Point to me how he stuck out. Point to me all the comments calling for him to be benched. Look at this point it is all funny to me. If the Hawks have a chance to win, they will go back to Stalberg, like they did in Detroit series. But I know it is all in my head.

Again, Does Babcock sit Nyquist for Tootoo? In finals. Not a chance.
- TrueGrit

Is that really the best you have, Bollig hamstrung this team last night?

Did Bollig make Hjalmarsson panic in his own end?

Make Saad give up on pucks from the middle of the second period on? Make Kane go one on three most of the night?

Make Seabrook a bonehead? Make the Hawks get destroyed in the dot?

No.

1/12th of the forward lineup, playing the least TOI. Weak excuse.

If you think Viktor Stalberg's pure perimeter game is the answer, or would have been last night, you are fooling yourself. Beating Rask means bodies in front of the net. I would put Carcillo in before Stlaberg at ths point. If the Hawks do not respond physically they are done. They tried skating last night, got them a whole mess of first period shots on goal and one goal. Then they get checked into submission and did nto respond with anything but cusie drop passes and avoiding contact. Stalberg would be one more guy like Saad and some others pulling up to avoid contact and losing board battles.
- John Jaeckel

That is fine, you can rationalize it all you want. Why did 25 play all year and Bollig not? If he did not give your team best chance to win day in and day out, why did he play?

11 - 4 in playoffs
2 - 2 when he does not play

I am looking at results is all. Do you think Babcock sits Nyquist and plays Tootoo in final? No chance. Q flinches everytime.

Is that really the best you have, Bollig hamstrung this team last night?

Did Bollig make Hjalmarsson panic in his own end?

Make Saad give up on pucks from the middle of the second period on? Make Kane go one on three most of the night?

Make Seabrook a bonehead? Make the Hawks get destroyed in the dot?

No.
- John Jaeckel

No, my intent is not to blame Bollig. My point all along is asking why would you mess with a line up that has not FAILED all year? That is it. I know nobody can answer the question. We can only make cases for or against.

That is fine, you can rationalize it all you want. Why did 25 play all year and Bollig not? If he did not give your team best chance to win day in and day out, why did he play?

11 - 4 in playoffs
2 - 2 when he does not play

I am looking at results is all. Do you think Babcock sits Nyquist and plays Tootoo in final? No chance. Q flinches everytime.
- TrueGrit

So you have more of a Babcock-like insight on playoff matchups, and Q doesn't? Q just doesn't get what you do?

The fact is, Tootoo might well be playing against the Bruins. Also Tootoo is NOT exactly the same player Bollig is. Nor is Nyquist Stalberg.

But you want to fall back on the "finesse" fan argument that Bollig was/is the problem.

That is fine, you can rationalize it all you want. Why did 25 play all year and Bollig not? If he did not give your team best chance to win day in and day out, why did he play?

11 - 4 in playoffs
2 - 2 when he does not play

I am looking at results is all. Do you think Babcock sits Nyquist and plays Tootoo in final? No chance. Q flinches everytime.
- TrueGrit

If he is playing a physical team GUARANTEED he does!

TG are you arging for arguments sake once again? If the Babcock were playing the Bruins who do you think would be playing Tootoo or Nyquist? Against the Hawks of course he makes a player movement to play against the Hawks strength.

Debating with you is like playing tennis without the net.
- paulr

So you think Babcock will wilt and change his team and go with Too too to surprise the bruins, because somebody my check Datsyuk? This question is not very hard.

No, my intent is not to blame Bollig. My point all along is asking why would you mess with a line up that has not FAILED all year? That is it. I know nobody can answer the question. We can only make cases for or against.
- TrueGrit

Because . . . and it is as plain as the nose on your face, regular season hockey is not the same thing as playoff hockey.

Personally, I would put Carcillo in for Game 3.

If he is playing a physical team GUARANTEED he does!
- paulr

You keep thinking that. Babcock, like Pat Riley can care less about what the other team does. Show me all the big moves he made vs the hawks. This goes to my over all point which so many miss living in the myopic world of the hawks and Q. That is he changed nothing as the weaker team and Q, in anticipation of whatever, made some changes. Only to change back.

If you are an 8 seed, you are an underdog, as the Presidents trophy team, you roll your guys, as your guys as you did all year. Until you lose. That is the point.

Because . . . and it is as plain as the nose on your face, regular season hockey is not the same thing as playoff hockey.
- John Jaeckel

No dispute, that is why I pointed out ....again

11 - 4 with 25 in playoffs

2 - 2 without

JJ I am not saying that your points and the others points about physicality are not valid and in a perfect world somethng that would make the team more balanced. What I am saying is you have to be who you are and win being your best. Half assing it or trying to out play another team at their game is not the recipe for success. it is Reacting. IMO...curse it as you like...Just at this point in the year...be who you are and do it confidently.

So you think Babcock will wilt and change his team and go with Too too to surprise the bruins, because somebody my check Datsyuk? This question is not very hard.
- TrueGrit

You are either intentionally missing the point or you have no concept of hockey strategy and tactics. Inserting Tootoo into the lineup against a physical team isn't about protection! IT IS TO HAVE A PLAYER TO PLAY IN A HARD ENVIRONMENT AND TO MAKE PLAYS A FINESSE PLAYER CAN'T AND OR WON'T!

You keep thinking that. Babcock, like Pat Riley can care less about what the other team does. Show me all the big moves he made vs the hawks. This goes to my over all point which so many miss living in the myopic world of the hawks and Q. That is he changed nothing as the weaker team and Q, in anticipation of whatever, made some changes. Only to change back.

If you are an 8 seed, you are an underdog, as the Presidents trophy team, you roll your guys, as your guys as you did all year. Until you lose. That is the point.
- TrueGrit

So your logic says Tootoo never plays! I can prove he does. Now ask yourself why does he play and when does he play.

You are either intentionally missing the point or you have no concept of hockey strategy and tactics. Inserting Tootoo into the lineup against a physical team isn't about protection! IT IS TO HAVE A PLAYER TO PLAY IN A HARD ENVIRONMENT AND TO MAKE PLAYS A FINESSE PLAYER CAN'T AND OR WON'T!
- paulr

I am not, I just told you ..showed you Babcock did not change his line up for the hawks at all. He does not worry about the other team half as much as he is focused on his team doing what they are supposed to do.

Many coaches do this. They are not all phycotic micro matchup managers.

I am not, I just told you ..showed you Babcock did not change his line up for the hawks at all. He does not worry about the other team half as much as he is focused on his team doing what they are supposed to do.

Many coaches do this. They are not all phycotic micro matchup managers.
- TrueGrit

AND HE LOST!!!

You are either intentionally missing the point or you have no concept of hockey strategy and tactics. Inserting Tootoo into the lineup against a physical team isn't about protection! IT IS TO HAVE A PLAYER TO PLAY IN A HARD ENVIRONMENT AND TO MAKE PLAYS A FINESSE PLAYER CAN'T AND OR WON'T!
- paulr

So why play Stalberg at all against the Kings? They were supposed to have the most physical team in the west... Why not play Bollig there?

So your logic says Tootoo never plays! I can prove he does. Now ask yourself why does he play and when does he play.
- paulr

Did not say he never plays, what I said was that Babcock would rather roll with the momentum he had in prior round to go with what was working then premptively making some adjustment on a hunch. Did Tootoo play vs hawks? With all due respect a lot of the word coming down on this blog was how physical the Wings were going to approach the series, and tootoo I do not believe even played.

Personally, I would put Carcillo in for Game 3.
- John Jaeckel

I prefer this over Bollig.

So why play Stalberg at all against the Kings? They were supposed to have the most physical team in the west... Why not play Bollig there?
- ilinkhawk

Supposed to, are the key words. They weren't really that physical at all were they?

Damian Cox of the Toronto Star is saying what JJ has said for ages. The Hawk front office and coaching staff are on different pages.


http://www.thestar.com/sp...l_teams_get_busy_cox.html
- paulr

Damien C O C K is hilarious. I used to live around the corner from this TWAT in Hamilton and lemme tell...he thinks his crud is made in perfume shops.

All he has is...things between the front office and bench "are said to be frayed."

THAT IS PHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKING DEEP. WOW. What reporting.

Supposed to, are the key words. They weren't really that physical at all were they?
- paulr

Game 1 lineup had Stalberg in it. Every preview out there for obvious reasons said the Kings were going to manhandle us physically. Why again was he in the lineup game 1?

Did not say he never plays, what I said was that Babcock would rather roll with the momentum he had in prior round to go with what was working then premptively making some adjustment on a hunch. Did Tootoo play vs hawks? With all due respect a lot of the word coming down on this blog was how physical the Wings were going to approach the series, and tootoo I do not believe even played.
- TrueGrit

TG, say you're a boxer. You won 10 fights in a row all against righties and all by knockout. Do you enter your next fight against a southpaw without changing your tactics? If you answer no, I'll know your are just being intentiionally difficult and I'll drop it.

Game 1 lineup had Stalberg in it. Every preview out there for obvious reasons said the Kings were going to manhandle us physically. Why again was he in the lineup game 1?
- ilinkhawk

Why would Q have played him all year if he was not the best option? I know these questions suck, but answering that playoff hockey is different than regular season does not answer anything. I would be totally on board if that line up failed or struggled, but the fact was, it was forsaken without any failure.

Now here we are like in Detroit series, tied at 1 and the common denominator...real or perceived is....no 25 in line up. Even if you dislike 25, messing with Karma is just a dumb risky thing.

Damien C O C K is hilarious. I used to live around the corner from this TWAT in Hamilton and lemme tell...he thinks his crud is made in perfume shops.

All he has is...things between the front office and bench "are said to be frayed."

THAT IS PHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKING DEEP. WOW. What reporting.
- philco28

He is a knob no doubt but the same thing he says has been said by more than one sourse.

TG, say you're a boxer. You won 10 fights in a row all against righties and all by knockout. Do you enter your next fight against a southpaw without changing your tactics? If you answer no, I'll know your are just being intentiionally difficult and I'll drop it.
- paulr

There is some validity to your point, but this is not boxing. Conversely, tell me one adjustment Detroit, LA or Boston has done to prepare for the Hawks? then I too will drop it.

They did nothing but focus on playing their game with their best horses. With all the risks that go with that.

Why would Q have played him all year if he was not the best option? I know these questions suck, but answering that playoff hockey is different than regular season does not answer anything. I would be totally on board if that line up failed or struggled, but the fact was, it was forsaken without any failure.

Now here we are like in Detroit series, tied at 1 and the common denominator...real or perceived is....no 25 in line up. Even if you dislike 25, messing with Karma is just a dumb risky thing.
- TrueGrit

Karma TG?? Really? Karma? I thought we were debating tangibles not some middle eastern mythical state of mind.