where, oh where has our defense gone?

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

what are the reason's for such a dramatic shift in our defensive prowess? we've been the best, or nearly the best defensive team for years. what happened? i'm curious what people think, because, let's face it, if our pp wasn't so lethal, with our defense (as a team) playing the way it has this year, our record would be drastically different.

[sixer 37]

It's a combination of poorer defense and goaltending. Lack of concetration, hangover from winning the cup, call it what you will, but Babcock needs to shake things up and get these boys back focusing on defense. The offense will come.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I think our defense has gone to Chinatown, but then again I'm a crappy guesser and am not all that funny when trying to be sarcastic.

*shrugs*

[Ruys92 0]

Don't forget, our lines are getting shuffled left and right due to injuries. IMO, all the lines except the first could use a little more chemistry between each other. When you throw in a player as big as Hossa, expect changes. The reason this is taking so long is because Babcock hasn't gotten the chance to work with a completely healthy unit. Cleary is day-to-day and Chelios will be back soon. Defense will come. You guys just need to be greatful we do have a winning record right now and quit crying.

"There were too many bulls*** calls in the SCF's last year."

"Who cares we won the Cup anyways!"

"Yeah but there were too many bulls*** calls in the SCF's last year."

You guys need to be grateful what we have because even though we haven't given teams a brush of our potential, there are teams playing s*** hockey playing to their full potential.

Be patient. The time will come.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Don't forget, our lines are getting shuffled left and right due to injuries. IMO, all the lines except the first could use a little more chemistry between each other. When you throw in a player as big as Hossa, expect changes. The reason this is taking so long is because Babcock hasn't gotten the chance to work with a completely healthy unit. Cleary is day-to-day and Chelios will be back soon. Defense will come. You guys just need to be greatful we do have a winning record right now and quit crying.

"There were too many bulls*** calls in the SCF's last year."

"Who cares we won the Cup anyways!"

"Yeah but there were too many bulls*** calls in the SCF's last year."

You guys need to be grateful what we have because even though we haven't given teams a brush of our potential, there are teams playing s*** hockey playing to their full potential.

Be patient. The time will come.

i'm not crying, and who says i'm not grateful? i'm simply asking. the turn around defensively from last year to this year has been significant. we haven't had that many injuries, i don't think that's it. and the chemistry should be there, we have basically the same team from last year except for hossa, and the top line has been great (other than datsyuk's poorly timed turnovers tonight).

[Icesurfer 75]

ONE WORD.......McCrimmon. Not a good hire. But to be fair .........it would most difficult for any coach to come in and tell a cup winning defense core what to do.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Fire McCrimmon and hire Uwe Krupp as our defensive coach.

Problem solved.

[VM1138 1,921]

It's really starting to look like McCrimmon, though to be honest, I've only gotten to see maybe three games this season due to constantly working.

[Ruys92 0]

I don't know if McCrimmon deals with our forwards much but in terms of defense issues I find the forwards more responsible.

As for injuries, Zetterberg was out, Franzen was out, Cleary was out, Lilja's been out, Chelios' been out,

All have affected changes to the second, third, and fourth lines.

Yes there should be some chemistry and there is, it's just not enough to maximize our full potential.

[egroen 384]

There's been one key difference --- No Chelios!

And some of you thought he was useless???

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

To San Jose?

Kidding.

But seriously, what would Chris Chelios do? I'm not sure, we'll just have to wait and see when he comes back.

[LidsFan 68]

I think that the blame of what is wrong with the defense has to be on the players. They know how to play good defense but they are not doing it. It seems that the chemistry that they had in June has just disappeared, and now they are playing like they have new partners that they have to get used to. I hope that Lidstrom will lead by example and get the defense turned around.

Even if the team is not clicking with the new defensive coach they should still remember the basics of defense and apply it when they are on the ice.

[PuckFace 1]

Cheli is still a great D-man. Yea, he doesn't see a lot of ice time but when he is out there he makes smart plays. I think he brings more to the team then he is giving credit for.. But to be honest I really can't see it bringing down the other two D lines.

[CenterIce 83]

I think that the blame of what is wrong with the defense has to be on the players. They know how to play good defense but they are not doing it. It seems that the chemistry that they had in June has just disappeared, and now they are playing like they have new partners that they have to get used to. I hope that Lidstrom will lead by example and get the defense turned around.

Even if the team is not clicking with the new defensive coach they should still remember the basics of defense and apply it when they are on the ice.

The problem is the team defense. They are not working as a team to get the puck out of the zone and getting a scoring chance on the other end. It really showed in third against Pittsburgh. Shots on goal were 26-14 in favor of the Wings, through two periods. During the third period and overtime, shots on goal were 20-8, in favor of Pittsburgh.

Looking at the NHL stats, the Wings goals against by period is 10, 16, 18, 3. They are coasting through the ends of games, where they need to play all 60 minutes.

There power play is first, but their penalty kill is 16. Bowman always wanted the sum of those numbers to be under 10.

Per game, they are first in goals for and 23 in goals against, resulting in a per game goal differential of 0.28. They have only had 4 games where the result was not by one goal. Two were empty net wins, and they have one - two goal win and one - two goal loss.

Edited November 12, 2008 by CenterIce

[egroen 384]

They just look lazy out there - they are content almost 100% of the time to lay up in a puck chase and allow the opposing player to get to the board first (instead of taking a hit in order to make a play). The result is the other opposing players now have time to enter our zone, an ugly cycle around the boards where the Wings are not able to clear it and then the inevitable sloppy goal.

[RedArmy 4]

Chelios... hey everyone likes to bash him occasionally, but he is the major person missing right now. u never know..

[One Shot One Kill 0]

I honestly dont think the defense is that bad. Its just getting them to show up in the third period thats the problem. During tonights game for example the Penguins only had two goals going into the third period. During the last five minutes it turned into an Osgood shooting gallery and once again they gave up a goal in the last minute of the game.

[Dominator2005 558]

Again - scoring 5 - 5 is problem, Detroit allowed 6 goals last night and score 3. It wasn't Osgood fault but he could made an extra save. I'm still waiting on him to steal a game this season... Chelios needs to get back ASAP.

[uk_redwing 495]

Just for the hell of it...

We're missing Aaron Downey

[The Secret 304]

We really seem to scramble too much when we have the opposition sustaining pressure in our zone. Players chasing the other team too much and getting caught out of position, at least thats what I saw last night in the 3rd period. No one person in particular to blame.... not even Lilja or Sammy even though i hate them. Pitsburgh took back the momentum of the game and ran with it. Looked like 2 different teams playing in the 3rd then from the first 2 periods. Cup hang over, poor coaching, what ever the problems are they need to be found and fixed because there are way too many great teams this year and this type of play will certainly produce and early exit come play off time. No need to panic but there definately needs to be some thorough examination and correction done ASAP. Although I am thoroughly embarrassed by last nights loss I have total faith that we will find our game.

[Inultus 12]

As for injuries, Zetterberg was out, Franzen was out, Cleary was out, Lilja's been out, Chelios' been out,

All have affected changes to the second, third, and fourth lines.

Yes there should be some chemistry and there is, it's just not enough to maximize our full potential.

Interesting considering Zetterberg and Franzen both had goals last night.

Did you actually watch the game?

The breakdown in the third occurred because the Wings were not sticking to their game plan. Puck possession is our bread and butter, we got away from that by being lazy and the result is an OT loss.

[Ozzie30 170]

Interesting considering Zetterberg and Franzen both had goals last night.

Did you actually watch the game?

The breakdown in the third occurred because the Wings were not sticking to their game plan. Puck possession is our bread and butter, we got away from that by being lazy and the result is an OT loss.

I believe the poster was referring to all those players being injured this season, not last night.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Wings defense

This article lays out a number of aspects which might explain what is going on with the Wings thus far.

They [Wings] show a team that is making mental mistakes, while still playing good hockey (as shown by the discrepancy between the shots on goal figures and the goals allowed figures).

They show a team that has yet to fully adjust to the presence of All-Star forward Marian Hossa. Whether or not the Wings can overcome these obstacles will be a measure of Babcock’s coaching ability, and will ultimately be the determining factor in Detroit’s quest to defend its Cup.

[BigWinston 15]

I don't think its completely disappeared.

For the most part its still good. It just seems that for one period of every game so far they've looked like Bambi on ice.

Thinking back, the majority of the games go one of 2 ways :

1. Defense starts out crap. Concede a goal or two, tighten up and our on-form offense makes up the ground and then some.

2. Defense starts out great. Get a nice couple of goal lead, then someone flicks a switch and the defense suddenly can't skate, can't position properly and can't find (never mind clear) a rebound from anywhere in their zone. Sometimes the lead was enough that the opposition can't claw their way back completely.

The turning point seems lately to be giving away on a 5-3. I've already stated I thought the 2 calls that led to the 5-3 last night were probably caused by the officials and a few scraps of acid they had left lying around from the 70's, but some in prior games were justified - and the whole team needs to be more disciplined.

THERE IS NO NEED TO GIVE AWAY IDIOTIC PENALTIES EVER! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A MULTI-GOAL LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited November 12, 2008 by BigWinston

[BigWinston 15]

As a side note though, I really like the Mule, Z, Flip line.