Despite describing his club’s effort in a Game 5 loss as “poor,” Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock won’t be making any lineup changes for tonight’s Game 6 against the Blackhawks.
“You mean put different people in?’' Babcock said, when asked if there would be any changes. “No chance.’'
The question was likely posed in response to Detroit’s line-shuffling throughout the opening round against Anaheim, as Jordin Tootoo, Mikael Samuelsson, Brian Lashoff and Todd Bertuzzi were all in and out of the lineup. Heck, Carlo Colaiacovo didn’t make his postseason debut until Game 6.
This round, the roster has been much more consistent.
Bertuzzi was replaced by Drew Miller after a Game 1 loss, and that’s pretty much been it for changes.
The likes of Colaiacovo, Miller, Patrick Eaves and Cory Emmerton have all solidified their spots in the lineup, and that won’t change as the Wings look to eliminate Chicago at Joe Louis tonight.
That said, some did figure Babcock would tinker with his lineup after reviewing the tape of Saturday’s 4-1 loss.
“I watched it here this morning and on the plane, we weren’t very good,’' Babcock told MLive.com. “They were much more competitive than us, much quicker than us, way more desperate.
“We were poor.’'