OT: Wings-Hawks game today
I saw the Wings lost 4-1 to the Hawks today, but I didn't get to see the game, living in columbus. Who watched it and who was at fault for the debacle today? Was it Howard, the defense, or the entire team? I can tell you it's getting old watching kopecy score two goals per game against the Wings.
The impressive thing is that by the stat sheet, the only guy who showed up was the guy who isn't going to be with the team for much longer. (Don't really see any way the wings have room for emmerton next year.)
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
Filppula out today because of the flu, that's what brought Emmerton up. He scored on a fluke shot that the goalie tried to deflect to the corner, ended up deflecting into the net. The power play goals were scored very quickly into the power plays. Plain and simple, the team played like a team that's missing half of its main starters. The lines were constantly juggled, there were defensive breakdowns, and it was tough to establish anything in their end.
As far as the penalties went, there was some shady reffing (comboed with a Michigan-style quick whistle that negated a Wings goal), but nothing so outrageous that I'd expect Babcock to get a fine over.
Of course, some good old-fashioned bad luck haunted us too. Chicago's third goal was scored seconds after Hudler hit the post on a breakaway.
I wholly expect this team to limp into the All-Star break, then come out angry and rejuvenated with Datsyuk and Cleary back.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
I read on one of the wings blogs somewhere that Rafalski and Kronwall were awful today. Imo, Rafalski has a history of questionable defensive play. Sometimes he makes a good defensive play, but I have seen him in the past where his defensive presence has been pretty suspect. The defense, at least from the defensemen, should not have been that greatly impacted by the current injuries.
If you mean defensive breakdowns from the forwards, missing cleary and datsyuk is definitely a blow.
And as far as the injuries and missing players, skill level drop, yes, but the effort of the entire team has been nonexistent recently. It will be nice to see what the team looks like when some players start coming back in a couple weeks.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
... The wings are injured and the hawks are hot as hell.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
Same problem they have been having for awhile. Too many turnovers in their own end. Howard was fine, no real chance on 3 of the 4 goals. Filpulla sat out with an injury so we were pretty much playing with half the GR Griffins.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
I would say the biggest problem was the defense. Too many breakdowns, turnovers, and Chicago was in the offensive zone more than the WIngs were. They leave Howard out to dry way too much. Actually Emmerton's goal was a fluke. It was a routine shot that Crawford deflected the puck in with his stick. The all star break couldn't get here soon enough. The return of Datsyuk and Cleary will definitely help.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
Hudler hit the crossbar when we were down 2-1, and then the Blackhawks scored within seconds, to make it 3-1 instead of 2-2. Big swing right there. The Wings are just decimated right now though and need this All Star Break.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
Wings are hurting and the Hawks hadn't played in 6 days.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
the no-goal call on what was a save that the refs whistled dead immediately.
That shizzle pisses me off to no end. I keep seeing teams whack on Howard for 10 seconds before a whistle, then see a one second delay before the whistle when it's going the other way. This has happened numerous times this season. I think Howard is too young to get any benefits of the doubt by the refs.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
i wouldnt blame howard at all. we are really banged up and at times it looked like we were even struggling to get out of our zone with all these young guys out there
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:21 PM ^
One of the turning points of the game was an apparent goal by the Wings, (trickled through Crawford's pads and he never had posession) but the officials blew an early whistle. That would have made it 2-2. We looked lackluster the remainder of the game, I thought.
It's probably just me, but it seems like the Wings are often the victims of these early whistle no-goals reminiscent of that horrible UM-Miami game last year.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:22 PM ^
is that the team just looked disorganized with so many regulars out. That's understandable. That and that there were breakaways and turnovers which left Howard hung out to dry. Not ideal, but again, understandable.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
we let too many good chances get away. too many missed nets, and bad turnovers.
but its tough when you have an entire line of minor leaguers. we need to get healthy again.
also fuck the islanders.
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^
.....the Red Wings are an infirmed team right now. Give them some time to heal. When you've got Grand Rapids on speed dial, it's been a rough stretch.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
to play well with that many regulars out of the lineup. To be honest I don't think the Wings have done that bad recently, considering all the injuries. They have played right around .500 with a couple big wins in that stretch,which included a shootout win over a red hot Vancouver team. Their record could have been alot worse in this stretch, given how decimated they are.
They will be fine, when they start getting some guys back. They still are in 2nd place in the West, and within striking distance of Vancouver for 1st. Hardly anything to get too upset over. When healthy I still think this is the best team in the West, if not the league.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
I feel the wings will make a deep run in the playoffs this season. They have so much depth and would love to see another Wings Pens stanley cup finals. GO WINGS!!!