Rd. 1 Playoff Series Thread: #4 Predators vs. #5 Red Wings

[cprice12]

Now I'm hearing reports that Zetterberg's helmet was cracked and he spent some time in "the quiet room" after the game for concussion like symptoms. I'm not sure how much of that is Babcock & the Wings trying to get Weber suspended...but it's the playoffs, you can't believe anything people say.

Ever since Bowman had the Blues locker room painted right before a playoff game, filling it with paint fumes, I don't trust 'em.

[gaijin]

Looks like the reason Zetterberg wasn't hurt is because he was already up against the glass when Weber deliberately slammed his head into it. If Zetterberg had been a little further away, Weber would have been able to build up more momentum before impact with the glass. As it is, and because Zetterberg was looking down already (making the point of contact the top of his head rather than face or forehead), all that Weber managed to accomplish was to push Zetterberg's helmet onto his head really hard.

Not that this excuses Weber's behavior, this is simply why Zetterberg wasn't hurt on the play. We've discussed this kind of thing to death already- the act that Weber committed, he committed whether or not Zetterberg is hurt as a result. I hate the Wings as much as anyone, but I'd rather see them get beat cleanly, because otherwise their fans' whining actually has some merit.

[cprice12]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Red Wings insisted they wanted the chance to open the postseason on the road. The Nashville Predators have given them a rude reminder of how tough life away from Detroit can be.
Gabriel Bourque scored two goals in his postseason debut, and Nashville held onto home-ice advantage by beating Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Wednesday night to open their Western Conference playoff series.
''We know the next game's going to be a lot harder than this one,'' Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. ''We're OK with that.''
Game 2 is Friday night in Nashville.
Paul Gaustad scored his first postseason goal, and Pekka Rinne made 35 saves. The Predators started at home after edging Detroit for the No. 4 seed, and they started their third postseason series against their Central Division rival with their first win in the opening game.
''It was amazing,'' Rinne said about the atmosphere.'' ''It's unbelievable. These guys, they always have that extra gear, and for sure we try to take advantage of it.''
Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom scored power-play goals for Detroit.
The Red Wings lost center Darren Helm in the first period, and coach Mike Babcock said Helm was having surgery for a cut on his right forearm. Babcock said he had no word on the severity of the injury except it was bad enough the center was taken immediately to a hospital.
Nashville gave Detroit 44 seconds of a 5-on-3 when Ryan Suter was called for slashing at with 3:52 to go. The Predators killed off the 5-on-3, but Holmstrom scored with 2:07 left to give Detroit a chance.
After Holmstrom's goal, Nashville took its timeout while Babcock pulled Jimmy Howard for the extra attacker. With 22.9 seconds left, Martin Erat went to the box for holding, but the Predators sealed up the victory.
''Anytime you lose Game 1, especially when you're the road team, I think it's a great opportunity to win a game for sure,'' Babcock said. ''Now we just have to get refocused and we've got to win a game in here.''
The action didn't end with the final horn and could result in league punishment. Nashville captain Shea Weber pounded Zetterberg's head into the glass, and Weber said Zetterberg hit him first from behind. Weber said the series is a battle with both teams wanting to win and not back down.
Trotz backed up his captain and noted Detroit right wing Todd Bertuzzi had a ''big-time haymaker'' on Gaustad after that.
''I just think Zetterberg was getting tired at the end,'' Trotz said. ''He knew Webs was there and the game was over.''
Babcock said he hadn't seen the replay and was far away on the bench.
Detroit came in with all the tradition thanks to 11 Stanley Cups against a Nashville franchise that has been using the Red Wings as its measuring stick since hitting the ice in 1998-99. Detroit also is the team Nashville has played the most in the postseason with nine of the first 12 games decided by two goals or fewer and the Red Wings taking first-round series in 2004 and 2008.
The Red Wings spent the past few days talking about how they enjoyed the chance to start on the road for a change, even though they went 17-21-3 away from home this season.
They came into a sold-out Bridgestone Arena with much less of the Detroit red the Red Wings usually see in Nashville. The Red Wings held the NHL's best power play in the regular season scoreless on six chances, which included 1:14 of a 5-on-3 in the first.
''That's why they call it a series,'' Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart said. ''There's more than one game, and we have the opportunity to make up for it.''
It was tied at 1 with Detroit firing away at Rinne, trying to take the lead when Matt Halischuk shot at the net just after crossing the blue line. Bourque tipped it into the far corner of the net for a 2-1 lead at 12:29 of the second for a shot Howard had no chance at stopping.
Bourque scored what wound up as the winner at 11:35 with a wrister from the slot off an assist from Nick Spaling and Patric Hornqvist.
The Predators played without one of their biggest trade acquisitions. Defenseman Hal Gill was scratched because of a lower-body injury.
But Gaustad scored at 6:59 for a 1-0 lead. Nashville sent Buffalo its first-round pick in June for Gaustad, and he responded by scoring his first postseason goal by throwing the puck toward the crease as he skated behind the net, and it banked off Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart's left skate past Howard. It also was Gaustad's first goal with Nashville.
Commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance, and that might be why officials stayed busy calling plenty of penalties with six in the first period alone and 17 overall for a combined 34 minutes.
During Nashville's second power play, Helm dropped a glove on the ice and raced to the locker room.
Nashville outshot Detroit 13-5 in the first. The Red Wings took the first seven shots of the second and took advantage when defenseman Roman Josi was called for cross-checking at 1:10 of the period. Zetterberg scored at 2:29 of the first, beating Rinne with the goalie sprawled out on his back.
Nashville had a power play of its own on a tripping call on Zetterberg but couldn't manage a shot. The Predators didn't take a shot until Shea Weber nearly nine minutes into the period before Bourque's redirect put them ahead to stay.
''Let's be honest,'' Babcock said. ''Their first goal and their second goal were kind of seeing-eye pucks. Those things happen in the playoffs. They won today. We're going to come back next game.''
Notes: Nashville also had a franchise-record 25 sellouts during the regular season. ... Gaustad came in with eight assists in 38 playoff games before scoring his first postseason goal. ... Nashville F Jordin Tootoo, one of three Predators who played in their first playoff against Detroit in 2004, was a healthy scratch. ... Nashville right wing Brandon Yip had an assist on Gaustad's goal. He has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in seven career playoff games. ... Zetterberg's goal was his 50th in the postseason. He led Detroit with six points against Nashville during the regular season.

[DaDitka]

Weber is clearly getting suspended....if you were him, would you prefer to serve it in game two at home, or is it possible for him to appeal and thus perhaps delay it and serve it in game three in Detroit?

I can argue plenty of pros and cons for both sides.

[thedoc]

Last night couldn't have gone better apart from the face smash weber put on. If they can win one at home during his suspension I think they have a great chance at taking the series in 5.

[dmiles2186]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1054969/weber.gif

Here's a gif of the Weber play. He has to be suspended at least one game for that.

Looks like he was slamming his head on the turnbuckle at Wrestlemania.

[sseagle]

Helm is out for the rest of the year with vaginosis. Luckily he should only miss like 4 games

[theohall]

So what was Zetterberg doing by trying to drive Weber head first into the boards? Not injure him?

I say no suspension or they both get a game. But we know Shanahan can't suspend Red Wings who do anything wrong.

[dmiles2186]

I personally think Mike Babcock should be suspended for being a gigantic douche during the in game interview, "The refs are trying to make the Stanley Cup Finals like the rest of us."

Like I said in flashchat, the Red Wings benefit from those type of calls all year going against them. Shut up and play when they finally come back at you. (And yes, I know the whistles were out for both teams last night)

[kodos]

Helm is done for the year.

[PGABluesFan]

Lacerated tendons in his forearm. Yikes. Yeah he's done for the playoffs.

[cardsfan04]

Apparently just a $2500 fine for Weber.

[PGABluesFan]

Yeah it was bad, but was it that much worse than Franzen punching Backes in the face 10 minutes AFTER the game ended, or when Franzen cross checked whoever that was on the Hawks after the game ended?

Wings fans often forget about those occurrences.

[abc789987]

Apparently just a $2500 fine for Weber.

Wow. That's crazy. That's it? I just don't understand this crap anymore...

[bluenote67]

$2,500 is the maximum fine allowed under the current CBA. Can't believe he didn't get at least a game or two.

[cprice12]

Apparently just a $2500 fine for Weber.

Wow. That's crazy. That's it? I just don't understand this crap anymore...

It's playoffs. It's apparently going to require someone be put in the hospital.
He should have gotten a game, but Weber just getting a fine doesn't really surprise me.
Zetterberg was fine right after the play and he's fine today. That weighed heavily on the decision.

[cardsfan04]

I wonder if this will be seen as a free pass to players that they can go pretty far without getting suspended during the playoffs.

[cprice12]

It's odd if you think about it. The refs were calling the game tight...lots of penalties...they were sending a message that if you commit a penalty, it's going to get called.

Then, on a blatant attempt to injur after the game is over, the league dishes out a paltry $2500 fine...?

Ok.

[Kreegz2]

If this was the old days before they enforced the instigator, they wouldn't even need to suspend Weber because he would be injured from the 4+ guys immediately mauling his face after he pulled that disgusting bullshit.

Or better yet, Weber may not have even done it at all if he knew it was a good possibility that his face would be caved in by the other team in retribution.

Just another argument for letting the players police themselves and not some suits who can analyse every little incident after the fact.

[DaDitka]

I just figured that since it was against a wing he would miss time.....oh, well.....glad to see it.