haroldsnepsts

Because it encourages teams to play for OT in the third period. So the tradeoff for the excitement of an artificially close playoff race at the end of the season is to have less exciting third periods throughout the season. Also, it's seems contrary to competitive sport that teams get a point for losing. And that a league hands out points in the standings before a game is even finished.

The unfortunate answer to what's going on with him can be found here. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/77339-erik-cole-out-for-good/

That's good to hear. The PK has gone to hell and he's the Wings most physical defenseman. They need him.

Honestly I don't know what the hell has happened to this team so I don't know what maximizes their chances anymore. I only caught the second half of the game so I can't really say for sure what the deal was with the goofy minutes. A lot of people here were complaining about effort, and Glendening and Miller always have a high compete level. In Babcock-land maybe that's why they were out there so much? Or a lot of it was in the third clinging to the lead? Weiss and Pulkkinen played few minutes even for them, so maybe he was going for ultimate puck responsibility. It's certainly odd. If they end up with those kind of minutes again, then I'll start to worry. Right now I'm happy for the win. What I think will be our undoing is the Wings lack of even strength scoring. Which is probably a result of the issue you're raising. They've overachieved for much of this season in part because of their great power play. I was shocked to find out they're 25 in the league in even strength goals. I knew they weren't great, but didn't realize it was that bad. That does not bode well for the playoffs.

I'm not sure I agree with the lockout conclusion but absolutely agree with your points about keeping teams in the playoff race. Owners likely love the loser point because it creates false parity, which does all the things you mention. So I don't think they're at all interested in changing it to a system that makes more sense.

The Wings got only their 4th regulation win since the beginning of March (which seems about when the skid started). I don't care if Miller plays 25 minutes a game and Glendening is the starting goaltender if it means the Wings win, especially in regulation. (plus I'm guessing it was an aberration more than anything that will happen regularly)

Some big saves by Jimmy and dare I say shot blocks too there at the end.

I'm liking this regulation win thing. They should do it more often.

I say Quincey. But maybe because it seems like Ericsson hasn't taken a late penalty in a bit, he's due?

Nice saves by Jimmy. Man was that Ferraro who went flying on what looked like a pretty routine shove?

Could you please quote where I claimed you said Babcock sucks, so I can be sure to avoid it in the future?

Attacking you personally? You were the one who said you were doing it to bait me kip, not me. And I don't think I said anything that was a personal attack or out of tone with the conversations we've had in the past. As for you referring to Babcock regularly being called a genius: As for you criticizing Babcock to bait me and your hatred of Babcock. You thinking he's a bad coach (which I never actually claimed you stated, by the way). The sheer tonnage of critical posts pretty much says that you don't think he's a very good coach, but a couple quick highlights that represent the most common arguments. Lineup is dumb but won't work. Doesn't seem like the move of a good coach. I also know you've called Babcock a good coach several times in the past. I guess I just don't understand how a good coach does the obviously dumb things you criticize him for. It seems like only a bad coach would make such obvious mistakes. The funny thing is, I'm not even claiming that Babcock is the best coach in the league. I think he's absolutely among the best though. You seem to feel the need to criticize him because you think he's overrated here. I typically post to defend some of his moves because I think he's unjustly criticized by some people here. The motives are basically the same.

Ansar Khan @AnsarKhanMLive · 6 hours ago Ken Holland said he thinks Justin Abdelkader is out tomorrow but possible to play before end of regular season (one or both of final games).

Guys like me?? Kind of like you claiming Babcock is regularly referred to as a genius around here? It's not a straw man. Try checking a GDT virtually every time the team is losing. I don't know if Babcock has lost the lockerroom but he's certainly lost a chunk of the fanbase. When the team goes on a hot streak it's in spite of him. When the team goes on a losing streak, it's his fault. He's certainly not perfect but with some of the things people blame Babcock for, the underlying explanation is he must be a bad coach. Because no good, or even ok coach would do these things. But I forgot, you only fixate on how bad Babcock is to bait me, right? So I'm sure you must not have complained about him the couple months I was gone. I'll just keep silent again and I'm sure your fixation on Babcock will stop.

He absolutely deserved it. The hit on Zidlicky was high and could've been penalized. Instead the zebras penalize Zidlicky for a good hip check because they don't know what one looks like anymore. It's one thing to crash and bang but Wilson seems to throw his fair share of high hits or ones where he comes in with his elbow swinging into the body, like the one on Dats.

The "only one Cup" argument is pretty hilarious. Only one?? What a loser! Then there's the small detail of getting two different teams to game 7 of the Cup finals. If someone were to rate Quenneville's 11-year career in 2008, they likely wouldn't consider him among the best in the league. So did he suddenly become a great coach in 2009? Same goes for Sutter. It takes the right coach coming to the right team at the right time. Babcock is absolutely among the best in the league. Sutter, Quenneville, Trotz, maybe Tippet also belong in that conversation. You could probably make a case for Alain Vigneault since he got his team to the finals twice, though I can't stand him. I liked Bylsma but then that team became such a defensive trainwreck I wondered what was going on there. There's really no way to compare which coach is absolutely better given all the variables involved. I can understand thinking it's time for Babs to move on because sometimes you need fresh blood. But thinking he's a bad coach is just silly.

Leafs win in the shootout to keep Ottawa from the second point. Hilarious that event has devastating playoff implications.

Once the Caps hired Trotz I figured they would be a legitimate playoff team again.

Agreed, but honestly I don't think that's the Wings biggest problem. Most of the season they played a pretty solid defensive game in spite of their mediocre blueline. Today they didn't score on a 5 on 3, and this team is just not very good at scoring at even strength. They are 24th in the league at even strength goals, behind teams like Columbus and Toronto. 5-on-4 they're 1st in the league.

They definitely missed Abby. Someone who stands in front of the net, can take a beating, and actually knock the puck in.

I don't think they were ever near the top of the league at it, but I feel like it wasn't the rarity it is now. And there was this one guy, a big Swedish defenseman who used to be really good at it. Hmm... his name escapes me though.

Don't even joke about that.

Absolutely agree. I think Nyquist is the worst culprit but there's a lot of guys making that same mistake. They wait that extra second and end up firing it into someone's shinpad.

But they used to do it more. Now it's like no one does other than Miller and Abby.

It's like anytime Nyquist is going to shoot, he delays which gives the goalie time to set up and someone to get in front of the shot, then he shoots it anyways.