Babcock speaks to Datsyuk about lack of production

[Mike 0]

The CBC's sports blogger reports that Red Wings coach Mike Babcock chose to take advantage of the team's six-hour flight back to Detroit to speak to Pavel Datsyuk about his lack of production:

May 13, CBC Sports: If winning Game 7 of the their Western Conference semifinal series with the Anaheim Ducks Thursday at Joe Louis Arena is something the Wings are into, then it would help significantly if Datsyuk began contributing immediately. While he's generated scoring chances and has been strong on the puck at both ends of the rink, Detroit's Hart Trophy finalist is still looking for his first goal of the series.

"I want to play better," Datsyuk said. "I want to score. I want to be the one coming through."

Detroit coach Mike Babcock admitted he had a heart-to-heart talk with Datsyuk during Wednesday's flight home from Anaheim. Does he think it made a difference?

"We'll see (Thursday)," Babcock said.

His teammates see Datsyuk doing the things he needs to do to succeed on the ice and believe it's merely a matter of time before he breaks out of his slump.

"You can tell he's trying hard, he's making plays," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said of his shifty Russian teammate. "He's coming through the neutral zone with speed, he's even beating some of their defencemen, too, but the puck's not going in for him. But he's creating a lot of chances by just driving hard to the net."

Fair enough, but Datsyuk doesn't get paid to create chances. His job is to finish them. Detroit's leading scorer with 97 regular-season points has assembled paltry 1-3-4 numbers through 11 playoff games, though at least he hasn't lost his sense of humour.

"That's 101 (points) together, that's good," Datsyuk said, before getting serious about his offensive drought. "I'm always close, but I need scoring. I never give up. If it's not this game, it's next game."

MLive- Snapshots

[#19=Legend 29]

I trust game 7 to pavel datsyuk, you should too.

[Captain_Yzerman19 1]

I trust game 7 to pavel datsyuk, you should too.

[theman19 47]

every ducks fan who reads this should get a "uh oh" chill across their spine. If he gets one goal tommorow, series over.

[ben_usmc 253]

I said it before and I'll say it again. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WIN WINGS!!! It's serioulsy like the battle between good and evil we have to prevail, or I will question everything

[adtthosa 5]

I played online in NHL 09 today against a guy who picked the Ducks. I won 1-0 on a Datsyuk goal. It's a sign!

[Superman54 91]

We need him now more then ever.

[drfnr14 0]

well, a fire needs to be lit on his ass. but i will guarntee this-

if the wings lose game 7(they will not) there will be multiply threads blaming pavel!!!!!

YOU HEARD IT FIRST HEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-dear pavel,

you need to step up your play, score goals now. no if ands, or buts! no excuses. you had ur little break. uve had plenty of chances, to dittle dattle with the puck. STOP! ******* around and score goals in game 7. yes u wanted to have an exicited home game 7. but ur killing us all with nerves. win the game for us so we can move on

thanks,

LGW.com

[Guest mindfly]

A bit off topic but it takes 6hours from new york to L.A, is it really 6hours between detroit and anaheim? slow airplane?

[uk_redwing 495]

A bit off topic but it takes 6hours from new york to L.A, is it really 6hours between detroit and anaheim? slow airplane?

DAMN THE WINGS PLANE IS MEGA FAILZ

[Guest mindfly]

DAMN THE WINGS PLANE IS MEGA FAILZ

word up dawg

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

So long as Dats stops pressing and lets the game come to him, I'm all for it.

[Broken 16 381]

well, a fire needs to be lit on his ass. but i will guarntee this-

if the wings lose game 7(they will not) there will be multiply threads blaming pavel!!!!!

YOU HEARD IT FIRST HEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-dear pavel,

you need to step up your play, score goals now. no if ands, or buts! no excuses. you had ur little break. uve had plenty of chances, to dittle dattle with the puck. STOP! ******* around and score goals in game 7. yes u wanted to have an exicited home game 7. but ur killing us all with nerves. win the game for us so we can move on

thanks,

LGW.com

I can say for sure that I won't be blaming Pavel. Should he be scoring? Most definately. But I also think that there are plenty of other culprits. And none of them on the lower lines. Not even Maltby. Flip is playing good... but he's only a goal here and there from playing great. I'm not singling out Flip. He's just an example.

I'm thinking, especially after hearing about the "heart to heart" than maybe Pavel is having a hard time adjusting to all the attention. He's not getting nearly the attention that Crosby and Ovechkin are getting, but he's been nominated for the cream of the crop as far as trophys for forwards go. Selke, Pearson... HART. I think he's feeling a lot of pressure and just needs to relax.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I think Babs should do what Carlyle did before Game 6.. have the players eat pizza and enjoy some not-too-serious activity to loosen them up and get their minds off the gravity of the situation. Especially Datsyuk. He just seems to be thinking too much.

However, I couldn't care less if Datsyuk doesn't get any points tonight, as long as the team wins.

[SoDakWing 8]

Dats will break out of his slump and score twice and get everyone on here thinking Arby's. Then Ericsson will rip Perry's head off and use it to bowl Hiller out of the net.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I said it before and I'll say it again. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WIN WINGS!!! It's serioulsy like the battle between good and evil we have to prevail, or I will question everything

It's funny that you mention this because that's exactly how I've described this series to my wife and my brother. The Ducks are the stereotypical bad-guy wearing the dark colored jerseys. Not to mention their size advantage.....this is the stuff movies are made of and I need good to prevail. Fortunately for Wings fans, these Ducks are on the other side of the spectrum than their Disney counterparts.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I played online in NHL 09 today against a guy who picked the Ducks. I won 1-0 on a Datsyuk goal. It's a sign!

it's destiny...

[skippy_kenn 0]

I think the acts at the end of game 6 were enough to wake up Dats. I think he will have a huge game tonight

[puckloo39 5,686]

Watching Datsyuk out there every shift is like watching a beautiful exotic sports car trying to do its thing amongst a bunch of ugly, lumbering hulks in a demolition derby. There is no room for Pasha to be his usual, elegant self. It's ugly, but effective, what the Ducks have done to him.

It's time to get down and dirty like your opponents, Pasha. Forget finesse, just shoot the damned puck!!

[bellarina 1]

well, a fire needs to be lit on his ass. but i will guarntee this-

if the wings lose game 7(they will not) there will be multiply threads blaming pavel!!!!!

YOU HEARD IT FIRST HEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-dear pavel,

you need to step up your play, score goals now. no if ands, or buts! no excuses. you had ur little break. uve had plenty of chances, to dittle dattle with the puck. STOP! ******* around and score goals in game 7. yes u wanted to have an exicited home game 7. but ur killing us all with nerves. win the game for us so we can move on

thanks,

LGW.com

Anyone who blames Pavel can stick it up thier ass. He has played great. So he hasn't scored... big s***. He's been snake bit but the poison eventually wears off. Get off his back he has enough on it.

That being said Go Pavel, Go Wings!!!!

[Guest micah]

Anyone who blames Pavel can stick it up thier ass. He has played great. So he hasn't scored... big s***. He's been snake bit but the poison eventually wears off. Get off his back he has enough on it.

That being said Go Pavel, Go Wings!!!!

Apparently, coach Babcock thinks that Pavel hasn't been playing up to his potential, so much so that he had to sit down and have a little chat with him.

It absolutely IS "big s***" when your best offensive player isn't scoring in the playoffs. I'm not blaming Dats singly, but he is one of our players who has been underperforming.

[ronsolo3 0]

I trust game 7 to pavel datsyuk, you should too.

that just made my day!

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Everyone has a right to blame Pavel, he was the regular season MVP by a long stretch. He needs to step it up because he has been far from the best player in the playoffs.

[Namingway 146]

I trust game 7 to pavel datsyuk, you should too.

+1

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

Apparently, coach Babcock thinks that Pavel hasn't been playing up to his potential, so much so that he had to sit down and have a little chat with him.

It absolutely IS "big s***" when your best offensive player isn't scoring in the playoffs. I'm not blaming Dats singly, but he is one of our players who has been underperforming.

We know it's a big deal because Babcock had a chat with him? I agree Dat's performance in this round isn't good enough, but I don't agree with your argument at all. I sure hope the coach having a "little chat" with one of his players is in fact a regular occurrence and actually doesn't constitute making it a big deal.