LeftWinger 5,152 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 I know it's the last ten games, I know they are solidly in the playoffs, I know over the last few years, the last 10 games really haven't had an effect on their results in the playoffs, but Gosh Damn it, I am sick and tired of watching th Wings go into cruise control EVERY SEASON for the last 10 games! Sure, it doesn't really matter whether they win the Presidents Trophy, sure they already won their division and pretty much sewn up the 2nd seed in the West. No I am NOT panicking, and no this is not a anti-Wings, anti-Holland or "First Round & Out" thread. But as a fan, I am tired of paying good money to go down to the Joe and watch a minor league club play. Their lack of effort in the Islander game (which I attended) deserves nothing less than a full refund for the price I paid for tickets, parking, and beverages! Sure, they need rest for the playoffs, sure they don't want anyone injured, and sure I'd rather see them win a Cup, than beat the lowly Islanders (or Predators) but, c'mon! It was so obvious that the "efffort" wasn't there, so obvious that there should be reprecussions from the NHL. An NHL team should give it's 100% EVERYTIME they step on the ice, the fans are paying 100% of the tickets and concessions, they aren't paying 50% of, lets say, a game that may have some kind of playoff ramification to it. If the team isn't going to give 100% there should be some kind of reprecussion. It was like in 2002 when Scotty Bowman was accused by playoffs teetering teams of not playing Hasek on purpose and it was hurting their chances at making the playoffs! Same thing, when I left the Joe that night, I was not entertained, I was not happy that I was finally able to scrape enough money together to go see my home team play, I was not happy period. I wanted my money back, I wanted the wasted three hours of my life back. I think I would have had a better time watching paint dry that night! I know any team can beat any other team on any night. I understand, but the effort was not there. ok, rant over, not panicking, not jumping off the bandwagon. You don't have to respond, just needed to vent. Some of you may wish you had the last minute of your life back after reading this, that is fine, if I could refund it I would. That is more than Ilitch would do. Sorry to waste your time. Lets just end the season now,so we can watch REAL hockey, I am tired of this end of season CRAP every year! We are so spoiled here, that we have forgotten what it is like to battle for a playoff spot, forgotten what it's like for the Wings to give 100% for 82 games, and yes I am guilty of that spoiledness, and I understand totally the reasons for not giving 100% against the Islanders, but if that is gonna happen, make it worth while for the fan too! I guess if they win the Stanley Cup this year, everything will be worth while, but we took someone who has never been to a Hockey game ever, and she was very, VERY bored and said she'd never waste her money again! She was so excited before we got there too!! Sad that the Wings failed to attract a new fan, but hey, they got her money, right? 100% of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingedKitten 9 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) Didn't we lose the last five games of the 2002 season? To be fair the Wings did get pretty unlucky in the Islanders game. We can't win them all, remember last year in febuary when the Wings won 1 game in 10? It's not exactly easy to bring 100% 82 times a season, even with the millions of dollars. I like to call myself a pretty competitive player, but I find it hard to stay motivated in my 30 game season, (let alone 82) and that's just a highschool league. I can't imagine what the wear and tear is like in the NHL... Holmstrom might know, maybe you should write him a letter. No disrespect my friend. Edited March 31, 2009 by RedWingedKitten Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 5,152 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Didn't we lose the last five games of the 2002 season? To be fair the Wings did get pretty unlucky in the Islanders game. We can't win them all, remember last year in febuary when the Wings won 1 game in 10? It's not exactly easy to bring 100% 82 times a season, even with the millions of dollars. I like to call myself a pretty competitive player, but I find it hard to stay motivated in my 30 game season, (let alone 82) and that's just a highschool league. I can't imagine what the wear and tear is like in the NHL... Holmstrom might know, maybe you should write him a letter. No disrespect my friend. None taken, I fully understand the reasons, but it is just frustrating as a fan, especially when you shell out the amount of cash you do to actually go to a game (finally) and you get to watch that. It's the nature of the beast, but it irks me, I know full well what we have done for the past 24 seasons, and the wear and tear is hard, undestood. Maybe lower the ticket prices for the last home games! Yeah right! Just wanted to rant for a minute, not too upset. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chunkylover 26 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 I hear you. I recorded the Predators game while I was at church and was really looking forward to a good bounce-back game. After the Wings took the lead I felt comfortable they would hold on. Then when they tied it up I thought for sure they'd get to overtime. It's disappointing to see them play so poorly. It would be nice to have some sign to prove they are capable of stepping up at this late point in the season. I still think they can do it, but it will be important for them to experience bad losses like this throughout the post-season as well. Remember games four and five against Dallas, how important those losses were to refocus the team for the shutdown performance in game six. Again in game five of the Pittsburgh series, they were obviously nervous and excited about winning the Cup at home and forgot how to play puck-possession hockey. They remembered in game six. These hiccups are healthy for a team with this much talent and experience to keep them grounded and focused. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) I don't feel like reading all that, but if what I think you're saying is in fact what you're saying, then I agree. A lot of times this team hasn't given a serious effort or worked hard or been motivated but WHEN WE DO/ARE, we are unstoppable (provided our goalie, whoever it is, can play solid at the least). I forget who the game was against, but recently a broadcaster said something along the lines of "The wings are putting work ahead of skill, and when you have that much skill you can't beat them in a 7 game series". That is entirely true. There is no problem with our defense, or our offense. The problem lies in our motivation. I have no doubt when the playoffs start we'll be those unbeatable wings that the broadcaster talked about. We have the #2 spot clinched, I say we just rest our players, call it a regular season. The only deciding factor for us this playoffs will be our goaltending. If we have good goaltending, we'll win the stanley cup. If we don't, we'll be out by the 3 round. Edited March 31, 2009 by Z and D for the C Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveyzerman 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 I know it's the last ten games, I know they are solidly in the playoffs, I know over the last few years, the last 10 games really haven't had an effect on their results in the playoffs, but Gosh Damn it, I am sick and tired of watching th Wings go into cruise control EVERY SEASON for the last 10 games! Sure, it doesn't really matter whether they win the Presidents Trophy, sure they already won their division and pretty much sewn up the 2nd seed in the West. No I am NOT panicking, and no this is not a anti-Wings, anti-Holland or "First Round & Out" thread. But as a fan, I am tired of paying good money to go down to the Joe and watch a minor league club play. Their lack of effort in the Islander game (which I attended) deserves nothing less than a full refund for the price I paid for tickets, parking, and beverages! Sure, they need rest for the playoffs, sure they don't want anyone injured, and sure I'd rather see them win a Cup, than beat the lowly Islanders (or Predators) but, c'mon! It was so obvious that the "efffort" wasn't there, so obvious that there should be reprecussions from the NHL. An NHL team should give it's 100% EVERYTIME they step on the ice, the fans are paying 100% of the tickets and concessions, they aren't paying 50% of, lets say, a game that may have some kind of playoff ramification to it. If the team isn't going to give 100% there should be some kind of reprecussion. It was like in 2002 when Scotty Bowman was accused by playoffs teetering teams of not playing Hasek on purpose and it was hurting their chances at making the playoffs! Same thing, when I left the Joe that night, I was not entertained, I was not happy that I was finally able to scrape enough money together to go see my home team play, I was not happy period. I wanted my money back, I wanted the wasted three hours of my life back. I think I would have had a better time watching paint dry that night! I know any team can beat any other team on any night. I understand, but the effort was not there. ok, rant over, not panicking, not jumping off the bandwagon. You don't have to respond, just needed to vent. Some of you may wish you had the last minute of your life back after reading this, that is fine, if I could refund it I would. That is more than Ilitch would do. Sorry to waste your time. Lets just end the season now,so we can watch REAL hockey, I am tired of this end of season CRAP every year! We are so spoiled here, that we have forgotten what it is like to battle for a playoff spot, forgotten what it's like for the Wings to give 100% for 82 games, and yes I am guilty of that spoiledness, and I understand totally the reasons for not giving 100% against the Islanders, but if that is gonna happen, make it worth while for the fan too! I guess if they win the Stanley Cup this year, everything will be worth while, but we took someone who has never been to a Hockey game ever, and she was very, VERY bored and said she'd never waste her money again! She was so excited before we got there too!! Sad that the Wings failed to attract a new fan, but hey, they got her money, right? 100% of it. We had 42 shots. The effort was there. MacDonald played the game of his life & so did the posts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 We had 42 shots. The effort was there. MacDonald played the game of his life & so did the posts. The effort was definitely not there. I was at the game, and every player - even Datsyuk - was prone to floating that night. Honestly, the Islanders game looked like the first game back after a few days of partying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheOwl 77 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Their not on cruise control, they did everything they could to win those last two games. And the majority of the games this season were just like that. Detroit has a lead, goaltender melts down in the 3rd, and they usually have to score in the last 5 minutes to tie, sometimes they get lucky, they weren't in Nashville. Or the second option, goaltender melts down early and often, and we have to score 3 or 4 to win the game. Well that's usually only when Ozzy is in net. But you get the idea. That's the Wings, they weren't resting, or not playing their hardest, that's how they'll be in the play-offs, the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Eh, it happens. Hopefully the Wings get it in gear, and Ozzie backstops this team to yet another cup. The one thing that would piss me off as has been iterated many times is if I were paying a good dime to see a team half-ass the entire game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveyzerman 0 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 The effort was definitely not there. I was at the game, and every player - even Datsyuk - was prone to floating that night. Honestly, the Islanders game looked like the first game back after a few days of partying. I was there, too. It wasn't for lack of trying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 That's the risk when you buy tickets to a sporting event. There's always a chance your team, even if they're one of the best in the League, will stink up the joint when you are there. It's not like TV or Movies where there's always a feel good ending. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HOCKEY MATTERS 167 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 The mysterious "on/off" switch exists and was evident again in this game. The Wings spent most of the night in "pylon" mode: floating around, not much fore/back checking, legs not moving, screening Ozzie. The shorter amount of time that the "switch" was flipped off "plyon", they only gave 75-80% effort.....lots of posts, but too many shots to the breadbasket. Repeated giveaways in our end, bad passing, yada, yada, yada. Same crap we've seen all year. Same crap we've seen at the end of regular season for years. Blech. Cough, cough. Doesn't matter. Wings will flip the switch to "full on" for the PO's and this board will be a smile-fest again. Well, mostly a smilefest. There are those unfortunates that see rain clouds even when the parade is driving down Woodward. (you know who you are, unfortunates) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 I would love to go 0-10 the last ten games then go on to have a 16-0 winning streak . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 The last 10 games of the 2001-02 season: 2 tie games (you remember them, don't you?), 1 win, 1 otl, 1 tie, 2 losses, 1 tie and 2 losses. The DRW finished the season with a 7-game winless streak. If that pain wasn't enough, they lost the first 2 games against Vancouver in the CQF. And then things turned around quite nicely: 16W-5L in the last 21 playoff games. It's like that famous quote, attributed to James Augustus Hunter: "The sun don't shine on the same dog's a** all the time". Things could be worse; imagine driving around with (at least) one of these on your car: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Things could be worse; imagine driving around with (at least) one of these on your car: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
