Afternoon Skate: Sibling Rivalry
by JeffHancock41 on Jan 8, 2012 11:45 AM CST
in Game Preview
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PrintThe recipe for tonight's game is pretty simple: Just Win.
The Wings let an opportunity slip between their fingers last night in Toronto and now they have to play two nights-in-a-row and travel to Chicago to face a rested Hawks team. No easy task. Add to it that Ty Conklin will be starting in net for the Wings. The task just got tougher.
Yeah it's January and there is a very long way to go before the playoffs. But, the division is so close that from here on out, every two points matters just as much as the next. The two points available tonight are just as important as the two points in March.
The Wings are just part of the pack in the Western Conference right now. A win tonight and Detroit can begin to separate itself from the rest.
Plus, who doesn't like beating the Blackhawks?
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Second City Hockey is your SBNation Blackhawks' blog.
Puck drop is just after 7:30p ET on NBC Sports Network.
The Expected Lineup (UPDATED)
Johan Franzen -- Pavel Datsyuk -- Todd Bertuzzi
Valtteri Filppula -- Henrik Zetterberg -- Jiri Hudler
Danny Cleary -- Darren Helm -- Drew Miller
Tomas Holmstrom -- Justin Abdelkader -- Chris Conner
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Niklas Kronwall -- Brad Stuart
Jonathan Ericsson -- Jakub Kindl
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Ty Conklin (starting)
Scratches: Mike Commodore, Cory Emmerton
Injuries: Patrick Eaves (jaw) and Jan Mursak (ankle)
UPDATE: Gustav Nyquist has been reassigned to Grand Rapids. Homer will play. UPDATE II: Per the Freep, Helm is in. The updated 3rd and 4th lines are just a guess. We'll adjust if any news comes out.
| RED WINGS | HOW THEY MATCH UP | BLACKHAWKS |
| 25-14-1 (51 pts; 5th in West) | Record | 24-13-4 (52 pts; 4th in West) |
| 3.24 (4th) | Goals Per Game | 3.12 (6th) |
| 2.30 (5th) | Goals Against Per Game | 2.85 (20th) |
| 19.3% (7th) | Power Play % | 17.8% (15th) |
| 81.2% (22nd) | Penalty Kill % | 78.5% (26th) |
| Johan Franzen (16 goals) | Goal Leader | Jonathan Toews (22 goals) |
| Pavel Datsyuk (42 points) | Points Leader | Marian Hossa (42 points) |
- The Red Wings are 361-262-84-9 (W-L-T-OTL) all-time against the Blackhawks.
- Welcome to Bizzaro World. If the season ended today, the St. Louis Blues would win the division and the Wings and Hawks would square off in the first round. The Wings are only one point behind the Hawks and two behind the Blues. Detroit has a game in hand against both teams, so a win tonight will put the Wings in first on the Central and second in the West.
- Chicago has lost three-in-a-row.
- Detroit is giving up an average of four-goals-per-game in the year 2012.
Prediction: It's a big test for Conklin. His performance tonight may very well determine what Ken Holland does at the trade deadline in regards to a back-up goalie. The trend of giving up goals continues, but this time they only give up three. Wings win 5-3 and Pavel Datsyuk is your player of the game.
Let's Go Red Wings.
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Made my prediction, but I won't share it
You won’t like it because I think it’s going to be ugly.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
Me too
But, Playing last night + traveling to play on the road + Conklin + United Center homecooking for the Hawks = bad things.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
+ Chicago just got shutout at home.
A rivalry game will only add to them being pissed. I see this going very ugly too.
Agreed
Conklin in net (deep breath, go to my happy place) when we’re already having road troubles and coming off a loss might just spell disaster. Given how streaky we were all through the early season, I worry this might be the start of another downturn. I just hope we get away without any injuries.
BUT, on the upside it’s still only January; Helm & Homer are back, and our rookies are doing beautifully; and….shut out at home by the Avs? Laugh! Point and laugh!
Relentlessly preaching the word of TPH and converting the heathens in the NHL wasteland that is Oregon.
Hey...
you were wrong!
I’m glad that you’re as happy about that as I am. I wish we could have had each of you there to share that atmosphere with us.
by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 9, 2012 12:28 AM CST up reply actions
No
It’s Kindl. Ericsson/Commodore was a good third pairing. Kindl looks like a typical rookie who is adjusting to the demands of a full season.
I know
I just like Kindl a lot(Kinda like Jeffs mancrush on Brendan Smith), and try to defend him. But I hate to say, the Rig/Ericsson pairing looked really good.
Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs
Fair enough
The irony for me last night is that it was Kronwall and to a lesser extent Lidstrom who looked like they were slow. I didn’t notice Kindl/Ericsson at all.
I didn't see this game last night
As I was watching the Lions game but I heard that Lidstrom actually played pretty bad, that true or was he just a little off?
Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs
Understandable
I know a lot of Wing fans didn’t see the game because of the Lions.
Kindl/Ericsson was just….there. They weren’t great, but they weren’t bad. They did their job effectively.
Kronwall was directly responsible for the go-ahead goal because he passed it right to Lupul behind the net. Lidstrom was beat a few times wide by the speedy Leaf forwards.
Thanks
I feel that way a lot of times with the Ericson- Kindl/Commie Pairing. They never really do anything spectacular however they are usually directly involved with a goal against when.
Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs
Sometimes
the best complement you can give a defensemen or defensive pair is if you didn’t notice them. It means they did their job.
Brendan Smith fan
by JeffHancock41 on Jan 8, 2012 2:03 PM CST up reply actions
Makes sense
The thing is, I never see Kindl or Rig ever do anything good except for a goal then and then.
Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs
That’s exactly why it took Lidstrom so long to win a Norris.
Kindl and Ericsson aren’t nearly as good at ending opposition rushes near their own blue line (like Lidstrom and Stuart do), but they do a good job of forcing that onrushing winger to the outside or bottling him in the middle. They’re still developing at it, but unless you’re really good at the poke/sweep/hip check at the line, you’re going to get walked around a lot and those two really don’t.
The two of them are still a bit more likely to suffer at the hands of an aggressive forecheck and that kind of sucks, but with the Red Wings in-zone system, a lot of the breakout depends on how well the forwards are supporting the d-men with outlet choices and heads-up play.
by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 8, 2012 2:11 PM CST up reply actions
4-3 Wings, Filppula
Just a heads up that JJ and I will be at the game live. If you hear someone randomly yell “SHHOOOOOOOOTTTTT” right before a faceoff, that’s us.
The way I see it
Conklin either dominates the Hawks, restoring all confidence in himself and from the players, management and fans.
Or… he implodes and signs his ticket out of town.
Could this be Babs’ plan? Sink or swim time!
by DeathtotheHawks on Jan 8, 2012 12:05 PM CST reply actions
Hawks games are weird
The Hawks have looked terrible the last few games, but they always get up for the Wings, and Detroit’s coming off a loss in Toronto last night.
Personally, I hope that Conklin stands on his head and shuts all of us up. Especially since I’ll be there.
I agree
I think that Babcock giving Conklin the nod in a game that has so much on the line is his way of trying to boost everyone’s confidence in him.
by DeathtotheHawks on Jan 8, 2012 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
I also think
That Howard is dried up. He needs a couple days rest.
Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs
Holmstrom said he was playing today
Helm said he was too as long as he got the clearance, no one has reported anything yet
by DeathtotheHawks on Jan 8, 2012 12:06 PM CST reply actions
Nothing official though
But I heard the same thing, that both Helmer and Homer will be playing.
Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs
Have fun out there, gang
I’m going with a clean sweep of a shitty sports weekend, 3-2 Hawks in a SO. If you don’t like it, do something about it. (And by that I mean pooping in Patrick Kane’s helmet.)
Conklin is gonna rock tonight
I have a feeling new year = new meal ticket for Conklin.
He was just having a hard time getting rid of that Blues losing feeling.
I would love to see that
I feel bad for the guy….when things are already not coming together for you, I imagine it’s pretty damn tough when everyone has basically written you off too. I think he can be a serviceable backup netminder, he has been before….but not until (if/when) he gets some confidence back. Until then, pray that Jimmy has superhuman stamina and is impervious to injury, because we are skating a thin line (no pun intended).
Relentlessly preaching the word of TPH and converting the heathens in the NHL wasteland that is Oregon.
Weird things happen in Chicago.
Isn’t that where stuff keeps happening to Franzen?
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
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