hockey&beer 16 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Someone needs to throw a handful of smelling salts in the hot tub. I'm thinking that Lidstrom needs to step up and address this team to make some changes. After taking two pummelings in the past 2 weeks, you would think that there would be some major adjustments to intensity. The whole team fell asleep in the 3rd. At least I hope so because the Wings, the highest scoring team in the league couldn't muster a shot through 17 minutes of the 3rd. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheOwl 77 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I think the lack of shots was really just the game-plan for the 3rd. Lock them down, and trap. It back fired big big big time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I think the lack of shots was really just the game-plan for the 3rd. Lock them down, and trap. It back fired big big big time. I never understood why a team would trap in the 3rd after what was done in the first and second clearly dominated the other team just fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I never understood why a team would trap in the 3rd after what was done in the first and second clearly dominated the other team just fine. Coasting in the third period. Dumb as hell. They paid for it. Time to learn some lessons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Well, I think we've run out of excuses for this season. It's almost over. We just have to hope they can turn it on once the playoffs start, which I think they're banking on. I've never been a pessimist when it comes to this team, but if that switch doesn't work, we could be in trouble come playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheOwl 77 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Coasting in the third period. Dumb as hell. They paid for it. Time to learn some lessons. Perhaps it wasn't a terrible idea as I've never seen the Wings do it before. Maybe Babcock just wanted the entire team to focus 100% on D for 20 minutes to see if they still have what it takes to shut a good team down. Obviously they don't still have it. And really this team isn't losing as a team, one or two guys playing bad on a single night is the reason the Wings look so bad. Stuart had a horrible game. Rafa had a horrible game a few nights ago. The goalies have a lot of bad games. The only guys who consistently play well are Lidstrom Rafalski and Datsyuks line. Their rarely in the negative, +/- wise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 There practising the trap. Wings aren't the trap team ... but they going to try to win the cup with a different style this time. Could backfire but if it's played to it's best there's no stopping this team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Perhaps it wasn't a terrible idea as I've never seen the Wings do it before. Maybe Babcock just wanted the entire team to focus 100% on D for 20 minutes to see if they still have what it takes to shut a good team down. Obviously they don't still have it. And really this team isn't losing as a team, one or two guys playing bad on a single night is the reason the Wings look so bad. Stuart had a horrible game. Rafa had a horrible game a few nights ago. The goalies have a lot of bad games. The only guys who consistently play well are Lidstrom Rafalski and Datsyuks line. Their rarely in the negative, +/- wise. Heh. Whatever the case, there was no reason at all to sit back like that. They know how much parity there is nowadays and sitting on a 2 goal lead is dumb, dumb, dumb. Got another division game coming up and plenty more division games to last the rest of the season so time to pick up the slack and playing 60 minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XxGoWingsxX 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I'm honestly wondering if the wings aren't just bored with reg season play. They get a lead and so often blow it so easily...always in the 3rd. They seem to be a much better team when playing from behind this season. Take the cleary game tying goal for example. The pressure was on, they got it done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 They look....... something. To be honest, I'm not sure I can even say what The Wings problem is right now. Chemistry? Doubt it. Boredom? Maybe. Poor goaltending? Lack of confidence in the goalie? Who knows..... Someone actually mentioned the trap. And seriously, that might be it. Maybe the team is actually transitioning into a new defensive system. And maybe they've been working out the kinks all year. You know other teams in league are adjusting yo or have adjusted to Detroit's system. Which means they've figured out how to beat them. Maybe The Wings are trying to do some counter-adjusting of their own. All I know is if this team gets it's mojo back early in the playoffs, combined with it's insane insane depth? Lights for everyone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greenrebellion 415 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I think they are just bored. Hossa's out, he was really the only one playing w/ any fire anyway. Still think these guys will turn it on come playoff time. But even if they can turn it on, my two possible concerns are: 1. the poor defensive habits we've become accustomed to won't disappear overnight. 2. Ozzie won't be able to transform his game in time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikeal 60 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I think they are just bored. Hossa's out, he was really the only one playing w/ any fire anyway. Still think these guys will turn it on come playoff time. But even if they can turn it on, my two possible concerns are: 1. the poor defensive habits we've become accustomed to won't disappear overnight. 2. Ozzie won't be able to transform his game in time. It's not the goaltending that scares me. It's the amazing passes to the other team... Ozzy has been better. Conks has been good. I think we can manage the goaltending. Someone just needs to create some drive because we don't show up every night. we expect to win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Someone needs to throw a handful of smelling salts in the hot tub. I'm thinking that Lidstrom needs to step up and address this team to make some changes. After taking two pummelings in the past 2 weeks, you would think that there would be some major adjustments to intensity. The whole team fell asleep in the 3rd. At least I hope so because the Wings, the highest scoring team in the league couldn't muster a shot through 17 minutes of the 3rd. You speak the truth my brother! Yell it from the mountain tops so the entire village can hear. These days with video replay, all other teams need to do it watch the Wings and learn. The Jackets, Preds, Wild, and Flames did a real good job of doing that of late. This team has gotten so damn 1 dimensional and bent on scoring, they forgot about defense. It is catching up to them and it needs to be taken care of ASAP or they are going to have their butt's handed to them cometh playoff time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Lidstrom was terrific last night. What is anyone going to tell these guys? They just look LOST out there, trapped in their own zone. Pretty brutal stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Meh, this stuff happens from time to time unfortuantely. Happened in 2001 against the Kings in the playoffs one game. Happened against Edmonton in 2006 the final game of the playoffs for the Wings. Happened last year in game 3 against Nashville where they blew leads. It's happened a bit too much this season for my liking, yes, but there's still time to fix this. Still about a month away from the playoffs, etc. Playoffs are typically lower scoring as well so... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Eh, I can't believe so many people are calling season over, I'm running out of scape-goats as well though. And if there is a game like this is the playoffs it would change the whole series. We need to finish teams off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wombat 26 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I'm definitely not happy with the game but overall it was just a really strange game. The Wings hit about 4 goalposts and still scored 5 goals. All that PP time in the beginning really broke up the flow for line changes for the rest of the game, and with the Wings being older, I think it hurts them more than the Flames. Conklin gave up a couple bad goals and a couple other were weird bounces. It's frustrating to watch the team fall asleep in the 3rd like that, but I think they can still play well when the roster is all the way back (Hossa, Lilja, and Helm). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I'm honestly wondering if the wings aren't just bored with reg season play. They get a lead and so often blow it so easily...always in the 3rd. They seem to be a much better team when playing from behind this season. Take the cleary game tying goal for example. The pressure was on, they got it done. If they are bored, then they'll be golfing by late April. Teams that have won the Cup in recent memory have fallen apart come playoff time, or didn't even make the playoffs. It happened probably because of the Cup hangover. If this team does turn on the switch come playoff time, it'll be the most impressive thing they've ever done, because right now they're almost dead last in GAA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DuckSoup13 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Houston we have a problem. Our D and our goaltending is truly near the bottom (stats dont like 68 games into the season) I'm really worried about our team being able to get back to the cup this year. The mindset that we'll "come around" once the playoffs start is just weak. We've got serious issues to fix and less time to do so. Last nights loss was more disgusting than the 8 goal losses recently in my opinion. Calgary was playing so dirty early on we should've had the desire from that alone to beat them and beat them good.. not to mention the fact they're the next team behind us in the standings. Two tough road games this weekend.. we better get our $hit in gear! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hamip1998 3 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 (edited) Could it be mental fatigue combined with a lack of motivation? This team was DRIVEN last year. Barring the month of February, you could tell that this team wanted it bad. They not only had Drake who was at the end of his career who never won a cup, but they also had something to prove after losing the WCF series the year before where they arguably outplayed the opposition. Babs rarely took the foot off of the gas last year. Maybe the horses were whipped just a little too hard. It's not like they backed into the playoffs. It would be hard to match that intensity, especially after the emotional high of winning and all of the stuff that surrounds winning the cup (parties, media stuff, etc). Not a low key off season to recharge the batteries. I guess for me I pretty much just defined the phrase "cup hangover". This team isn't getting younger. I know for me, hangovers are a lot worse now than when I was 24 Edited March 13, 2009 by hamip1998 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DRW Dominance 255 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 Is it possible that some of our defensive lapses this entire season have been due to Lidstrom's overall decreased ice time? A few extra shifts per game in previous seasons might have made quite a difference that we have never noticed until now. I know the staff wants him a little fresher for the playoffs but is this the consequence? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 The Red Wings best defense this season is their offense. Keep playing the same way that got the lead. This team doesn't have the proper defensive mentality or a goalie to sit on a lead. It was a mistake and it cost them a valuable point (should have been two). Rafalski, Stuart and Kronwall have to get better in their own zone or the Red Wings will have very serious issues for the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wombat 26 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 I definitely think that they have to rearrange the defensive pairs. Kronwall and Stuart are just brutal together. -2 and -3 last night, respectively. Babcock HAS to separate those guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xBrave_Heartx 0 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 All i know, is we better start clicking soon, or else a 1st round exit is in our near future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted March 13, 2009 the wings aren't as hungry as they were last year... they need helm and leino back up as well, but it seems due to cap issues we'll have to wait for playoffs to start to see them back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
