I let out a pretty girlish scream after the goal... Don't live in the market, so I haven't been able to catch many games, but holy cow, it looks like they are putting something together finally
Yeah, I've really liked how we've looked today. I feel like the Penguin's have had a few good shots, but we've really dominated this game. If Andre-Fleury wasn't playing so well we'd have be winnign by a couple goals more.
The effort especially in OT and even after they tied it up with a minute left has been unbelievably fantastic... Probably helps getting a couple vets back at full strength.
Just came here to post this same thread.
HELL YES!!! LGRW
Side note - the saves in the OT have been incredible on both ends.
Soooo cloose Tatar
Holy hell. What a save by Andre-Fleury on Alfie.
Well that was just lucky as hell.
C'mon Tatar...
Damn. Huge save by Fleury. Pens win off of some amazing goaltending by Andre-Fleury. Doesn't matter that much though, we're in the playoffs!
by Andre-Fleury does not belong in the same sentence at all... he did stand on his head last night though... i haven't been a fan of Andre-Fleury since huge f'ing screw up in the world juniors... the Canadian hockey fans out there will know what i referring to...
The fact that teams get a point for a shootout win is still just infuriating to me. But I'll take the point and the playoff appearance.
Really?? Isn't it a lot stranger that a team gets a point for an OT loss? The team that wins should get 2 points. I've never known anyone to complain about that.
I don't think it's strange at all that points are split after a tie in regulation. That makes complete sense to me. And I agree that a team that wins in OT should get two points. But shootouts are a terrible way to determine another point. I'd rather they tie and each get one point then get rewarded for scoring more in a shootout than the other team.
It is simply incredible that they pulled this off. Organizational belief and experience winning is huge!
Best franchise in the modern hockey era.
April 10th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
I want Pittsburgh. Boston is solid all the way through their lineup, plays incredibly physical hockey, and has the (probable) Vezina winner in net. Pittsburgh has some really talented forwards, and can kill you if you let them play up a man. They do however have a goaltender who has been shaky in the playoffs previously, and a 3rd and 4th line that will struggle to matchup with the Wings bottom 6. Also, its not a sure thing that Malkin is ready for the start of the playoffs.
The good news is that we are 3-1 against the Bruins this year. Still, they are a physical force in the playoffs. I'd much rather play the Penguins.
Also, that slots us into the Metro division bracket for the next round. I'd rather play the Rangers or Flyers than Habs or Lightning.
especially given the parade of injuries this team has faced. Over half my life the Red Wings have been in the playoffs.
MAF hasn't posted a SV% above .900 since 2008. Until he proves himself again in the playoffs it's the matchup you want.
Babcock = coach of the year. Yes that is the homer in me but wow.
April 10th, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^
Possibly Babcock's best season ever. The organization is amazing, with the young kids having grown up in GR and now getting a playoff push under their belt, ready for next season and beyond. Happy to see the franchise should be grooming toward another excellent club as they build to the opening of the new arena, probably in 2016. So long JLA. Great history there, but it's a shit hole.
I wish, but it's going to (puke) Roy this year
Absolutely fantastic accomplishment considering all the team had to overcome. The retooling they've done on the fly has been nothing short of impressive. It was just last year that the Wings were the "cagy, experienced" team that was on the decline with one fast guy, Helm. Now they're a ton of fun to watch with skill and speed all over the ice and are set up for another long run of consistent teams. Can't wait for the playoffs!
The Wings streak is old enough to go out and get plastered and celebrate its existence and not even be the youngest thing in the bar. That's amazing.
Having been born in 1990, I can confirm this.
Seriously, that series put a knife through my heart. I grew up watching the 80's version of the Wings pre-Yzerman. Those were tough years. To watch us incrementally improve through the late-80's and early-90's was heartwarming, until we built ourselves into an elite team and lost in the 1st round to some expansion team named the Sharks. But I digress. Congrats to Mike Babcock's crew for grinding out a very tough year, growing up with a lot of youngsters, and playing great hockey when it counts the most.
Nothing beats the Edmoton series. That was a heartbreaker and Stevie's last year. I cried watching his retirement presser.
Ah Edmonton. Terrible.
This was certainly a really good year for a Wings fan to be acquainted with hockeysfuture.com. How about Nyquist leading the team in goals and one shy in points? I mean, yes, Datsyuk and Zetterberg were hurt for huge portions of the year....but then, Nyquist missed almost as many games too. Guys like Nyquist, Jurco, Tatar....gonna be a great core for this team going forward, and drafted when the Wings were picking in the bottom of the barrel, too.
Love how everyone was questioning Holland. The man is simply the best and the Wings are the model NHL franchise.
I am generally a supporter of Holland but remember he was the guy the signed Bert, Sammy, Cleary and Tootoo rather than bring some of the kids up. The Cleary signing was defensible but not the Sammy signing. I thought the Weiss signing was okay at the time but that's been a disaster. Knowing how the young players have performed, you have to question whether the above signings were really the moves of a great GM. Again, I think Holland has generally done a very, very good job but the last few years have been very mediocre.
His last few offseasons have, indeed, been head scratchers. Lots of really bad moves in there that didn't help the team.
But in a salary cap era it all comes down to talent evaluation and development. Thank God the wonderful system that gave us Datsyuk and Zetterberg is at work once again.
How lucky are we to have this franchise to root for?
had just retired the last time the Wings failed to reach the playoffs.
April 10th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
Wings fans can have the streak - I will take the win (and the division title too). I would welcome a first round series with Detroit. Being a Pittsburgh guy - would make for some nice trash talking on here.
No offense but if you are a Pens fan, I think you should be wanting the Jackets as the #7 seed. Pens got the win last night but Detroit mostly controlled that game.
April 10th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
six weeks ago I was not very confident in making the playoffs. We have been playing hot and I hope it continues in the playoffs. Zetterberg should be back if we can make it a long first series. Can't wait for some playoff hockey
April 10th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^
I've never been more excited to see a pending charge on the credit card.
LGRW and should be a lot of fun seeing what happens against Boston and Pittsburgh.