Wings Down, But Not Out

Our beloved Red Wings find themselves in a similar position as they did last year; down 0-2 to the Sharks heading back home in round two, needing a win in the worst way. Last year, San Jose beat Detroit in five games, with all four losses coming by just one goal. San Jose won the first two games by, you guessed it, one goal.

Last year, Detroit lost the first game in Detroit by a goal, pretty much sealing their fate. This year, Detroit needs to find away to get this series back to San Jose tied 2-2. The question is, can they do it?

Yes.

There is one key difference to this year's team and last year's team: Jimmy Howard. Last year, Howard was weak in the playoffs and weak against San Jose. This year, he's the only thing the Wings can hang their hat on. If there's one thing I'm never worried about coming around, it's our goal scoring. The home crowd will help, and we're shaking off the rust.

Franzen and Zetterberg needs to get going. Without these two producing at the level they're capable of, we stand no chance. Zetterberg had the only goal in game two, and will only get better with more playing time. As for Franzen, Babcock needs to consider letting him sit out a game. The ankle injury is affecting his play dramatically and is clearly still not 100%. Maybe it will never be, but he may need to sit out a game. But the games are far too important at this time to willingly take out such an important piece to our offense. This is why I don't want Babcock's job.

Game Three is the most important game of the Wings' season so far, and they need to come out of it with a win. We haven't seen much in the first two games to give us hope, and if the hockey gods were in our favor we could easily be at 1-1 or even 2-0. But them's the breaks.

The Detroit Red Wings will come out hungry and rejuvenated by the home crowd, however, the Sharks will be able to match their intensity. I'm taking Detroit in a tight one, 3-2.

LET'S GO RED WINGS