VM1138

I saw the Wings trying out there. I never really thought they lacked heart, especially Datsyuk out there. No one stuck out as playing terribly, but Howard's lack of rebound control is killing us. The cynic in me wants to point out that this Wings team can't go on a three game win streak, so we shouldn't have gotten excited about tonight's game. Also, it's been the trend this season that when the team really needs to, they will lose the big game and the team they need to lose will win, or when the Wings win the team they need to lose also wins. I still think the Wings will make playoffs, but it's going to be a tight race for 8th. I think 7th is officially out of range for the Wings. It's at least a three way race between Nashville, Detroit and Calgary. Nashville appears to have a relatively easy schedule, so they lock up 7th, I think. So we need Calgary to lose and the Wings have to keep the other lower teams off their back. The situation is now not entirely in the Wings' hands and that is their fault. But at this point Osgood needs to start. He needs to get in some sort of form, Howard's lack of rebound control is just killing us. He's done well overall this season, but all of us have seen playoff hockey before. Goalie's with bad rebound control get eaten alive.

This will work fine, I think. After all, Lebda only looks better because Lilja is there to cover up his screw ups. The same will go for Ericsson. I think he'll benefit hugely from not only coming back from a break but playing with Lilja as well. God I'm glad Lilja is back.

Steven Yzerman is a legend. The big thing you need to know about him is that he showed up huge for big games, he led by example, and a lot of times he played better than other players despite playing on a bum knee and countless other injuries. He's among the greatest ever in pro sports. But don't worry so much about the history of the Wings. That will come. They are such a historic franchise that each game you watch you'll be told about a lot of the great history. They've broken so many records, won so many trophies, had so many legends, you'll catch on really quick. You couldn't have picked a better team to follow, despite their current struggles. One mediocre year out of 20 isn't bad at all. And the team seems to be turning it up a notch of late. Expect a huge end of season push for playoffs, and then once playoffs start you'll be REALLY entertained. The Red Wings play their best in the playoffs.

Beating Chicago will be huge for this team. As long as the team breaks even in wins and losses, and other teams don't go on huge win streaks the team can make it in. Just to make it more comfortable they should win like what, 60-75% of their remaining games?

Embarassing. This team just isn't showing any heart. I'm so tired of this rollercoaster of a year. They blow out a team one night, then get blown out the next. They're so freaking inconsistent.

I think Holland standing pat was a big mistake. I know he didn't have many options but he should have made even a lateral move just to infuse some fresh energy. Sigh. It's really hard to stay positive this season. The Olympic break was really the team's last "do over." Their last chance to get rid of bad habits. There is something seriously wrong. SERIOUSLY wrong.

They probably will. It seems that whenever the Wings win and need a team to lose, the other team wins. Whereas when the other team loses the Wings will fail to capitalize on it and things won't change.

I just don't get it. Despite bad luck and injuries all year long, the Wings have had every opportunity recently to get their crap together and start fresh. And they're blowing it. They're running out of time before the end of the season to wake up.

Here's Ozzie's chance to redeem himself and start himself on a roll. Love the crowd support.

Bye Bye Howard.

This is frustrating. They look like they're playing hard. Zetterberg is playing his best game all season I think. Everyone looks solid overall (except for Howard) yet not much is happening.

Defense completely spotty, so that's back to "normal." But Howard is looking pretty average the last two games, which worries me. Maybe Ozzie should get a start soon?

God, the KHL is like some guy who offers your girlfriend/wife to sleep with him right in front of you. Classless.

I don't remember there being awful organ music at the Joe.

I don't even get FSN+ tonight. Did a search for Red Wings and brought up nothing until Friday. So yeah, stream it is.

Hm...I think every year we've one the Cup since the '90s we've made a deadline move. Does this count as a real move or are we still cursed?

It seems like Chicago has made so many moves this year, and very few made sense. It's like they're just trying to stay busy or something. Very schizophrenic.

I agree. It seems the script for any NBC game is talking about how fantastic a certain player is (usually Crosby) and giving completely excessive complements to a player who doesn't deserve them. Throw in the backstory of every single player on the ice and discussions about helmets, stanchions, etc and you have an NBC broadcast. VS did a good job, other than the one guy screaming at us whenever he talked.

Holland didn't just sit by and watch the team fall apart. You forget there are other people involved in trading. Hossa walked because we couldn't offer him the conract he awnted. Despite our deepest hopes most of us knew deep down that Hossa was gone. Hudler was expected to break out this season and Holland probably was counting on him to pick up the slack, but surprised EVERYONE by bolting all of a sudden. Sammy was probably expected as we were right up against the cap. Holland didn't have a lot of options and the likes of Bert, Eaves and Williams were bottom barrell pickings because we didn't have the money to sign anyone else. He did the only things taht were really possible last summer, get off his back.

Loved the first period. Hated the second. Was okay with the third. For a while I thought that the Wings were back to their old (good old) form, and then for a while I was seeing the typical collapse and poor defense. But I did notice our offensive awareness is so much better than it was. Well, except for Flip who just doesn't know what to do with a puck when he has it within 15 feet of the goal. But everyone else is much better with their timing and their shots and passing. No more blind passes or shots into feet or just wide. Again, except for Filpulla who continues to be useless near the net. I noticed that he missed more than just the obvious empty net shot. There was one point where if he would have shot it would have sailed into the open net but instead he switched hands and went in front of the net. Overall GREATLY improved, but still missing something.

I agree, this is their chance to capitalize on the huge interest in the US for the USA hockey run. Keep those new fans before they move on to different sports.

The Wings came two shots away from winning the Cup. I fail to see how that is some hugely embarassing, unprofessional prediction of Kahn's.

What happened to that whole Olympic roster-freeze thing?

He has 8 goals this year. As much as I love Kozlov (and rooted for him coming here briefly) he just doesn't add as much as I thought he might earlier. The team needs goal scorers and he has just as many as Darren Helm, and one less than Patrick Eaves. True, he has more overall points, but we don't need another assist-machine on this team. The Wings won't have much time to make a decision on trades. It's March 3, giving them only two games to see how the Wings bounce back after the Olympics. Holland will have to decide whether to stand pat and hope the Wings get things together with the Olympic distraction out of the way or to judge the team based on their consistent performance prior to the Ottawa game and put together a package.

Well, in America Crosby is the ONLY thing shown to us. Every single game features his name several times even if Pittsburgh isn't playing. All the commercials are either about him or feature him at least at a 2:1 ratio to any other team or player mentioned or seen. Interviews alway feature him. Crosby is the only gateway to the NHL for the non-hockey American public and it's nauseating.