Wings 4, Panthers 2
BtJ reader Dave (aka Hoser) attended last night’s pre-season game against the Panthers at the Joe. Since I was unable to watch, Dave will be filling the rest of you in on the game. Here’s what he wrote…
I have to say, it was the most boring Wings game I’ve ever been to (YES, I know it’s preseason, and like UM against Vandy/CMU, they could be holding the play book very close to their vests, but…). Somewhere in the middle of the 3rd, I turned to my cousin Chuck and said, “You know how it used to be so fun to watch the Wings, cause we played different than everybody else? “Even when we weren’t scoring, the display of puckhandling/passing was intensely entertaining. . . . . “We look just like everybody else now. “This sucks.” This is horrible, boring hockey. And that business of “making us tougher to play against”? Well that must mean spotting the opposition a couple quickies and letting them take liberties with pretty much everybody all night. Lots of slashing, cross checking (back and face), running the goalie, etc - and nobody took enough offense to draw any blood. Dump & chase, dump and get chased, dump and ring it so far around the boards it comes out the other side on the tape of Ollie Jokkinen for a breakaway at the other end. A flurry of people smashing headlong into Panthers - and accomplishing nothing of note. Frankly, it was a disturbing game dispite the fact they finally got their collective feces together and won.
I must say, there were some bright spots, they were: Franzen, Liv, Kolanos & Quincey - in no particular order. Franzen looks improved over last year, and ready to be a solid 3rd liner. Kolanos looks big, works hard and is “hard to play against”, seemed to have a nose for the puck and being in the right place at the rigt time. Though he didn’t get one in the net, he had a couple of golden opportunities - but he had trouble controlling his stick with all the crashing and banging going on in the crease. He played in front of the net, played physical along the boards, roared in and took a crushing blow from Ruslan Salei on the sideboards to get the puck in deep, had a couple of very nice hold ins at the blue on the PP after St. Nick dropped the puck - - it’s only one game, but he looked good. Quincey has some size, played positionally very smart, beautifully defended a Jokkinen breakaway - and overall looked like he belonged more so than say, Lilja, though he was not an imposing physical force.
The Dominator did pre-game stretches, played the first two periods, stretched some more mid game - and we heard no tell-tale sounds of tearing tissue paper - though I think the whole Joe held its collective breath everytime he stretched… when, in the course of human history, has any significant group of people ever been so deeply concerned about one mans’ man muscle??? When? Liv played the 3rd, and looked very solid. he got lots of PK action as the refs worked to even up the Panther’s parade to the box from the 2nd. He looks a little like he’s fighting the puck off as opposed to letting the game come to him, but he had some spectacular saves.
I have no idea who Kolanos is, or Quincey. Curious as to who they are and their chances of making the team.
Derereaux played last night, and frankly looked like all the other young guys we didn’t already know. I like the guy as person, but I hope that he doesn’t make the team. He clearly doesn’t have much/any upside. I’d rather see if Kopecky can develop or have Bootland back for what he brings.
Speaking of Kopecky, where was Kopecky? The one guy I wanted see…
Filppula played, accomplished nothing.
No Hudler either.
Z-berg had the night off.
Overall, the most disappointing Wings game I’ve ever been to. I yearn for the hayday of Wings/Avs NHL dominance. The most entertaining hockey I’ve seen since Gretzky’s Oilers dominated the NHL. I don’t think we’ll see the likes of any of those 3 any time soon. Thanks a lot Little Gary…
Here’s a recap of the game via the Associated Press. Anyone else missing IwoCPO at A2Y and his game recaps?
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One Response to “Wings 4, Panthers 2”
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September 26th, 2006 at 8:30 am
heck yeah I’m missing him. I’ve been checking his sight and reading his spam in the comments like 10 times throughout the day.
Love your sight by the way.
you should check out mine and brennans…gloveside.net
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