about other teams? What's their success rate when they put up the best reg. season?
This team was 2sd best in scoring and 2sd best goals against. Most points, WTF? :mad:

I really think Datsyuk isn't the obvious scapegoat. Sorry, I know Micro is a Ruskie Hater, but I think the blame sits firmly on others. If anyone watched the games, Datsyuk was winning big faceoffs, and every time he had the puck I was trying to fight through 2 guys and getting drilled into the boards, and no one on the Wings was sticking up for him. Not to mention, I actually think he played alright considering that he missed the last 3 weeks of the season, and the 1st game of the playoffs with an injury.

It is time to blame Shannahan though. As one of the leaders of this team, his play was pathetic. He'd skate into the zone with the puck, about 10 feet from the nearest d-man and shoot the puck on an awkward angle from the top of the circle. He had no moves whatsoever. He had no passion. And the only thing that warranted Shanny on camera was him whining to the officials like a basketball player.

Now, I've singled out Shanny. And I DO think that the teams leading point getter (Dats) can contribute in other ways, after all, he had more assists than points in the season anyway. However... regular season vs playoffs, just so we know it's more than those 2 that didn't score goals.

Shanny: 40 g, 41 a, VS 1 g, 1 a
Zetts: 39 g, 46 a, VS 6 g, 0 a
Homer: 29 g, 30 a, VS 1 g, 2 a
Dats: 28 g, 59 a, VS 0 g, 3 a
Samuelsson: 23 g, 22 a, VS 0 g, 1 a
Schneider: 23 g, 38 a, VS 1 g, 7 a
Williams: 21 g, 37 a, VS 1 g, 1 a
Lang: 20 g, 42 a, VS 3 g, 3 a
Lidstrom: 16 g, 64 a, VS 1 g, 1a

So, aside from everyone's least favorite Wing, apparently Datsyuk, who else didn't "Bring it"?
Shanny
Lidstrom
Samuellson
Williams
Homer

Who played well? Lang and Zetterberg.

Okay, if someone scores 20 goals in 82 games, then they are at a one goal every 4 games average, which means that Shanny should be at a goal every other game average.

Up yours Shannahan!

I've thought this guy was a classless lump of poo ever since he used his players option to come back to the Wings at a pre-determined (pre-salary cap) amount of money. And it was way too much. More than he could have gotten anywhere else.

So all of you whining about Datsyuk: Up yours too!

Our #1 goal scorer should have been more than one step from invisible. Franzen scored 1 goal too, and Malbty doubled Shanny's goal output.

Up yours Shanny! I hope I never see you in the red and white again!

The president's cup is the sorriest trophy in sports history! Reward the best team for what? The regular seasonmeans nothing to me anymore. I will never post on a regular season game as long as I live. As far as regular season hockey on TV, the Wings just killed it. How can u sell the regular season when no game really matters? This team is so aggrevating that they could not even respect their legendary Captain enuf to hold a 2 goal lead in the final 15:00. If the pistons werent contenders right now, the city would have burned the JLA and Hockeytown DOWN!!! Damn it...Damn it..Damn it..We could have been the city on the map of winter sports Champions!!! What a choke job by Legace! Shoot him out of his misery! Long live the king..the king is dead!!...killme

kill me...


kill me....

i feel like Bob Geldof as Pink in that toilet stall at the end of "THe Wall" before the song "Crazy" is played!!!!!


kill me...

goodbye cruel world, its over...walk on by"

Up yours Shannahan!

So all of you whining about Datsyuk: Up yours too!
I love you.

I love you.U have to get rid of three Wings...WHO GOES?

1. Shannahan
2. Legace
3. Williams

U have to get rid of three Wings...WHO GOES?

1. Shannahan
2. Legace
3. Williams

Who goes? Shanny for sure. He will be asking for too much money, and coaches get hypnotized by how well he played in the past, so they'll continue to play him, ala Brett Hull.

Legace? I don't know if we need to get rid of him. But we need a #1, and Legace isn't it. He was forced into the number 1 spot because of the CBA. He's the best back-up in the league.

Williams? No. He's young, and his best hockey is still ahead of him. But I do think he shouldn't be playing the point on the Power Play.

Here's who's under contract next year.

Pavel Datsyuk $3.9 million
Robert Lang $3.8 million
Mathieu Schneider $3.3 million
Henrik Zetterberg $2.65 million
Kris Draper $2.128 million
Kirk Maltby $1.406 million
Jiri Fischer $1.387 million
Tomas Holmstrom $1.368 million
Mikael Samuelsson $1.2 million
Niklas Kronwall $990,000
Cory Cross $893,000

Also, sorry Micro, I read that Lilja is in negotiations.

So we need Lidstrom, Williams, Lebda, and Franzen back.

Maybe Cleary. Maybe Draper. Maybe Legace.

I also think Chelios is still worth a contract, the guy is a genetic freak.

We've got some good prospects coming in next year.

MacLean should be there. Hudler should be up. Kopecky? Filppula? Kindl?

Goalies? We have Howard and MacDonald. We also have a Swedish goalie Stefan Liv.

Next year should be time for Igor Grigorenko too.

We'll see. I think Holland needs to retool this team. And he's got cap flex room now, and who wouldn't want to play for the Wings?

Chellie is not so much a freak, as he has an insane offseason conditioning regimen that keeps him in the best possible shape. He's legendary for his physical training.

Sorry I dumped on Dats, I know he is your boy, but if I have to watch him go scoreless in next year's playoffs, I will probably have a canipshun fit and end up in an asylum.

He had the stones to ask for a big money deal, and he played Russian Roulette with the franchise. Money talks and bull walks. Micro don't like that.

Shanny can go to hell, and there is no way I re-sign Lidstrom for more than $5 million a year. Lilja is a complete bum.

This team needs a makeover. They simply are not built for playoff hockey. The goaltending is soft, the players are even softer. I watched all series to see a big hit from Detroit and it never came. They are simply not physical enough to compete when the stakes are high. All of that puck possession is wasted because they are terribly slow and passive.

It's hard for me to go off on Shanny since we didn't win anything until he got here. Lidstrom/ Shanny = Nasty/Stack [deal wise]

It's hard for me to go off on Shanny since we didn't win anything until he got here. Lidstrom/ Shanny = Nasty/Stack [deal wise]

Well, this may be unpopular, but I don't give a crap...
In recent years, we haven't won a cup without Fedorov either.

Feddy was here for '02? Any way he's gone, we've moved on with out him.

Yeah Fedorov was here until 2004-2004.

http://www.nhl.com/players/8446788.html

I hope they retire his number here when he's all done.

He did do a lot for this franchise.

If I had to lose 3:
SY
Lidstrom
Drapes

If I had to lose 3:
SY
Lidstrom
Drapes

I'll say:
Wooley
Shanny
Legace
Osgood

And I might say that with a touch of "good ridance" under my breath to a few of them.

Draper is under contract.

We should see some new blood anyhow.

I mean, new to the league, not new to the NHL.

Looking at how big Pronger has been in the second round for Edmonton, I've got to say that Lidstrom really did not play up to expectations. It's been quite a few years since he had a strong playoffs.

We keeping looking at Yzerman and Shanny, but Lidstrom is also a major piece of the puzzle. In my experience, teams need to match positionally in the playoffs. You counter a hot goalie with your own superb goaltending. You match speed with speed.

We lost out on the blue line, in the crease and lastly at the forwards. Those are "foundation" positions.

The formula is simple in the NHL playoffs. You have to be deep, fast, physical and aggressive. The Wings only fulfilled one of those criteria.

Drapes is tough but is he effective?
Contracts had nothing to do with my post.
Go ahead and lose 6...you need it.

I think Lidstrom was on for 5 goals against.

Well we let the Oil earn their way to the Finals. Little consolation but the best playoff team beat us... again.

I meant to add, there is talk of making Lids captain but some want Zetts.