The Reasons That The Wings Are Losing

[OsGOD 3]

Kind of looks like Sammy . Although ironically, Sammy is actually netting more of those.....

no no no Sammys shots were never limp wristers... they were chest bursters. Maid Marian is in a league of his own!

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I don't like the team's body language these last 2 games.

When the Pens lost the first 2 games, they still looked confident and felt like a few things didn't go their way. They never looked dead in those games.

The Wings these last few games have looked dead and last night the expressions of the players showed a team with not much hunger or fight left. If that's true, home ice won't bring that back. On top of that, people are talking about some dissension in the room, and that's a good sign of a team about to lose the series.

This team needs to come out next game and score first. Then, they need to score 2nd and 3rd also. I want to see passion and hitting right off the bat.

[87to71 0]

I don't like the team's body language these last 2 games.

When the Pens lost the first 2 games, they still looked confident and felt like a few things didn't go their way. They never looked dead in those games.

The Wings these last few games have looked dead and last night the expressions of the players showed a team with not much hunger or fight left. If that's true, home ice won't bring that back. On top of that, people are talking about some dissension in the room, and that's a good sign of a team about to lose the series.

This team needs to come out next game and score first. Then, they need to score 2nd and 3rd also. I want to see passion and hitting right off the bat.

I noticed this too that a lot of the Wings players appeared to be leaving the ice with their heads hung low and looking like they had not much fight left in them. I guess we will find out come Saturday night just how much of this is really true based on how the Wings come out and play game 5...

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

I don't understand why everybody is down on hossa. Yes I know he has the big contract. But he had 6 shots on goal last night. He looks dangerous when he has the puck. I know he's not scoring and if he was nobody would be knocking him.

he's scored in 3 of 20 playoff games.

'nuff said.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

i agree with all the OP points btw

[YoungGuns1340 1]

My 2 cents: The reason the Wings are losing is simple. On top of the atrocious penalty kill, the Wings are simply making bad turnovers too frequently as a result of (IMO) being tired along with the Penguins doing a great job of clogging the passing lanes. On top of that, the Wings are playing too much dump without any chase. The Wings have had plenty of success carrying the zone these past four games, so I'm not sure the reason why they're dumping in so softly and getting no pressure. Game 3 was a different story due to Babs constantly trying to get Z out against Crosby, thus the dump-and-chase without the strong forecheck due to making line changes, but yesterday it got frustrating to watch.

The Wings have had plenty of luck carrying into the zone. What they need to do to win is Forecheck, Forecheck, FORECHECK! Continue to press in O-zone with atleast 2 guys. The off Wing can cover if its get turned over, but they need to sustain pressure more frequently then they have. You can tell the magic they have when they're holding the zone, now they just need to forecheck relentlessly to create more chances, which is what they need to be successful. That, eliminating turnovers and a better first pass out of the zone are the keys.

THIS. Its incredible how many times we dump the puck in and get beaten to the puck, only to have to turn around and back-check. You want to know what else is contributing to the Wings lack of energy? That right there. With the demand for back-checking this team has, there is absolutely no reason why we should be playing such a back and forth style - its going to kill us.

I'm willing to bet that with the lineup match-ups in Game 5, we'll be more possessive of the puck. Overall, I hate what Babcock is coaching on the road. Its essentially been "lets keep the Pens from scoring" instead of keeping with our traditional balanced game.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I don't like the team's body language these last 2 games.

When the Pens lost the first 2 games, they still looked confident and felt like a few things didn't go their way. They never looked dead in those games.

The Wings these last few games have looked dead and last night the expressions of the players showed a team with not much hunger or fight left. If that's true, home ice won't bring that back. On top of that, people are talking about some dissension in the room, and that's a good sign of a team about to lose the series.

This team needs to come out next game and score first. Then, they need to score 2nd and 3rd also. I want to see passion and hitting right off the bat.

I agree with this, too. I'm hoping that Datsyuk coming back into the lineup somehow gives everyone more confidence and energy.

[Joe S 11]

Well, for what its worth, here are my observations on the last two games:

The Wings simply havent played good enough to win. Not aggressive enough on the PK giving the Pens way too much time to move the puck around. Turnovers and mistakes in key situations with highly skilled players on the other side: We took advantage of our opponenst mistakes in the Chi series, and got away with a few against lesser talent, but when you give up breakaways with Pittsburg's sharpshooters , they are going to get some goals, and one or two can make a difference in the game. At times, they played with passion and assertiveness, and at other times,(way too often) it looked like they were going through the motions.

They arent throwing enought QUALITY shots at Fluery. A lot of bad angle shots and a lot of long shots but not a lot of shots close in. The Wings have scored on some bad angle shots and some long shots, so it looks like they have the idea that they can score all the time with poor percentage shots. They seem to be content with it. The Wings seem to want to hold the puck until Fluery can find it and move over. Not enough one-timers.

Not physical enough--When the Wings get the puck they get hit immediately, from the front, side and back (whatever happened to checking from behind?) When the Pens have the puck we let them do what they want with it most of the time.

If the Wings show up Sat and play solid for 60 minutes with the edge that they are capable of playing, it will the 3-2

Wings after Sat. If not, it could go either way. Joe S

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Brian Rafalski inviting Jordan Staal to take a penalty shot on Ozzie is what happened. I'm still fuming about that display of incompetence. The Wings had the lead, a power play, a chance to put the game more or less out of reach. And that goal came at the worst time in the worst possible way. The Pens surged massively after that, and the Wings had no chance to recover. If Rafalski does his job and, you know, makes any effort to stand in Staal's way and easily negate the play, I bet the Wings win.

[Finnish Wing 110]

5- Leino: Take him out please, put Adkel and leave him there.

Cleary Adkel Hudler ---> Amazing Potential To Score

Why can't Leino be on the 3rd line then. Do you really think that Abdelkader is better scoring goals than Leino just because of the two goals recently? One created totally by Leino, other when trying to dump the puck deep.

I just hate how you guys start blaming Leino about the losses. And think Abby would make some kind of big difference. That's just how people who know nuttin about this sport would see it. YAAY A GOAL! HEY WE LOSE BECAUSE THAT GUY IS NOT PLAYIN!!

PLZ stop the man-love with Abby and let BABS decide the lines...

Edited June 6, 2009 by Finnish Wing

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Wings are losing right now b/c a combo of tired legs, giving the puck up too much, lack of productivity on special teams, Penguins forechecking, and Fleury not letting in any cheapie goalies. Simple as that.

[BodyBagger 0]

My 2 cents: The reason the Wings are losing is simple. On top of the atrocious penalty kill, the Wings are simply making bad turnovers too frequently as a result of (IMO) being tired along with the Penguins doing a great job of clogging the passing lanes. On top of that, the Wings are playing too much dump without any chase. The Wings have had plenty of success carrying the zone these past four games, so I'm not sure the reason why they're dumping in so softly and getting no pressure. Game 3 was a different story due to Babs constantly trying to get Z out against Crosby, thus the dump-and-chase without the strong forecheck due to making line changes, but yesterday it got frustrating to watch.

The Wings have had plenty of luck carrying into the zone. What they need to do to win is Forecheck, Forecheck, FORECHECK! Continue to press in O-zone with atleast 2 guys. The off Wing can cover if its get turned over, but they need to sustain pressure more frequently then they have. You can tell the magic they have when they're holding the zone, now they just need to forecheck relentlessly to create more chances, which is what they need to be successful. That, eliminating turnovers and a better first pass out of the zone are the keys.