3/20 GDT: Red Wings @ Flames

[tazzer82 0]

Babs called Hasek out because that embellishment cost the Wings 2 points. Was it entirely Dom's fault they lost? No. But that one mistake stood out, and I guess that was the reason for Babcock to mention it. Dom has done things like that before, and it's come back to bite him in the ass, but it's not mentioned by Babcock every time it happens. The guys need to start scoring some goals, and stop with the perimeter shots like in the playoffs. I swear I was watching the playoff series all over again last night, and that's just not cool. Hopefully they get back on track against Columbus, and being at home should certainly help alot. I'm not one to blame just the officials for losses, but the past five games we've only had 16 PPs compared to 32 for the opposing teams. That's kinda ridiculous if you ask me, and I know the team is not THAT undisciplined. Some of the penalties were legit, but how Calagry got away with only one penalty on them is beyond me.

Hopefully the guys score more tomorrow night, and we can be back in 1st place. Should be no way they can't score 4 or 5 times against Columbus.

One more thing. What does Langfeld bring to the team that Bootland doesn't?

[puckloo39 5,686]

Hopefully the guys score more tomorrow night, and we can be back in 1st place. Should be no way they can't score 4 or 5 times against Columbus.

wanna bet?

Prove me wrong, Wings.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Too bad the coach chose to call Hasek out publicly as the reason for the loss and excused the rest of the team for failing to generate anything that resembled offense.

That's not true, loo. Nowhere does Babcock pin the loss on Hasek. But his dive was a major point of interest and turning point in the game, it was inevitable it would be brought up. All Mike did was offer his analysis of it.

I'm sure attention grabbing headlines like "Babcock blames Hasek's theatrics for loss" are bothering you, but they're saying thing that Mike never did.

[tazzer82 0]

wanna bet?

Prove me wrong, Wings.

I know. Normally, there shouldn't be a reason not to be able to score 4 on Columbus. Unless of course the offense decides not to show up again.

Let's just both hope it does.

[rwfan007 18]

I know. Normally, there shouldn't be a reason not to be able to score 4 on Columbus. Unless of course the offense decides not to show up again.

Let's just both hope it does.

its more of a flow thing, the last 4 games or so we have been wearing grooves to the penalty box and therefore are unable to get any kind of flow going. Even this lineup without hank and bert and cleary has the potential to put some significant offensive numbers up. Dats has been killing penalties and is tired when it is 5-5. The rest of the bench is all screwed up because the 3rd and 4th lines arent getting any ice time, and the first 2 lines are shuffled because there are only 2 guys on the ice. The key is staying out of the box and getting some PP time.

[puckloo39 5,686]

That's not true, loo. Nowhere does Babcock pin the loss on Hasek. But his dive was a major point of interest and turning point in the game, it was inevitable it would be brought up. All Mike did was offer his analysis of it.

I'm sure attention grabbing headlines like "Babcock blames Hasek's theatrics for loss" are bothering you, but they're saying thing that Mike never did.

I like Babcock, and don't blame him for the headlines... he didn't write them. If he did call out anyone else, the media chose to ignore it since it's more interesting to have Hasek's name in the headlines than to point out the idiotic penalties responsible for the set up on the goals.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/stories/inde....xml&coll=1

If Babcock didn't blame Hasek for the loss, what does this headline mean? I am confused by plain English, I guess. Yes, it bothers me. No, I don't expect anyone to stand up for Dom. He will survive, I am sure.

Edited March 21, 2007 by puckloo39

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

If Babcock didn't blame Hasek for the loss, what does this headline mean? I am confused by plain English, I guess.

There's nothing to be confused about; you said it yourself, he doesn't write the headlines. Does he talk about Dom's mistake? Absolutely, it was a huge part of this game. Does he say that it was the reason for the Wings' loss? Not anywhere, because that would be wrong and he knows it.

All that happened is that Mike acknowledged Hasek's embelishment, other people (Ansar Khan, in this case) took it to mean that he was placing blame, but the connection's not there.

[puckloo39 5,686]

There's nothing to be confused about; you said it yourself, he doesn't write the headlines. Does he talk about Dom's mistake? Absolutely, it was a huge part of this game. Does he say that it was the reason for the Wings' loss? Not anywhere, because that would be wrong and he knows it.

All that happened is that Mike acknowledged Hasek's embelishment, other people (Ansar Khan, in this case) took it to mean that he was placing blame, but the connection's not there.

Convenient, too bad you can't unring a bell, eh?

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Convenient, too bad you can't unring a bell, eh?

I'm going to be as forthcoming as I can with you, loo: I don't have a clue as to what you're saying.

[Covenant 0]

This team is more suited to playoff hockey than any other Red Wings team since 2002. It's not saying much, but let's not forget the most important piece missing between the 2002 and the 2003 teams was Hasek and he's back. Older, more fragile, but still very capable and with a winning attitude second to none.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I'm going to be as forthcoming as I can with you, loo: I don't have a clue as to what you're saying.

Whatever Babcock said or didn't say, he can't take it back or clarify what he meant at this point. And perhaps he doesn't want to. What the press took from his statements has become "the truth" - Dom lost the game for them - and no one will read into his comments that anyone else was responsible except Hasek, since he focused only on Dom's actions.

Too bad Babs was so angry over the loss to acknowledge also that Dom kept the game close enough to win and made some amazing stops on Iginla and others. Neither Vancouver or Calgary games were winnable when the Wings only score one goal, unless Dom posted a shutout in each outing. That's a bit much to ask, I think.

[Viperar 16]

good point, its not like our offense showed up either

[kylee 727]

Dom has his reputation here in Detroit after a less than stellar game to come right back and put up a brick wall. I have no fear with Dom other than his groin, but so far so good right?

He could (and if the Wings want a chance to win the Cup this year he will) come up big in the playoffs. He seems to be a fierce athelete and he wont give up.

I just think the Wings looked like crap these last two games.

Yet as other folks have said in the thread we can't forget that we're missing an absolutely huge piece to the Wings puzzle : Hank Zetterberg.

With Bert coming back, and Z soon after, the Wings could gel at the absolute best time.

so, for me,

yeah i was bummed they lost a few games,

but the sky isnt falling.

[puckloo39 5,686]

good point, its not like our offense showed up either

We are now a committee of two who believe there might have been a bunch of other guys in Red Wings sweaters involved, more or less, in both losses on the road.

They'll show up for Ozzie tomorrow and light up Columbus, I am not worried.

a little bit of balance on the "bad Dom" situation from Eric Duhatshek, if anyone's interested at this point:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home

Edited March 21, 2007 by puckloo39

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

What I got from the game :

Datsyuk is worth 5 million.

Lang is incredibly Lazy , Nicklas Lidstrom has a cannon.

And That the wings havent won in calgary for a number of years.

[Zion 93]

Zetterberg may not be 100% for the rest of the season, so we can't use that excuse.

To whoever posted that "I swear I was watching a playoff game", you are not alone. Some of us don't have our homer glasses on, and recognize a future 1st-round sweep.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

And Babcock , best quote in a while

"I don't care what anybody says, when the game's on the line, I like having him back there."

Talking about Dom

[Kp-Wings 3]

And That the wings havent won in calgary for a number of years.

They won a regular season game in Calgary via shootout last season.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

To whoever posted that "I swear I was watching a playoff game", you are not alone. Some of us don't have our homer glasses on, and recognize a future 1st-round sweep.

An aggressive forecheck and trap are Wings-killers, and anyone who doubts that is flat out wrong. But the addition of Zetterberg and Bertuzzi cannot just be glossed over. You're talking about one of the top players in the game coming back; he himself is a beast, and the way he makes his linemates better--especially Homer--is astounding. He can truly be a gamebreaker.

And of course Bert, well, he's everything we're missing. If he can get on a roll, watch out.

It won't be easy, never would be, and they could very easily be KO'd in the first/second round, but I think you're vastly underestimating this team. Calling an early exit now is way too premature.

[puckloo39 5,686]

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2007/...796982-sun.html

Kipper enjoyed the evening, announcing that the Wings were not much of a threat, scoring-wise (like we didn't notice?)

Besides, he pointed out, the shots on goal didn't tell the tale. He didn't consider those 31 shots to be loaded with great scoring chances. "Lots of those shots, they were outside. The defence played well and the forwards came back, so then it's tough to play against us," Kiprusoff said.

"We outworked them tonight and that's what we have to do against every team in this league. That's our style of play."

um... bang on, Kipper.

And Babcock , best quote in a while

"I don't care what anybody says, when the game's on the line, I like having him back there."

Talking about Dom

Babs forgot he ever said that last night, I guess. Either that, or he's bipolar.

An aggressive forecheck and trap are Wings-killers, and anyone who doubts that is flat out wrong. But the addition of Zetterberg and Bertuzzi cannot just be glossed over. You're talking about one of the top players in the game coming back; he himself is a beast, and the way he makes his linemates better--especially Homer--is astounding. He can truly be a gamebreaker.

And of course Bert, well, he's everything we're missing. If he can get on a roll, watch out.

It won't be easy, never would be, and they could very easily be KO'd in the first/second round, but I think you're vastly underestimating this team. Calling an early exit now is way too premature.

I really hope you're right about Bert. And everything else, I agree with.

[Zion 93]

It's obvious that many of the shots were Sammy-like shots: harmless and from a distance. I FF'd through most of the 3rd, and was surprised when I heard the shot totals, because the Wings just didn't have that much offense.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I really hope you're right about Bert. And everything else, I agree with.

I guess I'm not saying anything folks don't already know... adding two great players into your line up makes your team better... but sometimes it's so simple it flies under the radar.

Not to drudge up that other stuff, because it is pretty much a non-issue, but Mike was critical of the penalties the Wings took last night and was certainly in more of a blame-ish mode when he said this:

“It destroys you, it’s ridiculous,†Babcock said. “You can’t take penalties, you can’t be undisciplined, especially when you don’t have everybody back (from injuries).â€Â

It’s not about officiating, he said.

“You can complain all you want, but it’s not about refereeing,†Babcock said. “You got to take responsibility for yourself and that’s been our approach all year. We’re the (sixth)-least penalized team, we usually do a good job with it, but on this trip for whatever reason we weren’t able to.â€Â

Problem was, these quotes were NOT in the AP game recap, or Ansar Khan's wrap up.

Instead, it was in an article about Bertuzzi.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

They won a regular season game in Calgary via shootout last season.

Of course , the best game of my life , and I wouldnt have even lived here then