NHL - Sports Rumors

Mon May 12, 2008 7:36 am EDT

Red Wings: No frills, no fisticuffs, no losses

By Joe Zedalis

Chris Osgood

Getty Images

They've had their toughness challenged again, this time by a bunch of trash-talking Texans who wear black hats back home on the ranch and by a Canadian coach wearing a pink suit. So, in that sense, you could say the Detroit Red Wings are taking on all comers at this point. But, with apologies to Don Cherry and, yes, this city's nostalgic, old-time hockey roots, too, the Red Wings' response is the same as it ever was. Or at least since they started winning Stanley Cups again in this city. I's a simple shrug of the shoulders.

"Right now, you play hard and you play smart when the game is on," said Wings goalie Chris Osgood, whose team owns a 2-0 series lead as the best-of-seven Western Conference finals shift to Dallas for tonight's Game 3. "And when the whistle blows, you take it and you go to the bench and switch lines and get ready for the next shift. That's our approach."

That's a no-frills, no-fisticuffs approach that not everyone in hockey fully appreciates, apparently. Said Cherry: "(Coach Mike) Babcock's got 'em programmed," he said. "They will not retaliate, no matter what you do to them."

Source: Detroit NewsNew Window

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17 Comments

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  1. blonde stranger
    1. Posted by blonde stranger Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    This is still HOCKEY, not tiddleywinks. Sometimes fighting is NEEDED. And when your goal tender or any other player gets a " BC twohander", that's when McCarty NEEDS to step up and take care of business. If the NHL doesn't take care of the problems then the players should. Playoffs or not, You HAVE to send a message.
  2. slackinthedayaway
    2. Posted by slackinthedayaway Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    Go wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. peli69
    3. Posted by peli69 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    McCarty NEEDS to drop them with Ribiero, if that girl from Dallas has the stones. If NOT then he should be a marked man the rest of the series. Take his number and make him pay !!! Apparentlly the NHL is NOT watching so take some liberties.
  4. Robert O
    4. Posted by Robert O Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    Hockey players have good memorys. If no one takes care of Ribeiro now, someone will next season. After all, it took a year for McCarty to dish out justice to Claude Lemueix. Could this be the start of a new intense rivalry for the Wings?
  5. RVB
    5. Posted by RVB Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Robert I would love to see a rivalry between Detroit and Dallas. Hockey players do have good memories, but there is a time and a place.
    Peli69: If Mac drops em with Ribeiro then we are most likely going to see a really rough game ahead. He is one of there star players and yes something needs to be done, but first and foremost you need to win the game. If we are up by a few goals then do whatever you want. The Wings possess enough experience to know that the only objective here is to come home with the Stanley Cup. It will be taken care of though, dont you worry whether its tonight or next year Ribeiro will be dealt with in good ole Detroit fashion.
  6. drdalecharrette
    6. Posted by drdalecharrette Mon May 12, 2008 8:31 am EDT

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    Yes it will be done and that is exactly why Mac in on the team, in addition to other reasons, at the end of the game he was pretty fired up and screaming from the bench on one video I saw. I am sure he has an x on his back the rest of the series. In the end it is the Wings 4-0.
  7. Gary
    7. Posted by Gary Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

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    I hate t throw this in but I am sick and tired of Don Cherry relating us as rednecks. Yes we love tough hockey and this is one of the first teams I have seen combine both and there speed is awesome. The bottom line that why we can't go, and he knows it, Mr. Illitch your team only costs so much and you double and triple you ticket prices and hence most average detroiters can't afford to go to the game, that is why you have empty seats, face the reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Writers need to quit being a wiping boy to the owner.....
  8. boreese77
    8. Posted by boreese77 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    Cherry chose his words poorly. By redneck he meant "blue collar." Anyone who listened to the intent of what was said knew what he meant. I love the Wings and their style, but an enforcer who can play hockey would be a nice addition.
  9. Nick J
    9. Posted by Nick J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Its fun to see a good fight, but even without any fighting the Wings are the most exciting team in the league to watch. Remember what the playoffs looked like when there was so much holding, hooking, and neutral zone trapping? Who wants to watch a team that wins like that? Regardless of how the Wings finish this year, they've been very entertaining all year, and I'm glad the league has finally changed the playoff rules so that a fast-paced skilled team can actually win the cup, and not just the regular season.
  10. beer_man_beer_here
    10. Posted by beer_man_beer_here Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    You guys analyze way to much. Wings are just going to go out and play their game. Mac will talk S.H.I.T to Ribeiro and try and get him off his game but nobody knows until tonight.
    Wings in 5.
  11. Johnnyb
    11. Posted by Johnnyb Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    I'm sure everyone saw Turco's shots on the back of helmets and the trip to Val in front of the net, Ozzie's chin shot was called for and well deserved. I cant wait to see how this plays out tonight! Go Wings! SWEEP
  12. Hugh
    12. Posted by Hugh Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    Hmmmmm. McCarty, Drake and Downey. That could make things fun to watch!!
  13. Dewman
    13. Posted by Dewman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    The playoffs are no time for retaliation.
  14. lyle s
    14. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    there wont be any retaliation...to much at stake...wings in 4
  15. drdalecharrette
    15. Posted by drdalecharrette Mon May 12, 2008 1:00 pm EDT

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    Put downey in the line up tonight with mac and drake and knowell, and have some on-ice justice. and then it is over and we get back to Hockey and another 4-0 sweep by the soft(yeah right) Red Wings.
  16. lyle s
    16. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    ..if babcock wants to keep his team on track..he'd make sure theres no retaliation...osgood is fine, no harm and the wings have a 2-0 advantage...i think babcock would be a fool to let something happen over that, its the stars that are losing their cool...the wings need to keep it that way. good luck all!!!!
  17. Donald E
    17. Posted by Donald E Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Downey rather than Mac,when Mac danced in the last series he wasn't very impressive,the days of Probert an Mac striking fear in the opponents are long gone

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