4 Nashville Predators vs 5 Detroit Redwings

[L K]

You know, people always talk about how the NHL playoffs are unpredictable but the reason they're unpredictable is because they're played under what are basically different rules than the regular season(and literally different rules, I suppose). If you tried to play a game like the one Nashville just played in January you'd be shorthanded for the entire game.

I don't have stats for this seasons playoffs, but (for the most part) there have been more PP's per game in the postseason than in the regular season since the lockout (or at least equal number).  This year was the lowest number of PP/game in the regular season, so I don't know how that compares to the playoffs this season thus far, but I would assume the trend would be similar.

http://www.nucksmisconduct.com/2012/3/30/2914455/behind-the-numbers-do-refs-put-the-whistle-away-in-the-playoffs

Is the number of PPs a measure of the refs calling interference in the playoffs, or the disasters that they created by letting things get out of hand at times in the Philly-Pens and Sens-Rangers series?

 

[Madferret]

Nashville rolled right thru the Wings that was pretty impressive. I don't know how good a long lay-off is at this point - iirc they didn't lose anybody serious this series?

Has anyone ever noticed what the Preds mascot is called?

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

well the red sweaters have been packed away for the year

:-(

My Game Day Bears are officially going into summer hibernation mode now.

 

[ZBBM]

Who would have thought that the Red Wings would be the first team eliminated from the playoffs?

2-1 Preds to win the series 4-1.

I think what you are seeing is the end of the Wings' being a dominant team.  Once Lidstrom retires it will be the end of an era.

As long as they have Zetterberg & Datsyuk they'll be dangerous but I predict they'll be more analogous to recent Devils teams: good, but no longer great.

 

[Madferret]

Who would have thought that the Red Wings would be the first team eliminated from the playoffs?

2-1 Preds to win the series 4-1.

I think what you are seeing is the end of the Wings' being a dominant team.  Once Lidstrom retires it will be the end of an era.

As long as they have Zetterberg & Datsyuk they'll be dangerous but I predict they'll be more analogous to recent Devils teams: good, but no longer great.

This is the Wings we're taking about! They might be in need of some minor tweaking / tinkering but I don't think they'll get as low as the Devils did a couple of times over the years.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Yeah but if their star players keep declining, it doesn't seem like the younger guys they are bringing along right now are anything other than chip and chase type guys, give or take.  If Zetterberg/Datsyuk aren't as dominant as they were then I don't see how they maintain unless they hit another homerun with a pick.

 

[maplesyrup]

Yeah but if their star players keep declining, it doesn't seem like the younger guys they are bringing along right now are anything other than chip and chase type guys, give or take.  If Zetterberg/Datsyuk aren't as dominant as they were then I don't see how they maintain unless they hit another homerun with a pick.

Unrestricted free agency? There are some pretty big fish coming out next summer and hockeytown strikes me as a preferred destination.

 

[Bates]

Sarge I could be wrong about this but I doubt many sought after free agents will be looking to move their families to Detroit.  There are many better places to play hockey and live.

 

[maplesyrup]

Sarge I could be wrong about this but I doubt many sought after free agents will be looking to move their families to Detroit.  There are many better places to play hockey and live.

I've spent zero time in Detroit but I understand suberbia there is quite lovely.

 

[ulfselrach]

Has anyone ever noticed what the Preds mascot is called?

Wasn't paying attention, but was it Knash?

 

[bustaheims]

Unrestricted free agency? There are some pretty big fish coming out next summer and hockeytown strikes me as a preferred destination.

I don't know. The last big name UFA they landed was Hossa, and that on a one year "I want to win the Cup and leave" type deal.

 

[Deebo]

It's Gnash.

 

[Madferret]

Am I the only juvenile one here?

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Preds were the meaner, leaner team in this series, and by winning this series, they're sending the message to be taken seriously as  playoff performers and Cup contenders.

Not to take anything away from Detroit.  The Red Wings may have outplayed Nashville quite possibly for most of the series (especially at home in Detroit), but, Rinne and co. were determined not to come out on the losing end of it.  They proved their point.

The better team here was not victorious as the Predators, while not always matching the Wings in the pretty skills department, were smart enough to get the job done where it counted the most -- on the scoreboard.  Led by the ever omni-present Shea Weber, David Legwand, and even Alexander Radulov (who took awhile to get going in this series), the Preds put themselves on a pedestal that the Red Wings fell short of matching.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

Sarge I could be wrong about this but I doubt many sought after free agents will be looking to move their families to Detroit.  There are many better places to play hockey and live.

Farmington Hills is quite nice. So's some of Grosse Pointe.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

As a Leaf fan with enormous jealousy of the Wings' outstanding regular season, playoff and drafting success for so many years, it brings me great satisfaction that they were the first team first eliminated this year.

 

[Kin]

Farmington Hills is quite nice. So's some of Grosse Pointe.

Yeah, a friend of mine is an engineer down there and, as he puts it, "Nobody actually lives in Detroit".

 

[ZBBM]

Farmington Hills is quite nice. So's some of Grosse Pointe.

Yeah, a friend of mine is an engineer down there and, as he puts it, "Nobody actually lives in Detroit".

Well, nobody except 750,000 people.  Down about half from the peak in the 1950s.  Detroit has been on the wane for lots longer than most people realize.

 

[bustaheims]

So's some of Grosse Pointe.

The part that doesn't produce contract killers, I assume?

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

So's some of Grosse Pointe.

The part that doesn't produce contract killers, I assume?

just friends of John Cusack's...........