Hockeytown

PLAY-OFF PREVIEW: DETROIT RED WINGS det:
The Wings are set to win another Stanley Cup this year. They are this year's President's Trophy winners for best record in the league (the last time the Wings won it was in 2001-02, the last year they won the Cup) and are looking to improve there great record this year, with a great run in the play-offs. The Western Conference has some new faces to add to the play-off tree this year, besides the perenial Western Contenders, such as Dallas, Colorado, and Detroit. It's very possible for the Wings to be matched up against either Edmonton, St.Louis, or Nashville. The Wings are finishing strong though, with two late season wins over rival Colorado Avalanche, who have slipped in the later part of the season. The Wings are a wounded bunch, but they are deep, and can play through anything it seems, with as many as ten regualr players for them out earlier this season. However, they still found-and still find-ways to win, with young prospects and older veterans getting another chance. Several players from the Red Wings' minor league franchise, the Grand Rapids Gryffons, have made big contributions to the team when they were callled up. So heading into the play-offs slightly battered and bruised, the Wings are looking good. Also, several key players are returning now from injuries, like big d-man Derian Hatcher, who will definately add some grit to the Detroit blue-line, and forward Robert Lang, who could be a big contributor for the Wings in the post-season.

WEAKNESSES:
The only weaknesses I see in Detroit's post season stab at the Cup, is their helath and goaltnding. I mentioned earlier how badly these guys have been beaten up in the season. However, if they continue to loose players to injuries, then they will need some of their younger guys from Grand Rapids to pick it up to the next level, and fill in. Plus, they would have help from the veterans on the team. About the goaltending, however, there has been a huge roller coaster ride for every netminder in Motown. With over $16 million wrapped up in netminders, Detroit coach Dave Lewis was left in a bit of a predicament. Early in the season, it was unclear who would be the starter heading into the postseason: Dominik Hasek, or Curtis Joseph. Hasek was the expected starter, but soon fell to a groin injury, and it looked like Cujo was gonna get another shot at starter. But he too fell to an ankle injury, leaving back up golaie Manny Legace to take the job, someone no one expected would have it, and no one expected Marc Lamothe to land the back up job either, for that matter. I reckon, however, that if Cujo heals up in time for the play-offs, he will be the one playing behind Manny Legace. Legace has little play-off expierience, and is a bit of a question mark, but only a small question mark. He seems to be finnishing the season strong, and could very well carry the Wings to their fourth Stanley Cup Championship in about seven years.

PROJECTED FIRST ROUND:
We don't know who they are going to play yet (I'll come back and give you a prdeiction about who I think will win the series between Detroit and whoever their first round opponent is), but it looks like it could be Nashville, Edmonton, or St.Louis. Frankly, I think the Wings can handle any of those teams, but they will have to be carefull not to get frost-bit they way they did against the Ducks last year. Nashville has played the Wings tough this year, beating them in several of their meetings this season. However, if they Wings keep their heads on strait, they can take anyone of those teams, no problem. Plus, don't forget about their President's Trophy win, giving them home ice through out the entire play-offs, where they have had a 30-6-4-0 (when I typed this) record. It will be very hard for any of those teams to beat Detroit in Hockeytown.

P.S.
If anyone else has posted something like this or very similair to mine, I appoligize for typing this. But when I made this, I could not find anything like it.

Chet

well i dunno if this is fate or not but tonites game could mean that the wings will have a strong playoff run. last 3 times the Wings won the Cup, they lost the last game of the regular season 4-1. tonights game agansit the columbus, blue jackets:4 wings: 1

Hockeytown

All right, it appears that it is now set, and the Detroit Red Wings will be playing the Nashville Predators in the first round of this year's playoffs. The Preds reach the post season for the first time this year (remember last year, when they promised the fans they would make the playoffs, or rfund them the rise in that year's ticket prices? too bad they didn't do that this year, eh? :lol: ) and they may be a bit inexpierienced with a pretty young squad. But this team has played the Wings tough this year, tying the season series with them, 3-3. However, the Red Wings are just a better team, and I believe they will beat the Preds in the first round. I predict the series will look like this:

det: Detroit Red Wings-4
nas: Nashville Predators-1

Also, that is a very interesting bit of info there, Chet, nice of you to bring that up. It seems us Wings fans are looking for any and every sign of another Cup, following a season of high expectations. Let's hope that "loosing last game of the season 4-1" thing holds true. k:

Hockeytown

All right, the matchups are all set (and they have been for a couple of days now, I just haven't gotten around to this yet), and I have written a preview for each Western Conference team. If you want to read it, you can go to the link and below, and if you don't, I can understand : . Just kidding wtih ya there, but if ya get some extra time, and you haven't read it yet, feel free to check it out. Thanks!

http://www.hockeyforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=5801