Willy too Wonky, Abdelkader Gets the Nod

In a rush of brilliance, the Detroit Red Wings have opted to bench forward Jason Williams and have called Justin Abdelkader to action in his place. At this time, it is the only confirmed roster change the Wings will make before Game 2 against the Phoenix Coyotes, and I say it's a good one.

I understand Detroit is not a hitting-type of team, I get that. I also understand that a team plays best when they stick to their style of play. But there is a major difference between changing a gameplan and just plain sticking up for yourself. Anyone who has followed me for the last little while, do you remember the game against the Flyers a couple weeks ago? What'd I say? Teams are going to notice that Detroit allows themselves to be bullied and it disrupts our rhythm. You think Phoenix caught on? Well, hopefully with the move to add Abs to the lineup, our gritty #8 will get in the Coyotes' face and help give the Wings the spunk they so noticeably lacked in Game 1.

I also like this change because (surprise!) I can't stand Jason Williams. Now before you go and say I'm just whipping him because I can, let me say that 1.) I like to do it, and 2.) I have numbers to back up my bitching. We're paying Wet Willy a Mil and a half to pad our offense, ya? Well, let's look at his final regular season stats:

J Williams, 44 GP/6G/9A/15PTS, +/-(-7), 3PPG/3PPA/6PPP

Wild Willy translates out to a 0.34 point-per-game player, and many of his games were with a healthy lineup since he was scratched during the worst of the injuries.

Now, let's look at his counterpart who was brought in for the same amount of cash: Todd Bertuzzi.

T Bertuzzi, 82GP/18G/26A/44PTS, +/-(-7), 4PPG/7PPA/11PPP

Yes, I know Bert played more games, but his average still comes out to 0.53 points-per-game. While Willy Wonka is spending 2/3 of his time sitting in his stick blade, Bertuzzi is cashing at least a point every other game.

In summary, you can look at this two ways, either Jason Williams is overpaid for what he is [actually] capable of, or we could have spent that one-and-a-half million getting someone else who could produce as many points and be a role player in this lineup, so we wouldn't NEED to go to guys like Abdelkader to provide a spark.

I'm curious to see how Abs introduces himself in the Playoffs to Mr. Doan, personally. Hope you enjoy it as much as I will.

The Case for Challenges and Further Video Review

Yeah, I bet a lot of you saw this coming, too. That's right, I slept on it, and I'm still mad as hell about what happened last night. Don't get me wrong, I feel the Coyotes earned their victory last night. I'm not taking that away from them, but there is one thing that irks me above all from yesterday's game: the missed high-sticking call on Nick Lidstrom.

Now, from what I'm reading in the press today, it turns out it wasn't so much a missed call as it was a blown call. Lidstrom was interviewed after the game and it appears as though the referees saw the play, but blamed teammate Val Filppula for Nick's torn lip. Even Lidstrom wasn't about to hold his chagrin at this ridiculous mishandling of the situation: "They said it was Fil's stick. Fil wasn't even close. He (the referee) would have been better off telling me he missed it."

Because of his gaff, the Wings were denied what would have been a 1:20 long 5 on 3, which could have resulted in a tying goal. I know Detroit's PP units were crap last night, but I have a feeling they would have cashed in with Phoenix two men down. This all leads me to my point: Why in the hell is video review not used in cases like this? It's not like they didn't have time, Lids had to get his face stitched back together anyway. If there's a stoppage in play for any reason, does it not make sense that if either team feels there's a discrepancy during or just previous to that stoppage, the tapes can be checked?? What, should Nick have said to the refs, "Yeah, Fiddler hit me in the chops with his stick AND I THINK IT HAS AN ILLEGAL CURVE, BTW." Yeah, sounds stupid doesn't it? But the officials would have had to check the stick.

Could we not implement a system that is more accurate, something akin to the NFL? Those officials take their job seriously, because they're allowed to review plays and make decisions based on what the video shows them. Would it be so bad to allow each hockey club a single challenge privilege each game? Challenge something either called or not called, have it looked at, if it needs called it's called and if not, assess the challenging team a Delay of Game penalty. At least then if the referees blow a call or completely miss something, the coach has one chance to go, "UH-UH, look at that shit again!" and keep his team from getting the shaft like the Wings did last night.

Again, all props to Phoenix for playing hard and getting the goals they did, but we were owed a 5 on 3 and were cheated. Any fan of any team who had this happen to their guy would say the same thing. That call basically cost Detroit Game 1. Yes I know, there were other factors to get them in the hole they were in, but those are things they didn't do. This is something they didn't get and should have that could have turned the tide and it makes me sick to think we're seeing this after the first damn game of the first damn round.

And people wonder why we're so protective of our Wings...

Blown Calls, Botched Powerplays give Phoenix Game 1 Win

Wow, it's funny how just knowing Gary Bettman is in attendance can make a tough game even tougher. From about the time I saw that rat-faced punk in the stands, Detroit's grasp on Game 1 of their series VS the Phoenix Coyotes had all but slipped away. What was looking like a smooth ride for the Red Wings after the first period turned into an eventual derailing as the Coyotes simply kept working while Detroit basically did not, and Phoenix overturned the scoreboard to come out on top 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in Round 1.

I have a couple of reservations about this game. Since I didn't do a pre-game on this game specifically, let's take this as the three keys as to why Detroit let this one get away:

1.) Missed Opportunities - Ohhhhhhh-ho-ho, I'm gonna be pissed about this one until game 2, and things had better shape up at that point. Now granted, Lidstrom's goal was a seeing-eye shot, something he excels in, but our first goal was a gift, wrapped in pretty paper with a bow on top. The Wings had almost doubled the Coyotes in shots after two periods of play and yet we saw the score tied at 2-2. This is not playoff caliber performance, this is not putting in the work to finish a play. Countless one-and done's, shoot, save, backcheck. Lather, rinse, repeat. I did not see a Detroit team willing to get dirty tonight, and if some players need to sit, then so be it. Bring in May, bring in Abs, I don't care who it is, but they better be ready to hit hard and go to the damn net.

2.) Special Teams Meltdown - I can't even get mad about this anymore. I've yelled about this for weeks. Obviously no one who has access to Babcock's ear is hearing me, because nothing's changed. Hell, I'd go so far as to say it's gotten worse, WAY worse! 1 for 6 on the man-up, and you give up ALL THREE GOALS to Phoenix on the powerplay!? The only penalty we technically killed was one that was cut short by a call to Phoenix part way through our PK. I'm not saying by any means, nor have I ever, that the Wings need to score a PP goal every time an opponent takes a penalty. But seriously...1 for 6? And you let Phoenix go 3 for 3 on the first 3 powerplays they get? Uh-uh. Not if you want to advance you don't.

3.) Atrocious Officiating - Say what you want, but I'm bringing out the tinfoil. The fact that video replay is only used for some things and not others is ridiculous. Nick Lidstrom takes stitches from a high-stick, which SHOULD have given us another 4 minutes of PP time (still on the fence if it would've been a good thing, considering...), and the refs don't call it because they MISSED it!? Couldja maybe check the tapes real quick while the docs are sewing Lids's lip back together? Go ahead, you've got a few minutes. This is why Detroit needs to work hard(er) every single game, nay, every single shift: they are not going to get extra help from the referees. It's bad enough that the calls they were given were blown, but then to miss the critical one at a crucial juncture of the game? Well gee, guys, you saw the six other infractions, what happened to your eyes on that one??

This is not what I wanted to see out of Game 1, but it gives the Red Wings something to remember: play lazy and you're going to get stranded in the desert.

Here's to a better Game 2, Wingnuts!! Let's Go Red Wings!!!

Special: Late Night Playoff Game Mini Survival Kit

I thought that with this game going so late and with everyone OBVIOUSLY staying up however long it lasts, I would let you all in on my patented Late Game survival kit. Most of these things any Wingnut will already have. If you don't it's no big deal, Christmas isn't THAT far away, right...?

Okay, so let's get to it, we're burning day, er...ceiling...light:

1.) Coffee Mugs - An absolute must. Any lover of playoff hockey has to learn to tolerate coffee at some point. A word of advice: lighter roast = more caffeine. alternatively if it's more your thing (as it is mine), you can substitute coffee with whatever cocktail of alcohol you prefer, as it helps ensure you'll keep yourself up with all the screaming and shouting you're going to do at the TV/laptop screen.

2) Coasters - Any amounts of drinkage is gonna require some seriously stylish spill-protection. Some fancy coasters like the ones you see pictured are perfect for the job. Not only are they sturdy and sexy but also provide great coverage for your drink-setting surface, so when you're flailing at the bullshit penalty or stomping your feet in celebration of a Red Wings goal, you know you're covered.

3.) Miniature Stanley Cup (Complete with Wings logo) - It is always important to remember what you're playing for, and what better to do that than your own little Stanley? Sporting an owner's tag, I mean...your team of choice, on the front, it's the best way to keep your eyes on the prize and not drooping toward dreamland.

I'll be up till the end of the game to do a post-game report, but till then Wingnuts, enjoy the game!!