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Another broke and in debt Municipality, CA • United States • 45 Years Old • Male
Lidstrom Takes a Punishing Hit..... and no Response
Posted 12:40 PM ET | Comments 14
I've been trying to post this for four days, so I apologize for the rather untimeliness. I still don't know what the problem is/was. I just hope it works this time.
Before you "bomb throwers" get started, I am going to take a neutral stance on this and just want to compare how various teams would have responded. Let's hear how your team would have responded. The Red Wings dominated the Colorado Avalanche last night and won 4 - 0. During a Detroit power play in the first period, Ian Laperriere crushed Nicklas Lidstrom. The hit was just plain solid and rocked Lidstrom to the core - so much that he was "woozy" and tried to hobble back to the bench without success. I felt the hit on my own couch, so I know it hurt. I know Aaron Downey and Laperriere came together for an altercation where a few blows were exchanged later in the first period. It took until the third period when the gloves were finally tossed aside and the proper message was sent. And for some, Downey "answered" the hit on Lidstrom. For others, that was Nicklas "Norris" Lidstrom who was run over and an immediate retaliation was in order. I know if Scott Neidermayer was hit that hard and "rung up" by Ian Laperriere with a clean hit, every Anaheim Ducks player on the ice, including the goaltender, would have been fighting each other to take the first shot at the hitter. I know the Red Wings were on the power play and taking a "bad" penalty would have been bad. I just know the Ducks would have taken the other road and gone for the instant fight rather than wait for a few minutes or a couple of periods to elapse before the restatement was made. What would your team do for the Captain and best player on the team in that instance?
Before you "bomb throwers" get started, I am going to take a neutral stance on this and just want to compare how various teams would have responded. Let's hear how your team would have responded. The Red Wings dominated the Colorado Avalanche last night and won 4 - 0. During a Detroit power play in the first period, Ian Laperriere crushed Nicklas Lidstrom. The hit was just plain solid and rocked Lidstrom to the core - so much that he was "woozy" and tried to hobble back to the bench without success. I felt the hit on my own couch, so I know it hurt. I know Aaron Downey and Laperriere came together for an altercation where a few blows were exchanged later in the first period. It took until the third period when the gloves were finally tossed aside and the proper message was sent. And for some, Downey "answered" the hit on Lidstrom. For others, that was Nicklas "Norris" Lidstrom who was run over and an immediate retaliation was in order. I know if Scott Neidermayer was hit that hard and "rung up" by Ian Laperriere with a clean hit, every Anaheim Ducks player on the ice, including the goaltender, would have been fighting each other to take the first shot at the hitter. I know the Red Wings were on the power play and taking a "bad" penalty would have been bad. I just know the Ducks would have taken the other road and gone for the instant fight rather than wait for a few minutes or a couple of periods to elapse before the restatement was made. What would your team do for the Captain and best player on the team in that instance?
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If you want to know how the Sabres would've responded, just look at last year Sabres v. Ottawa. I don't know about Detriot players, but I know Sabres players care about each other. Drew Stafford fought Chris Neil 3 seconds after it happened, now this is drew stafford who has never dropped the gloves before in his life, and he goes after a heavyhitter like Neil. That's when you know your team cares about its Captain
While I totally agree....I think if an opposing player makes a snide comment about one of the Ducks ushers, there would shortly be a Duck in their face ready to drop the gloves. They just don't take $hit off of anyone, and that's one of the reasons they're so fun to watch!
That's probably because Detroit has no enforcers to stick up for their teammates, especially their captain. However, they should've at least tried to send a message back to them. On the contrary, I'm so proud of Anaheim because they stick up for one another even if it isn't their job to protect their teammates.
Sharks12 - You are correct. Albeit, 2 periods after the hit.
The only thing I've noticed about the Wings this season is that they sometimes seem aloof. Not disinterested, not without fire or desire, just aloof - even at times towards each other. (My comment is from a limited perspective, so take it as such.) I agree that someone, anyone, should have at least attempted an (almost) immediate response, but it apparently was not their choice. Maybe, as you mentioned referring to the Wings not taking a bad penalty, they played it correctly. They did win - a decisive and necessary victory for them. Considering their record so far this season, it's not easy to argue with their methods. The playoffs, however, will pose a totally different scenario.
i completely agree with sjci. im on the opposite side of the coin this time as a sens fan, however, i agree that when a star player like chris drury, nik lidstrom, that players need to step up. Stafford is a prime example. And, any guy can drop his gloves and fight. I mean, it was Ian Laperriere, granted, a tough guy, but not a guy the size of Derek Boogard. i mean, on the ice w/ Lidstrom we're Pavel Datsyuk, Mikeal Samuelson, Henrik Zetterberg and Thomas Holmstrom. ( wierd...4 forwards, but thats what time of ice says according to NHL.com. ) out of those 4...at least holmstrom could have stepped up. hes a big boy. drop the gloves...and at least try to wrestle a bit. I mean, Stafford can do it, Ponikarovski did it for Sundin, its not that tough to drop and wrestle. but again, that is why detroit will not go far in the western finals. too soft. unfortunately. id love to see Detroit win the west, but it will be Anaheim one more time.
sjci - I forgot that was Staff who jumped in. Good example.
thanks, i just think if a team really cares about each other, than they'll fight tooth and nail. Anaheim, Ottawa, and many other teams would step up the moment their star player was targated, or even a 4th liner. When u have a gelled team, if you go after a member, it's almost like you took a shot at a family member. Detriot is a great team, but i really don't think they have any heart. Meaning ultimately they aren't going to go far in the playoffs. Just my 2 cents.
We don't really have an enforcer either, but just look at the last 10 games...almost 30 fights...
I'm a wings for and I agree. The wings needed to send a message right away. That maybe one of the reason the Wings are looking to sign McCarty.
As an example, look at the hit on Selanne in a Ducks / Stars game in '98. I think by the end of the period, there were four Ducks that weren't ejected or in the box.This is one of the reasons I think Detroit should seriously be looking for a heavyweight at the trade deadline. They don't have the weight to be able to stand up to physical play. It's absolutely inexcusable to let someone like Lidstrom get hit like that without IMMEDIATELY sending a message.
The problem is, the Wings have class. It was a clean hit, they were on the powerplay, and Downey knocked him around when the time was right. Seems to me that jealous fans are just nitpicking for flaws in the Wings, since there are very few.
It's not a question of class, it's a question of letting other teams know that they can't take runs like that at your top players without a response. Letting them get away with putting your captain out this late in the season is just letting other teams know that they can take runs at your top players with impunity. When Detroit's going to be facing some teams in the playoffs that play very physically, that's a dangerous message to send.
The way the Wings responded was more hurtful than going out and starting a bench-clearing brawl. Mike Babcock has tight reigns on this team and for good reason. Blanking the Avs for the third consecutive game was more damaging than anything else. Colorado is sitting in 9th place right now and out of the playoffs currently. Had the Wings started a brawl on the ice at that moment, it would have played right into the hands of the Avs. Since the brawls in the 96-97 and 97-98 seasons, Detroit has been in the heads of the Avalanche and will remain their until proven otherwise. The way Detroit responded was fine. They won the game.