GoWings1905

How is it possible to have a second line of Cleary - Weiss - Bertuzzi? The top-six has been aging and stagnant for years and yet it somehow still isn't improving. No wonder the Wings can't score goals. Been lacking a true goal-scoring winger since Hossa left. Would it really be any worse to try Tatar and/or Nyquist there instead?

Nope. Samuelsson will probably be back in for Tatar on Wednesday. Need another veteran presence to right the ship.

As others mentioned, how are Weiss and Miller on the ice in that situation? Tatar didn't play at all in OT, but is one of the few forwards on the team that would be especially dangerous with more ice. Bertuzzi gets benched, but Cleary keeps playing every single game with no negative consequences. Babs is limited by the personnel, but his constant line-changing and questionable decisions aren't helping. What a disappointing start to the season.

Awful home stand in every regard. Get Nyquist up immediately. It's beyond ridiculous at this point seeing how limited this team is offensively.

Very fortunate to get a point, largely courtesy of Jimmy's performance.

I agree. I haven't really noticed Bert doing anything overly negative tonight that would force him to get benched. The entire forward unit has been collectively bad besides Miller and Tatar.

I don't think Bertuzzi has played a shift yet in the third. If the Wings win, it's going to have to come from the top line.

Quincey was another really poor Holland decision. Changing the lines constantly isn't helping. You can throw any combinations together and it won't matter if the forwards just aren't good enough or are getting outworked.

I think the Chicago series fooled Holland into believing the Red Wings are closer to championship contention than in actuality. So, instead of embracing the youth movement that got the Red Wings into that position during the playoffs, he continued to force veterans into the equation. I don't really have a problem with the Alfredsson move, but keeping Cleary was insanity when you have Nyquist around. Not to mention, the Samuelsson signing was a mistake all along and I don't think most of us needed hindsight to see that coming. The NHL thrives on speed now -- a huge reason why Brunner and Nyquist were so successful with Andersson on the third line in the playoffs. Now, the Wings have Abby and Cleary playing there tonight.

Agreed. If Eaves is healthy now, he should get a shot on that line instead of Cleary. It just seems to me also the Red Wings are really lacking speed. The 4th line has been the only noticeable line tonight because of Miller and Tootoo's hustle. Franzen and Weiss need to get going too. Their combined lack of production offensively is forcing line changes and putting all of the pressure once again on Pavel and Z.

The Wings puck-possession now consists of holding the puck for a second and making an errant pass. Repeat cycle.

Jimmy! Too many SOG against being allowed by the Wings. The Rangers are controlling play in the second.

Both Tatar and DeKeyser have been great tonight. Same with the 4th line.

I don't like that third line at all. Would rather see Eaves there instead of Cleary.

Looks like Tim Wallach as the next Tigers manager is picking up steam. I just really don't want any members of Leyland's coaching staff to get the job. It might be safe, but are any of them attractive managerial candidates at all? If nobody besides Jeff Jones was retained, I wouldn't be disappointed.

This really all falls on Weiss. The Red Wings haven't been able to play the Euro-Twins consistently together for years now because they didn't have a second line center that produced enough. They are fine apart, but better on the same line as we have all seen them carrying the team offensively to start the season. I'm not giving up on Weiss yet, but the whole point of his signing was to give the Red Wings more secondary scoring. To be fair, nobody outside of Alfredsson has done much either to help the Euro-Twins.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest more Nyquist wouldn't hurt.

Helm at this rate.

I hope the Wings have fun at practice tomorrow. Should have plenty of energy to skate since they didn't tonight.

Ugly, ugly game. This forward group needs Helm and Nyquist desperately. Otherwise it's one line and very slow.

Babs should cut Cleary again.

Tatar looks great. Skates hard and drives to the net.

The top line is really the only one that generates consistent pressure. The bottom-six is just a jumbled combination of nothing. Remember how good the third line was in the playoffs?

Care to elaborate? Not sure which part you were questioning.

Not sure Jimmy could do much about any of the three goals. Pathetic effort in front of him. Time for the down 3-0 calls to start happening.