News: Dave Lewis named Curtis Joseph as starter in game 5


Good. He's cost the Wings a lot this year, and I don't really look at this as a true goalie change. This is a player coming back from an injury. Plain and simple. Manny Legace has been the back up all year, but because of injuries, he was thrust into the starting role. Now that Cujo is back from his ankle injury, he goes back in. Yes, he could have come back sooner, but Lewis wanted to stick with the hot hand, and now the hot hand isn't so hot anymore. So in comes Cujo.


This will do two things for the Wings. One, I think the Wings get better in net. This is the obvious reason for the move. Cujo brings much more experience than Legace has. He also has motivation. He wants the Cup. He also has to avenge last year's playoffs. And he (I think) wants to prove the Wings organization that they were wrong about him when they chose Hasek over him. The second advantage is a mental thing. The Wings are playing behind a different goalie, and mentally it changes how they play.


Do I think the series being tied is Manny's fault? Absolutely not. He has done nothing to lose a game. But change is what this team needs, and this is one of the moves that I think Lewis has been waiting to make.


Now, what do the Wings need to do to win this next one? Crash the net. Shoot with guys in front of the net, and make Vokoun make some tough saves. He'll give up juicy rebounds. He's confident now, but his confidence will rattle easily. Then, skate through their players. If they want to clog up the neutral zone and skate across the middle, the Wings need to make it a little more unpleasant for them to do so. Hit 'em. Hard and often. Knock them down. Make them think twice about skating through the middle. Lastly, play more responsible on defense. Don't let guys get behind you. If they do, force them outside, and slam them into the boards.


Basically, out muscle, out hustle, and out play Nashville. And don't play thier game. Play the Wings game.


Ok. Enough about the Wings until after the game tomorrow night. Back to fixing the site feed!