b.shanafan14

This is essentially playoff time. With Bert getting on in years (38), back a constant problem even when he isn't missing games, and having missed all but 7 this year, I'm actually surprised so many people think him getting/forcing himself back in the last 4 games or so is a great idea. With the ramped up level of intensity, unless he is 100%, and I mean tip-top shape, I think he'll be more of a drain than a huge gain. Its bad enough if he is healthy having to shake off the rust at this time of year, but with the Wings in the precarious position they are in now, do we really want someone who has been playing great like Andersson, Gus, or even Brunner (who has shown more jump lately, despite lack of scoring) riding pine with the playoffs on the line to just test Bert's back and legs?

Eek! He dropped off faster than Franzen not having fun. Seriously though, surprising, and yet, not very. Things were really rolling for him prior to signing for buku bucks. Nothing kills work ethic like job security.

Hopefully the Wings see the standings tomorrow and wake up. Every other team around them is trending upward, and they are no longer in a playoff spot. Its win or die with 7 games remaining. If either luck or effort/composure are lacking, they can kiss 21 years of playoffs goodbye, thank Holland for signing glass men, past-their-primes, and sloppy defensemen (GM of the century that he is). Guess we'll see what we're really made of in the next two weeks...

Sharks lost to Dallas, bumping the Wings from 8th to 9th AND Minnesota tied the game, looks like it will go to OT, meaning each team gains a point, and Columbus could very well be tied in points with the now 9th place Wings by the end of the night.

Dallas, post-firesale, are just over a period away from cashing in on their game in hand, winning their 5th straight, and knocking the Wings into 9th place, potentially for good. Looking pretty bleak... I hate having to root for other teams to win or lose to change my teams fortunes. All I know is I hope the Sharks come back to win and Minnesota-Columbus game ends in regulation.

The Wings control their own destiny so-long as they keep the 8th seed, which is a more and more fragile situation. We are two points ahead of 3 teams which are all trending better than the Wings at the moment, and one with a game in hand. In other words, the Wings need to win more games then three teams which are currently playing better than they are, one of which has the benefit of a game in hand AND the ROW tie breaker.... So now ask yourself this: do the Wings REALLY control their own destiny playing the way they are?

Babcock's theory (proven wrong countless times): forward with a good shot off a cycle from 10 feet out will look great floating that same shot through traffic from 40 feet out, so much so that the ability to actually preserve the cycle or even keep the puck in the zone at the point is unimportant. (see: Jason Williams, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler, Damien Brunner...)

Dallas had a fire-sale at the deadline, and yet, they have won 4 straight, and sit behind the Wings by two points with a game in hand.

Whoever gets interviewed: I thought we played good, just sometimes things don't go your way. No reason to lose sleep over it. *whistles a happy tune, skips away to go rest on laurels* Seriously, nothing ever changes, and the excuses or dismissals have been played out for years. On to another chokefest on Sunday.

Wings will stay in 8th just long enough to really choke hard at the end. This team is soft in the head. That tying goal sequence was a gallery of blow coverages, laziness, and sloppiness. Someone should explain to them that its less work to win in regulation than it is to lose in a shootout; maybe that would get them playing out the last 3-4 minutes instead of standing around watching.

When Zetterberg scores a shootout goal, you know that things are screwy...

Pathetic.... pathetic effort. Boneheads on the tying goal, and piss-poor showing in the skills competition/coin toss. Pretty pitiful.

Thank god that cluster f*** is over.... now to watch Jimmy get embarrassed by Kane's slomo BS and our guys' half-hearted attempts. Please, god: GO WINGS!

Good god.... so close to blowing it HUGE. These Wings are way too soft between the ears, especially when it matters most.

The most predictable thing in the world: Wings durp on a one-goal lead with 2 minutes left against the Hawks.

We can't clear the zone to save our lives. First Emmerton winds up a clapper behind his own net, gets stripped, then Miller gives it right back to the point guy.

And... we're back. *sigh* way to go, Dan.

Wings need to follow up a big goal with big play for the first time since... June 2009.

Beauty! Mule actually did some work!

This. (is sad)

Finally someone shoots. Good play by Brunner.

Red Wings PP, hopefully better than the first. Wings look too afraid to shoot right now.

If it was all about the "plugs" in the roster, that would be one thing. Our best players have been our most inconsistent lately, and have made some of our most costly mistakes. This team isn't with it right now, when they need to be their most together. That means everyone. Not just the replacements or "plugs".

You're right, no one wants to lose. What you don't seem to want to accept is that not everyone is willing to do what is needed to win. The Wings look flat, complacent, and sloppy, top to bottom. Its all avoidable, but they seem indifferent to changing their ways.

Yeah... that's the problem. Needs more White and Cola... This team needs to work so much harder, and worlds smarter. Whether its "plugs" versus great players/starters, it doesn't excuse the effort, especially from our top guys.