Wednesday, May 11, 2011

There are plenty of reasons the Red Wings are winning - these are five of them

The Red Wings have rallied from a three games to none deficit to force a Game 7 Thursday night in San Jose. These five players, in my opinion, have played the most important roles.
1. Jimmy Howard - Nobody is questioning anymore the wisdom of Howard receiving a two-year contract extension worth $2.25 million annually late in the regular season. Do you know where the Red Wings would be without Jimmy Howard right now? Golfing.
2. Niklas Kromwall - Not only is he dishing out tremendous physical punishment at times with crushing checks, but he has been a steady influence getting the puck out of his own end and offensively. The best hockey he has played for the Red Wings, and Kronwall has been a good player for a long time.
3. Henrik Zetterberg - Doing his typical rising-to-the-moment act in the postseason. Fabulous two-way player.
4. Pavel Datysuk - If there is a better forward in the world, I don't know who it is. Playing effectively through injury. His grit and toughness are vastly underrated.
5. Nicklas Lidstrom - Can you imagine the Red Wings' without him? Me, neither.
Honorable mention: Patrick Eaves (Has made a lot of key plays and very good defensively. Tough player) Jonathan Erickson (Has really emerged these last three games, and in every facet).

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7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

All good choices, Book. Those guys have been stalwart.

Abdelkader has to smarten up. The last thing they can afford tomorrow night is to put the Sharks on the power play.

I think the Wings can play them to a standstill even strength, but the Sharks power play is a huge wild card, and the Wings penalty kill is still questionable, although they did fine last night.

And if the Wings get hard on the forecheck like last night, they should be able to draw some penalties as well.

The studs you mentioned have gotten them back into the series. It's all up to the grinders now.

1:09 PM 
Anonymous Jamie Favreau said...

I also love how all of them "BELIEVE" they can win it. There is something contagious about how they are approaching this I think it is different from the way the Blackhawks spoke about the seventh game. They haven't won anything yet but I don't think they are going to San Jose with the thought of coming home that night.

2:34 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mostly agree but you could also make an honorable mention for Cleary for his great game 5 and Filpula for game 6. Wings are getting production out of diff role players every game now.

2:49 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry to ruin the party, but the Wings are toast in game 7.

Great comeback, though.

5:06 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Anonymous,
Red Wings came up short, but they have some very talent and a good blend. I expect them to be top contenders for a Stanley Cup championship next year.
Caputo

10:19 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Jamie Favreau,
They didn't win, but as you know, Red Wings do have a special character about them. They lost, but certainly did so with honor.
Caputo

10:21 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Anonymous,
Red Wings depth is their greatest strength. Maybe next year...
Caputo

10:21 AM 

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