Is it time to take the Red Wings serious?

[VegasVic]

5dimes isn’t. Current future number is climbing to 33/1. I bought some at 28/1 almost 2 months ago and then some more when the price went to 30/1 on 10/17. All they’ve done since 10/23 is go 13-5-5. So why would the price go up when they have recorded points in 18 of their last 23 games? Datsyuk has been back for 12 games. After his first couple of games the Wings have now put up points in 12 straight games. They are loaded with offensive threats, have a strong goaltender, and depth in their defensive pairings.

There is plenty of value with this team and I’m tempted to take more at 33/1.

Tonight they play their 3rd in 4 but are 4-0 in their last 4 in that role. They face a team that has been out shot by 39 in their last 4 games. These games were against Toronto, Florida, Philly, and Carolina. I don’t see this game being a flat spot for Detroit after beating Montreal last night. They actually have 5 very winnable games coming up and could find themselves first in the Atlantic by Christmas.

I’m taking them -104 and the yes on OT.

 

[Bushay]

Wings getting steamed right now after reading this.

 

[Bushay]

I think they will be ok tonight. Of course they are in the 3 in 4 position and coming off a tough game with the 1st place Canadians. But like you say Vic they are 3-0 in this spot already and the teams they played the night before were Calgary, L.A. and the Bruins previously. Not exactly powerpuffs. THey now face the Devils minus their best player [Henrique] and possible Zajac. Jersey plays a slower tempo game but I think DEtroit fares better against this type of game as opposed to a quicker Montreal type style. But they can play both. The wheels are going to fall off one day soon here for Detroit and their current form, but hard to go against them right now without any major injuries and their depth is prolly what has helped most in these 3/4 spots. Wings ARE missing Miller, arguably their best PK specialist, but without Henrique, I dont see Jerseys PP at peek form right now. Detroits PK has to be the weak link in the team till MIller gets back or someone else fills his role admirably. This is a tight knit bunch with 1st place in their sites with the Habs spiralling downward right now. If this was Nov. 11th this line would have been NJ -125-30

 

[Feddz]

It's way past time. Wings have been one of the best teams in the league since the first couple of weeks of the season.

 

[Bushay]

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2h

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Rich Chere @Ledger_NJDevils
No Henrique, Zajac or Farnham for the morning skate. Ruutu an extra.

George Malik retweeted
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2h

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Rich Chere @Ledger_NJDevils
Devils' morning lines: Cammalleri--Josefson-Stempniak; Tlusty-Blandisi-Palmieri; Elias-Kalinin-Kennedy; O'Neill-Gionta-Tootoo.

 

[Bushay]

It's way past time. Wings have been one of the best teams in the league since the first couple of weeks of the season.

Maybe since Datsyuk got a game or 2 under his belt.

 

[Feddz]

And 33-1 for the Cup and 15-1 for the East are both ludicrous odds. Esp the East. I mean, shit, the Bruins are also 15-1 and the SENATORS are 14-1. Sens won't even make the playoffs.

 

[Feddz]

Maybe since Datsyuk got a game or 2 under his belt.

They've certainly turned it up another notch since then, but they were playing well before then - just weren't seeing the results. They took a handful of games to get used to Blashill, but have been great for a while IMO

 

[Bushay]

And 33-1 for the Cup and 15-1 for the East are both ludicrous odds. Esp the East. I mean, shit, the Bruins are also 15-1 and the SENATORS are 14-1. Sens won't even make the playoffs.

Everyone will have a difficult time with the Caps in the East. THey have to be the heavy fav. This team is deep with talent. Anytime you can simply choose not to resign Green and get stronger on the back end you know this team is stacked. I dont see very many weaknesses.

 

[Bushay]

They've certainly turned it up another notch since then, but they were playing well before then - just weren't seeing the results. They took a handful of games to get used to Blashill, but have been great for a while IMO

I have to tell you.....Their Corsi numbers were almost the worst in the league till Datsyuk returned. As a long time Wing homer I was not feeling very good with the direction till they all seemed to slowly but surely buy into the new coach.

 

[Bushay]

Puck possession and Detroit and winning are like a correlated parlay.




"The Devils were already were a poor faceoff team before Zajac was injured, but have really struggled without him the last three games, going 73-110, (39.9 percent) to fall into 28th in the NHL 47.7 winning percentage for the season. They went 47-83, just 36.2 percent the last two games.Zajac is the only Devil with a winning record on faceoffs (53.9 percent). Jacob Josefson is next best on the team among those who have taken more than 10 draws with a winning percentage of 47.6 percent, but has really struggled the last two games, going 5-22 (18.5 percent) now that he's been playing up in the lineup against tougher centers.
Henrique is only 45.3 percent for the season, but was 8-5 Tuesday night before he was injured. Patrik Elias has played mostly left wing since returning from his right knee injury. Faceoffs have never been his strength, though, and he is just 9-16 (36 percent) in the 25 he has taken since returning.
The Red Wings are only 23rd in the league at 49.0 percent on faceoffs for the season, but it's a definite area in which the Devils must improve.
“I wouldn't say it's a concern more than it is a challenge,” Hynes said. “We lost two guys that have been strong centermen for us this year, so we understand that, but it's not just the centerman that wins draws. We have to do a better job helping them. We have to be a little bit more competitive getting to second pucks first, whether that's our wingers or defensemen helping, and put an emphasis on it. And if we're not going to win a ton of draws, we have to make sure we have a good plan for recovering the puck after it and those are the things we'll talk with the team about and try to put ourselves in a better position going into tomorrow night to start with the puck more than we have the last couple games.”

 

[sherwood]

Great odds on the Wings. I'm really starting to take a liking to DeKeyser too (interested in your take on DeKeyser Bushay). When i notice a guy out there every shifts he plays, it's telling. That Larkin kid is a sick talent that looks like a 10-year vet out there. Deep is an understatement.

That said, I like the Devils tonight.

 

[Bushay]

DeKeyser is Nick Lidstrom without the natural hockey sense that Nick had. Opposite of flashy. Doesnt make stupid decisions. Nobody more than a couple fans will sport his jersey at the Joe...but hes loved by the coaches. He's not mean. But he's long and lanky. He'll never play 1st PP minutes. But he led the team in TOI last night. I'll be honest i've yet to get a good bead on the guy myself. Have all the accolades that go along with a future mainstay, but he never gets his name in the headlines. When I used to go to every game I could give you a better read but I dont. I just watch him on TV like you. Sometimes its hard to see the little things players do from your chair at home.

 

[Bushay]

I ask my buddy George Malik the best Red Wings blogger from Kukla's Korner and this was his assessment of Dekeyser.

"I think that DeKeyser is what happens when a young man with Brad Stuart-type skills (think Stuart in his prime, not the guy who couldn't clear the puck) grows up watching Nicklas Lidstrom very, very closely. He doesn't seem to have Lidstrom's offensive ceiling, but he might be good for 30 points a season as someone who's mostly going to play a gigantic amount of minutes and block all sorts of opportunities with his poke-checking, his skates and stick skills. He doesn't have to be mean to be physical because he's so big and so mobile--he's a better skater than he's given credit for being--and he's going to be a top-pair defenseman from about 26 or 27 until his mid 30's.

 

[Bushay]

THese Devils are pesky without a whole lot of big name talent. Have to give credit to this new young coach.

 

[VegasVic]

You were spot on regarding the face-offs Bushay

 

[VegasVic]

I ask my buddy George Malik the best Red Wings blogger from Kukla's Korner and this was his assessment of Dekeyser.

Name dropper

 

[Bushay]

Sold him a Bushay Box. Were buddies!

 

[Bushay]

Wings could not mount an attack in the OT. Maybe the 3/4 caught up. Could just feel that lead slipping away. Nice call Sherwood.