OT: Playoffs?
It's hard to imagine an off season where Detroit doesn't make the NHL playoffs. But unfortunately that bridge is coming up closer than some fear. Last night the Wings lost their 4th straight game this time against a team where they were 3-0 against all season long. San Jose won in a shoot out which as of late is proving to be Detroit's downfall in winning games. But if you really stop and think about it, it's the lack of scoring and the will to win that has been their lack of performance. I honestly do not understand what the hell is wrong with this team? Holmstrom and Franzen are back in yet that still hasn't really helped us win games. Last night was a crucial two points and might of had us jump to the 8th seed and get in a playoff position. What did that loss do? Drop us to fucking 10th. 10th, the Western Conference. I am sick of these one point games, how hard, honestly, is it to score a fucking goal? Not very hard. If the Sharks can tie it up 25 seconds after we take the lead, why can't we do the same damn thing? What do we have to do? Because my fellow Wings the danger is now more official than it was a week ago. We are now in the red and 10th is unacceptable.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^
Don't talk about playoffs. Playoffs?
February 12th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
I just hope we can win a game.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
The "lost" funnier line in the Mora rant. Kudos sir!
February 12th, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
The Red Wings will miss the playoffs. The level of hunger and discipline has fallen off dramatically since 2008. The 2008 team never had defensive breakdowns like the one that led to San Jose's second goal last night and you never saw Pavel turn the puck over in his own zone like he was daydreaming. The Red Wings are either coming out flat and getting totally outplayed or they are outplaying their opposition and not scoring.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
The Red Wings will make the playoffs and play the sharks in the first round who we will beat in 5 games
February 12th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
I was at the game last night and Datsyuk was the most frustrating player on the ice. His head is floating somewhere else. Turned it over twice in our own zone in the final 10 minutes of the game. It was pathetic. Even Lidstrom seems to be showing his age a little bit more this year, although he made a great play last night to knock the puck away and prevent a breakaway.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
God, I can't remember the last time we made the playoffs.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^
This is our 6th season in a row of playoff-less hockey. Pretty harsh, considering pre-lockout we were a lock for a top 4 or 5 seed. But brighter times are ahead, especially with Phaneuf and by the looks of it maybe even Giguere will be a great help.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
Brian Burke will have the Leafs competing for the Stanely Cup in about 2 or 3 years.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
If he does, he will be a hero around here. Leafs fans are dying for some good hockey, it's gotten the point where people will talk about how hard they play when talking about the game. It's never been this bad in my lifetime.
February 12th, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
OT: Brendan Burke died in a car accident last Friday, per USCHO.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
had a bend but don't break defense. The Red Wings were the wise veterans who had been there before and were able to place the puck where they wanted, as opposed to a young, hungry team that was diving into the corners after the puck. It was this kind of play that bit us in the butt last June, and it's exactly why Detroit is already playing as if they are in rebuilding mode.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
The 2008 team had the best defense in the league, only allowing 2.18 goals/game. That was the difference in the 2009 team, who dropped to 20th, allowing 2.93 goals/game. They are 10th this year so far, with 2.58 goals/game, but they are only 23rd in scoring, 2.52 goals/game.
I can't remember a time when the Wings were outscored on the season. And Holmstrom is hurt again, btw, Franzen might take his place on the Swedish Olympic team
February 12th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
The Wings are playing great D and have solid goaltending. I don't have the exact up to the minute numbers, but this team is allowing less goals than last year. The scoring is a huge problem, but there is still hope. Franzen is just 2 games back and already has a goal and an assist. Homer is playing on the 4th line with a bruised knee. Datsyuk and Zetterberg have really come on as of late which bodes well for the rest of the season as long as they avoid injury and fatigue in Vancouver.
Not to be discounted is the fact that the Wings just played 16 of 21 on the road. I also think the Olympics have been a bit of a distraction.
The main reason I'm not writing them off though is the schedule. The Wings are 3 points behind the Predators for 7th in the conference, two points behind Calgary, and tied with Dallas. The Red Wings' March and April schedule includes three against Nashville and two against Calgary. Win those games and they're in. I'm not giving up on them yet.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
This is a different team with The Mule in the lineup. Let's just hope Team Sweden allows him to play, he could use the ice time.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
Nabokov last night was crazy. He made incredible saves left and right but te two goals Howard gave up were pretty soft off mental breakdowns by the defense
February 12th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
Nabakov made one or two great saves, but as usual, the Red Wings made it easy for him a lot of the time. They had too many low shots. They almost never got any rebounds and when they did, they shot it wide. Nabakov rarely, if ever, had trouble seeing any of the shots and he hardly made any saves moving side to side. You can have all the posession time in the world but if you can't finish plays, it's worthless. And unlike past years, the Red Wings aren't dominating most games, so they can't get by losing one like this.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:30 AM ^
Do the wings just need a goalie? Would that solve a lot of their problems?
February 12th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
Jimmy Howard consistently bails out certain guys for their turnovers in their own zone.
February 12th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^
I'm hoping the Olympics help the leaders of this team begin to play with some pride and determination. It might be just what the team needs to be motivated for the stretch run.
February 12th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
Why can't the Wings score like San Jose?
Heatley - Thorton - Marleau
The Wings don't have a line that can even come close to this. In the end, the Wings may have a little more depth, but they don't have the star power like San Jose. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, yada yada...they're both having some of their worst seasons in recent memory, regardless of the injuries.
My guess is that Holland is just biding his time till the end of the season when a ton of cap money comes off the books and he can make a serious run at a few solid free agents.