Wings Will Face a Huge Test Over Next 2 Weeks

[Drake_Marcus 890]

With 8 games in the next 13 days, the Wings are going to face a huge test over the next two weeks.

Nov 18th-- Dallas (Home)

Nov 19th-- Rest

Nov 20th-- Florida (Home)

Nov 21st-- Montreal (Away)

Nov 22nd-- Rest/Travel

Nov 23rd-- Nashville (Away)

Nov 24th-- Rest/Travel

Nov 25th-- Atlanta (Home)

Nov 26th-- Rest

Nov 27th-- Calgary (Home)

Nov 28th-- St. Louis (Away)

Nov 29th-- Rest/Travel

Nov 30th-- Dallas (Home)

Now it's worth noting that 5 of those 8 games are home game. But it's also worth noting that the Wings have to travel in between both their back to back games.

Most of those teams are weak--Dallas, Florida, Nashville, and St. Louis. Only Calgary and Atlanta are dangerous right now.

Still, with 8 games in 13 days they'll average less than a day off between games. This will be a big test for this team.

On the plus side I can't wait to see all these Wings games without grueling 3 day breaks between them.

Edit: Note that the Wings typically travel to away games directly right after the last game ended when there's only a one day break between games, so in that sense my "Rest/Travel" labels aren't strictly correct.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Drake_Marcus

[seeinred 1,488]

Good for the fans at least. These seemingly endless stretches between games are brutal.

[Nev 1,085]

I said at the start of the month that November was crucial for the Wings with all the home games we have. So far we've done fantastic. 8 games in 13 days sounds bad, but we've got 3 days rest at the start, so you could also say 8 games in 16 days which ain't so bad.

Only 3 of those 8 are on the road, and they're all relatively short hops - Montreal, S.Louis and Nashville.

[hak 21]

bring it on! :flamingmad:

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

[kylee 727]

as a fan, im thrilled with this upcoming flow of games.

if the Wings continue their recent success, we may found our team in similar territory (top of the conference and league)

[RusDRW 155]

Most of those teams are weak--Dallas, Florida, Nashville, and St. Louis. Only Calgary and Atlanta are dangerous right now.

Dallas is by no means a weak team. I would say they are, perhaps, the strongest opponent we are going to face during this 8 games span.

[mmamolo 287]

I agree, Dallas is no slouch but I wouldn't say they are the toughest opponent in the next 8 game stretch. Calgary has been dominant and with the exception of their recent 2-1 SO loss to Buffalo they have been easily one of the best in the West.

I agree that this is a crucial set of games in the season and we're entering it in the best shape we have been all year so far. As I am sure you all know the Wings are 10-3-3 since returning from Sweden. We've won 3 straight and are 7-2-1 in our last ten. With the exception of our poor showing against the Leafs we have been rolling. So I'm confident in our abaility to take 6 of the next 8 (at least).

[jollymania 162]

none of these teams have been particularly strong this whole season, but it looks like a pretty tough schedule regardless.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Isn't the whole season a test? In the cap era this isn't shocking.

[OsGOD 3]

Eh i work 10 days out of 14... they will be fine.. its their job! SOmetimes 12 out 14 for me!

Edited November 17, 2009 by OsGOD

[Tommy_Like_Wingy 25]

Good for the fans at least. These seemingly endless stretches between games are brutal.

This.

We're supposed to have a condensed schedule because of the olympics but for some reason it seems like there are larger gaps between games this season than last.

[Nev 1,085]

Eh i work 10 days out of 14... they will be fine.. its their job! SOmetimes 12 out 14 for me!

Do you finish work at around 10pm, hang around for an hour answering the same questions every night, catch a flight around midnight, arrive at your destination 3am, get to bed 4am, have a few hours sleep, and start the day again? Do you have to give 100% maximum effort every single time you go to work? Do you have a boss like Mike Babcock who can end your life with just a single Babcockian Death Stare?

One of the things that really annoys me about fans is how little they take account of travel upon top athletes. It's a lot like working shifts, and anyone who works them knows that sometimes, and it can't be helped, is that sometimes you just feel like ****. I don't care how much you're paid, if there's no gas in the tank, there's no gas in the tank.

[esteef 2,679]

esteef

[OsGOD 3]

Do you finish work at around 10pm, hang around for an hour answering the same questions every night, catch a flight around midnight, arrive at your destination 3am, get to bed 4am, have a few hours sleep, and start the day again? Do you have to give 100% maximum effort every single time you go to work? Do you have a boss like Mike Babcock who can end your life with just a single Babcockian Death Stare?

One of the things that really annoys me about fans is how little they take account of travel upon top athletes. It's a lot like working shifts, and anyone who works them knows that sometimes, and it can't be helped, is that sometimes you just feel like ****. I don't care how much you're paid, if there's no gas in the tank, there's no gas in the tank.

Some nights yes i would from 6am till 10pm.... and i don't get paid as much as they do...

but yeah if i can get back up the next morning and do it all over again... AND... do hours upon hours of yard work and s*** around the house after work... then yes i expect they can survive 8 games in 13 nights too.

Edited November 17, 2009 by OsGOD

[The Mule 0]

6-1-1

[titanium2 867]

On the plus side I can't wait to see all these Wings games without grueling 3 day breaks between them.

Yeah pretty much. I mean, I like that I get to watch the Wings more often in the upcoming weeks. At the same time, I should probably be understanding if by the 7th or 8th game their effort looks off.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Some nights yes i would from 6am till 10pm.... and i don't get paid as much as they do...

but yeah if i can get back up the next morning and do it all over again... AND... do hours upon hours of yard work and s*** around the house after work... then yes i expect they can survive 8 games in 13 nights too.

True... you don't get paid $500,000+ to do it, so I guess we can expect them to work a bit harder for their six or seven figure contracts.

[OsGOD 3]

True... you don't get paid $500,000+ to do it, so I guess we can expect them to work a bit harder for their six or seven figure contracts.

benjamins most always produces a bit more expectations of harder work. You aren't given a raise by your employer with the expectations you will produce less than you were.

how does that phrase go? Too whom much is given... much is expected

Edited November 17, 2009 by OsGOD

[Drake_Marcus 890]

benjamins most always produces a bit more expectations of harder work. You aren't given a raise by your employer with the expectations you will produce less than you were.

how does that phrase go? Too whom much is given... much is expected

That sure would be nice, though.

[Nev 1,085]

Some nights yes i would from 6am till 10pm.... and i don't get paid as much as they do...

but yeah if i can get back up the next morning and do it all over again... AND... do hours upon hours of yard work and s*** around the house after work... then yes i expect they can survive 8 games in 13 nights too.

Yes, I expect they'll survive it too. But how much they or you get paid is irrelevant

I don't care how much you're paid, if there's no gas in the tank, there's no gas in the tank.

And for the record, as I said at the top, I don't think its that bad a stretch anyway.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Do you finish work at around 10pm, hang around for an hour answering the same questions every night, catch a flight around midnight, arrive at your destination 3am, get to bed 4am, have a few hours sleep, and start the day again? Do you have to give 100% maximum effort every single time you go to work? Do you have a boss like Mike Babcock who can end your life with just a single Babcockian Death Stare?

One of the things that really annoys me about fans is how little they take account of travel upon top athletes. It's a lot like working shifts, and anyone who works them knows that sometimes, and it can't be helped, is that sometimes you just feel like ****. I don't care how much you're paid, if there's no gas in the tank, there's no gas in the tank.

Oh. My. God.

Don't even start with this. Look first off, I respect hockey players and pro athletes. They work hard, travel a lot, and generally have to deal with a boat load of fan and media attention - but give me a break. These guys gets millions of dollars. We NEVER hear about players complaining because they all know they have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. They PLAY for a living. They fly on chartered flights, they stay in nice hotels, and they are fed team meals.

Only an ignoramus would argue that Hockey players have it tough, especially compared to your average blue collar fan, who works 40+ hours a week to put food on the table.

As for the topic? Yeah its a tough ride and they may get tired, but at the same time it may really get them going. The majority of those teams aren't very good either. Calgary will be a test, but the Red Wings are capable of beating every team on that list.

[VM1138 1,921]

If they can stay healthy, I don't think being tired will be too much of a factor. They'll start slow a few games but get into it as it goes on.

Add to that home games and "easy" teams for the most part, the Wings should come out of this with points and confidence.

[Nev 1,085]

Oh. My. God.

Don't even start with this. Look first off, I respect hockey players and pro athletes. They work hard, travel a lot, and generally have to deal with a boat load of fan and media attention - but give me a break. These guys gets millions of dollars. We NEVER hear about players complaining because they all know they have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. They PLAY for a living. They fly on chartered flights, they stay in nice hotels, and they are fed team meals.

Only an ignoramus would argue that Hockey players have it tough, especially compared to your average blue collar fan, who works 40+ hours a week to put food on the table.

I'm just pointing out that the whole "hockey players shouldn't get tired because they get millions of dollars" line of thinking is a fallacy. Everyone seems to forget that both sets of players in a hockey game are paid millions of dollars. If one team has had 2 days off and slept in their own beds, and the other played last night and didn't get to bed till 4am its a no brainer which team will have more energy.

For all that that is done to keep the players fresh its still a widely accepted fact that a team playing the 2nd game in a back to back is at a serious disadvantage. Just like the first game back after a long road trip- remember the appaling 3-1 loss to Montreal last season after a long road trip out west? Babcock wasn't even bothered about it and said he'd had it circled as a loss from the day the schedule was announced.

[blankrap 9]

Some nights yes i would from 6am till 10pm.... and i don't get paid as much as they do...

but yeah if i can get back up the next morning and do it all over again... AND... do hours upon hours of yard work and s*** around the house after work... then yes i expect they can survive 8 games in 13 nights too.

Me likes this.

They just got off vacation. If this stretch were in march I would feel different about it. I hate going to work all effin' day and then coming home to do work and then having to repeat until sunday.

I live in vegas so it is a 24 hour city and my shifts are all over the place. I get off work at 11 pm and have to be at work at 6 am sometimes. I feel ya.

To the guy you were replying to:

They sleep on the plane. The red wings do not fly coach my friend.