The Secret 304 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Goaltending is the main issue but not the only one. This time of year there are teams fighting for a spot in the playoffs and they have already ramped up their games intensity into playoff survival mode and are out there ready to fight for evey inch of ice. Red Wings, have yet to get into survival mode to match up with these teams that could be a potential first round opponents. The most encouraging thing from the loss against St. Louis was Babcock's reaction after the game. I believe that the play off preparations will have started with that loss and not only the goaltending but the entire team will be called upon to prepare and focus like its do or die. It has to happen now, the teams around the league are getting to good to think that on any given night you can merely coast to a win because of the skill level of a team on paper. This time of year the heart of a team is exposed and a skillful team with no heart or passion will get out worked, pushed around and frustrated by teams that are playing with their play off "A" game as we have seen the past few games. I'm hoping this last upsetting loss is what was needed for Babcock to get angry and himself and his many play off veterans and that they will together put on their play off armour and get down to business from now until the end of the season. It's time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lets go pavel 2 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Goaltending is the main issue but not the only one. This time of year there are teams fighting for a spot in the playoffs and they have already ramped up their games intensity into playoff survival mode and are out there ready to fight for evey inch of ice. Red Wings, have yet to get into survival mode to match up with these teams that could be a potential first round opponents. The most encouraging thing from the loss against St. Louis was Babcock's reaction after the game. I believe that the play off preparations will have started with that loss and not only the goaltending but the entire team will be called upon to prepare and focus like its do or die. It has to happen now, the teams around the league are getting to good to think that on any given night you can merely coast to a win because of the skill level of a team on paper. This time of year the heart of a team is exposed and a skillful team with no heart or passion will get out worked, pushed around and frustrated by teams that are playing with their play off "A" game as we have seen the past few games. I'm hoping this last upsetting loss is what was needed for Babcock to get angry and himself and his many play off veterans and that they will together put on their play off armour and get down to business from now until the end of the season. It's time! I'm with you. This team needs some fire, and hopefully Babs has enough to spread around. The talent we have is sickening, if they would just play 60 minutes like the game mattered they would be virtually unstoppable. Here's hoping ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Thank goodness! I just had a dream that the Wings coasted through the season and were swept by the Ducks in the first round of the playoffs... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 MY worry is the same, can you turn it on in the playoffs when you have coasted for so long, yeah they are a great team and the fact they played lackadaisical most of the season and are still in 2nd is a mind boggling notion. In fact it makes me excited to think what they could be like in the post season when every game does matter, my worry is that can you do that. Can you turn it on because the games now matter? I guess we will just have to wait and see! Come on boys prove me right for having faith, no first round exits!!! Then hopefully they will be in playoff mode by the second round! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Secret 304 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) The regular season is done, no more time for show and tell. Every other F'ing team in now coming after the toy you fought so hard to get last year and they want to take it away from you. Its time for every man on this team to take his heart and his balls out of his wifes purse and put them back where they belong.... at least until they win the cup again, then they can go back to the wives for safe keeping. Step up boys, 1 and all! Babcock too, time to start cracking the whip and reward only those who show up and punish those who don't. Our bench is deep... reaches all the way to Grand Rapids and there are guys hungry to play! Edited April 3, 2009 by The Secret Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Every time you panic about the Wings a puppy is kicked Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lets go pavel 2 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Every time you panic about the Wings a puppy is kicked You do realize you're just encouraging panic in all the people who don't like puppies, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Every time you panic about the Wings a puppy is kicked Of all the threads to post this in I find this one the least appropriate (that sounded like I was telling you where and what to post, not my intention), I didn't see any panicking just people wanting the Wings to play harder, no one is predicting doom and gloom in here, just saying the boys need a wake up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 You do realize you're just encouraging panic in all the people who don't like puppies, right? Oh I didn't think of that, I just thought everyone likes puppies Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Wake up call wont come for another week or so.... right now staying healthy on the ice for these games is the best course of action. we are pretty much locked in at #2 now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VladyIBELIEVE16 257 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Thank goodness! I just had a dream that the Wings coasted through the season and were swept by the Ducks in the first round of the playoffs... You call that a dream - that's a nightmare. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 No joke... ... Corey Perry coasted through the line, not offering handshakes, just a big grin on his pimple-covered, ghost-white face... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 I'll answer it! "Hello. No, I've been here the whole time. What do you mean you've been calling for 2 months!?!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) Lidstrom called a players only meeting today... Babcock is upset...goalies and D have been inconsistent, whats it gonna take? an early round exit? Edited April 3, 2009 by kylee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 5,153 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 they'll coast the rest of the way. SJC is up 6 points, Bruins up 3 points. The Wings are perfectly happy with the 2nd seed, so, ya, they'll coast the rest of the way, falter a bit in the first round, then come back strong and hopefully go all the way! (just like every season!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceMunkee 15 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 they'll coast the rest of the way. SJC is up 6 points, Bruins up 3 points. The Wings are perfectly happy with the 2nd seed, so, ya, they'll coast the rest of the way, falter a bit in the first round, then come back strong and hopefully go all the way! (just like every season!) Just like every season? Last year we coasted in Feb, the year before Jan. The year before that we don't need to speak of until we go back to 2002. Listen I am not a huge panic guy but seriously fella's. Every year I watch a team fall apart at the end of the year and I say to myself, they are not going anywhere. Last year it was the Ducks. We have every reason to worry right now. Look at the teams playing. There is only one in the West that does not scare me when comparing play. Chicago, everyone else is playing like they really want to win. We look like we are not even playing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selke13 0 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 i think the game vs the blues showed that although osgood hasnt been osgood of last year, the team showed poor defense. probably the wrong place to post this but the team needs to focus more on better defense. 2 goals against less than a minute after the wings score. not good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zion 93 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 There is always talk of the failures of the team that wins the Stanley Cup in their next playoffs. Since 2003 (yeah, that was us), the team that wins hasn't gotten out of the first round (or even made the playoffs, in Carolina's case). I wish I had forgotten that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted April 3, 2009 Thank goodness! I just had a dream that the Wings coasted through the season and were swept by the Ducks in the first round of the playoffs... LOL I hope not... especially since I've been egging on a friend with the thought that the entire central might make the playoffs instead of his ducks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clayjoh 3 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 I'm with you. This team needs some fire, and hopefully Babs has enough to spread around. The talent we have is sickening, if they would just play 60 minutes like the game mattered they would be virtually unstoppable. Here's hoping ... I agree also Are you guys familiar with sandbagging in golf "qualifying tournaments" this years team almost looks like they purposely tried to stay under the radar all year and booted a few games quite convincingly ,as they say but by the same token when they decide to turn it on as we saw a few times this year.......think back to the outdoor game and those SanJose at Detroit games earlier it looked like men against boys Nobody can match our talent and depth that's obvious but we have to get the eye of the tiger in a hurry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingedKitten 9 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 There is always talk of the failures of the team that wins the Stanley Cup in their next playoffs. Since 2003 (yeah, that was us), the team that wins hasn't gotten out of the first round (or even made the playoffs, in Carolina's case). I wish I had forgotten that... Have faith, I truly believe the Wings won't falter in the first round like all the other teams since 2003. Hope is our greatest strength, and our greatest weakness... do not lose it, and you will be rewarded. Look at these lines... Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Hudler - Franzen - Hossa Leino - Filppula - Samuelsson Cleary - Draper - Kopecky / Maltby Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Ericsson - Lebda / Chelios/ Lilja if he comes back. Those are damn good lines... good enough to over come goaltending issues. Just because we're going through a slump does not mean we will lose in the first or second round. We still have a few games left, and I don't think people like Lidstrom or Babcock will let this team fall. This slump is some adversity that will only make the team work harder. Just my two cents. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted April 4, 2009 I'll answer it! "Hello. No, I've been here the whole time. What do you mean you've been calling for 2 months Since opening night " Fixed that for you Last year we coasted in Feb, the year before Jan No, we didn't "coast" last Feb, we had 10 (count 'em, TEN!) starters out injured, including our top-4 D-men. Our 1st defensive line was Lilija-Lebda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XxGoWingsxX 0 Report post Posted April 4, 2009 Fixed that for you No, we didn't "coast" last Feb, we had 10 (count 'em, TEN!) starters out injured, including our top-4 D-men. Our 1st defensive line was Lilija-Lebda Exactly, and if you remember right...Lils was playing horrible hockey at this time. Had someone told me then that we'd seriously miss him if he was injured i would have laughed....this year though...we sure as hell miss him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinner 6 Report post Posted April 4, 2009 I agree also Are you guys familiar with sandbagging in golf "qualifying tournaments" this years team almost looks like they purposely tried to stay under the radar all year and booted a few games quite convincingly ,as they say but by the same token when they decide to turn it on as we saw a few times this year.......think back to the outdoor game and those SanJose at Detroit games earlier it looked like men against boys Nobody can match our talent and depth that's obvious but we have to get the eye of the tiger in a hurry Didn't Babcock say after the St. Louis game that there's no switch? It would be nice if there was, because if they are sandbagging it, they need to flip the switch soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted April 4, 2009 Didn't Babcock say after the St. Louis game that there's no switch? It would be nice if there was, because if they are sandbagging it, they need to flip the switch soon. Of course he said that. What did you expect? "We'll just turn the switch on for the playoffs. No worry" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
