Heroes of Hockeytown

The Wings don't really have the luxury of throwing Oz back in the net night after night waiting for him to get back on his game, not this season. Howard is hot, and the Wings need every point they can get, playing the hot hand is the way to go. When all's said and done it will be Ozzie starting between the pipes in spring.

They certainly are right now, but I think their objective is pretty clear: keep their heads above water until they can get a few guys back. Hovering around 10th place or whatever is not ideal or where we'd like them to be, but considering the circumstances, that they are still well-within striking distance of the rest of the conference is a plus.

Seemed alright last night, Howard did a great job. There was one in there where it was a total disaster though, they had at least sixty chances to clear the puck and just couldn't do it, and Howard bailed them out in a big way.

He's been a weak link defensively -- maybe proportionally moreso than Lebda with his added ice time, although I don't know if anyone can match Brett -- but you can't complain, he's been good and competent enough for a rookie. Occasionally a guy will step in as a freshman and everything will click but most of the time there's a struggle and some growing pains, so it's all just a part of the process.

I agree Jack, and the winner of that game will be devalued for "only" beating another mid-major instead of getting a shot at one of the big dogs. Was this done to protect the powerhouse schools from another embarrassing defeat like OU vs Boise or Alabama vs Utah? I wouldn't put it past the suits that run the BCS...

Can't imagine myself every saying this: Howard has been the Wings' best goalie this season. Very inspiring performance from him, good defense against Gaborik, no scoring as usual but enough I guess. Pavel, Hank, and Nick were all in the mix on the scoreboard so that's encouraging at least.

Cue up Yackety Sax any time one of these guys tries to clear the puck.

It seems like the Wings are generating as many scoring chances as ever, and, as has been the trouble this season, just can't put any of those chances into the net.

They've scored first 10 times (they're 6-2-2 when they do), and trailed first 18 times (7-8-3).

Oh look, the 2003 Pass Interference Bowl. How is that better than the '06 Rose Bowl or '07 Fiesta Bowl? Terrible job, Yahoo.

Jeez, no luck if not bad luck. Remember when Kronwall broke his leg skating over a rut in a pregame warm up? Tough to imagine something as innocent as skating around like that can turn into such a disaster.

Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Playoffs?! I just hope we can win a game!

Well, that's why I say "should." A team of anemic schoolgirls could have posted better than one GFA by sheer dumb luck over the course of the last half dozen games. You're not realistically going to prevent your team from being scored on 2-3 times most nights, but by that same token you're not going to realistically only score one goal most nights either. Something somewhere has to give.

Which is probably just a function of the team not ever scoring in that time period, which maybe you're referring to, because I don't recall any glaring defensive errors on his part in that time frame. In fact, apart from a few brain farts now and again the defense seems to be doing a reasonably good job in the late going (with the notable exception of the PK, which is as bad as ever). They've got 15 goals against in the last 6 games; you should be able to get some points holding opponents to 2-3 goals per game on a consistent basis.

5 goals in 6 games. I am entirely certain that a scoring drought of this magnitude has never happened during my lifetime.

I guess it was nap time. I see the Wings are sticking with the status quo, never scoring again. Cherish Drew Miller's goal against Nashville, fellows, that historic tally was the final one in franchise history.

They're still only 6 points out of the division lead, miraculously it seems, although that is subject to change pending tonight's game. They haven't been doing their part to gain ground on them, though, but it's still early. Obviously they need to get their act together and start scoring or they might be in real trouble.

I don't know if there's ever been a stretch of games since I've been alive where the Wings have only managed 5 goals in as many games.

He started hot, but he's not right now. He's not talented enough to be a 40 goal guy, so he's not going to be scoring all the time. Whatever your expectations are of him, I think they're a tad too high, but he has contributed.

I thought he had one really nice chance on the wrap around but he hasn't really done much from where I'm sitting. It's neither here nor there, I'm not particularly high on either player's contributions at the moment, but I think you were just using the opportunity to single out Homer, as is your wont.

He's had three or four good shots and scoring chances, in close (per usual) and from a bit farther out. He didn't score, which makes him not unlike the rest of the Wings right now.

There's Bert for you.

Too slow developing.

November 23rd, 2009, 6:38 of the 2nd period. The last time a player in the Detroit Red Wings franchise will ever score a goal. Where did it all go wrong? What have we done to deserve this, cruel fates?

Well, I'm convinced the Wings will never score again.