Early news on Sunday's Game Five... Justin Abdelkader will replace Tomas Kopecky in the Detroit lineup.
Kopecky is out after taking a hard punch in his fight with Anaheim's Francois Beauchemin in Game Four.
The News has Mike Babcock's reasoning for going with Abdelkader over Ville Leino or Aaron Downey. All three forwards were called up after the Grand Rapids Griffins were eliminated from the playoffs, along with defenseman Jakub Kindl and goalie Jimmy Howard.
"Because he'll run over people," Babcock said of Abdelkader. "We expect him to play hard like (Darren) Helm. He's on the forecheck and he's a physical guy. He scored 23 goals for them (Grand Rapids) this season and was one of their best players in the playoffs."
Brian Rafalski and Kris Draper are doubtful for the game. No word from the Ducks on the status of James Wisniewski.
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It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. I am trying to see if I can still get tickets to game six since I just got back into town
Wisniewski is reportedly a 50-50 chance for today's game.
I've got this gut feeling that whoever wins this game is going to win the series, maybe not in the sixth game, but if not then, in game seven.
It really is days like these I hate my dorm--we don't get Versus at all...and the TVs that have 'em aren't working properly...
It really is days like these I hate my dorm--we don't get Versus at all...and the TVs that have 'em aren't working properly...
It's on FSN today :|
WAARGH!!!!! That's just as bad, if not worse...we don't get FSN Detroit in Arizona, much less a hockey team anymore...
You rock.
I'll catch what I can between packing up and my interview today.
How many times do we have to get them off our damned goalie?
First power play Let's make it count!
Side note: Check out Homer the human missile, I counted three hits last shift
Good pressure there...
Power play looked good, just no goal. That would've been nice.
God, that was nearly beautiful. f*cking post.
God, that was nearly beautiful. f*cking post.
The second best goaltender of all time...
Weak call there...
Big kill and a good scoring chance by Malts.
Such a great start, sucks the Wings got no goals.
We'll make up for it in the second.
First period shots, 14-3 Detroit. Wow.
Franzen with a wicked shot with Abs screening. Very nice.
Huds, bitches! This is a close one but if they allow it... Floodgates. Open.
Huds with number 2!!!
Franzen and Hudler!!! Have some of that!
Never a high stick. And it isn't.
Holy f*ck, how did they not score there. What a shift.
God f*cking damnit. Scrambly play. Wings defense standing still. Ugh.
The Ducks should not still be in this game.
That sucks, now the lead is cut in half.
Ozzie comes up f*cking huge. Woah.
Stoned by Osgood!
Wings seemed to get lazy after the second goal. After that great power play shift, actually. Gotta come out strong, or weather the storm to start the period and bounce back strong. I'd prefer the former.
Really, really, really happy to see them get those two goals, especially so quick! 
I think they got a little faster during the second. It sucks that the Ducks scored!
Agreed, gotta come out strong!
My nerves are shot in general and I'm still suffering from sleep deprivation from the two late games this week, I feel like this game is gonna kill me.
Gah! Hossa stopped on the break.
Getzlaf wasn't out there, interesting.
Huge kill there and a good chance at the other end.
Power play looked good but needed a goal there.
I do not feel at rest right now. (understatement)
I can't wait for this to be over.
I TAKE THAT BACK! Hahaha. I <3 Helm <3
Helm! What now, bitches?!
YEEEEAAAHHHHH!!!! HEEEEEEELLLLLLLMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome.
I can go to school happy tomorrow!
Zata with the ENG! f*ck yeah!
Zetterberg: the Enpty net specialist.
And this thing's official.
The Ducks try to thug it up, of course, but this sh*t is over. Whew.
And there likely goes the series. At least mah boys beat the Sharks...
And there likely goes the series. At least mah boys beat the Sharks...
I'd hardly say the series is over but we do thank you for eliminating San Jose.
Carlyle say's Cleary had both feet in the crease on the Helm goal i didn't get to watch is there any truth to this?
At least one foot. And what does it matter? You're allowed to be in the crease, the crease rule is gone.
And over at A2Y I called it that they'd bitch about that goal.
yeah i figured as much when i heard him crying hope he has his big box of kleenex tuesday might as well make a big show out of it for the final post game press conference of the year it wouldn't surprise me if he compared our guy's to the Hanson bros. since we are so horribly dirty and get babied by the league HAHAHAHA!!!At least one foot. And what does it matter? You're allowed to be in the crease, the crease rule is gone.
And over at A2Y I called it that they'd bitch about that goal.
I was there! Helm so deserved that goal...he worked for it every shift. And Hudler's goal was masterful! How hard is it to hit a puck out of the air like that? Osgood was amazing--Anaheim didn't get many shots, but many of the shots they did get were excellent chances to score.
I hope they put this one away on Tuesday.
I tell ya.. I'm a believer in Franzen.. The guy is a machine!
I tell ya.. I'm a believer in Franzen.. The guy is a machine!
Mitch Albom's column in today's Free Press is devoted to that thinking also.
lets finish it game 6
you never know what can happen in a game 7
i love you niedermayer but its time for stanley cup number 2 buddy
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Justin Abdelkader
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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