Morning Skate: SMASHVILLE!

by Casey Richey on Jan 29, 2010 7:00 AM CST in Game Preview Comment 32 comments

First off, I think that ad campaign is incredibly stupid. That would be like calling Detroit, D-troit for exceptional defense (not like this year's team would know anything about that apparently...) But anyway, let's get going on this.

Jimmy Howard will start in net tonight for the Wings. Chris Osgood gave up 5 goals last game out against the Wild but to be fair, Howard gave up 5 the last time he took the ice too. Howard needs to be strong in net for the Wings and have a much better outing than against Phoenix.
Will someone on the Wings please play some defense? I've become pretty sick and tired of sitting and watching our defenders (and forwards) just stand around while the puck is passed around the ice. This isn't bubble hockey, you can move more than one direction guys.
Kyle is going to have another interview up today so look for that. It's with one of the highly talked about prospects within the Red Wings so make sure you check it out.
Forward Jason Williams is expected to return to the line-up tonight after missing a considerable chunk of time with a broken leg. What this means is...
NO CHOOSING BETWEEN MAY AND LEINO! They can both sit out tonight with Williams coming back and frankly I think it's the best decision. Leino's been a big disappointment this year and Brad May's been...well, Brad May.
Back to Williams, who knows if he'll get time on this unit tonight but he gives the Wings a big stick on the blueline on the man advantage. He's got an absolute canon from the point (see video after the jump) and is a pretty solid passer as well.
Please, shake off the loss to the Wild and get two much needed points tonight. The psychological let down of the Phoenix game must have been rough on the Wings so imagine after the loss to the Wild. Ugh.
The Predators are 4-6-0 in their last 10 and have lost 4 straight.
On the Forecheck is your source on SB Nation for any Predators notes, news, analysis etc.

Wings sit one point out of 8th spot in the West right now, thanks to Calgary's complete collapse. Calgary has lost 9 straight contests and have allowed the Wings to stay in the hunt while they themselves stumble. Calgary lost to the Coyotes in a shootout for their 9th straight L but did pick up a point.

Coming up fast in the rear view mirror of the Red Wings: Minnesota Wild (58 pts) Dallas Stars (57 pts) St. Louis Blues (56 pts) and the Anaheim Ducks (55 pts) have even turned it up lately

Exactly one point separates each team from 7th place on down to 13th place.

I don't know what is wrong with this team (trust me if I knew, I'd call Uncle Mike every 5 seconds until I got through) but it almost seems like everyone is focusing on something else. Too often the team takes the ice and looks flat from the start. And on night's that they don't come out flat, they either run into a brick wall goalie or just forget to play defense.

Darren Helm has taken quite a few bad penalties recently. I'm glad he's so damn good at everything else. 6 mins in the last two games compared to his 8 in his previous 44.

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are apparently Identical Euro Twins. 12 G, 37 A each, ice-time average within 30 seconds of each other. Weiiiird.

Key matchup to watch when Red Wings are on the attack: Pavel Datsyuk's line. He's been on fire lately and hopefully will continue that.

Key matchup to watch when Predators are on the attack: Not so much a Predator to watch as they're all pretty solid contributors but more so how the Red Wings defense holds up.

Pre-game video:

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any idea

What your lines will look like this evening?

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by Chris Burton on Jan 29, 2010 7:58 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

my guess:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary
Bertuzzi-filppula-Williams
Draper-Helm-Eaves
Miller-Abdelkader-Maltby

Defense depends on Stuart playing.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jan 29, 2010 8:32 AM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

man i wish we could see some of that from williams today

i always hate playing the preds. maybe living in the house with a bunch of preds fans have something to do with it.

but really they always play detroit TOUGH and with us have 0 to none on the confidence scale that doesnt make for a good game. but who knows, preds are on a losing streak too, maybe mike lit a fire up their ass this time and our defense will actually play, i dont know…DEFENSE

by dhall25 on Jan 29, 2010 8:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

A move like that from Williams early on in the game could really help us. A quick start is going to mean everything tonight, I think. As much as I’ve said I don’t really care one way or another to see him back, anything to give the team a boost. The sooner everyone’s back and they can get back into stride, the better.

by WingedUP on Jan 29, 2010 9:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

We saw it with Fil returning, he was determined to make up for lost time so maybe Williams will do the same

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jan 29, 2010 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kronwall seemed to come out flying too, he just didn’t have a team behind him for anyone to really notice.

by WingedUP on Jan 29, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For the record...

I will never, ever, ever get tired of being reminded of the whole “Smashville” thing. It makes me smile, and it makes playing them that much more enjoyable.

You know, I’m with dhall25: Nashville DOES always play us tough. They’re kind of like Anaheim in that respect—they always show up to play Detroit with their A-game, and they elevate their defensive play on both ends of the ice. Bottom line, the Wings need to bring it tonight to start the weekend on a good tone and to shake up the standings, especially since the game on Sunday will be tough.

by Natalie on Jan 29, 2010 9:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

whats the big deal with Smashville?

I mean, I don’t think that “Hockeytown” is the most original thing but it doesn’t really bother me.

Smashville, among other things, personifies Predator hockey and reaches out to the football fans who watch things to see people hit each other. Just a marketing campaign that has worked out pretty well…

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by Chris Burton on Jan 29, 2010 9:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

it’s more of a pretend hate. It stems from one of the nights Center Ice doomed us to watching the FS Nashville feed It was twice a commercial break and during the play from the broadcasters that i heard it and it just started to become annoying.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jan 29, 2010 10:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ah, gotcha

I can agree with the commercial thing, FS Tennessee has the same set of commercials every year that get run repeatedly. facepalm

Question for you Wings fans (I’ve presented this to the LetsGoWings forums before, but SBN users are generally better than forum-goers)-

Do the Red Wings consider the Predators a rival?

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by Chris Burton on Jan 29, 2010 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think to some degree.

It’s more of a respected rival than a “i hate those pieces of…” like with Chicago/St.Louis/Anaheim

We respect the way you guys play the game and how you bring your A game to every contest with the Wings.

What’s the Nashville point of view

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jan 29, 2010 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My take on Smashville...

…I think the name itself is hilarious because it’s a little cheesy. But hey, if Nashville’s fans enjoy it, that’s all that matters. It doesn’t make me hate the Preds, though.

Personally, I consider the Preds rivals in that they’re a Central Division rival, and like everybody else, I chimed in to say that Nashville always puts on a good game against the Wings, no matter what their situation in the standings may be. (Remember that mid-season game last year when they pommeled us? Yikes.) Casey’s right—it’s not a hated rivalry in the same vein as Chicago or Anaheim (or, for me, Pittsburgh), but it’s still something we’re a little more amped for than when we’re playing…oh, say, Phoenix. (I still don’t get why this game was on Versus.)

by Natalie on Jan 29, 2010 11:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah good thing

i decided to pay extra for closer seats to that 8-0 game last year.

i gave up after the 5-0 first period

by dhall25 on Jan 29, 2010 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HOW CAN YOU HATE SMASHVILLE?!?!?11???

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Jan 29, 2010 2:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

from our perspective

And granted, I don’t speak for all fans…

I think Detroit and Columbus are neck and neck for our biggest rivals, followed by VAN and SJ.

My “hate” for the Wings stems from getting beaten so many times by them and having our hearts broken twice in the playoffs. One of my favorite hockey games of all time was the 8-0 drubbing of last year. I’m convinced that when we get to the SCF, we’ll have to go through Hockeytown first ;).

Another aspect to the hatred is there seems to be an abnormal number of Wings fans in Nashville. They fill out the gaps in the Sommet Center when DET is in town, and that really irks me. I’m glad the attendance numbers go up, but don’t like all those red jerseys.

So, Red Wing games always get my dander up. Almost always a great game, only wish that Tootoo would pound the crap out of Bertuzzi… ;)

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by Chris Burton on Jan 29, 2010 11:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you have to remember the thing about the preds/red wings games

there are a lot of pred wings ,i.e. my step mom occasionally.

by dhall25 on Jan 29, 2010 11:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

no offense intended here

But I HATE Pred Wings. Matter of fact, I dislike anyone who switches teams :).

You dance with who brung ya, right?

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by Chris Burton on Jan 29, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha i agree

thats why i stay with my red wings, but im not going to argue with her wanting to put a shanahan jersey on every now and then, rather then that ugly pink jersey she has :)

but really she is different then most in the fact she, well our whole family, were red wings fans first, we all lived in michigan, her more then us but moving down here they grew more of a liking to the preds. i stuck with my team.

by dhall25 on Jan 29, 2010 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

understandable...

Why is it that there seem to be so many Wings fans (or Pred Wings) concentrated in the Nashville area?

A hard playoff run or two against a team can forge a rivalry. It’s kind of how I personally feel about Pittsburgh, combined with the fact that I live in Pens country, and I get sick of hearing about Crosby, et al., from practically everyone I know.

by Natalie on Jan 29, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

or I’ve heard, its because there are several major auto plants here and around Tennessee.

Other than that, I don’t know.

I would’ve thought that Weber beating the snot out of Lilja would’ve contributed a little to Pred hate?

Don’t get me wrong, thats not a comment to flame— I’m truly sorry about him getting hurt and hate to see any guy get hurt, especially for that long and whatnot.

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by Chris Burton on Jan 29, 2010 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure why it is Nashville is not a major rival. I think it’s partly because we have a number of stronger rivalries that have already been in place for years now. Plus, it makes sense that Nashville would learn to hate Detroit, year after year of Detroit dominance in the Central (which I don’t say to be arrogant, but rather that it makes sense why the Preds would develop a good deal of Wing hate).

I guess what I’m trying to say is we don’t have a whole lot of reasons (yet) to hate the Preds all that much. Sure, I don’t like the Preds, but to be honest outside of Chicago there is no Central team that I consider much of a rival.

I think the Lilja deal is just something that happened, and can happen, and there’s not much you can do about it. It has sucked losing him, but I never began to hate the Preds for it.

Maybe I should…?

by Brobz on Jan 29, 2010 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like Nashville similar to how I don't like the Twins

They are a division rival that always plays my team tough – if they were in any other division (Predators or Twinkies) I’d root for them because they do an excellent job with limited funds, and will a few exceptions (Jordin Tootoo) aren’t a bunch of jackasses. Put Minnesota in the National League and I’d cheer for them without hesitation – put Nashville in the Eastern conference and I’d feel the same way.

Whereas Chicago is more like the White Sox – in either case I giggle at their losses (although I didn’t have any problems really with the Blackhawks before they got cabbie-puncher Kane. I like Sharp and Toews a lot, for example). And the Blackhawks don’t have someone of the insanity level of Ozzie Guillen – although how funny would that be in hockey?

St. Louis Blues are like the Indians, and sorry to say that makes Columbus comparable to the Royals. Zach Greinke = Rick Nash.

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by Baroque on Jan 29, 2010 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

if it makes you feel better i consider a nashville a rival

i live in clarksville, tn, my parents are pred season ticket holders, and i go to all the preds vs. red wings games so i get see a lot of the things people here that dont go to the games do. so i have more of a hate for the preds then probably most the people here.

i do occasionally go to preds games though when my parents dont want to go to the games, but thats just out of the love for the game.

by dhall25 on Jan 29, 2010 11:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Must Win

If the Wings have had a “MUST WIN” this season, tonight is it. The turn around needs to start tonight, and the Preds are ripe for it. It will be a long spring for all of us Wings fans if they do not mount some sort of surge soon. This will be a gut check after the last game. We shall see.

by wingnut1955 on Jan 29, 2010 10:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

whats the deal with abdelkader going down?

by chrisj on Jan 29, 2010 10:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Waiver eligibility more than likely

Lots of rules regarding how many games guys are allowed to play before they’re required to clear waivers during a send down-call up.

by 42jeff on Jan 29, 2010 11:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

his contract allows him to go down regardless of how many games I believe

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jan 29, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And his boyish grin and golden locks allow him to go down whenever he wants.

Being serious, yeah, his 2-way allows him to be “waiver-free!”

Yup, Abs can go both ways. Both ways.

by Brobz on Jan 29, 2010 12:03 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Since we're being "fair" regarding the goaltenders

Jimmy Howard allowed 5 goals on 37 shots.
Chris Osgood allowed 5 goals on 25 shots.

by mpetrella on Jan 29, 2010 11:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Plus

Osgood’s helmet is stupid. It always has been and always will be. And that is entirely relevant to his quality of play. As a former goaltender myself, it’s simply an insult to the position. No, but seriously, I hate his helmet.

by Brobz on Jan 29, 2010 12:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me

Or does the team seem kind of out of sorts for this game? Still don’t know who’s scratched (Leino or May, Lebda or Meech), Abdelkader going back down, Williams being in for the first time in forever, Stuart’s sore shoulder, Miller “starting out” at center and on the fourth line…I hope it’s not a recipe for disaster. Seems like a lot of changes for one game.

by WingedUP on Jan 29, 2010 12:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs