Wings Show Coyotes Playoff Hockey with 7-4 Beating

Detroit came into Game 2 knowing that it was a must-win, not for the sake of the series, but for themselves to shake off the bad mojo of Game 1. The Red Wings responded in as big a way a team can by proving their dominance through 60 minutes of tough, slam-it-down hockey. The Wings endured the hits, the punishment, and the opposition goals and came out on the right side of a 7-4 pounding to tie their series with the Phoenix Coyotes at 1 game apiece.

This was a game in which we saw a lot of the same things from the Coyotes: the idea of playing Detroit hard, hitting often and trying to throw off the Red Wings' rhythm. What wasn't the same tonight was Detroit's response: pushback that was sorely lacking in the previous match, as well as something I would liken to fearlessness (though I wouldn't say we're there just yet) and the swagger to keep pressing and keep battling. As always, for all the highlights there were some lowlights. Detroit's passing is still prone to going blind and getting sloppy which turned into some of Phoenix's goals, but Detroit proved tonight that they are good enough to overcome that.

So with that, let's recap The Geek's Winning Formula!!

1.) More Energy - More? There was so much energy coming from the Wings tonight it feels like the boys were zombies on the ice in Game 1!! What a difference, and speaking of differences: Justin Abdelkader? Nothing short of amazing, this kid is going to earn himself a permanent spot on the regular roster without question if he keeps this up. It again makes me wonder why we spent the 1.5 million on Jason Williams when Abs is what we needed to begin with. Hitting, good pressure on guys, and a touch of scoring. Brilliant. With guys like this waiting to become staple players on the Red Wings, I'm not as concerned as many people are about Detroit's future.

2.) Powerplay - Thank you whoever finally passed my sermons on to Babs about the stink Detroit's PP units were making. By the way, what was the biggest change in regards to this...? You're right! Jason Williams wasn't out there!! Go figure!! Our Powerplay guys were stellar tonight, I even felt good about the penalty Phoenix managed to kill because of all the quality chances the Red Wings were getting. 2 for 3, folks. That's they way a PP corps is supposed to run.

3.) Play Your Game - The Wings were just physical enough with Phoenix tonight to keep them cautious, and it allowed Detroit to fully open up their style of play. When Detroit can get into a full puck-possession mode, they are deadly, and they proved it tonight. They also proved that focusing on physical play is not their forte when Brian Rafalski tried to Kronwall someone and ended up giving Phoenix their 4th goal. As long as Detroit sees that thin line of how much attention they can pay to being physical and hitting back, they're fine. Hell, they looked more than fine to me tonight, that's for sure.

Well, I'ma wrap this up for now, everyone. It's late and I've used up all my survival gear (see my late game guide if you missed it!), so I'm going to bed with a smile on my face. Catch you again for Game 3, Wingnuts!!

Let's Go Red Wings!!!

Round 1 Game 2 Preview: Wings @ Coyotes

"They gave us some great opportunities, and we have to take advantage of it." - Goaltender Jimmy Howard.

After a disappointing first game, the Red Wings look to re-assert their dominance and tie the series with a win in Game 2 in Jobbing.com Arena. It is in Detroit's best interest to split the first two games in Glendale and avoid going down 0-2 to start the series. We'll take a look at The Geek's Winning Formula in a moment, but I want to stress that one loss does not a series make. I'm not adding this to the Formula because Game 1 was an anomaly: Detroit is better than that. Giving up 3 PP goals is nothing to do with what Phoenix did, it was all to do with our boys having a very off night. It will be rectified.

Now, for the Geek's Winning Formula:

1.) More Energy - I was listening to Sean Baligian last night and he made a good point: if the Wings want to go far, they absolutely need their depth players to amp up their game. We need those 3rd and 4th lines to really start grinding, getting under Phoenix's skin and getting dirty around the net looking for those garbage goals. Detroit's energy fell to the wayside after the 1st period and it was obvious. Like I said previously, Detroit doesn't need to turn into a hitting team and get in a checking match, that's not their style, but the energy lines need to stand up for this team.

2.) Powerplay - That's all I really need to say. You know my stance on this if you've followed me for any reasonable length of time. For any newcomers: I'm angry with Detroit's PP units. I have been for the last month and a half. Game 1, going 1 for 6? I'm sorry, that game was gift wrapped and we blew it big time. Never mind the meltdown on the PK, there's no reason why we shouldn't have scored at least 3 PPG in that game. The saving grace, I think, is that Williams has been pulled from this game, which means that someone else will have to fill in his spot on the 2nd PP line (thank the Lord...). I'm interested to see the results of this shift and hope it produces tonight.

3.) Play Your Game - Detroit had a stellar 1st period in Game 1, they stuck to their style and had Phoenix chasing them all around the rink. It's a shame we couldn't take more advantage of the situation, because Phoenix eventually just ramped up the hitting and took us off our focus. Let the energy and checking lines deal with the hitting and get the goal scorers scoring goals. If everyone plays their role, Detroit will come out of Arizona with a split series. Doan and his ilk will get theirs, especially with the addition of Abdelkader, who will actually stand up for himself and his teammates, unlike Jason Williams.

I'll be around for the game tonight, so you'll see me on Twitter as it happens. Till then, Wingnuts!! Let's Go Red Wings!!!

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...