Bob Duff: Lightning count six, while Wings can't count to six Detroit squanders a 3-1 lead and loses opener 6-4 to Tampa Bay.

looms like the same team from last year, Tampa fast and young, wings slow. Seemed like the wings barley had the puck. Good to see vanek get a couple though.

I forsee this continuing all year.

I am not ready to compare to TB, because lets be honest... TB is a cup contender, were a middling, most likely non-playoff team. Honestly, our forward group didnt look too bad, but our d corps..

worst in the league I think.

The only thing I liked last night, was a bit of grit in there with a few dropped gloves, and lets they are "trying" to play tough and Vanek, Nielsen looked liked they fit in... my gosh, Vanek is a floater though, haha, easily just there for goals.

I forsee this continuing all year.

I am not ready to compare to TB, because lets be honest... TB is a cup contender, were a middling, most likely non-playoff team. Honestly, our forward group didnt look too bad, but our d corps..

worst in the league I think.

The only thing I liked last night, was a bit of grit in there with a few dropped gloves, and lets they are "trying" to play tough and Vanek, Nielsen looked liked they fit in... my gosh, Vanek is a floater though, haha, easily just there for goals.
- BooBoo997

If there's any hope on D it's splitting up green and smith so they can help keep dekeyser and marchenko afloat.

When is AA drawing into the lineup and what line will he play on?

When is AA drawing into the lineup and what line will he play on?
- riceroni

Who knows. Wings have one of the most incompetent management groups in the league.

When is AA drawing into the lineup and what line will he play on?
- riceroni

I imagine that they plan on rotating Ott and Athanasiou, at least for a short while, since AA is tons more valuable.

They intend on keeping the speed spread throughout the lineup, so if Z and Tatar continue to play with Nielsen, Larkin (Speedster #1) with Abdelkader and Sheahan, and Helm (Speedster #2) with Nyquist and Vanek, then Speedster #3 would end up playing with Glendening and Miller.

Not my ideal combinations, but the forwards were very effective last night for most of the game, and even my personal whipping boy Sheahan I thought played well.

I imagine that they plan on rotating Ott and Athanasiou, at least for a short while, since AA is tons more valuable.

They intend on keeping the speed spread throughout the lineup, so if Z and Tatar continue to play with Nielsen, Larkin (Speedster #1) with Abdelkader and Sheahan, and Helm (Speedster #2) with Nyquist and Vanek, then Speedster #3 would end up playing with Glendening and Miller.

Not my ideal combinations, but the forwards were very effective last night for most of the game, and even my personal whipping boy Sheahan I thought played well.
- TwoPieceFeed

If and when AA gets in, I'd like to see him on Larkin's line and drop either Sheahan or Abby to the 4th line.

Miller ott and glendenning is probably the worst 4th line in the league. Poor glendenning a guy who actually has skill. Miller is just to slow now and ott is a complete disaster. They couldn't stick handle around a novice team. I agree with a much better def core things would look different.

If and when AA gets in, I'd like to see him on Larkin's line and drop either Sheahan or Abby to the 4th line.
- JohnnySoze

I'm not opposed to that thinking at all. I wouldn't play Abby there, because he'll be protecting Larkin the same way that Lucic will for McDavid, but Sheahan could use a match-up advantage playing on the 4th.

However, I still like the idea of having super speed on 3 different lines.

I don't even know what'd happen if you had a line of AA, Larkin, and Helm...

Miller ott and glendenning is probably the worst 4th line in the league. Poor glendenning a guy who actually has skill. Miller is just to slow now and ott is a complete disaster. They couldn't stick handle around a novice team. I agree with a much better def core things would look different.
- hockeyislife99

In what world does glendening have skill?

Lines for next game, via Ansar Khan:

Athanasiou-Nielsen-Zetterberg
Tatar-Larkin-Sheahan
Nyquist-Helm-Vanek
Abdelkader-Glendening-Miller

DeKeyser-Green
Smith-Marchenko
Ericsson-Ouellet

Mrazak

I think this looks much better than the last game, although I think Zetterberg shouldn't be on the first line anymore, and Vanek should be rewarded after that first game. Miller is still worthless, as is Ott. But, at least Ott can take faceoffs. I'd put Ott in, just so you can use him and Glenny for faceoffs on the PK.

Athanasiou-Nielsen-Vanek
Tatar-Larkin-Sheahan
Nyquist-Helm-Zetterberg
Abdelkader-Glendening-Ott

I kind of like that. The second line is weak on faceoffs, but you've got balanced scoring on the top 3 lines, speed on the top 3, none of the lines are completely defensive sieves, and the fourth line has two great faceoff guys and some ability to score goals. (If only we could see how Callahan or Bertuzzi would fare on that fourth line instead of Ott or Miller.)