VM1138

Why is Ozzie surprised at the outcome? We all knew this was a likely outcome. It had the recipe for a classic Red Wing collapse. Afternoon game, almost a must win, backup goalie, tons of minor leaguers and rookies on the other team, etc.

Heads need to roll this summer. This season didn't look like growing pains and adjustments. It was just a Clusterf*** And yet, we not only make playoffs but are not even a wildcard.

That was the most comically bad attempt at a 6 on 3 I've ever seen. This Wings team is broken. Like...Leafs broken. Not just choking but finding new levels of suckage. Couldn't even keep the puck in the zone with a 6 on 3 against AHL players.

And yet the Rangers get two near goals and we don't get a decent shot.

If Mrazek is as good as we think he will be, it doesn't matter how good Howard plays, unless we sign Mrazek for dirt cheap for the entire duration of Howard's contract. He's a goner at some point this summer or next season.

You make sense, but Andersson is not quick. He's slow. I get the argument being made, but it just doesn't hold up under close examination. Ee can have a decent PK unit with Andersson or a decent PP with Mantha. At least Mantha offers something at even strength. Jesus Holland said they only pulled Hiward to rest him. This is bizarre. No accountability lately unless you're a kid.

Backup goalie against us? Jeez it's getting hard to be optimistic. Backup goalies are our kryptonite. Man I need to stop being negative.

The Flyers have a tough aheduke, though. Wasn't it four games in five nights to close out the season? They've got to get tired at some point. They're likely to lose one of the final games they have, which puts us in.

Not playing Mantha in favor of Andersson is playing not to lose, not playing to win. And we all know that when you play not to lose, you usually lose. Preventing goals is necessary and nice, but if you can score it makes it a risk worth taking.

We all knew it would happen when we were losing those games, too.

The team doesn't have to win all the time for us not to turn on them. Honestly, they just need to show up and try every night. We could respect a team that does that and still loses or was entertaining to watch. They're so conservative in their playing without being defensively strong that there's just no excitement about them this year.

Thank God someone defensively unreliable like Mantha isn't playing. It's not like we need goals. Right?

LOL, f*** this team. Seriously. They just don't want it bad enough. Don't take it seriously enough. They'll probably still make playoffs somehow but they don't really deserve it.

But how often have they shown an ability to turn things around? This team isn't exactly known for overcoming adversity.

Every chance this team has had to catch anther team or make something good happen, they choke. Every single time. They continue to be the most consistently inconsistent Wings team I've ever seen.

Terrified that after good games they follow up with weeks of bad. Please be consistent for the first time all year, Wings. Please.

I don't know why they can't play like that most of the season. Helm used to play like that all the time and it helped us win a lot.

There was no one else who could have sat for Jurco? Seriously? Mantha has what, 3 goals in the last handful of games? Yeah, let's sit him while our offensively challenged team struggles to make playoffs. Blashill must be relying on analytics because his moves don't pass the common sense test.

Honestly Babcock changes the situation in Toronto. Yes, they were really bad this year, but it's because they're rebuilding the team from scratch. But the new management and coaching will draw in decent talent, finally. It's one thing to be a bad team with no direction (Toronto the past...well...forty years?) but a bad team that is knowingly starting from scratch and is expected to make the right moves? Stamkos might be willing to forego a Cup for five years to be part of something like that. But back to his injury and Tampa's hopes: I think Tampa is still a good team. They could still get out of the first round. The East is so weak this year, especially the Atlantic, that anything could happen.

I think something was lost in translation. I'm betting Datsyuk is talking about what he will do after his final year is out.

The one bold prediction of the Wings having the most 20 goal scorers is especially painful. Does anyone have twenty yet? Last time I checked Larkin and Tatar were close. Edit: Larkin has 23 and Tatar 21. Not even a 25 goal scorer on the team. Yeah. That's gotta be worst in the league.

I'd also wager his "no comment" comment just means he was considering it. He'll stay for all the reasons we mentioned. He's just considering it probably, but will finish out the contract.

I think I misunderstood you. I, too, was defending Mrazek.

I feel like we can beat Boston but will likely lose to Philly. Hopefully that's enough.

? That's four months of outstanding play, two months of crap. That's 2/3rds of the season, way more than half.