Morning Skate: It's A Trap! ...Or Is It?
by JeffHancock41 on Feb 14, 2012 9:01 AM CST
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Which Red Wings team is going to show up tonight?
I'd sure be happy if the one that likes winning at home shows up. The Wings have tied the record for most consecutive wins at home and tonight they have a chance to break said record. Tonight's game could be one of those "trap games." One on hand, you have a not so good Dallas Stars team coming to town that the Wings should beat and should beat by two goals or more. On the other hand, you have a Red Wings team that might still be on a high from tying to the record with a real solid win Sunday night against the Flyers.
Yesterday, Mike Babcock came out and said this was the most consistent team he's ever coach when it comes to giving an effort night in and night out. Tonight the Wings can help prove that as fact with another solid effort from puck drop to the final horn. It would be awesome for the Wings to have the home win streak record all to themselves. But in reality, it really is more important to get two points. The Blues are still only three points back with two games in hand. The Canucks are two points back with one game in hand. The Wings have been on a hell of a roll as of late, but they're not separating themselves from the pack, because, well, the pack is playing damn well too. The race for the playoffs is heating up. Grab those two points, grab some more NHL history, and take one step closer to the number seed and home ice advantage.
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Defending Big D is your SBNation Stars' blog.
Puck drop is just after 7:30p ET on Fox Sports Detroit Plus
The Expected Lineup
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Johan Franzen -- Pavel Datsyuk -- Todd Bertuzzi
Valtteri Filppula -- Henrik Zetterberg -- Jiri Hudler
Justin Abdelkader -- Darren Helm -- Drew Miller
Jan Mursak -- Cory Emmerton -- Tomas Holmstrom
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Niklas Kronwall -- Brad Stuart
Jonathan Ericsson -- Mike Commodore
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Joey MacDonald (starting)
Scratches: Jakub Kindl
Injuries: Patrick Eaves (jaw), Jimmy Howard (finger) and Danny Cleary (knee)
| STARS | HOW THEY MATCH UP | RED WINGS |
| 28-24-3 (59 pts; 11th in West) | Record | 38-17-2 (78 pts; 1st in NHL) |
| 2.56 (20th in NHL) | Goals Per Game | 3.07 (4th in NHL) |
| 2.80 (18th) | Goals Against Per Game | 2.35 (5th) |
| 14.3% (27th) | Power Play % | 17.8% (14th) |
| 81.0% (22nd) | Penalty Kill % | 81.1% (20th) |
| Michael Ryder (21 goals) | Goal Leader | Johan Franzen (22 goals) |
| Jamie Benn (49 points) | Points Leader | Pavel Datsyuk (56 points) |
- The Red Wings are 104-96-34-5 (W-L-T-OTL) all-time against the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise.
- Detroit is going for their 21st straight win at home, eh? They won 21 game at home all season last year.
- Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen is 3-4-0 with a 3.45 GAA and .904 SV% all-time against the Red Wings. Joey MacDonald will be starting against the Stars for the first time in his career.
- It's crazy that the second leading goal scorer at home during the win streak is Kronwall with eight goals.
PLAYER STATISTICS DURING 20-GAME HOME WIN STREAK
| GOALS | ASSISTS | POINTS | |
| Datsyuk | 6 | 19 | 25 |
| Filppula | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Franzen | 11 |
10 | 21 |
| Zetterberg | 7 | 11 | 18 |
| Lidstrom | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| Hudler | 4 | 11 | 15 |
| Kronwall | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| White | 2 | 13 | 15 |
| Bertuzzi | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| Cleary | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Miller | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Helm | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Holmstrom | 5 | 3 | 8 |
|
Abdelkader |
2 | 4 |
6 |
| Stuart | 1 |
5 | 6 |
| Kindl | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Emmerton | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Ericsson | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Conner | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Brunnstrom | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Eaves | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Prediction: Another close game between these two teams. Red Wings win 4-2 thanks to an empty netter. Pavel Datsyuk is your player of the game.
Let's Go Red Wings.
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3-2 Wings, Z as PotG
Since today is Valentine’s Day, I’m going with my heart for PotG. Plus, he’s been hot lately (on the ice, that is); he’s been hot for a LONG time off the ice!
Follow me on Twitter -- @zfan16
3-2 Wings, Joey PoTG
We have the tools, we have the talent! But we do have that awful predilection for underestimating the kids.
JoeyMac has something to prove tonight. GO JOE!
Don't take life so serious, son -- it ain't nohow permanent.
POTG picks
i haven’t gotten any right since you guys switched over to the new system, but for the past few games, whenever i enter the POTG pick, i type in the name and wait for it to appear in the drop-down menu. i pick the player from the menu and hit “enter” so his name appears in the POTG slot. when i click “save” though, it keeps saying that i need to pick the POTG from the drop-down menu . . . even though i did, seeing the numbers and everything.
You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
Thanks for the bug report
This is a user interface bug. Your prediction is being saved. If you click on the name in the drop down that warning won’t appear. I’ll fix it for those that use the arrow keys and enter.
I love the comments when I pick my people!
I'm a Homer
by holmstrom96 on Feb 14, 2012 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Thanks.
My favorite is the one for Ericsson although I wonder if anyone has actually seen it yet.
Glad some people are enjoying them.
I’ll add more or change them as I think of any.
It would be funny if it locked the guess and turned red immediately.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
Who has them
I saw the Pav and Mule ones, none for Z or Val though (and haven’t picked anyone else…)
no problem
thanks for the fix!
You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
Is this just running on jQuery and the Data Tables plugin? Nice work. I’m always a sucker for some custom jQuery.
i also chose 4-2, Dats but i swear i didn't look at yours first, Jeff
also, wooo! i’m actually doing well with my predictions this year!
haha even with the Wings' third string goalie in net?
Brendan Smith fan
by JeffHancock41 on Feb 14, 2012 10:02 AM CST up reply actions
The guy that's stopped 112 of 121 since being called upon?
He’s hardly playing like a “third string goalie.”
by Brad Gardner on Feb 14, 2012 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
Remember when..
…the Wings 3rd stringer was that kid from Maine? What was his name? Jimmy something?
Don't Panic!
by 42jeff on Feb 14, 2012 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
I dunno..
I think he’s been making a pretty strong case for becoming the 2nd string guy.
There isn't much of a case to make
If he isn’t the full time backup when Howard is ready, Babcock will get the hairy eye from the fanbase.
Pierre McGuire is a blithering dimwit.
no way i'm looking at that death stare head on.
i’d die or turn to stone, man.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 14, 2012 12:27 PM CST up reply actions
The only hairy eye that could stop Babcock would be Medusa's.
Has she registered with SBNation yet?
Don't take life so serious, son -- it ain't nohow permanent.
by Sunday on Feb 14, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Given that today is Valentine's Day...
by Casey Richey on Feb 14, 2012 10:14 AM CST reply actions 36 recs
22 and counting as of this post
Fan of the Tigers ~ Lions ~ Red Wings! - Restoring Pride to Detroits Sports Teams
WIIM Mursak Leagues Wingedmule (118-95-42))
Let's Go Red Wings!! Bring the Cup back to Hockeytown!! Thanks Lions for the Renewed Hope! (10-7)
23! Can't rec from the app...
So I rec’d when I got back to the shop.
Pierre McGuire is a blithering dimwit.
We don't stand a chance tonight
after all its the mighty Dallas Stars…..
/endjoke….
But seriously…. we need to play like we did the 2nd half of that 3rd period (intensity-wise).
Fan of the Tigers ~ Lions ~ Red Wings! - Restoring Pride to Detroits Sports Teams
WIIM Mursak Leagues Wingedmule (118-95-42))
Let's Go Red Wings!! Bring the Cup back to Hockeytown!! Thanks Lions for the Renewed Hope! (10-7)
As for predictions tonight
I like a 4-2 Detroit Win, with Happy Huds taking his hookers out for a party (after the game of course)
Fan of the Tigers ~ Lions ~ Red Wings! - Restoring Pride to Detroits Sports Teams
WIIM Mursak Leagues Wingedmule (118-95-42))
Let's Go Red Wings!! Bring the Cup back to Hockeytown!! Thanks Lions for the Renewed Hope! (10-7)
4-2 Wings, Bertuzzi
Big Bert due for some Valentine’s love…
4-2 Wings, Hulktuzzi
With Jimmy out of the lineup, I am at a loss as to who to choose for POTG. Hurry back Jimmah.
just curious....
why do we combine the recordbooks of the North Stars and the Dallas Stars, and not the Sharks and the Stars as well, since the North Stars franchise was split in 2 to create the Stars and the Sharks in 91-92?
The North Stars were not splint into two teams.
The Gunds would sell their share of the North Stars to Baldwin’s group, with the Gunds receiving an expansion team in the Bay Area to begin play in the 1991–92 season and being allowed to take a certain number of players from the North Stars to their new club. In return, the North Stars would be allowed to participate as an equal partner in an expansion draft with the new Bay Area team.
While The Sharks may have taken a couple players from the North Stars they got and expansion team that is in no way affiliated with the North Stars or Dallas Stars.
"Pavel Datsyuk is Magic."
i think it was more than a few players...
I thought the roster was splt 50/50. I’m probably remembering it wrong but what source are you quoting?
NHL.com interview with joey macdonald.
I shit you not, he said “Nick Lindstrom.”
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 14, 2012 12:36 PM CST reply actions
Meh some people pronounce it “Lidstrom” some pronounce it “Lindstrom”. As long as you write it right I have no real problem with it.
"Pavel Datsyuk is Magic."
I've heard that too
On NBCSN Sunday someone pronounced it that way too and I was like WTF? I know they always screw that up, but it was somebody who would have know, don’t remember who off my head.
On Sunday...
I also heard them refer to Wayne Simmonds as Michael and the team from Philly called the Flowers.
I never thought "Lidstrom" would be so difficult after "Yzerman".
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
Steve "Why-serman"
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 14, 2012 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
5-3 Wings, POG Z
Come on RW break that record….
BTW: It looks from poll Z was POG of Flyers game, but not showing as green for me?
by wingsluver4ever on Feb 14, 2012 2:27 PM CST reply actions
PS
Can’t believe Wings pushed to FSD+ tonight!?! You’d think setting home wins record would count for more than…well then b-ball…especially Pistons b-ball.
by wingsluver4ever on Feb 14, 2012 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
I am about to throw JJ under the bus here....
but I don’t think he has updated the POTG in the administration side of things.
JJ if you have entered the potg or are having trouble let me know. Sorry for trying to rat you out.
BOOOO!
(it’s true, I hadn’t loaded POTG from the last game… let me go do that right now *sheepish)
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 14, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions
With great power
Comes great responsibility.
And with great responsibility comes a great desire to make sure people aren’t holding you responsible for shit that isn’t your fault.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 14, 2012 2:46 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
4-1, Mule
He’s been scoring more often lately.. so I expect him to bust out tonite to set the record.
by kylegroombridge on Feb 14, 2012 2:28 PM CST reply actions
If we lose this game, I will hold the crowd responsible
That place better have a playoff feel.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
Even watching it on tv
…that place has felt like a temple.
Like the crowd is conducting a strange and electric incantation.
It’s been chill-inducing, among other things.
I’m sure they’ll bring it tonight, too.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 14, 2012 4:30 PM CST up reply actions
4-2 Val at POTG
"More giveaways than the Salvation Army" - Mickey Redmond
Sorry for the late post
I was at work, but just in case OpenID fails, my prediction was 4-1 Wings, Hank POTG
I like to Dangle Dangle.
by playboyperry509 on Feb 14, 2012 7:02 PM CST reply actions
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