GDT: Game 19: Red Wings vs isle 7:00 pm et 11/21/24

[izlez]

I’m loving Edvinsson though. And you can tell he hasn’t even fully figured out that huge ass body of his. He should be a beast by 23/24.

I've got some bad news for you...

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

I've got some bad news for you...

Pretty sure he meant by the time he's 23/24, which is in 26/27

 

[Nut Upstrom]

Also enjoyed seeing that tenacity element on the first line from Motte. Better fit than Tarasenko IMO, but we just needed to change that whole thing up in general with Cat there (he's been great this year). If Motte was like a Chris Kreider bulldog type, our #1LW position would be locked down. Definitely need a top 6 complementary physical specimen on that line to take that off Larkin and Raymond. Motte will not be the answer as the seasons ages when we face bigger and better teams

Absolutely love how Kasper is fitting in defensively AND offensively on the 2nd line. Between Cat and Kane was a thing of beauty tonight and it looked like we had a legit top two lines generating chances finally

Compher on the 3rd line where he should be. Berggren is proving me wrong game after game and he's getting looks on any line he's been jerked around to

Please for the love of God can we see this Rasmussen show up every game?

Mo and Ed is such a breath of fresh air on the top pair. Happy for Mo to finally have a competent player next to him, one that may even surpass him down the line

Despite not tying up Holmstrom on the goal, AlJo needs to be in the lineup consistently. He has shown more good than bad this year and jerking him in and out of he pressbox is not good for his development. I'm continuing to prefer him in the lineup full-time with either one of Petry/Gustafson/Holl sitting

Motte is just keeping that spot warm for MBN.

I think long-term that's MBN.

I was too late, but concur in spades.

 

[Nut Upstrom]

Now... can we run that lineup back but swap Burgers and Tank? Or Motte... whatevs. Get Burgers on the other side of Ray.

Reward a player who deserves it over a veteran who isn't contributing much of anything? That's cute.

 

[19 for president]

Motte on the 1st line allowed Ray to not have to play the board role. Ray can play the boards but if we want him scoring goals he needs to be above the goal line to use his shot.

Kasper looked great, and you can tell those points/ goals will come. If we weren't such a hot mess at center I actually think he'd be the perfect compliment to Larkin and Ray, but I am content for him top get top 6 minutes.

DBC and Berg both get points for their hustle, board play, and back checking. Neither guy will likely ever be a world beater in those areas (minus maybe hustle) but you have to appreciate their compete level this year.

Kane makes me mad if he isn't scoring. He is at his best when he simplifies his game a bit and gets the puck on net. There were a lot of examples last night where he could have shot the puck but instead tried to make a really hard pass or dipsy doodle and not get it on net. Hopefully if he sticks with Kasper he'll see that he is in position to get those rebounds and start getting pucks on net.

If nothing else, last night showed that if we play with pace and push the forecheck we are a much better team. Our best defense is keeping the puck out of our zone entirely because we have 1 pair that can defend. Unless we are up by 4 goals with less than 5 minutes left we should never be turtling.

Also while I don't expect the line to score a ton Ras-Copp-Fish brings out the best in Ras's game. He plays meaner and with way more energy. They aren't going to get a ton of goals but they do wear teams out on the forecheck and are good enough defensively to play against other teams scoring lines.

 

[dalem177]

I liked the part where Benny just casually one-handed that guy to the ice.

 

[opivy]

Motte on the 1st line allowed Ray to not have to play the board role. Ray can play the boards but if we want him scoring goals he needs to be above the goal line to use his shot.

Kasper looked great, and you can tell those points/ goals will come. If we weren't such a hot mess at center I actually think he'd be the perfect compliment to Larkin and Ray, but I am content for him top get top 6 minutes.

DBC and Berg both get points for their hustle, board play, and back checking. Neither guy will likely ever be a world beater in those areas (minus maybe hustle) but you have to appreciate their compete level this year.

Kane makes me mad if he isn't scoring. He is at his best when he simplifies his game a bit and gets the puck on net. There were a lot of examples last night where he could have shot the puck but instead tried to make a really hard pass or dipsy doodle and not get it on net. Hopefully if he sticks with Kasper he'll see that he is in position to get those rebounds and start getting pucks on net.

If nothing else, last night showed that if we play with pace and push the forecheck we are a much better team. Our best defense is keeping the puck out of our zone entirely because we have 1 pair that can defend. Unless we are up by 4 goals with less than 5 minutes left we should never be turtling.

Also while I don't expect the line to score a ton Ras-Copp-Fish brings out the best in Ras's game. He plays meaner and with way more energy. They aren't going to get a ton of goals but they do wear teams out on the forecheck and are good enough defensively to play against other teams scoring lines.

I love that you're talking to the system instead of just NHL stats as to why one winger is better than another on a line, I think it's often overlooked - even joked about at the expense of a master pianist.

The way we're pushing the cycle and playing in so close to the net you have to have some physicality - but there has to be the dog to just grind on the boards. I am seeing it be Larkin a lot on his line, Kasper was doing it a ton last night as well - the difference is Larkin seems to be able to get around the net more cleanly and Kasper gets caught and has to cycle back more quickly. Larkin gets more options as he comes around. This hurts Kane I think - not being able to be a part of that - but on the Powerplay he made some passes that in real time I thought "That was stupid" and when they showed the replay he somehow saw a sliver of light and got it through - sometimes I am in awe of that vision.

We played most of the night above the puck and we didn't let them dump effectively so we had easier retrieves/transitions, high tempo and great pressure - against the Isles that works well - they don't have the weapons to break it.

Few notes though - Gustaffson and Petry made a BUNCH of hand grenade moments - chopping the puck up to no-one or just flat out missing a stick handle or a loose puck pickup where that 1 second of open ice is gone and then they have to make a less optimal play. It really stood out to me that we would have these awesome smooth transitions and then suddenly we're playing hot potato for a shift. This is where Ras bailed us out - he kept getting the puck on the half boards and used his body to create a moment and get the puck out - if we didn't have that body then the Isles get sustained pressure. This to me is our achilles heel still - efficient recovery and escape to break up pressure.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I think long-term that's MBN.

Definitely, I just meant in the short term to help us with the playoff push this year and maybe next

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Nice win it seems. But let's the team actually go on a bit of a run and that it wasn't another false dawn.

 

[lilidk]

Cat is so underrated in here .

 

[minimal]

The third period Islanders were playing like the Wings during some of their wins earlier in the season. Happy to see a win, but we'll see if this is a sign of anything moving forward. Seeing Kaspar play well in the 2C spot could be a huge turning point in this season and the rebuild.

God bless Larkin, he drags this team kicking and screaming.

 

[raymond23]

Cat is so underrated in here .

He’s been so good this year, positive plays all over the ice