Did Anyone Care?
I'm so glad I didn't waste a Defiance post on that.
Seemed like the team just wanted to coast around and have the puck go in because they're the Red Wings and they should beat the Flames. As you can see, that wasn't the case. Most of the Red Wings did not skate hard. Those that did made terrible decisions with the puck. Kiprusoff was rarely challenged. I keep hearing now that the Red Wings lost 6 straight in 2008 and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The difference is, back then the team was injured badly. Right now, the team just doesn't care and I have no idea why.
I don't know why Columbus can go on a huge losing streak and come out playing with fire and pride, but a team of veterans just skates in circles waiting to celebrate goals by someone else. Are they drowning out Babcock? Could be. One more game like that and a trade will have to be made. These little call ups are not doing it, so some other message will have to be sent. Someone importantish will have to be traded. But only if they don't care again.
It's one thing to lose after playing your hardest, but something else entirely to lose because you didn't try. They cared two nights ago against the Wild, but tonight, they just wanted to go home and chill. So that's what I'm going to do.
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Saturday is another chance. LGRW
Anaheim always seems to be a good cure and they dont trap, so maybe this is a chance to break the slump. However, if playing the trap is this easy to beat us, we have bigger problems.
Our shot totals and differentials are great. But I'd rather take half the shots and have twice the scoring chances than just taking random shots that have no chance of going in.
There was this great shift by Abby-Helm-Hudler where they hemmed them in for like 90 seconds. They got ONE shot. And the kicker? Iginla almost got sprung on a breakway. How is it that after 90 seconds of complete domination, Calgary almost ends up with the best scoring chance?
All Calgary did last night was clog the middle and block shots. Has it become that easy to shut us down?
We need to shoot more from everywhere. Some people may not think shooting more is the answer when we have the highest shots per game average in the league but hear me out. Every time Franzen or Bert get into the zone they high tail it to the half boards and look up the middle. or we dumb into the corner and move the puck back to the point only to blast it into a jungle of legs and it goes nowhere. Other than Helm and Abby's line we were one shot and out on almost every play. Did anyone watch the highlights of the Leafs/ BJ's game the other night. I am talking about when Clarke MacArthur just ran into the zone and blasted a shot by Mason. Although that is not likely to score very often, that is what we need. Good, hard, quality shots and that is what we haven't had. I am not saying just blast away the instance we enter the zone, but Babs needs to say "If you have the shot, TAKE IT!" The Wings are stuck in this one more pass mentality that is killing them offensively.
I love the wings and would hate a trade... but this just isnt working. I dont really care that much about winning, i will always have a deep love and passion for this team, but i do care that they dont care. They need to have the desire and fire that we are all accustomed to.. I miss the wings, when will they be back?
The God Damn Calgary Flames held Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom and Franzen to 4 shots collectively... That's bullshit no matter how you look at it...
Two big stupid things they keep doing, dump and chase, and stupid blasts from the blue line that don't get thru. How about some creative passing like, oh I dunno, the Red Wings!?
Also, Franzen's play is so lazy just now, last night he was a liability. Jimmy let in that atrocious squeaker but was otherwise alright.
Bertuzzi again, lazy play along with half the team I guess. And so many stupid f*ing penalties!
@Reddy They need to be able to play some run and gun hockey. They've had to deal with a lot of trap hockey over this losing streak. They don't do dump and chase all that well except for Helmer and Abby and I think that's why their line has looked the best. They aren't confident, they aren't on the same page, there is no space out there and they are forcing passes that don't work. They aren't scoring so they are hesitant to shoot the puck and that allows teams to block their shots and the opposing goaltender time to get in position. On top of all this, they are taking a lot of penalties. Some deserved but a good portion of bad calls. They are not getting a lot of power plays in return. It can't last - that's for sure but they need to play the right team and the right time to snap out of it. We need a goaltender to have a really weak performance (sans flopping and drawing penalties as well) so we can put some pucks in the net and get rolling again. I sure hope it's the Ducks on Saturday.
I don't know man. I think these guys will be A-okay in the long run. I don't think there needs to be any big changes. I think it's just a lack of confidence, not coaching, not certain players in certain spots. I think it's just an unusual situation from the top guys that trickles down. I agree with whoever has been saying that Datsyuk has been off. He hasn't been himself, he looks a half step too timid or something. Franzen looks like a jerseyed mannequin at times. Stuart, Cleary, both been nonfactors. Even Lidstrom looks like something is off about him. He doesn't seem to be giving or receiving passes like he usually does. I think Howard and Kronwall look the sharpest to me. I just think it's one of those situations when the top guys are all in a bit of a rut and it has carried down through all the lines. Maybe the guys need a day off or something. Maybe they all need to blow off a bit of steam and not think about hockey for 24 hours or something like that. It doesn't look like they are having fun and running on all cylinders. It will be interesting to see how things play out on Saturday and afterwards. I think if they are going to win, it will be an easy win. I mean come on guys, when is the last time this has happened? Where they have been booed because of bad play? I don't think I've ever really seen anything like this toward our team, at least in my memory. They are due for a small losing streak like this after so many years of great play. Let's just count on them getting through it with the time they need to get through it and then get back to business when it's out of their system. Let's stay great, positive, and respectful fans in the mean time! Let's Go Red Wings! I love this blog.
@teddywings the only reason i wonder if they'll be okay in the long run is that after a game like the one against the wild where they get robbed and embarrassed, i'd expect them to come out flying and firing. and they never really did. when it was 1-0, they didn't change a thing. 2-0, the same. that can't be if they want long-term success.
You said it. We have now been outscored 22-6 in the last 6 games, and that's extremely frustrating. I will say, officiating has not been on our side. I was completely pissed that the penalty against Hudler was not a double minor. That being said, we have bigger problems. There is no chemistry right now. Obviously Datsyuk and Zetterberg weren't clicking, and even the Filppula line that had been ace for so long, has gone cold. In addition, I thought Mike Commodore was a ghost. He could have made a difference, and I barely noticed he was in the game. The one shining star in the lineup has been Jimmy Howard. He's been way better than he should have to be.
I will never jump ship on these guys, but something needs to happen. My idea for a solution...I think they should scratch a lot of the superstars, and play some of the prospects. Those guys are all hungry for opportunity, and it might just generate some offense. It would also send a wake-up call to our team. A big reality check. Of course, they're not going to do that, but you get my point.
@Wing-Man I'm not sure I would get down on Commie just yet. It is his first game with the team and he is coming back from injury. I do like the idea of bringing up some of the prospects just to see what they can get going. There were a few games in the preseason the team looked real sharp with some of the top prospects.
@thebiglachovsky Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to dog him. I think he can bring some good things to this team. I'm just saying he had the potential to be a difference maker right off the bat, but it just didn't happen like that. I felt the same way about Fabian Brunnstrom. Unfortunately, he debuted in a game we got blown out 7-1, and he was a ghost as well. That one really disappointed me, as I'm a huge advocate for Brunnstrom, and was anxiously awaiting to see what he could do with his opportunity.
I've noticed that the Red Wings tend to shoot more from the blue line when their lacking confidence. It explains there high shot percentage. Unless you have a 5 stitched to your back, you're not going to score blasting shots from the blue line.
I'm not sure what's wrong with this team, but I think this could be a good thing. This team has gotten rather complacent over the past few years and a bit of a shake up might just be what the doctor ordered.
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I don't think they phoned it in. I don't think they don't care. If none of this bothered them, they'd actually be able to complete a pass. I rather think that it's everyone trying too hard and sometimes the outcome of trying too hard is worse than not trying at all.
@Krononymous I almost was going to disagree with you until I read that last sentence. I agree 100%
No way this can last. One way or another it will end. Hard time of the year to make a good trade, but if they aren't up in a game or two, there will be serious changes. Hoping no one goes all "fire sale" on the team, but like I said, it is going to be hard to get a good return for this season in a trade at this time of the year (especially when anyone we would be trading is playing poorly). Anyone remember when the last time past 10 games into a season Detroit had below a .500 record? If we play like that against Anaheim, the answer will be 11/5/2011.
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100% for sure the team has tuned out their coach. Maybe his voice has gotten to the point where it is like nails on a chalkboard. Maybe they just have gotten spoiled. Maybe they just don't care. They are coasting, thinking they are entitled to wins instead of feeling they have to earn them. It is apparent that change is needed. I am not circling the wagons, or hitting the panic button, just making an observation we all can see.
In the immortal words of Ken Faircloth, one of my co-workers, "Attitude reflects leadership" There is only one of two ways this current attitude can change.....
@AlvinBrant I'm not so sure about this. If we had the same exact coaching staff from last year I might agree, but with brand new assistant coaches there is already some fresh faces.
