Wings 2, Blues 1
Some thoughts after what seemed to be the 17th game between the Wings and Blues this season: 1) Right now, yes, you expect Franzen to score a goal in every game. He is using his size and strength to perfection. He's taken his Holmstrom imitation to a level maybe even higher than Holmstrom. If there was an award for Most Improved Player in the league, Franzen could be on the odds-on favorite. 2) Who would you want in net for Game 1 of the playoffs? Osgood or Hasek? If the Wings do have to turn to Osgood at any point, Babcock doesn't seem concerned about that prospect at all. 3) Back to Holmstrom. The Wings should know more today regarding his abdomial injury. As well as Franzen is playing, trust me, the Wings would love Holmstrom back, too. You can never have enough forces around the net like those two. 4) Paul Kariya should have stayed in Nashville. He just doesn't look right as part of the St. Louis Blues. 5) This was the Blues' first home back after a 9-game road trip. Really now, how could the organization schedule the arena in such a way to force the Blues on the road this time of year for 9 games? Ridiculous. 6) Anxious to see Darren McCarty play? It wouldn't be surprising to see him in there Friday. The crowd reaction will likely be, shall we say, explosive.
