11/25 GDT: Thrashers 2 at Red Wings 0

[Pavel Hossyukstrom 2]

We'll just call him Wing-Ding.

Welcome.

Wings. Go sit in the corner and think about what you did tonight. Then come back and play better next game. Sigh.

don't forget to rub there noses in it too!!!

[Pavel Hossyukstrom 2]

Can't say I'm surprised.... We simply don't have the skill. Its a transition year, plain and simple. And yeah, the goalies we've been playing against aren't that amazing....we just make them seem that way.

And yet we can beat goalies with names of Luongo, Kipper, Nabokov, Mason and Hiller with no problems. hmmm scratches head!!

[Drake_Marcus 890]

The whole 100mph slapper is fine, but Ericsson would be a ticking timebomb on the point. I dont think I've seen him complete a pass that wasnt a turnover or miss the man for games now.

This is gonna be fun...

Turnovers by offensive defensemen over the last 5 games:

Dallas:

Lidstrom: 2

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 2

Kronwal: 1

Flordia:

Lidstrom: 0

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 1

Kronwall: 1

Montreal:

Lidstrom: 4

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 1

Kronwall: 0 (injured after playing 4 mins)

Nashville:

Lidstrom: 0

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 1

Atlanta:

Lidstrom: 1

Rafalski: 0

Ericsson: 0

Totals:

Lidstrom: 7 in 5 games --> 1.4 per game

Rafalski: 8 in 5 games --> 1.6 per game

Ericsson: 5 in 5 games --> 1 per game

Kronwall: 2 in 2 games --> 1 per game

A ticking time bomb for turn-overs, eh? If 1 turn-over a game is a shocker you've never seen Mike Green play.

[skyphoenix 153]

Datsyuk is starting to scare me. Yeah, he doesn't have anyone to play with right now, but he isn't playing quite as sharp as he normally is. I noticed he tried the over-the-net pass again tonight which he tried in the playoffs last year when he couldn't score. Honestly, I think he has absolutely zero confidence right now as do most of the players.

[kylee 727]

team just needs to wake up, maybe get ripped into a little bit by babcock and co.

not take so many outside shots

just absolutely frustrating...

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Datsyuk is starting to scare me. Yeah, he doesn't have anyone to play with right now, but he isn't playing quite as sharp as he normally is. I noticed he tried the over-the-net pass again tonight which he tried in the playoffs last year when he couldn't score. Honestly, I think he has absolutely zero confidence right now as do most of the players.

Datsyuk has scared me ever since the playoffs began last year.

The entire regular season he was a scoring machine last year, and then as the playoffs started, he's become inconsistent and often unrecognizable since.

[Carman 387]

Datsyuk has scared me ever since the playoffs began last year.

The entire regular season he was a scoring machine last year, and then as the playoffs started, he's become inconsistent and often unrecognizable since.

I'm not trying to insinuate anything, but I think it is odd Babcock keeps Holmstrom with Datsyuk for this long. It's pretty clear that Datsyuk isn't playing to his potential and could use a little jump start and I would be interested to see how he plays with new linemates.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'm not trying to insinuate anything, but I think it is odd Babcock keeps Holmstrom with Datsyuk for this long. It's pretty clear that Datsyuk isn't playing to his potential and could use a little jump start and I would be interested to see how he plays with new linemates.

Neither Holmstrom nor Bertuzzi would have the cemented top six spots they have right now if Babcock had even a tiny bit of scoring depth to work with.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it is time to put Helm with Datsyuk. There's really not many options for new wingers right now because of injuries, so it can't hurt to try. Helm's not a top six guy as far as skill goes, but his speed does cause turn-overs and significant confusion among opposing defensemen. I can't help but think it'd be worthwhile seeing if Datsyuk can feed off that confusion. Plus it's clear that defensemen are wary of taking Helm on 1-on-1 because of his footspeed, so it'd be interesting to force the to make twice as many difficult defensive decisions by throwing Datysuk and Helm together. The only problem is that the line would still need a shooter because Helm's a non-factor with the puck. It's not a long-term solution, but it's worth trying.

[Carman 387]

That's pretty much all I'm saying. Just try something different. Hell switch Cleary with Homer and see what happens.

[skyphoenix 153]

I say now that nothing is working, just shake up everything and move everybody.

Helm - Datsyuk - Leino

Miller - Zetterberg - Cleary

Holmstrom - Draper - Eaves

Bertuzzi - Abdeklader - May (with Maltby rotating in)

These lines look terrible, but moving everyone around like this is at least worth trying in practice.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

where's the mandatory blueadams thread?

[j.hoop 64]

Really? 'Cause Datsyuk spent plenty of time with Holmstrom and Zetterberg tonight and didn't do a ******* THING. People need to get off this "Bertuzzi is making us lose" kick, it's not even realistic at this point.

hmm i dont recall saying that. i do recall saying bert is dragging down datsyuk, who is a passer foremost. datsyuks feeds, you score. bert has yet to find his touch, and thats all i was referring too. quit assuming.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

This is gonna be fun...

Turnovers by offensive defensemen over the last 5 games:

Dallas:

Lidstrom: 2

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 2

Kronwal: 1

Flordia:

Lidstrom: 0

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 1

Kronwall: 1

Montreal:

Lidstrom: 4

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 1

Kronwall: 0 (injured after playing 4 mins)

Nashville:

Lidstrom: 0

Rafalski: 2

Ericsson: 1

Atlanta:

Lidstrom: 1

Rafalski: 0

Ericsson: 0

Totals:

Lidstrom: 7 in 5 games --> 1.4 per game

Rafalski: 8 in 5 games --> 1.6 per game

Ericsson: 5 in 5 games --> 1 per game

Kronwall: 2 in 2 games --> 1 per game

A ticking time bomb for turn-overs, eh? If 1 turn-over a game is a shocker you've never seen Mike Green play.

Numbers are numbers. I've watched every game this year, I dont listen to numbers. A stat counter will count a turnover as a pass that is directly picked off, stick onto another stick. Sure Ericsson doesnt do that alot, but he does get passes tipped alot, and like, since this is a numbers debate apparantly, I dont have much to say. All I'll say is Lidstrom gets the passes tape to tape and Ericsson to this point in the season doesnt. And as for the Green comment, duh, he's a foward playing defence, funny though... considering Ericsson is essentially the same thing. But I'm done commenting on Ericsson, I think he's struggling, you and others dont, agree to disagree here, differences of perspective is all.