Were live in the Shark Tank Tonight
Tonight the Detroit Red Wings travel way out west to play the Western Conference leading San Jose Sharks in a Pac/Cen matchup. The Wings are looking for a big win after a close yet difficult loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Sunday losing in a shoot out 2-1. Coach Mike Babcock commented on the Wings's weaknesses right now and what needs to be fixed if Detroit is to make the playoffs for the 19th straight season this year.
"When you’re spending time in your zone – your shift is about 40-seconds long – when you spend 30-seconds getting out, you don’t spend much time in the offensive zone wearing on them, and it just gets to be a bad cycle,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. Detroit's know as a puck possession team but so far this season they have not exactly looked like that has been their best strength. Detroit also is frustrated by the loss of leads in game especially up two or more goals. "We haven’t been able to play that defensive style when we’re up by two goals,” captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “We had a couple chances late in the game to tie it up, but we didn’t have any sustained pressure in the second period.” “We just have to keep playing,” he said. “We can’t just play on the lead and kind of sit back, we have to keep playing in their end and go after them.”- Henrik Zetterberg. One thing for sure is that tonight a win for the Wings would jump them to second place in the Central with 64 points unless Nashville can find a way to beat the Coyotes who have been on a hot streak as of late. Game time tonight is 10:30 pm.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
When Detroit gets the Olympic break, and the rest of its injured players return to health, the team will be just fine.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
I really doubt that. They're still going to have quite a few very important players put an additional 10 games on their bodies by the end of the year because of the Olympics. So while it's rest for some players, it's a lot more games played for a lot of others. I said at the beginning of the year that they needed to be solidly in a playoff spot by the Olympic break or they wouldn't make the playoffs. I'm pretty willing to stick with that still. As much as it sucks.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
The team will make the playoffs.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
We'll see, but I doubt it.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
Im not trying to be a dick but you forgot to add OT. I got my thread editted for not adding OT and whoever editted said they would count how many Red Wings fans actually add OT when talking about the red wings
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^
oh, wait ...
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^
It just might not be in the cards for the Red Wings this year. They don't look like they have the desire. It might take a year of missing the playoffs or getting broomed in the first round to wake them up. Oh boy is Ilitch going to be pissed if the Red Wings miss the playoffs. Especially when you consider that they managed to hold 8th place without Ericsson, Kronwall, Williams, Cleary, and Franzen and they are seeing possibly their best regular season goaltending performance as long as any of us have been alive. If someone had told you that the Red Wings would have one of the top five goaltenders in the league before the season started, you would have probably said "just give them the Stanley Cup right now". Instead, the Wings are getting outworked and outplayed on a consistent basis and on the rare night that they don't, Osgood happens to be playing and they still lose.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
for those of us on bb's it takes a long time for pages to load. then to see a rw subject sux.
whoever neged me is a dipshit ,probably someone with stumpy legs
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
I see them making the playoffs. Maybe its just me being too big of a fan or that I want them in the playoff so they can continue their streak of 18 consecutive playoff appearances, but I see them getting everything together and getting hot before the playoffs start.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
This is where I hate NHL players being in the Olympics. Remember four years ago when the Swedes won the gold? The Swedes on the Red Wings didn't even play in the first game back and the Wings got massacred. This year, we will probably see that same effect. Detroit can't afford to lose any points at all this time.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
It's probably bad that I almost don't want our players to do well in the Olympics so they can play less games and rest up.
When it comes down to it though I'll be cheering for Sweden and other Wing-laden Olympic teams though, I like our players.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
Some good quality women come (giggity) out of that country.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
It isn't bad. That's how I feel about it too. Especially Franzen. By March 1st, Franzen will have played more games for the Swedish Olympic team than for the Red Wings. Kind of pisses me off. NHL players in the Olympics is a joke. I used to watch Olympic hockey when it was actually young amateurs instead of pros but I haven't watched a game since 1994. Guys like Lidstrom have spent their entire adult lives living in North America, but Lidstrom is still a "Swede". And now I'm supposed to cheer for Americans like Zach Parise, Patrick Kane and Ryan Miller, who I otherwise have never given a crap about? Hockey isn't part of the US identity, so maybe I just don't get it. I could care less if American-born pros suck at hockey. I just want Michigan and the Red Wings to be good. Fuck everyone else.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^
I know how you feel when it comes to the Olympics. I root for my team and players who play for my team. I'll be cheering for Sweden all the way. Granted Rafalski plays for USA but he's only one Wings player. Detroit IS team Sweden.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
(The apostrophe is your friend.)