Ms_Hockey

And who, exactly, are you a fan of?

I'm with Electrophile on this one. Any hockey team that's as good as the Wings SHOULD be able to use their defensive skills - which what they pride themselves on - to defend a lead from two minutes in if they so choose. Babcock decided to try it and it didn't work out well. That hardly makes him an ass. That just means the players have a little more defensive work to do than he originally thought. So, yeah... "can it".

Our first and second periods were fine, our third period was atrocious. But things happen. It's not like they played the whole game horribly. I'm sure they'll think twice about defending their lead at the beginning of the third.

I always thought they should play the chorus to "I'm so hood".

Me too. I always get so nervous watching.. I want to hide my face and listen for cheers or silence.

My guess is he also shouts about Osgood being horrible when one goal goes in. "WHAT?! THEY SCORED? DAMNIT, OSGOOD. I KNOW YOU'RE BACKUP TONIGHT - BUT DAMNIT, YOU WEREN'T SENDING THE RIGHT TELEPATHIC SIGNALS!" Just a guess..

Guys, I have to apologize to you. Yes... The truth is... we played horribly because of me. Hear me out. The Red Wings have won every game that I've been to this season. (And I've been to quite a few.) Tonight, for the first time, I was forced to leave right at the end of the second period. Then I heard we started playing crappy. Coincidence? Just to be sure, you should all buy me tickets to every home game for the rest of the season. Ya know... just to be on the safe side.

I know, it's incredibly irritating. I've been trying to keep up with the Hossa injury since it happened. There were quite a few articles the first couple days - then nothing. I have a feeling we won't hear anything further until game nights.

Cleary is probably one of the hardest working players on the team. He may not be a Datsyuk or Zetterberg superstar, but the consistent effort he shows game in and game out is something I respect highly. While $2.8 million might be stretching it for him, he's certainly better than $1m. As for Franzen, he could easily get $4m on the open market. He's a remarkable hockey player - he's just a tad inconsistent. I try not to make judgments on the players until the playoff run, though. As we all know, it's a completely different game once it's for the Cup.

Last I could find was a March 7th mlive article saying that he's day-to-day. His knee has healed "remarkably fast" but his neck is still stiff. That's all I could get for ya.

It says we're spoiled rotten.

Agreed 100%. Great post.

Hahaha, I love how everybody thinks they'd make a better coach than Babcock does. On another note, this isn't a bad idea. We're nearing the end of the regular season and we're a serious contender for the Presidents' Trophy. Do what you gotta do to get there.

Hahahaha. He really is. What an amazing player AND guy.

Ah, okay. Thank you.

Missed the end. Mule in regulation? If so, how much time left?

It just seems to me that, for whatever reason, we're having a difficult time with the Jackets this season. That's not to say Nashville has been a cakewalk. But I know, when we're playing the Blue Jackets, it's going to be a battle.

Fair enough. I just get a little irked when people go on about how embarrassing the team is in terms of physical play. But hey, to each his own.

I don't mind fans like you - who have a preference to gritty play but still enjoy the Wings for what they are. I'm talking about the people who make comments like "This team is so embarrassing because we don't fight" or something to that effect. I don't want to start pointing out names (mindfly), but it just confuses the crap out of me.

Agreed. That's usually when I know we have to try another strategy to get into their zone - when we have to dump and chase. CBJ could easily pull off an upset. Mason is one of the only goalies in the league who could win games all on his own.

Ah, thanks. I always get those two mixed up. It's incredibly irritating.

Some people prefer North American gritty/throw the gloves hockey as opposed to the Detroit's European puck possession style of play. Personally, I'd take a puck possession game over a physical game any day of the week - but saying I'm in the minority is an understatement. On a side note, this is something that has always bothered me. Why would you even be a fan of the Red Wings if you hate the fact that they're more of a finesse than a physical team? I've noticed quite a few people on this board who can go on and on about how this team needs to be physical and how it's "embarrassing" that they aren't. Then why do you call yourself a fan? Why not be a fan of, say, Anaheim or the Flyers? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Without a single hair of a doubt, Columbus. Rick Nash has more points against the Red Wings than any other player in the NHL.. not only that, but Steve Mason is remarkable. Columbus isn't a great team, but they do an excellent job of clogging up the lanes and shutting us down - and Mason does an astounding job of stopping pucks.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Sammy isn't a BAD player.. but I've always described him as "vanilla pudding". You can't really love him & you can't really hate him - because he's right in the middle.

I actually agree 100% with everything the OP posted.