2/21 GDT: Red Wings 2 at Wild 5

[Mike 0]

True but we should make the push to pass the sharks for home ice advantage through the west. The sharks are just that dangerous at home, and we suck in the shark tank.

The Wings have lost both their games in the Shark tank. Home ice is a biggy if the Wings end up playing the Sharks in the playoffs and want to win.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

I think Howard has an NHL record of 1-5 now. Mick said he was 1-4 before the game unless I misheard him.

[Mike 0]

Nobody can predict how another could perform in a game they never played. That's like saying Holmstrom would not have helped score a goal on the PP.

After all, (before tonight's game) Minnesota is the lowest scoring team in the Western conference. 5 goals for them is like Detroit scoring 10 goals. Our defense was bad in the first and sub-par in the 2nd and 3rd, but Howard looked shaky and out of position and he looks small. Maybe Giggy should lend him his pads or something.

What is Howard's record in the NHL now?

1-5-0

[uk_redwing 495]

I miss Downey. Thats all im gonna say about tonight.

Howard was never going to be the messiah. His stats in GR this season have been very incosistant with the team having a higher win % with Larsson in goal. Howard is the Osgood of GR

[Ms_Hockey 0]

True but we should make the push to pass the sharks for home ice advantage through the west. The sharks are just that dangerous at home, and we suck in the shark tank.

Very true.. but I would assume management believes we still can pull ahead in the last stretch before the playoffs.

[digitaljohn88 4]

I don't understand how ANY goalie playing for the wings could have a 1-5 record over any period of time. Howard wasn't very good, but we always seem to play mediocre with him in net.

Edited February 22, 2009 by digitaljohn88

[union drone 0]

The Wings have lost both their games in the Shark tank. Home ice is a biggy if the Wings end up playing the Sharks in the playoffs and want to win.

If the Wings play the Sharks, it will not be before the WCF...and that is a BIG if, considering how the playoffs go a lot of times. Let's worry about that bridge when it comes time to cross it. Last year we didn't play the Ducks or Sharks, the two teams that everyone thought would give us trouble.

[BlueMonk 102]

what a s***ty game. what are we going to do for goal in the future. howard obviously isn't it!

It's way too early to pull the plug on Jimmy Howard.

[Mike 0]

If the Wings play the Sharks, it will not be before the WCF...and that is a BIG if, considering how the playoffs go a lot of times. Let's worry about that bridge when it comes time to cross it. Last year we didn't play the Ducks or Sharks, the two teams that everyone thought would give us trouble.

Never to early to plan for it.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

So in a 82 game stretch, he's on pace for what... 16 wins and 66 losses?

We'd be the worst team in the league with him in net. We'd be worse than the "Dead Wings" era.

I hope you are just joking. Extrapolating stats over a 6-game period is retarded.

[union drone 0]

Never to early to plan for it.

Never too early to look past the first round and end up on the golf course early because of it.

[Mike 0]

So in a 82 game stretch, he's on pace for what... 16 wins and 66 losses?

We'd be the worst team in the league with him in net. We'd be worse than the "Dead Wings" era.

I don't think the Wings organization would be stupid enough to let that happen. Goaltending is our big need for next season, unless Ozzie turns it around, which I hope he does.

[Mike 0]

Never too early to look past the first round and end up on the golf course early because of it.

I'm just saying that home ice throughout would be a big positive for the Red Wings, no matter who the opponent is.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Roloson is putting on a show in Edmonton.

That he is. Too bad Edmonton probably won't be far enough out of the playoff picture to consider giving him away.

[union drone 0]

I'm just saying that home ice throughout would be a big positive for the Red Wings, no matter who the opponent is.

Without a doubt, home ice is (almost) never a bad thing. I would love to have the #1 seed. It's not the end-all to playoff success is all that I'm saying. I just want the team playing well with no major question marks come playoff time... and preferably be focused on the opponent at hand.

[Mark B 0]

Bad night for us !!! nothing went our way at all Hope we play alot better against the sharks

[Mike 0]

Without a doubt, home ice is (almost) never a bad thing. I would love to have the #1 seed. It's not the end-all to playoff success is all that I'm saying. I just want the team playing well with no major question marks come playoff time... and preferably be focused on the opponent at hand.

Agreed. The Wings without question marks are by far the most dangerous team on ice.

[Mike 0]

That he is. Too bad Edmonton probably won't be far enough out of the playoff picture to consider giving him away.

For the most part, Roloson is a solid goalie who gives it his all every time he plays.

[Shaman 713]

Ok, Ozzy may not be the greatest Goalie on the block, but Howard has never been able to make the bread and butter saves that all goalies need to make. I would rather have Conks and Ozzy as back up. I am without words with tonight's goaltending.... while the D wasnt the best its ever been, Howard still have 2 bad goals and that was the difference tonight

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

That was hard to watch tonight, hope it gets better again Sharks.

[wingnut40 176]

Ok, wow. I missed the Stevie interview. I stopped recording the game after the 3rd goal because I figured we weren't going to win and totally missed the interview.

If someone has it and wouldn't mind posting it that would we awesome.

[union drone 0]

Bad night for us !!! nothing went our way at all Hope we play alot better against the sharks

Buy yourself a drink. Cool off a bit. And think how much better you'll feel after Conks shuts out the Sharks a few nights from now.

[Mike 0]

0-for-5 on the power play tells the story of the offensive woes tonight.

Edited February 22, 2009 by Mike

[Shaman 713]

Lenio was given the 2nd goal, so he had 2 pts tonight

[Wingsallwin 0]

First of all, it was a back to back game so the Wings might be really tired. It is an excuse but I do not see any team that can win back to back games against pretty solid teams in the West.

I left after 2nd period so I did not know what happened in the 3rd. However, I calculated Howard's sv percentage and his one was approximately 85%. But we have to know this. I am not a Howard lover before I say this but he might be nervous by first game of the season in the NHL. Besides, according to watching until the 2nd period, our defenses even could not skate well.

Kronwall, Meech, Rafalski especially these guys and even Pasha and Hank made a lot of turnover on the blue line. I think Howard made some good saves for us. I do not say he was good but let's see one more game from him. Ideally the game against the Kings at HOME. If he does not improve, then send him down again and test Osgood's new performance after 10 days break time.

Before blaming Howard, we have to criticize Kronwall and Meech especially. I know Raffy did suck but Kronwall and Meech have made tons of turnovers so far this season. It does not matter how many points Kronwall now has because defenses should be solid on defenses first, not offenses. For Meech, I am being very disappointed at this guy. I do not see we resign him. We have Eriksson in the AHL and it will be good if we call him up to see his potential talent.

By the way, it would not be good if we started Conklin again. He just played yesterday so no one knows how well he would perform tonight against the Wild. I think it was a good test for us to judge some of Howard's talent. I like this guy but I think he will be the NHLer maybe next season, not this season.