Poor Defence

[Datsyerberger 279]

1. After a penalty is called the face-off comes into the offensive zone of team on the power play. All of the coaches have agreed that this leads to more time on the power play and thus more scoring.

2. There are no commercial breaks when there is an icing called. This leads also to more potential scoring as the team that iced the puck does not get time to rest.

3. The goalie pads have gotten smaller leading to more potential scoring.

4. When a puck hits the goalpost and goes out of play the face-off stays in the attacking zone.

Small changes but they all lead to more scoring chances.

Include the facts that the Wings have:

5. The worst traveling schedule in the NHL.

6. The most back to back games in the season.

7. Had a series of minor, but chemistry disrupting injuries in the beginning of the season, plus Lidstrom adjusting to new equipment.

8. Played (in my opinion) a much tougher series of opponents in the first 25 games than the Sharks, with a lot more mileage (including multiple grueling west coast and northwest road trips, and their entire series vs Luongo Vancouver). The Sharks are just starting to get into their long trips for the season, and in general have to travel quite a bit less. Despite the plethora of weak teams to prey on in the East, I've actually been more impressed by the Bruins (that's another thread, though).

9. As the defending champs, everyone steps up to play them (including Raycroft doing his best Patrick Roy imitation.)

This isn't to say there hasn't been defensive/goaltending/coaching/whatever problems for the Wings, but they have been playing through a crapton of adversity and doing quite well in light of that. Hell, 2nd in the conference could be nice for a change.. I'd rather play #7 than to play one of the hungry teams at the #8 spot, which are often in the middle of a hot streak that allowed them the points to slip into the playoffs.

[Guest mindfly]

Doesn't Vancouver have the worst traveling schedule?