4/12 GDT: Red Wings 0 at Blackhawks 3

[gcom007 1,465]

I do. But all I've heard in here this year is what a liability he's been. I don't believe that, just pointing out the fact that he's normally being blamed for turnovers and not doing his job by the fans.

So, I would have thought the Wings would have been happy to have him out today.

Some people here are silly.

True, he hasn't been as great as he normally is, but he's been great. He's heading to surgery in the off-season though and I'm betting he's hurting a bit more than he's letting on. Furthermore, I bet he'll give 110% for the playoffs when it counts and be a game changer. It's not worth it to kill yourself in the regular season when you're hurting and you've got the guys to win a good number of games. But when it counts, he'll be there in tip-top form.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Dear Wings: please go find this, and use it.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

I don't see how anybody can be really surprised with the outcome of this game. As I've stated before, it was essentially meaningless for us. We aren't fighting for a playoff spot and there was nothing riding on this game for us to get any sort of motivation for. We all know what the Wings are capable of - and we've seen it during games that actually matter this season. It's easy to get caught up in the anger and frustration of losing, and it's easy to consider your opponent to be "bad" or to "suck" because you beat them - but it's hockey. Momentum is constantly changing. Every game isn't going to be your best. And when you have nothing meaningful riding on a game this close to the playoffs, your main focus turns to keeping yourself from getting injured. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that was our focus today. We didn't play at the level that we all know we're capable of playing at. You can take that as us being a "bad" team or what have you, but we all know that's a lie. Don't make any judgments until the first round.

Believe in your team. Believe in the players. And believe in the motivation to succeed.

[ChelisChick 174]

I'll remember this. I'll give you credit if you're right. If you're wrong, I'll rub it in your face. Just sayin'.

I don't know why but this made me

Here's to groping you during the playoffs!!!

[Jedi 1,865]

It was fairly obvious (to me, at least) that priority #1 tonight was that everyone skates away healthy at the end of 60 minutes.

No sustainable pressure in the offensive zone, no one finishing their checks.

Filpulla brought his game today, as did Osgood. Everyone else knew that the outcome of the game had zero bearing on who we play, or where the first 2 are played in the first round.

Now it's up to the coaching staff, and the leaders on the team to get everyone focused. There's no more "meaningless games". There is zero room for error. I'm confident that this team has what it takes to go far in the playoffs. Whether they're willing to do what it takes... That may be another story.

And so the first season comes to a close. The second season is right around the corner...

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

well, this team, this year, has turned uninspired erratic play into an art form. let's see them turn the switch that everybody's so confident they'll turn. now the games matter. no more excuses. the lazy defense, the boneheaded passes, the goaltending, our recently dethroned power play, they can't be blamed on games that don't matter any longer. i, for one, am not confident at all that the wings can turn this switch and all of a sudden start playing like they give a damn. they've played uninspired hockey for the bulk of the season, that, to me, spells first round upset. we'll see...

[FinRedWing 172]

Well,you won't hear me saying that the All Star Game is boring & s***ty hockey anymore after this.

[Mike 0]

I thought Osgood looked really good today. I am glad he is the playoff starter.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

and datsyuk, wtf! three games to go, he's leading the league in +/- and needs three points to get 100. what does he do? he goes -4 in those games without scoring a point. jesus!

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

We down right looked bad.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

well, this team, this year, has turned uninspired erratic play into an art form. let's see them turn the switch that everybody's so confident they'll turn. now the games matter. no more excuses. the lazy defense, the boneheaded passes, the goaltending, our recently dethroned power play, they can't be blamed on games that don't matter any longer. i, for one, am not confident at all that the wings can turn this switch and all of a sudden start playing like they give a damn. they've played uninspired hockey for the bulk of the season, that, to me, spells first round upset. we'll see...

you say this every season.

[ben_usmc 253]

man what an intense game, I hope every play off game can be like that. I mean there was checking and fighting and Detroit really took it to them on the scoreboard, wow what a barn burner!!

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

you say this every season.

so the wings play this year has got you feeling confident, does it?

[FinRedWing 172]

you say this every season.

And he has been wrong only 4 times in the last 50 yrs!

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

And he has been wrong only 4 times in the last 50 yrs!

lol.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

so the wings play this year has got you feeling confident, does it?

Yep.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

so the wings play this year has got you feeling confident, does it?

There's a difference between confidence and faith. I may not like the way the team played today or even in most games this season, but the fact remains that we're still one of the best teams on the league. I know that we're capable of more - and so do the players. And I have faith that we can tap into that.

[Yak19 303]

Alrighty PLAYOFF TIME!

Be prepared to see a completely different and full throttle (no charlies angels) DRW team starting game 1. It's hard to fabricate a mentality of "must win" until it is reality.

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[uk_redwing 495]

I have faith enough that I dont think we'll go out in the first round...and thats where my faith ends.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

There's a difference between confidence and faith. I may not like the way the team played today or even in most games this season, but the fact remains that we're still one of the best teams on the league. I know that we're capable of more - and so do the players. And I have faith that we can tap into that.

we are one of the best teams in the league, i agree. the most talented. but when you watch the team, especially defensively, play so far under its potential for the regular season, it's bound to have you worried going into the post season. people seem to think the wings are going to flip some magical switch in the playoffs. it's possible they get it all together, but we've seen few games this year where they've had it all together. our insane offense and power play are solely responsible for our record this year, and even those have been slipping.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

There's a difference between confidence and faith. I may not like the way the team played today or even in most games this season, but the fact remains that we're still one of the best teams on the league. I know that we're capable of more - and so do the players. And I have faith that we can tap into that.

Exactly.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Yep.

hmm.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Alrighty PLAYOFF TIME!

Be prepared to see a completely different and full throttle (no charlies angels) DRW team starting game 1. It's hard to fabricate a mentality of "must win" until it is reality.

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the problem is, you don't get the "must win" mentality until you're in an elimination game.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

we are one of the best teams in the league, i agree. the most talented. but when you watch the team, especially defensively, play so far under its potential for the regular season, it's bound to have you worried going into the post season. people seem to think the wings are going to flip some magical switch in the playoffs. it's possible they get it all together, but we've seen few games this year where they've had it all together. our insane offense and power play are solely responsible for our record this year, and even those have been slipping.

I don't believe there's a switch to flip. But I also don't believe that the team who just won the Stanley Cup could lose all of their talent over the off-season. Whatever is going on with the team, it's an internal thing.. and I believe that when we're actually back under playoff pressure - when we know that every second of every game counts, we'll be able to realize that. Will it take a couple losses? Maybe. Will it take us losing for us to realize it? Possibly. But I just have faith that we'll be able to tap into that skill we have before we lose it. Maybe I'm just way too optimistic, but that's how I honestly feel.

[Yak19 303]

the problem is, you don't get the "must win" mentality until you're in an elimination game.

I trust this team to have the experience to elevate their game immensely starting game 1, maybe it is not a must win urgency type of game but it will be DRW playoff hockey.