crabcakes'n'redwings 4 Report post Posted November 12, 2008 So most, if not all, of us agree that we've got a problem on our hands. Our wings seem to be going through the motions, no playing with any heart of emotion, esspecially on defense. The question is, Who/What will break us out of this? Who will remind out team they they are the Detroit Red Wings. Babs? Nick? Ken? This loss? a Loss to a lower tier team? I think it will be a combination of Babs laying into them in practice in the coming weeks and Nick speaking up. I live in Maryland so i dont get many wings games but from what i know of Nick he is a "lead by example" guy not a "im gonna yell at you" guy haha so (like Steve) when we does talk...it will stick and it will mean something Either way, someone needs to wake us the up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CenterIce 83 Report post Posted November 12, 2008 It has to be the coaching staff. They need to work on 5 man units in practice and practice being penned in your own zone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bliz 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 I think it's time to shuffle defense pairings. Kronwall/Lidstrom and Stuart/Rafalski might work just fine for the top two. Lebda might have his head straight after sitting for a couple games but Meech has looked good enough to get a shot. Under no circumstances should there ever, ever be a pairing of Meech and Lebda. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 5,153 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 ...I cannot explain how pissed I was last night! I went to the game with the wife and kids and besides the fact that I was literally surrounded by Pens fans I also feel like I wasted $300!!!! I cannot believe the Wings gave up two 2 goal and one 3 goal lead!! This is not the first time this has happened. Ok, so they got the 5 on 3 goal and the 5 on 4 goal that made it 5-4, but very soon after we scored again to make it 6-4. That should have been over! The pens fans in my section (and they were all over) were about ready to leave, they were calling for them to change their goalie and among other things. The entire game they were complaining that it looked like the pens weren't playing hard, plenty of them were amazed on how Datsyuk was outplaying Crosby. Of course they got the last laugh when Staal stole the puck from Datsyuk in OT. Even as they were leaving (I think we were the only Wings fans in that section (at least it seemed like it)) they were commenting on how the game sucked for them except the outcome... ...Wings in serious trouble. 5 or 6 games this year have gone this way, except with Detroit holding on to win or winning in a shootout. The third period has been horrendous for the Wings, does anyone have the goals for and against in the 3rd period stats? All I could do was shake my head in disgust. What is it? Is it our Defense? Do we miss Chelios? I cannot explain it! Is it Osgood? He definately isn't playing as good this year as he started out last year. When a game is 7 to 6, neither goalie played good, but man, it just looked like the Wings lost interest and Osgood was, well, the old Osgood again. All in all, very disappointing loss, it would have hurt less if this was the first time it happened so far this young season, but it isn't, with the only excpetion being they have come out on the winning side for the most of them. Somethings wrong and Babcock better fix it or they will not make it to the finals again. FORTUNATELY the season is early and they can get this out of their system now, better than hitting a wall like this in April... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslionstigers 12 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 Osgood? How can you even drop a name like that when your talking about whos at fault here. For one its clearly the numerous defensive mistakes we have been making if you have been watching the games. Its not one person, nor 2 persons. Its the entire team both forwards and defense. For 2 your talking like Osgoods a 7 mill a year goaltender. Hes not paid that kind of money for a reason, hes a solid goaltender not Martin Broduer. His team controling the puck for 3/4ths the game and not allowing many scoring chances is why he has had great stats. I'm not dogging Ozzie at all. Hes a good goaltender couldn't ask for better. It wouldn't even make sense for our team to pay 10 mill a year for a goaltender facing 20 shots a game for the sacrifice we would have to make to get it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 Well, at least on paper and in writing, they have woken up... http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../811130382/1128 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidstromrules16 7 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 I was thinking Chris Chelios might wake them up........... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 I was thinking Chris Chelios might wake them up........... i don't know if you were joking or what, but i've honestly seriously thought the same thing. Chelios isn't valuable for his Defensive play anymore, but on the bench and in the locker room he's like a third coach. I really think his wisdom and experience can help right now with guys who even though they've been at this a while, have been awful (kronwall, lilja, lebda etc. ) Now if nick just settles down, we'll be just fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Esquire 324 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 "Babcock said he plans to go back to Brett Lebda on defense in place of Derek Meech , who was minus-1 in three games. Lebda played the first 11 games and was a team-worst minus-9. "I don't know if I'm solving anything," Babcock admitted. "It's called changing."" Sounds like a man with a plan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 It has to be the coaching staff. They need to work on 5 man units in practice and practice being penned in your own zone. Couldn't agree more. For the first time in forever the Wings aren't looking sharp and are clumsy in their own end and it shouldn't be happening considering we have the same personnel plus another outstanding defensive forward. The coaching staff is going to have to be more proactive, especially when it comes to practicing clearing the zone. The Wings have gotten far to many goals scored on them more because they are exhausted in their own end because of constantly failure to clear, eliminate one goal a game because of failure to clear the zone and we're already better off. After that, its on the players themselves to take more pride in their defense and passing and not cough up the puck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skippy_kenn 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 The fact they may miss the playoffs or get bounced in the first round if they continue to play this way should wake them up. Or the fact Lidstrom just called himself and the rest of the team out should shake them like a British nanny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
