grindlinelove 0 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 Hey all. Long-time lurker, first time poster. Watched the Wings since early childhood(very early 90's). Having played amatuer and HS has also helped give me insight on the matter I'm about to rant about. Ever since I've been watching the Wings, I've noticed two styles of play. It has a large determining factor in how easily we win obviously. Today was such a stark contrast, I am compelled to post. When we are playing the lazy, "let our talent win" style, like we did from 2003 to 2007, we fail to make good, clean, effective breakouts. We do not possess the puck for more than one or two passes, our transition game is horrifying. We are flat-footed, and think the puck will come to us. The cycle in the OZ is non-existant. No puck, no cycle. This is the game we played for the first two periods today, and a couple minutes in overtime. When we are on "our" game, we are the best puck possession team in the league. Hence the best PP in league this season. The boys can move the puck like wizards, set up chance after chance after chance. Never giving the opposing goalie a breather. When we gain control of the puck in our own end, the result is a quick and effective breakout and transition. The speed and intensity start high and builds with each goal. This is the game we played in the third period and most of the overtime session today. The first two periods today cost us the game. They really have a switch, the it's been all over the place lately. I don't get it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grindlinelove 0 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 Another thing we did today that cost us it seemed. Small, but it can add up. We tried to get too cute on some of our BIG scoring chances. Case in point: Helm's breakaway. I wouldn't choose a tight playoff game as the time to see if I can pull the string and make a Datsyuk move. I know it's nit-picking, my apologies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S_Whitney 1 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 yea I dun see the puck possession game that we are so good at in the past years in the first two periods of today's game. I dun see the domination like last year where we just kept the puck away from the opponent outshooting every team in every period in every game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 (edited) Some would argue that chipping the puck behind their D early and going after it is what wears the team down, which allows a team to play more of a puck possession style later on. The Red Wings can do both, but when they default on carrying it through the zone, that's when they get lazy and that's when they lose. It's like what Babcock said. If you're going to make mistakes, make them while being aggressive. The whole carrying it through the zone can lead to passivity. Edited May 4, 2009 by titanium2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stormboy 47 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 yeah, i don't know wtf was up with our complete inability to clear the zone against yesterday, specifically against the getzlaf line. i actually don't think it ended up costing us too badly on any direct chances, but that had to wear us down and give them momentum. frustrating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
