GoWings1905

I would say the injuries have been impactful, but by no means completely to blame. I thought going into the season this was maybe a 6-8 seed team if things went right. Needless to say, almost nothing outside of a couple players has gone well and now it appears just getting in at all will be quite challenging. I think the biggest problem in relation to the injuries is the sheer number of them. A couple at a time you can maybe survive, but 7-9 guys out on average is unbelievable and would be tough to overcome for even more talented teams. For the Red Wings, it has completely put players in positions and roles where they don't belong. Helm, Franzen and Smith are major losses IMO. With even just those three playing, I think it puts the Red Wings closer to in the playoffs than out. One of Bertuzzi or Samuelsson being healthy would be nice too since Babcock won't use Tatar in the top-six and either of those two is better than Cleary and Abdelkader. Granted, that's why you don't rely on multi-year contracts to spare part veterans to fill important roles. Overall, I don't see the Red Wings making the playoffs without some good fortune in the health department very soon. Even if that's the case, I doubt they get out of the first round anyways. Being a borderline mediocre playoff team is the worst spot to be in the parity driven NHL. The Red Wings have a lot of work to do this summer/years ahead attempting to infuse some new talent onto the roster and creating an identity going forward.

Columbus had fewer points than Washington until the Red Wings gave them two tonight, but that's beside the main issue.I agree with playing the season out since the Red Wings aren't winning a championship, but to me that has to absolutely include an expanded role for the prospects. Nyquist should be up without question and Tatar should see more minutes. Playing these spare part veteran pieces in prominent roles (see Cleary, Samuelsson, Bertuzzi) is useless for the future. I understand what Holland has accomplished, but you can't ride on the past forever. The Red Wings haven't made it out of the second round in four years likely -- that's plenty of time to say things aren't working anymore. Holland has to alter his approach and that has to involve something other than minor roster tweaks and signing some veterans to multi-year deals. You can't say reactionary moves are never an option when the status quo philosophy is getting the organization nowhere right now.

Babcock makes some head-scratching personnel moves at times, but he can only do so much with what he has been given. This group was mediocre even when healthy and now the circumstances are even worse with so many injuries. I hate the line combos right now and lack of ice time for Tatar and Tootoo especially, but this falls on Holland. He gave Babcock very little to work with.

Exactly, well said. "We like our team" has been the stance and this roster hasn't done anything in four years now. We need some reactionary or risky moves to fix this. Staying the course isn't working.

Lost to the worst team in hockey at home. Injuries or not, that can't happen with the Red Wings already fighting to make the playoffs. Holland needs to be a little more reactionary for once. Never taking a risk isn't going to fix this roster, which clearly has some major issues beyond health.

Two points in three games against the worst team in the league. Wait until we see Chicago, Vancouver and San Jose more frequently. This is the easy portion of the schedule and they are digging themselves a huge hole, even when we get our trade deadline healthy bodies back as acquisitions. Everything about this team is average. Can't hold a 2-0 lead at home against the frickin Blue Jackets. Too many mistakes, not enough talent to overcome them. God forbid they score a PP goal to help the cause. Babcock is really hurting the team not playing Datsyuk and Zetterberg together right now with Brunner. Filppula is invisible anyways, so stick him with Cleary and Abdelkader (or Tatar ideally) and stack the top line. It makes no sense to spread out the talent when your depth is pathetically thin. Hopefully Franzen comes back this weekend. Babcock won't do it, but Franzen-Datsyuk-Tatar would be worth a shot.

I guess Babcock thinks that line worked because Pav had one of the most impressive games of his career. I'm not usually in favor of Z and Pavel together, but they might as well be if Abdelkader and Cleary are going to be with Datsyuk instead. Get Tatar in the top-six or call up Nyquist. Injuries have really hurt the depth, but there's no reason for Cleary and Abdelkader to play in that role. Huskins is in for Kindl at least. Really need to end this losing streak tonight.

With hockey likely to begin next week, I wanted to gauge the potential participation level doing the contest in a shortened year. I am willing to set up a group again through the website we used last season or I can just create a thread each week on LGW to track the scoring. Any regulars feel free to chime in with your opinions. Or if you are interested in playing for the first time, everyone is welcome to join. Thanks guys!

Definitely agree. I figured Z would be with Brunner, but to use Cleary with Datsyuk isn't acceptable at all. Tatar, Filppula, Eaves. Anybody else but Cleary.

I know he frustrates the hell out of most people (myself included), but the team misses Franzen. Since Babs isn't willing to use Tatar in the top-six, it really puts all the pressure on Datsyuk and Zetterberg to carry the team offensively. Especially when Filppula isn't producing and Cleary and Abdelkader are two players getting placed in roles they absolutely shouldn't be in. Franzen and Tatar or at least one of Bertuzzi/Samuelsson up there would help a lot right now. I don't prefer the latter two ideally, but they are better options than Cleary or Abdelkader if healthy. Filppula needs to get going too. He played with Z tonight and was still invisible mostly.

The most frustrating part was seeing the Red Wings completely control play in the third and then Nashville gets two rather flukey goals after generating nothing at all. Pretty fortunate win for them and kind of fitting for the Red Wings fortunes lately with injuries and breaks. They will win most nights with that type of effort. However, they have to do it more consistently now. The halfway point is quickly approaching.

That's typical of this season so far. Red Wings deserved to win tonight. Proud of the effort at least to keep battling. Unfortunately, points are very critical and failing to get the extra one to a division opponent hurts. Extended losing streaks are not ideal when you were going to struggle to make the playoffs regardless.

Datsyuk 4-on-4 for all five minutes would be superb. Watch Babs have him out there with Cleary and he'll get caught in the Nashville zone leading to an odd-man rush the other way.

Wings are playing hard and inspired hockey. Could have threw it in after the rough first period or falling behind 3-2. I hope they get the second point they deserve.

Of course. Nashville doesn't do anything all period and that goes in the net. Pavel! Is this the best game he has ever played?

Last game? Could it really go worse than Datsyuk with Cleary and Abdelkader? Offense is struggling anyways. Might as well stack the top line and hope they can carry the load entirely.

Yes! Finally got a break! They earned it carrying the play this period. Now one more and get a win.

Tatar should definitely be playing more. Good things generally happen when he's out there. I feel for Eaves. Wish that one would have gone in for him.

Come on Babs, time to get Datsyuk with Zetterberg and Brunner now. Game is dwindling and these lines aren't working anyways.

Hopefully not. I would be content with just even strength play.

Get Tatar with Datsyuk. What is Babcock doing? Stack the top line if you are going to waste Datsyuk with those two.

This officiating is pathetic. Nice sell throwing the head back there.

Very well said. Once in a lifetime talent. It's a pleasure to watch him play.

Only down a goal is not a bad outcome at all after that. Multiple injuries, four penalties and some questionable lines. Datsyuk was insane. Such a treat to watch.

Pavel Datsyuk is having an unbelievable period of hockey. If you can get Cleary a goal, things are really going well. Kindl takes penalty number three. White needs to find some different sticks or a new team would be even better.