The sky is falling

[mjlee 0]

... or maybe not.

Look, last year the Wings could fly almost unnoticed under the radar. Remember when all the 'experts' not to mention fans of opposing teams all believed that the wings would crash out in the first round 'like they always do.' That they were too slow, too old, too soft, too euro. This year no one will underestimate the Wings. The media had already anointed them the best team in the NHL before the season started. The coaches, GM's and players of all the other 29 teams are no less immune to the media hype than are the fans. If you read the news and the message boards of the opposing team before a Wings games this year teams and fans alike are all pumped up to play the Wings.

Why do you guys think that Central had such a (comparatively) good record against the Wings? Because both players, coaches and fans wanted to win those games more than anything. Because the Wings are what the other teams in Central strive to emulate and therefore both hate and envy. This year it goes not only for Central but for the rest of the league as well. Playing the Wings will get the players going, gets them into a scrappy, agressive do or die playoff mode, because if they can beat/hang with the defending champs, the mighty Red Wings, then hey, they too are a SC contender.

Every team, including the Wings need some extra motivation during the long and sometimes weary regular season. For the rest of the league this year, that motivation is the Red Wings. And I think this is part of the reason why so far the Wings have looked less than stellar, simply because other teams are playing that much better against them. Give credit where credit is due. The question is what will serve the Wings as motivation? Unfortunately the Wings don't have an archnemesis, a team that regularly defeats them and that they can hate with a passion. The Avs used to fill that role but with the drubbing in the playoffs last year and the problems they have this year, it might be hard to work up that necessary hate. Who else? The Ducks, the original six? The Wings are simply too damned good!

This is why I think all this early, I hesitate to call it struggle, but roadbumps, is a very good thing for the Wings. I don't expect or want them to win the Presidents Trophy and be dominant like they were last year. If they play perfect hockey and crush all their opponents, then I'll be a lot more worried. To be honest I hope the Red Wings play like crap, that they lose games, that Babcock rails and the forums despair and that we get loads of trolls here to mock the fall of the mighty Wings. Because it's through adversity that you build a team and that bloody-minded fighting spirit that you badly need to make it all the way to the SC. Last year it was the memory of falling to the Ducks in the WC finals and of being told repeatedly that they were too old, soft, etc, etc that served as motivation. This year let it be being dismissed for playing really bad hockey, being hung out to dry by the pundits, and losing to the Kings and Leafs and Canucks I don't want the Wings to be told repeatedly what a great and dominant team they are, how no other team will ever beat them. Not even professionals are completely innocent of believing their own press.

I will leave you guys with a final thought. After five games played:

2007: 3-1-1

2008: 3-1-1

Yup, the sky is definitely falling.

[Reds4Life 51]

Yup, the sky is definitely falling.

cool, let's hope it hits Kopecky

[Slave 31]

cool, let's hope it hits Kopecky

LMAO

[Hank 0]

cool, let's hope it hits Kopecky

Not if Sammy was shooting.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Not if Sammy was shooting.

Imagine a shootout with Sammy and Boyd Deveraux. It might go 30+ rounds without a goal.

[wingsfan40 0]

Imagine a shootout with Sammy and Boyd Deveraux. It might go 30+ rounds without a goal.

[Shaman 713]

Imagine a shootout with Sammy and Boyd Deveraux. It might go 30+ rounds without a goal.

So long as there isnt a goalie in net, if there is one it might be a week or 2....oh all the missed shots and shots the chest....

Edited October 20, 2008 by Shaman464

[auxlepli 17]

I will leave you guys with a final thought. After five games played:

2007: 3-1-1

2008: 3-1-1

Odd that you pointed that out. I posted that on a sports site yesterday.

I had one friend who thought the Wings started 0-6 last year. I thought just the opposite, or close to 6-0.

The 3-1-1 record is pretty respectable. Still it's not as good as the Blues', Rangers', Canadiens', Sabres', Devils', Sharks', Oilers' or Wild's record. So the Wings are a bit behind the power curve this year.

What did the top of League look last year? Any teams ahead of the Wings last year? Or was 3-1-1 tops?

The Wings have matched last year's performance after five games, but that was then, this is now.

[toby91_ca 620]

Odd that you pointed that out. I posted that on a sports site yesterday.

I had one friend who thought the Wings started 0-6 last year. I thought just the opposite, or close to 6-0.

The 3-1-1 record is pretty respectable. Still it's not as good as the Blues', Rangers', Canadiens', Sabres', Devils', Sharks', Oilers' or Wild's record. So the Wings are a bit behind the power curve this year.

What did the top of League look last year? Any teams ahead of the Wings last year? Or was 3-1-1 tops?

The Wings have matched last year's performance after five games, but that was then, this is now.

Ottawa started 13-1 last year and we all know how that worked out for them.

Not sure why anyone would even look at a 3-1-1 record and be concerned, seeing as that would prorate to about 115 pts for the season.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Ottawa started 13-1 last year and we all know how that worked out for them.

Not sure why anyone would even look at a 3-1-1 record and be concerned, seeing as that would prorate to about 115 pts for the season.

I was confused as well. The Wings arent even playing at a high level yet.

[Opie 308]

Ottawa started 13-1 last year and we all know how that worked out for them.

Not sure why anyone would even look at a 3-1-1 record and be concerned, seeing as that would prorate to about 115 pts for the season.

Because the panic button is always in play for Detroit fans.

ZOMG they are not going to go undefeated, ZOMG it took Hossa 5 games to score a goal, the Wings are destine for an early playoff exit or worse yet not making the post season!!!!!!

Same reason people freak out game 3 of the first round of the post season, or at the deadline when player X isn't acquired.

[puckbags 863]

I was confused as well. The Wings arent even playing at a high level yet.

Most teams dont even become concerned about their record until about the 15-20 game mark. Obviously you want to win every game but the 15-20 game mark is usually a good indication about where the team is at and what line combos are clicking and who should be playing and who shouldn't. There is no panic on this team, even if we were 1-3-1 this team wouldn't be panicking right now...its just too early in the season. I dont really know why I'm writing this because the same stupid agruments spawn every season around herel.....Sammy sucks...We aren't tough enough......Lilja sucks.....it just gets old but it becomes expected around here.

[Vincanni 1]

Another interesting note to point out is that our loses have come from non-playoff teams and our wins all came from playoff teams last year (Well Carolina was close anyways and we still have ahnded them their only regulation lost this season.)

Either way it shows we bring it against game opponents then flounder and play down to the level of a weaker team, something we struggled with all year and I also think contributed to our weak inner division record.

[Guest Crymson]

Odd that you pointed that out. I posted that on a sports site yesterday.

I had one friend who thought the Wings started 0-6 last year. I thought just the opposite, or close to 6-0.

The 3-1-1 record is pretty respectable. Still it's not as good as the Blues', Rangers', Canadiens', Sabres', Devils', Sharks', Oilers' or Wild's record. So the Wings are a bit behind the power curve this year.

What did the top of League look last year? Any teams ahead of the Wings last year? Or was 3-1-1 tops?

The Wings have matched last year's performance after five games, but that was then, this is now.

Yes, so let's panic.

[auxlepli 17]

Yes let's! It'll be so much fun.

Let's all compare ourselves to zeros instead of heroes.

Let's all give A's to students regardless of how they perform.

Every team should win the Stanley Cup because they all played so hard for 82 games.

Sheesh I didn't say anything about panicking, but I guess I should compare my team to the League's dregs from here on out.

[Chunkylover 26]

The Wings did start slowly last season and it is way too early to truly panic, but I don't think we should mock fellow posters for being concerned about the team. They have played like crap and that is very disconcerting. Especially coming off the near flawlessness of the later rounds of the playoffs. If someone wants to rant about it this is the place to do it.

As I said we started slow last season, and again in the first round. There were bad passes by Lidstrom and Rafalski, missed nets by Zetterberg and Datsyuk, and until Ozzie stepped in there was bad goaltending. In hindsight we know it would have been foolish to worry going into game five but who here wasn't nervous after game 3 and 4?

I too believe that a slow, difficult start will serve them best. If we finish third in the Conference we'll look like underachievers but then the team will know it will be tough and bring their best effort into every game, like in '97.

With that said, I hate bad goals from sloppy passes and defensive coverage. I hate seeing Datsyuk do anything other than pants-ing opposing defenders and I hate that we can't play air-tight defense. So yes, I am irritated by the "compete level" up to this point: nobody likes a loss, but there really is no reason to truly panic.

[Guest Crymson]

I think that people should spend some time appreciating the team when it does do well, rather than being spoiled brats and only acknowledging the team's play when it is sub-par.

[Dabura 12,207]

The Wings did start slowly last season and it is way too early to truly panic, but I don't think we should mock fellow posters for being concerned about the team. They have played like crap and that is very disconcerting. Especially coming off the near flawlessness of the later rounds of the playoffs. If someone wants to rant about it this is the place to do it.

Well said.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I think that people should spend some time appreciating the team when it does do well, rather than being spoiled brats and only acknowledging the team's play when it is sub-par.

Well said. I am glad to see so many perfect members post here. It must be nice to never make mistakes or have a bad day. The Red Wings aren't exempt from bad games. Being a fan means taking the good with the bad. We get a lot more good than bad with the Red Wings.

[FedorovGurl 2]

[YoungGuns1340 1]

People aren't concerned about records so much as they are with lost leads, giveaways, turnovers, a high GAA, tons of shots against, an inability to score 5 on 5, and the fact that we have yet to win a game by more than a goal looking past empty netters.

And all this with - on paper - more talent and depth at every position than last year and any other team in the league currently. If the sky was falling through the first four games, apparently its all rainbows and sunshine after just one comebcack victory against a team that was playing back-to-back and their 6th game in 9 days.

Its not about the numbers, its about the product on the ice.

[Dabura 12,207]

Its not about the numbers, its about the product on the ice.

Which many people are paying to see -- in a s***ty economy.

I hate to play that card, but, well...

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Which many people are paying to see -- in a s***ty economy.

I hate to play that card, but, well...

..and at the same time "paying to see" and "going to see" are two different things to much of the Joe's Season ticket holders.

[Casey 145]

Ottawa started 13-1 last year and we all know how that worked out for them.

Not sure why anyone would even look at a 3-1-1 record and be concerned, seeing as that would prorate to about 115 pts for the season.

116, actually. 50-16-16.

[Dabura 12,207]

..and at the same time "paying to see" and "going to see" are two different things to much of the Joe's Season ticket holders.

This is true. (Wasn't disagreeing with you, for the record.)