Mark Spizzirri: GAMEDAY: Kings vs. Grand Rapids?, Nyquist and Andersson recalled from AHL

Let's go KINGS!!

The Detroit Griffins versus the L.A. Kings. A couple of minor league goalies, Smith, Nyquist, Andersson, Janik, Mursak. Wow.
Hard to believe the current version of the Wings is the same one who led the division most of the year. The Blues are putting a little distance between us, we desperately need points, with games against the Kings and Preds this weekend we need at least three points before going on our last west coast trip of the year.
Advantages of the four seed are still there.
1. Playing the Preds we wouldnt have to travel as far.
2. If we make it to round two we would face the Blues, again not travelling all the way to the coast.
Thats assuming the blues beat the Nucks out for the number one seed. Wow what a fun, tough division. Just hoping the guys get well soon, Howard, Lidstrom, Kindl, Ericsson, Bertuzzi, Datsyuk, now Z and Abdelkader being a little banged up, sooner or later Cleary still not at 100 per cent. Just hope nobody else goes down and we are at 100 per cent by the post season.

2-1 Kings. Mike Richards breaks his inexcusable goal drought with two goals...

Don't worry Detroit you'll still win. The Kings just don't seem to want a playoff spot these days after blowing the game in Columbus last night.

The Detroit Griffins versus the L.A. Kings. A couple of minor league goalies, Smith, Nyquist, Andersson, Janik, Mursak. Wow.
Hard to believe the current version of the Wings is the same one who led the division most of the year. The Blues are putting a little distance between us, we desperately need points, with games against the Kings and Preds this weekend we need at least three points before going on our last west coast trip of the year.
Advantages of the four seed are still there.
1. Playing the Preds we wouldnt have to travel as far.
2. If we make it to round two we would face the Blues, again not travelling all the way to the coast.
Thats assuming the blues beat the Nucks out for the number one seed. Wow what a fun, tough division. Just hoping the guys get well soon, Howard, Lidstrom, Kindl, Ericsson, Bertuzzi, Datsyuk, now Z and Abdelkader being a little banged up, sooner or later Cleary still not at 100 per cent. Just hope nobody else goes down and we are at 100 per cent by the post season.
- yave1964

Your assuming the #3 seed in the West actually beats the 6, which at this point would be a crapshoot.

Also, when possible its prob a good idea to avoid the best goalie in the league.

doesnt matter
only playoffs matter
in the west, doesnt matter where you finish,
a team like CHi or SJ could finish 8

doesnt matter
only playoffs matter
in the west, doesnt matter where you finish,
a team like CHi or SJ could finish 8
- wingz4life

It does matter. The more the Wings have to travel to the West Coast, the worse it is. Not that they can control that, but if they can avoid a first round matchup with, say, SJ or LA, in favor of a more travel friendly team like Chicago, Nashville or even St. Louis, to some degree, it's better in the long run. ASSUMING they get past those teams...

2-1 Kings. Mike Richards breaks his inexcusable goal drought with two goals...
- RedwingsAreKHL

I can't believe what I'm seeing. You actually posted on a Wings forum without taking a cheap shot at the euro's? The (frank) is going on around here?

It does matter. The more the Wings have to travel to the West Coast, the worse it is. Not that they can control that, but if they can avoid a first round matchup with, say, SJ or LA, in favor of a more travel friendly team like Chicago, Nashville or even St. Louis, to some degree, it's better in the long run. ASSUMING they get past those teams...
- drice97

talk about pick your posion...
again, if the 8th seed made it to the WCF i wouldnt be suprised at all

looks to be a long night. No shots over 8 minutes... down 1-0.

i hate franzen
lazy ass (frank)in player

Smith will be a nhl player ,guaranteed

havent seen anything like this from Kindl/Ericsson

Smith will be a nhl player ,guaranteed

havent seen anything like this from Kindl/Ericsson
- wingz4life

Smith has been great. I think he beats out kindl. I know you hate Ericsson, but I don't think he's been as bad as you make him out to be. Top 4? No, of course not. But he's been ok as the number 5 dman.

Smith did look good and that was a sweet pass to Filppula to tie the game. Nyquist also looked good. I wish they would give Tatar a chance...twice they called him up but didn't play him.

Even with all the injuries, Wings need to keep getting some points. Fil and Z are doing their parts but they need more from Franzen.

Smith did look good and that was a sweet pass to Filppula to tie the game. Nyquist also looked good. I wish they would give Tatar a chance...twice they called him up but didn't play him.

Even with all the injuries, Wings need to keep getting some points. Fil and Z are doing their parts but they need more from Franzen.
- dcz28

You know who Franzen reminds me of sometimes? Sergei Fedorov. Dude had one in a generation talent (okay maybe not at all like Franzen), but would only show it when he wanted to. If that dude wanted to play....there was none better, but he rarely gave a poop. Franzen has been maddening to watch lately. He makes weak ass attempts at loose pucks, shoots into sticks and has low percentage shots and is wondering why he is on the 3rd line.....Although he did have a sweet pass to Helm there at the end of the game he has frustrated me.

I know there's no such thing as an "ugly win."

But man, that was one of the ugliest wins I've ever seen. Practically 59 total minutes of bad passes, missed shots, turnovers, wasted powerplays, almost every player handling the puck like it was a hand grenade, and a couple of awful goals allowed ...

But in that combined one minute or so of solid play, four beautiful goals.

I'll take it. But if they play this way tomorrow against Nashville, they're gonna lose 7-0.

You know who Franzen reminds me of sometimes? Sergei Fedorov. Dude had one in a generation talent (okay maybe not at all like Franzen), but would only show it when he wanted to. If that dude wanted to play....there was none better, but he rarely gave a poop. Franzen has been maddening to watch lately. He makes weak ass attempts at loose pucks, shoots into sticks and has low percentage shots and is wondering why he is on the 3rd line.....Although he did have a sweet pass to Helm there at the end of the game he has frustrated me.
- MartyBurk

Although i do think Fedorov had more natural talent than Franzen, i do see the comparison. Fedorov could be the best player on the ice one night and invisible the next. The big difference i think was that Fedorov showed up more often than Mule does. Maybe it's just my memory that's wrong but i don't remember Fedorov being MIA for stretches of 10 to 20 games at a time like Mule can do...Fedorov seemed to spread them out more maybe which made it look like he didn't take as many games off.

Smith is ready now. Nyquist I could see spending most of next year in GR. Once this kid gets some real confidence hes going to be something special. I seen a few dangles out of him, but he almost wiped out in the slot (taking to much time deciding on what to do) just before he helped set up the winning goal. Disapointed Tatar wasnt called up instead of Anderson, i do get that the Griffins are in a playoff race but from what ive been reading Tatar was done a 180 defensivley. Cant wait to see the kids play again tonight though

I have been saying all along that Smith is the real deal and the kid has done nothing to disappoint so far and he looks like a top four right now, and will be a top pair d-man in the near future. He will change the whole look of our defense, a puck moving d-man with a nasty streak, not a Kronwall, Kronwall is the best hitter in hockey who can play on the second power play, Smith is more pure thug, he will push people around, be a physical presense, I know scouting reports are calling him a poor mans Keith Yandle but I think Scott Stevens or even Neidermayer when I watch him play. Looking forward to watching him grow over the next ten years as a wing.
As far as the rest of the kids, none really impress me except Nyquist, he needs to put on some size to keep from getting pushed around, I have seen others in here compairing him to Datsyuk, I think he will progress more along the lines of a Filpulla, 30 points a year, frustrating for a couple of seasons, the fourty, then about year five having a nice breakout season. Dont think he will ever be a first line star but a solid contributing top six forward with crazy passing skills who can be pushed around by more physical teams.
Hoping for the best tonight. Rinne has been human lately, but the Nashville offense is picking up. Unless we catch the Blues we are looking at a first round preview.

Told ya

Special teams lost the Wings this game. Wings need Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Howard and Bertuzzi back soon if they want to keep up with St Louis and win the division.

Every time the Wings play the Preds, i'm stuck with those idiot announcers from Trashville. Would be nice if Center Ice gave the option of what broadcast you want to watch.

Special teams lost the Wings this game. Wings need Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Howard and Bertuzzi back soon if they want to keep up with St Louis and win the division.

Every time the Wings play the Preds, i'm stuck with those idiot announcers from Trashville. Would be nice if Center Ice gave the option of what broadcast you want to watch.
- dcz28

I know what you mean. It's hard to set your DVR if you're not going to be there, but usually I check the feeds first to see which broadcast is. Then I record. Again, hard to do if you're not going to be there.

I know what you mean. It's hard to set your DVR if you're not going to be there, but usually I check the feeds first to see which broadcast is. Then I record. Again, hard to do if you're not going to be there.
- drice97

A lot of times i don't have any choice since both the regular and HD feeds are the same so if i want to watch the game i have to watch the other teams broadcast. Nashville are horrible from their stupid comments and boring jokes that they think are so funny to their constant whining about every call against the Preds not being a penalty.