wings87

I agree, but for Alfie to step up Babs has to move him away from the black hole that is our third line. I would also move him away from the point on the PP and have him take shots down low. Howie though is the key, he finally found it but then the Olympic break came and he lost it again. My theory on Howard is that when he got the starting spot he was ultra aggressive and sometimes that aggressiveness had him taking shots at players crashing his crease; but the coaching staff got him to tone down the feistiness in net which I think hurt him. This year he's been more passive and reluctant in the net, sometimes he just looks lost. He's also had a boatload of injuries which makes me wonder whether his knee is bothering him more then we know.

I agree that being labeled as a repeat offender should make players think twice before laying a big hit. But putting that aside and taking the Comeau suspension as an example, is it right that he now has a suspension on his record for the hit on Smith? I don't think the hit warranted a suspension since we've seen plenty of hits that resembled Comeau's and some even more severe go unpunished. If the officials did their job Comeau would have gotten a 5 min major and a game misconduct, but because the ref's botched the play Comeau now has a suspension. Though to be clear I'm not defending the hit, it's just the fact that Shanny and his office seem to have selective vision when it come to punishments. The hit that Dats got to the head earlier in the year was ignored and here there is a 2 game suspension, I just wish that the NHL would be more consistent when doling out punishments.

How much do penalties go up for repeat offenders?

See I don't think 2 games will help deter players from making these hits, in the heat of the moment players forget about the punishment that's why we keep seeing hits from behind and head shots. Either something drastic has to happen like huge suspensions or the league has to allow players to protect themselves from head shots like in the old days. Either way I don't think the hits from behind or head shots are going anywhere, there's just too much adrenaline on the ice.

I think 2 games is excessive, I would have been fine with a 5 minute major and a game mis-conduct last night.

The problem that might arise is that Holland during the off season will use the injuries as an excuse instead of admitting that he put a s***ty team together; and I'm concerned nothing will change.

The 7 goal game may have been this teams last hurrah, they have just run out of gas.

Too much standing around in the second.

I had the same issue today so I switched to google chrome and it works great.

Knowing that its make or break time, I think the boys will show up tonight. And if not we can always TP Kenny's house. LGW

Looking at the numbers, I'm not really surprised I wasn't expecting much from the D this season. But I was expecting Kindle to continue developing, but he's been terrible.

Just think how far down the rabbit hole we've gone if Andersson breaking his foot has led to talk of a Cleary return.

In recent weeks we've seen some improvement in guys like Smith and even Quincey, but Kindle took a big step back after last season. For most of the year though the D has been pretty porous but the optics are worse then they should be because the overall team D(forwards and Goalies included) has been atrocious. As much as I'd like to blame all our troubles on Quincey, it's kinda hard when the forwards don't support the D and the Goalies allow soft goals.

We've heard for years of the type of player that Smith can be, and every now and then we see glimpses; but I'm not sure yet who the real Brendan Smith is. Is he the fast skating offensive threat? Or is he the boneheaded penalty taking machine? I wish I knew. I just wish Babs would handle him better, Smith was heralded as an offensive threat and yet other then a few chances Babs has never given him a chance on the PP. Of all the guys Babs has tried on the point, and failed miserably with(yes I'm looking at you Sammy) why not give Smith a chance? If I'm not mistaken even Ian White had a chance on the PP, Ian freaking White let's all digest that for a second... But the coaching staff can't take all the blame, Smith hasn't taken that next step defensively and made Babs handle him differently either. There are games when I love the guy and there are games when I want to ring his neck. Other then Quincey he might be the most frustrating player on the team he's talented but hasn't put it all together yet. I guess only time will tell who the real Brendon Smith really is.

Just saw it on the NHL network, scary. Wish him the best. Really brought me back to the Jiri Fischer incident which is the scariest thing I've ever seen during a sporting event

I give up, bring out the pooper scooper.

Wow. Just wow.

Lots of Howard bashing going on, and I'll be the first to admit that he's had a bad year; but let's not act like playing Gus is some magic potion that will turn this team into an unstoppable juggernaut. We have won more games with Gus but every time he wins a game, the next day he ends up on the IR. Even if Babs wanted to start him more, with his injury history it's almost impossible. And let's not forget the NJ game Gus almost cost us the game in less then three minutes. Not exactly unstoppable. Having said all that, I don't think it much matters who's in goal. Cause on any given night there is no telling which team will show up either the one we saw against NJ, a team that has fire and the will to win, or the team we saw today. Inconsistently thy name is Red Wings.

Happens plenty in late games too.

Yeah, but on the second goal Ericsson looked like he was taking a s*** in front of the net instead of defending.

I always thought his nickname was kinda lazy.

Yeah and pulled his groin, Mrazek is backing up.

He's hurt again.

Guys come on, Monster can't start more; he has a glass groin.