No Doubt: It's a Cup Hangover

[Matt 1,049]

The save percentage is indicative of poor defensive play.

By the same token you're saying Mike Smith has great defense in front of him in Tampa?

Osgood's been average.

[Stu in Israel 0]

I personally, reject the term "Cup hangover." If there were such a thing how did some teams win the Cup three straight times, four straight times, and the Montreal Canadiens even won it five straight times.

Here's an applicable quotation I just found on the Internet while searching for something else:

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

-- Lou Holtz

[Matt 1,049]

I personally, reject the term "Cup hangover." If there were such a thing how did some teams win the Cup three straight times, four straight times, and the Montreal Canadiens even won it five straight times.

Considering the results of defending Stanley Cup champions the following season over the last 20 years with only Pittsburgh and Detroit repeating I'd say that yes, it does exist.

Don't forget that the other repeat champions also dealt with fewer teams, no salary cap and in an age where you're geographic location played a large role in the talent you had on your roster.

[betterREDthandead 58]

The save percentage is indicative of poor defensive play.

Like others said....only to an extent. A better indication of poor defensive play is a good save percentage with a poor GAA.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Well considering when Detroit lost it they lost it hard the save percentage doesn't surprise me. Staal had some beauties put right on his stick and I really don't see any weak goals from a goalies standpoint.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

The save percentage is indicative of poor defensive play.

Five months ago, my money is Ozzie snags 3 or 4 of those pucks. He was in a zone then and he's not right now. But frankly, with the talent the Wings have and what they're capable of on both sides of the puck, there's no excuse to need to rely on him to be hot or steal any games for us.

[BlueMonk 102]

I personally, reject the term "Cup hangover." If there were such a thing how did some teams win the Cup three straight times, four straight times, and the Montreal Canadiens even won it five straight times.

We're not talking about a Cup hangover that's going to last until next Spring; we're talking about one that has led to undisciplined, uninspired play in the early weeks of the season following the championship.

To my mind, this is clearly about a Cup hangover. These are basically the same players, but they're not winning the battles for the puck, not playing physical and not working for 60 minutes. They look bored.

As tough as it is on the fans to see them underachieving right now, the playoffs are so far off that the poor form they're displaying in these games isn't all that important. If they're still playing like this in March, then we'll know there's a real problem. Until then, let them save their real push for the Spring, I say.

[Guest Four]

I have an idea, the wings continue to play like garbage - lose the next 5 (badly) , go on a roll for the next say 40 games, little slump again near the end, and they are hungry for the playoffs after sucking the last 2-3 weeks

We won't have a great record, but it will make us to the playoffs, hungry ready to repeat knowing we CAN lose.

Edited November 13, 2008 by Four

[diehardredwing19 11]

can you say bring in Jonathan Ericcson? i wish i wish, ntn agaisnt derek meech though hes been ok i think

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I hope nobodoy there dropped the soap!

[chrisdetroit 189]

I am a Red Wings Fan 100%. They are a true finess team, and would be unbeatable in a college hockey or olympic hockey setting where the emphasis is on skating and shooting. However, in the NHL, a physical team will beat a finess team four out of seven games. The Red Wings need to be more physical on defense. They need bigger, younger and more aggressive defensemen. They need more "grit" overall, but expecially on Defense.

One more thing, the Red Wings have one more Achilles Heel They seem to go into a trance late in a game where they consistently turn the puck over in their own zone, fail to clear, and in general, let the other team pass and shoot without interference.IN the last three years, it has been a recurrent problem. At first I thought it was that our defensemen were too small or too old. But it also applies to the forwards. You can pull your goalie in the last two minutes in any game against the Wings and have a good chance of dominating the play in the Red Wings zone and getting a goal. I think its a psychological thing, which would require more than bringing in new personnel. If they can fix that problem, its back to the cup! just my opinion, FWIW. Joe S

Oh for fu$% sake this same old tired argument again. Yea cause Staurt and Kronwall are to old and not agressive , Lids and his 6 Norris trophys suck. right.....

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

We're not talking about a Cup hangover that's going to last until next Spring; we're talking about one that has led to undisciplined, uninspired play in the early weeks of the season following the championship.

To my mind, this is clearly about a Cup hangover. These are basically the same players, but they're not winning the battles for the puck, not playing physical and not working for 60 minutes. They look bored.

As tough as it is on the fans to see them underachieving right now, the playoffs are so far off that the poor form they're displaying in these games isn't all that important. If they're still playing like this in March, then we'll know there's a real problem. Until then, let them save their real push for the Spring, I say.

Exactly.

More and more this really is looking like a hangover. They played well into spring and won everything there is to win. So it's an extremely short off season, you sure know they weren't training as much as usual, and as Matt pointed out, they have no chip on their shoulder.

That comes into play on battling for loose pucks, throwing hits, making your opponent pay for that real estate in front of your net, and being disciplined to do all the little things right. Right now the offense on this team is clicking so well they seem content to gamble that way.

I think they'll get better as the season wears on, but (not that I want this) it might almost be better if they did go through a losing streak instead of eeking out points in these games they're blowing. If anything's going to wake them up, it's going to be losing a handful of games and all the talk about how the Stanley Cup Champs look very beatable.

Hell, as much as I thought he should've retired, maybe Cheli returning to the lineup will be a good thing. He's definitely got a hunger to play, and it's got to be pissing him off to watch the Wings screw up defensively like they have been.

Edited November 13, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[CMatt89 63]

Its no cup hangover...at all.... Its just the effects of what we now see as a tremendous coach in Todd McLellan (sp?) leaving. And Lidstrom wearing a visor

[cboth686 0]

Yeah...GAA is more related to team play than Save % is. Save % is pretty safe statistic to pin on tenders...Not to try and say the D has been great, and Osgood HASNT had a chance on a good number of shots, and that's the D problems not his. But Conk's stats were pretty good last time I checked...? So thats kinda where you have to draw the line. If one goalie is producing respectable stats and the other isn't while playing behing the same D it's somewhat concerning. This is what we saw last year just flipped with Hasek, he had poor numbers while Osgood had better, and it was pretty much safe to say it was due to his play.