RedWingsFanatic

The boards must have a grudge with us or something. Bad bounces like that have happened a lot to us already this season. Ozzie has been good tonight. We deserve this game. Vancouver shouldn't even be within shouting distance.

What has happened to the game of hockey? I am so sick of these marginal (at best) and absolutely invisible (more often than not) calls being made. Can holding penalties just be obliterated? I mean, seriously. Anyway, we're playing fantastically well. Our power play is a beast, and it's really fun to watch. We just need to play steady, simple hockey for 20 more minutes and this road trip that has caused us so much panic will bring us 7 out of a possible 10 points. This is the night we might look back on as the night the Wings really got it going. A win tonight and five days in between games sounds like a perfect combination.

LMAO. Winner.

That is LITERALLY the worst penalty call I have ever seen.

I. am. so. sick. of. us. taking. so. many. penalties. Do you think Pavel has ever met Dr. Rahmani?

Ugh, Maltby. We played an awesome game for 30 minutes, so yeah, it's about time we let them tie it up.

I've always sort of been irked that the Sedins play together. I mean, it's not illegal or anything, but it just seems really odd and incorrect. Whatever the case, that was a fantastic pass. It's a shame this is a one-goal game right now. We're playing fantastic hockey.

Great stuff from Draper/Hudler/Cleary. I actually really like that line.

First period thoughts: - A very nice period. We looked fresh and together. Now it's about keeping it going for the final 40 minutes. - Samuelsson is still brutal. But good for him. Outside of the goal, though, he had a terrible period. I'm sick of ragging on him, but I can't help it sometimes. That penalty he took near the end of the period was lazy and stupid. Still, I really hope his goal gets him going somehow. Perhaps it will improve his vision. - Say what you want about Darren McCarty, but he still works his ass off and competes. It says a lot that he's willing to get in a fight like that, and even though he's probably out of a roster spot once Franzen is healthy, his toughness is an asset to the team. He doesn't deserve a roster spot over a ton of guys in Grand Rapids, but I can still appreciate what he's doing. - The fourth line looked (gasp!) good?

Well, f*** you Mikael Samuelsson. I just bash the s*** out of you, and you score. I shall now do this every game thread. Unreal pass by Zetterberg. Very pleased Sammy didn't miss the net.

I can't believe how bad Samuelsson is. He makes so many bonehead plays, yet continues to get rewarded with lots of ice time. It boggles my mind. Wings look much better so far. Meech > Lebda.

There is no way you can make a judgment on who the best team in the league is after 10 games. It just doesn't make any sense. Schedules are unbalanced and lots of things are still up in the air. After 25 games, I think you can realistically start making some assumptions. San Jose looks very good, yes, but it's too early to start comparing teams or looking at the standings. If the Wings can win in Vancouver on Sunday, the road trip will actually be pretty successful, as they would earn 7 out of a possible 10 points. Tonight's game was fairly discouraging, but like I've said, they played under some very difficult circumstances. I fully expect these two teams to contend all season long, and their remaining three games against each other should be fun. 7-2-2. If somebody had told me that's where we would be after 11 games, I would have taken it. And, for the record, I think it shows just how much of an elite team the Wings are that they have been able to win, or at least earn points, in games where they have played far from their potential. That's what an elite team does.

The Wings are still a very elite team. They just haven't played like it yet. "But then they aren't an elite team if they haven't played like it, blah blah blah." I get it. This is a team that should be playing far better than they are right now. Still, this is an extremely talented group of players. Hell, they're 7-2-2. Say what you want, but a record is how you identify an elite team. They have played well enough to earn points in 9 of 11 games. That's a pretty great start. This was a tough scenario tonight. We're on the road, we played last night, San Jose is rested and playing extremely well. I'm not going lose too much sleep over it. So, yeah, we're probably going to need to get better. We still haven't played 60 minutes. Yadda yadda yadda. I understand the concern. But saying that this team is not one of the best in the league is ridiculous.

Carolina and Atlanta were both technically two-goal games, but we had empty netters in both. Until tonight, every one of our games had been a one-goal game or tied headed into the final minute. I mean, I guess that could still happen. But...yeah.

LMAO. Yes.

For the record, Brett Lebda is now a -9. EDIT: I was beat.

Seriously? What has happened to our defense? ALL FOUR GOALS result from the same basic problem. You just can't let guys get open like that in front of the net. It was a fantastic pass that led to the goal, but there is no excuse for such constant defensive lapses. This West Coast trip was so vital to our early season success last year. I'm worried it might have the adverse effect this time.

Oh, and Go State.

Second period thoughts: - I mean, have we just abdandoned playing defense? Terrible net front coverage is directly to blame for all three San Jose goals. It's a mystery to me, especially with guys like Brian Rafalski just leaving guys wide open. He looked especially silly on the Sharks first goal. - Speaking of defensemen, Brad Stuart has been our best by far. He's been very consistent, he's always in position and he hasn't been afraid to get physical. When other guys are looking sub-par, he's really stepped it up. So much of what he does goes unnoticed, very similar to Lidstrom, but his impact can't be denied. - Where is this team right now without Marian Hossa? He's largely the reason our record looks so good despite not playing very well. He started out very shaky, but he's been unbelievable since he scored his first goal. He's going to need to keep it up, especially in the absence of Franzen. - For as much criticism as his line has accumulated, Kris Draper has been incredibly feisty in these last couple of games. He's adapted his style of play a bit, and while he does often look old and lethargic, I still think he brings a much-needed dynamic to the team. - Would it be illegal to just have Andreas Lilja stand in front of the net all game and act as a second goalie? I swear he blocks more shots in the crease than any player in history. He's more useful that way. Literally just have him stand next to the goalie all game. - The game is much more fun to watch when there isn't a penalty being called every two minutes. Thank you, officials. However, I think we're going to need a couple of power plays if we want to get back in this one. Our even-strength play isn't cutting it. I can't remember the last time we were out-shot like this. However, with the way things have been going this season, the Wings will probably win this game 6-5 in a shoot-out.

Thank you, good man. That piece with the guys talking about technology was pretty funny. I really want Pavel Datsyuk to have a variety hour in which he talks about his favorite TV shows and his time at the Rahmani Eye Institute.

First period thoughts: - The Wings are very, very lucky that this is still 0-0. Conklin has bailed them out numerous times. They are still hanging around, though. That's a victory in itself after that period. - Our fourth line looks exceptionally rough, especially when it's out on the ice with Lilja/Lebda. That is not a good five-man rotation to throw out on the ice. They had two shifts in which they literally could not make one decent play. - I think Babcock should consider breaking up Lidstrom/Rafalski, and sticking each one of them with Lilja and Lebda. Our entire defensive corps is out of sync, and something needs to shake them up. When Chelios is healthy, I think he's going to find himself with a permanent spot on the roster. - The power play looked good, but that was literally the only offense the Wings produced. And, for the love of God, get Samuelsson off the PP. He does not deserve to be out there. I am so sick of seeing his weak shots from the point and lazy play along the boards. - Um, it's still tied? Here's to a better next 40 minutes.

I think that just makes them delusional. So far, not so good. We are brutal in our defensive zone. Even guys like Lidstrom and Zetterberg are making really careless plays. Our entire defensive corps needs to get their s*** figured out, because it's a bit of a mess right now. Conklin looks really steady again. I'm not saying there's any sort of goalie controversy, but he been better than Ozzie thus far. It's strange how I feel more comfortable and confident with him in net.

7 pages before the game starts. Way to go, guys. I'm hoping for the best, expecting something less. This is a really tough game given all the circumstances.

That's still sort of the case. I haven't been to a game in Anaheim since '06, but there was a lot of red even during the playoffs. The regular season is even worse (better?). And you saw the crowd in L.A. tonight. That must have been at least 1/3 Detroit fans.

I also very much agree with this. Haha. I do think it's just a tendency to get riled up for the sake of getting riled up. Look, we're 7-1-1. Nobody really asks how those points are obtained, and this early in the season I'm not sure that it really matters. As long we continue to move forward, develop some more chemistry on the third and fourth lines and get solid goaltending, I like our chances.