Dabura

Maybe we're over-thinking this. Our roster is relatively thin (compard to what we're used to). Maybe it's as simple as that. We could do all that crazy high-scoring puck-possession stuff before because, well, we could - i.e. we had the requisite skill, talent, moxy. Now we can't because, well, we can't. Is it a mere coincidence that 1) this is the weakest lineup we've had in maybe twenty years, and 2) we're looking absolutely lost?

Like haroldsnepsts and I and others have been saying for awhile now (did that sound snotty? Sorry, I'm not trying to be snotty), we're in an awkward, unfortunate place: we don't have enough skill to really work the puck-possession system, and we don't have enough size, speed, and grit to play a dump-and-chase game. I think the blue line is far and away the biggest issue there. This is by far the weakest group we've had since the mid-90s. Were Jimmy not an elite goalie, and were our forwards not very responsible defensively, I think our D group would be exposed - in ugly fashion. There's just so very little there right now. Kindl, Quincey, Smith, and Lashoff are third-pairers here, and they'd be third-pairers elsewhere. The friggin' Jets are arguably deeper than us on the back end. I think Nyquist and Helm will help the overall cause; outside of, like, Tootoo, we have no speed. But if we're really going to turn things around and become a legitimately elite team again, we absolutely need to pick up a quality defenseman, especially with our #2 being out for at least three weeks. We're not going to win the Cup with this blue line. Not happening.

I've never been to the Joe. I've seen them in a few different places, though. (PHI, NJ, NYC, NYI, SJ.) The thing that annoys me the most? When they suck, like they did last night. Buying stuff is, like, kind of a big deal in Detroit now, right? I mean, I'm not saying you're all poor. But to pay up for tickets (which I assume are generally massively overpriced) in rough times...you want your money's worth.

Wait wait wait wait wait. The DEVILS beat the BRUINS? Oh for the love of f***, now I'm all pissed off again. I was actually taking the loss pretty well this morning, but nothing ticks me off more - re: rooting for the Wings - than when they lose a game like that and then their biggest rivals also drop a ridiculous game, meaning we were *that* close to gaining some important ground in the standings. But nooOoOooOooo, we couldn't even get it up to beat a horrific Rags team. STICK IT UP YOUR BUTT, PAVEL

I'm not sure why people are singling Alfie out for blame. I mean, he hasn't been where he needs to be, but two goals and, what, eight assists? On this team that's excellent. (See: Franzen, our ZOMG CONN SMYTHE ART ROSS POWER-FORWARD, has, what, two goals and five assists?) Alfie has been one of our more consistently dangerous - and all-around responsible - players. I fear, among many other things, the young guys have gotten complacent. "Wait, you mean I can just make my money and half-ass it and I won't be sent down - because we're too young already - and I won't be traded - because our GM doesn't trade anymore and we have no cap space anyway? And hey, look at Nyquist. That could be me, wallowing in the minors for no good reason. So why should I even bother giving '110%'?" YOU'D BETTER

I liked Arcarde Fire back in the beginning-ish. Funeral, Neon Bible. The whole thing with them being even better than the best thing you've ever heard (and even then, words can't describe how amazing they are), and did you know they're from CANADA?, has turned me off to them since then. So I didn't watch this. /indie-snob jerk

One positive: our fourth line. These guys have been doing it right.

Kenny's trying really, really hard!

IF FILPPULA WAS ON THIS TEAM HE WOULD HAVE 20 GOALS BY NOW HE WAS ALWAYS A BIG PRODUCER FOR US AND WHY WE LET HIM GO IS BEYOND ME JUST LOOK AT HOW HE'S DOING IN TB - 30 GOALS ALREADY WHEN HAS WEISS EVER PUT UP THE KIND OF NUMBERS FLIP HAS? I REST MY CASE

This all day. We are ungodly awful in our own zone. Slow, sloppy, stupid.

His ass was sat. Or he was hurt. But he looked more seething than hurt.

I would trade him for future considerations.

The worst I've ever seen this team play.

I am genuinely worried about this team.

Were John Scott a Euro, Cherry would be blasting him.

Our team is garbage.

Tootoolly agree. (See what I did there?)

MILLER

Good effort from Weiss.

I hate Smith.

Four Seasons built my sun room.

Absolutely no sustained pressure. Another PP. Double minor?

Incredibly tentative start. Jimmy just bailed us out.

PP looks terrible.

FS-D feed on the NHL Network. PP coming up.