17 Straight PK's

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

So, after reading through the draper article about him getting the team going with his rant, I noticed that we have killed 17 straight Penalties. Is this a turning point for the PK, or just a streak of luck?

[droz 5]

Hopefully the penalty kill is improving, it was great against the Rangers. We were very aggressive and didn't allow them to generate much. They did have one power play where they got a lot of shots but Howard came up big.

Whenever it seems like we've reached a "turning point" we then take a step back in the next game, we just need to keep it consistent.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Hopefully the penalty kill is improving, it was great against the Rangers. We were very aggressive and didn't allow them to generate much. They did have one power play where they got a lot of shots but Howard came up big.

Whenever it seems like we've reached a "turning point" we then take a step back in the next game, we just need to keep it consistent.

I agree, we just need to keep consistent with it and grind it out. the injuries don't help but even before injuries, going back to last year our PK and overall defense has been lacking. The rangers game is the best D i've see the team play since we won the cup.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Whenever it seems like we've reached a "turning point" we then take a step back in the next game, we just need to keep it consistent.

agreed. hopefully the wings can build off of how they've played the last five periods. i think it's starting to dawn on them that they need complete games from everybody every night. our start this year has been about 10 years in the making. i complain about it every year, but the wings have evolved in such a way that they're accustomed to taking periods, hell, even games off, because they're always bursting at the seams with talent. their pure talent has made up for some shoddy play for a long time. they can't play this year like they've been able to play for such a long time.

it's not their fault, that's been the reality. but it's not the case anymore and the way they play has to be proactive, not reactive.

[brett 1,029]

thanks for jinxing it.

but i heard last night they change their style and are playing the Jacques Lemaire system now.

Edited December 7, 2009 by brett

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

thanks for jinxing it.

but i heard last night they change their style and are playing the Jacques Lemaire system now.

Hey now, just because some are superstitious doesn't mean we all have to be. that said, does that mean we're gonna start going up two goals and sitting back the rest of the game playing the trap?

[Jake Ryan 1]

I say we go 33 PK's in a row before we give up a goal to Stamkos.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Seemed alright last night, Howard did a great job. There was one in there where it was a total disaster though, they had at least sixty chances to clear the puck and just couldn't do it, and Howard bailed them out in a big way.

[Guest micah]

17? I would not have guessed that. Nice work boys!

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Seemed alright last night, Howard did a great job. There was one in there where it was a total disaster though, they had at least sixty chances to clear the puck and just couldn't do it, and Howard bailed them out in a big way.

Howard did bail them out, but that's why they say the goalie is the most important member of the PK, right?

Overall the PK has been much, much better than it was earlier in the year. The forwards look better, the defense looks better and the goaltending looks much better.

Everyone on the PK deserves a pat on the back. Last night's game was basically won because of the Wings' strong PK-- they had to kill 3 penalties in the 3rd period that were only separated by a minute of 5-on-5 each.

[brett 1,029]

Hey now, just because some are superstitious doesn't mean we all have to be. that said, does that mean we're gonna start going up two goals and sitting back the rest of the game playing the trap?

im just playing buddy..but yeah props to 17 straight impressive

[akustyk 84]

Hey now, just because some are superstitious doesn't mean we all have to be.

we'll come back to this topic when Wings let a terrible softie on the very first PK next game.

no, I'm not superstitious, but things like that are just asking for trouble.

it simply always go wrong

[Guest zackmorris]

We were brilliant in the NYR game. Just brilliant. It only ended up 3-1 but all the little things we did impressed me.

We didn't allow the puck carrier any room to move.

We clogged the passing lanes and if a pass got through, we got to the puck carrier quickly.

We fought hard for loose pucks.

We played smart D for the most part.

And on the PK, most of that shifted over as well. We were aggressive. Go and look at our most successful games where we dominated-we made life hell for the other team and their PP unit. We attacked whoever had the puck, we tried to clog lanes and didn't give them time to skate around so passively. We did that again in NY.

All it takes is moving their damn feet. We're tired and sometimes lazy, because we're so insanely skilled we've gotten used to being able to get by that way. But some of our skill left, and some got hurt and now, we have to skate hard to earn wins. We'll keep this up, we'll get used to it and if we get into the playoffs, lord help whoever plays us. We should be a whole new type of team.

[titanium2 867]

So what exactly are they doing right? Just plain battling?

[thedisappearer 291]

So what exactly are they doing right? Just plain battling?

Pressure on the blue line along with hard battling in the corners, plus solid tending, and we managed to clear a bunch of pucks.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Pressure on the blue line along with hard battling in the corners, plus solid tending, and we managed to clear a bunch of pucks.

Agree. They have returned to being aggressive on the PK ala two years ago. Last season and the beginning of this one, they would all collapse down low and didn't put any pressure on the opposition, which is bad enough when the greater number of your guys near the crease actually clear rebounds, but it was rendered completely useless by all our guys standing around watching as the other team potted the rebounds.

The PK seems to have returned to being tenacious and its really amazing how well clearing the zone when you have the chance instead of coughing it up again works, who'd have thunk that

Edited December 13, 2009 by b.shanafan14

[titanium2 867]

http://freep.com/article/20100114/SPORTS05...fy-penalty-kill

"The Wings didn't have much success killing penalties early this season, but they've been on a roll for more than a month, and that has much to do with having indoctrinated two of their fastest forwards, Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves, into the system. Helm (2:26) and Eaves (2:05) are the only Wing forwards over the two-minute mark in shorthanded minutes per game. Their fleet feet and willingness to block shots have helped the Wings improve to 87.9% on the penalty kill since Dec. 1."

Have the Datsyuks and Zetterbergs and basically scoring line players received less time on the PK this year? In theory it's a nice idea so that they can focus more on scoring.

[NGKEIB 32]

Have the Datsyuks and Zetterbergs and basically scoring line players received less time on the PK this year? In theory it's a nice idea so that they can focus more on scoring.

Yes, I believe that the main units have been Helm and Eaves and Maltby and Miller.

[mmamolo 287]

I am a big fan of the Wings model where your best offensive players should also be your best defensive players - thus being able to be on the ice at absolutely any time you need/want them to. However, being the best defensive players doesn't necessarily mean killing penalties all the time. If Datsyuk and Zetterberg's PK time has been cut back a bit that means more even strength time and that gives them more potential for offence. WIth two very strong units in Eaves/Helm and Maltby/Miller I think it makes more sense to use Datsyuk and Zetterberg in supporting PK roles.

[NGKEIB 32]

I agree - if there is a 5-on-3, the first guy I want out there is Zetterberg. However, things as they are, I see no reason to take PK time away from our 3rd and 4th liners who have so far done a very good job.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I agree - if there is a 5-on-3, the first guy I want out there is Zetterberg. However, things as they are, I see no reason to take PK time away from our 3rd and 4th liners who have so far done a very good job.

As much as I love Z and value him as a defensive force... with the way he's played this year, there is no one on the team I am more comfortable out there with defensively than Helm... and that would include on a 5-3 PK...

[titanium2 867]

As much as I love Z and value him as a defensive force... with the way he's played this year, there is no one on the team I am more comfortable out there with defensively than Helm... and that would include on a 5-3 PK...

I think that has more to do with Z and his tendency to really step it up in the "big" moments. I agree with him but only if it's a playoff game.

[akustyk 84]

Hey now, just because some are superstitious doesn't mean we all have to be.

except, it always works.

[NGKEIB 32]

As much as I love Z and value him as a defensive force... with the way he's played this year, there is no one on the team I am more comfortable out there with defensively than Helm... and that would include on a 5-3 PK...

I don't know - I still feel that Zetterberg has the capability of playing several levels above Helm defensively. Though that will probably only come out in the playoffs.

How about Lebda and Rafalski as the d-men, and throwing in Meech (he can play forward too, you know!). Would that do the trick?

[titanium2 867]

This year the PK rotation was rather interesting in regards to the forwards lineup.

It was something along the lines of:

Helm-Eaves

Cleary-Miller

Helm-Eaves

Zetterberg-Filppula

Helm and Eaves were out for the 1st AND 3rd shifts. Has Babs done that before in the past?

I honestly took the PK for granted before 08-09 so I didn't particularly notice who was out there but I do remember in 08 the rotation was something like Draper-Cleary, Zetterberg-Franzen/Filppula, Datsyuk-Drake.

Did Helm and Eaves have that kind of rotation because they were simply better at it or... what?