Nev

Yes and no. Hockey is a game of percentages. So it's possible to play bad and still win the game, and it's possible to play good and still lose the game. But over the course of 82 games, those percentages even out. And at this point in the season, the standings don't lie. We're just bad, puck luck be damned.

This is where I normally predict a 14-3 win for Detroit, with Datsyuk getting a goal and 13 assists....

Pretty sure I can list the threads from 1996 "Official Fire Scotty Bowman thread!" Everyone know he only won cups in Pittsburgh and Montreal because he was surrounded with elite talent, elite talent the DeadWings don't have. Where are the Mario's, Jagr's, Francis's, Coffey's, LaFleur's and Robinsons on this team? He's an over-rated, over-paid bum. "Why Ken Holland should be GM" Bowman and Devallano are incapable of building a winning team, all the talent on this team (apart from Yzerman, who fell into their lap and I could have drafted) was drafted and developed by Holland "We need to trade Yzerwoman and rebuild" We'll never win with such a small, soft leader, all the talent on this team and all he does is choke every postseason" "Wings are too soft" Way too many soft euros on this team, you think guys like Lidstrom and Fedorov give a damn about the playoffs? You think they're prepared to do what it takes to win the Stanley Cup?

Very interesting comments from Babcock, very passionate - especially about the next generation. That's basically the challenge going forward - how good will Tatar, Nyquist, Sheahan and Dekeyser be? They are the next generation, the guys that will take over the driving of the bus. Will the continue to be good complimentary players or will they step up to be The Guy?

Wings haven't won 14-3 in a while. So they're due. Tonight is the night. Dats with a goal and 13 assists. Johnson scores all 3 of theirs.

Babcock to the Pens it is. His man-crush for Crosby is no secret, he's been making subtle digs about the lack of high end talent on the Wings for several years. I can't see him turning down the chance to coach Crosby and Malkin whilst they're still in their 20s.

This is beyond amazing.....the look on Princess Babcocks face........

How about someone who doesn't want the team to lose, just so it proves to everyone on a message board that they were right, and the team does in fact suck, Ken Holland sucks, Howard sucks etc. A real fan can say "Howard has sucked since coming back from injury" but isn't happy about it. The fan who gloats "see, I've always said Howard sucks, I told you we should have traded him whilst he had value, I told you we should have tanked", well......

Right now he reminds me of Mario Lemiuex late in his career when Mario was old and slow. You wouldn't notice him at all during the game, but he would still end up with a goal and 2 assists. Z just doesn't have that energy and strength that his game requires anymore - his skill and willpower can only carry him so far, so he can still rack up points, but he is incapable of dominating the play any more Right now the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

We don't "deserve" anything, the team is what it is right now. What a difference a year makes? I think you mean what a difference a month makes? Remember when we came back from that long road trip with all those hard won points against good teams? When we were within touching distance of 1st? I can't explain everything that's happened since then, because some of it is just baffling. Howard coming back from injury and struggling to find his form - it happens, we've seen it before. Our talented rookie backup can't string back to back performances together. Zetterberg is a pale shadow of his former self - no jump, no strength on the puck, its pretty obvious that he's playing injured right now. But why is Kronwall struggling so much? Why has the PK suddenly gone from #1 in the league to "get ready for a goal against"? Injuries to Dats, Franzen, Cole etc OK, they don't help, but they're not the cause of the rest of the team struggling. It's baffling. I've been a fan of this team for 23 years and I've never seen them play this bad for this long. Even more baffling because we were so good up until February. I don't think the players can figure it out, and Babcock seems at a loss to right the ship and time is running out before we become 1st round fodder (assuming we cling to a playoff spot).

Such a legendary post. I still maintain that My Little Pony is Kindl.

Wow, guess we really are getting desperate for things to complain about eh? Who knew that beating the best team in the leaguer on the road wasn't good enough? Because the old Wings team, they never blew leads, let alone lost games. Yes sir, 82-0-0 and a 16-0 run to the cup every playoffs

Its a sign of how much times have changed, that I would take a loss against the Avs tonight, if we get to beat the Pens next week.

Cool, but not recommended viewing for people who suffer from epilepsy or migraines!