GDT #80: 4/4/12 > Blues vs Wings > 6:30 PM > NBCS/Fresh102.5

[dmiles2186]

RED WINGS (47-27-5) at BLUES (48-21-10)

TV: NBCSN (HD), TSN2

Last 10: Detroit 3-5-2; St. Louis 4-3-3

Season Series: Sixth and final meeting between these Central Division rivals. The home team has won all five previous matchups. St. Louis started out winning a pair of games at Scottrade Center, but Detroit took three games at Joe Louis Arena in the span of under a month. The teams haven't met since Jan. 23.

Big Story: If these teams see one another again this season, it won't be until at least the second round of the playoffs. For now, each has its own agenda over the final days leading up to the postseason. The Blues have clinched the Central but are still in the running for the No. 1 seed and Presidents' Trophy, while the Red Wings are in a battle with two other division rivals, the Predators and Blackhawks, for the fourth seed and home-ice advantage in the first round.

Team Scope:

Red Wings: Consecutive losses to Columbus and Nashville threatened Detroit's chances at opening the playoffs at The Joe, but the Red Wings rebounded with a key 2-1 shootout victory Sunday against the Panthers. They spotted the visitors a lead late in the first period and spent until early in the third trying to catch up. After Jiri Hudler's career-high 25th goal of the season drew the Wings even at 5:30 they had the better of play for most of the remainder of the game, but needed tallies by Pavel Datsyuk and Hudler in the penalty-shot tiebreaker to finally shake Florida.

"At this point in the year it's any way you can get them," said goalie Jimmy Howard, who made 27 saves through 65 minutes and two more in the shootout. "I think we needed to play a tight one like this to be able to come out on top. I think it's huge for our confidence. They struck first, but we stuck to it and continued to push and tied it up and found a way to win in the shootout.''

Blues: Having dropped two straight and six of its last nine, St. Louis has three games left with which to build some positive momentum heading into its first playoff series in three years. The Blues clinched the Central on Saturday despite a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets in which Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 of 32 shots. Since a 10-game stretch in which he didn't allow more than two goals in a start, Halak has given up either three or four goals in four of his last five starts. But the problems ran far deeper against Columbus, as coach Ken Hitchcock said the Blues had "some people who didn't show up from a compete standpoint."

"We've talked about it the whole time," forward Alex Steen said in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "If we play the way we should be playing and the way that has made us successful, we'll clinch and we'll get to where we want to be before the playoffs (start) and go in with a good buzz. (Saturday's) performance wasn't very good and we've got a few games left here where we need to pick it up. Our goalies are playing great. The rest of us need to pick it up."

Who's Hot: Hudler has 4 goals and 2 assists in his last five games for the Red Wings. … David Perron has goals in three straight games for the Blues. David Backes has 2 goals and 3 assists in his last four games.

Injury Report: Detroit goalie Joey MacDonald (back spasms) is day-to-day. Forward Darren Helm (knee) could return at some point during the playoffs.

Stat Pack: Hudler's previous best for goals in a season came in 2008-09 when he scored 23 times. He played in the KHL the following season, and when he returned to the Red Wings in 2010-11 scored only 10 goals. … Prior to Saturday's loss, the Blues had been 13-1-1 at home dating back to Jan. 14, outscoring opponents 43-16 over that span.

Puck Drop: Detroit will have to juggle its defense for this game as Kyle Quincey received a one-game suspension Monday for a hit delivered to Florida's Tomas Kopecky in the third period Sunday that resulted in a five-minute elbowing major and game misconduct.

[sseagle]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

[F Keenan]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

More importantly, where did they bump Delilah to?

[ibldbl]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

Cardinals season opener tonight in Miami.

[thedoc]

I almost feel this is a must win and this is why. I think if the Blues can beat these fags in our house it would be a huge momentum builder going into the playoffs. If we lose it's not the end of the world, but it might lead to more of what we have seen for the last month. This could be a huge momentum builder for us and I know Hitch will have them ready to come out firing.

Blues 2

Fags 1

[DaDitka]

Yeah, I'm sick and tired of reading every day how these guys 'know what's wrong' and that they 'know how to fix it'.....if it isn't 'fixed' tonight...there is a very strong chance they will be golfing in early May.

Enough talk, we need results....and I don't mean just Elliot stealing a game. We need to see quality pressure in the offensive end much, much, much better play in our own end. For the love of GOD, can I please see a little more responsibility with the puck coming out of our own end tonight?

It's not a switch they can simply turn on after Saturday, it has to start NOW.

So no...it's not a 'must win', but it is a MUST PLAY WELL.

[gaijin]

This game has more to do with personal feelings of hatred toward the Red Wings rather than any benefit in the standings. Although, when we beat them tonight, they are less likely to get home ice advantage in the 1st Round against Nashville or Chicago.

[ohio BLUES]

With the Rags and Canucks winning last night, both the President's Trophy and first in the West seem highly unlikely now. I'd say that's a good thing. Time to focus on playing good hockey to get ready for the playoffs.

Tonight will be a sweet victory.

Blues 5
Wings 2

Ells' streak continues into the second period and is broken on a controversial goal.

[gaijin]

Ells' streak continues into the second period and is broken on a controversial goal.

After a Red Wing elbows Steen in the head with no call.

[sseagle]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

Cardinals season opener tonight in Miami.

Who gives a shit, who gives a (Frank)?

[STLADOGG]

Ohhh NBCSN...that means we still get to hear Holy Jumping!!
0
10

[ibldbl]

Hate to say it, but I don't feel good about this one

Dead Things - 3
Blues - 1

More lazy, flat play.

[cprice12]

I almost feel this is a must win and this is why. I think if the Blues can beat these fags in their house it would be a huge momentum builder going into the playoffs.

This game is in St. Louis. We've already played three in Detroit.

Detroit is 16-21-3 on the road...plus they aren't playing great hockey right now.
They're 5-8-2 over their last 14 games and have lost 2 of their last 3.
And more hilariously...they are winless in their last 7 road games.

We win this game and we even the season series and hurt their chances of getting home ice in the first round.

However...this game doesn't mean much for us as it is looking like we will finish 2nd in the conference after Anaheim blew the game in Vancouver last night.

It would be nice to stick it to the Wings and turn the tables on them by beating them in a game they really need to win.

[tjk002]

This game has more to do with personal feelings of hatred toward the Red Wings rather than any benefit in the standings. Although, when we beat them tonight, they are less likely to get home ice advantage in the 1st Round against Nashville or Chicago.

Just passed the team on my way into work. Can't believe there were 20 to 30 idiot fans out there clamouring for autographs from the winged p*ssies!

[JPonder94]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

LOVE this. You didn't even know that the Cards opener is tonight. You, my friend, are a die-hard Blueser and I love you for it.

[STLADOGG]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

LOVE this. You didn't even know that the Cards opener is tonight. You, my friend, are a die-hard Blueser and I love you for it.

Yeah same here. No way in hell I'm missing this game or any other Blues game for that matter for baseball...

[glen a richter]

Blues 1
Wangs 5

[sseagle]

What in the holy (Frank) is a fresh 102.5??
Are we being mlbumped for another preseason game?

LOVE this. You didn't even know that the Cards opener is tonight. You, my friend, are a die-hard Blueser and I love you for it.

Hey I have to maintain order in flashchat and root for the expos, when is their first game?

oh and (Frank) Detoilet, can we give them 20fail for the game tonight??

[drwoland]

I'm pretty sure we're going to coast these last 3 games, don't expect much.

Blues 1
Wings 3

[Kreegz2]

We need to win this, Not so much for our position in the standings, but for the sake of preventing Detroit from having Home Ice advantage against Nashville. If Nashville finishes ahead of them, I don't see them being able to beat them in a 7 game series.