Fantastic News about the Wings!

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Great news! The Wings have shown HUGE improvement since the start of the season in one key area:

Goals Against.

Yeah baby! The Wings now sit 10th in overall in the league with 2.67 GAA. That's right-- they're above average in the single most important defensive statistic. You'll remember that they were craptastic in this regard last year (20th in the league) and even worse at the start of the year.

What about the PK you ask? I'm glad you threw that out their hypothetical reader.

The Wings are currently tied for 18th place in PK%! That's right-- almost average. Seems crappy, eh? But it's a huge improvement over their 29th place PK from earlier in the season.

So clearly this team is learning to shape up defensively.

Oh, and the goaltending isn't the only reason why their improving defensively-- Jimmy's been great, yeah, but he's not a top ten goalie yet. And right now this is a top ten defensive team (except on the PK).

Speaking of J-diggity-fresh, and he insists I call him that (I assume), his stats are getting more and more respectable. Right now he's tied for 20th in save percentage (with Price and Giguere), tied for 13th in GAA with Fleury (the greatest 1st overall pick ever to be selected in 2003) and only 0.01 in GAA from Mighty Luongo! Yes, we can say Jimmy's impressed as a rookie many of us considered a bit of a bust walking into training camp. And no one compare his stats to Varly or Rask because that's just mean.

So yeah. Time to give our defense props and maybe stop calling for a certain craptastic assistant coach's head. (but if you meet Todd McClellan at the next Sharks game please feel free to beg him to come back home to Detroit)

[NGKEIB 32]

But now we're not scoring goals. Fire MacLean!

[Guest Four]

For Christmas, I want a goal scorer =[

[HOCKEY MATTERS 167]

I'm confused.

A positive post?

Oh, my.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Yep, the defense, even while making rookie (ericsson) mistakes, and dumb (lebda) moves, is on the rise. It's our offense that is losing us games now, not defense. Howard isn't making it easy on the other teams either. Honestly, i'm kind of glad that babs has thrown Jimmy into the fire. It was sink or swim time and it looks like Jimmy is learning to swim. Now, if we could only get the young forwards to step up like jimmy has. Here's looking at you leino.

[mmamolo 287]

This thread is absolutely on the money. But this is usually the sign of a mid range team (with all the injuries we have we can only really see ourselves somewhere in the middle). Mid level teams can either score goals in bunches and have trouble on D or they can keep the puck out of their net but have trouble putting some on the board.

What should really be encouraging to ppl on this site is that the bulk of the players we currently have on the LTIR will only help our offence. Franzen, Kronwall, Filppula, and Williams will all boost our offence. If our team D continues to perform as it has we'll be in great shape down the stretch.

[NGKEIB 32]

Hmm... I'm pretty sure that getting them back (esp. Kronwall and Filppula) will help our defense too...

[Doc Holiday 0]

But now we're not scoring goals. Fire MacLean!

[Pucks 66]

A lot less soft goals 5 on 5 and someone capable of making saves while shorthanded has helped tremendously.

[Carman 387]

Haha nice post. I was thinking along the same lines after the game. At least their is something to be not absolutely dismayed about.

[digitaljohn88 4]

Hate to s*** all over the parade, but it seems like teams are just scoring one or two early on us and then shutting it down for the night because we don't score. If we had more goals I bet we'd have more goals against.

Even with that factored in though, our defense is much better than last year.

[VM1138 1,921]

Howard has been solid for us. He's really clamped down on his rebounds and it's made him much better. I think this is one of the bright spots, our goaltending and defense has improved drastically, as has our penalty kill. Now we just have to get our guys scoring again and the team will be alright.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

A lot of this has to do with Howard's recent play being very solid. A goalie can make the rest of the team look good defensively.

Last night, we gave the Blues way too many good chances. It just so happened that they only scored once. In other words, this thread should be a Howard appreciation thread.

[Doc Holiday 0]

A lot of this has to do with Howard's recent play being very solid. A goalie can make the rest of the team look good defensively.

Last night, we gave the Blues way too many good chances. It just so happened that they only scored once. In other words, this thread should be a Howard appreciation thread.

Howard was decent, but it isn't like he was stopping multiple breakaways and cross ice passes.

He did exactly what was needed. Nothing more. Nothing less.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Howard was decent, but it isn't like he was stopping multiple breakaways and cross ice passes.

He did exactly what was needed. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Which is an improvement over our goaltending earlier in the season, hence the higher GAA.

[Opie 308]

GMR forgive Doc he is currently refusing to give any credit to Howard for anything.

[Carman 387]

GMR forgive Doc he is currently refusing to give any credit to Howard for anything.

He gave him credit for being decent, which is what he is.

[RedWingsRox 614]

Can't argue with the stats ... improvement in some very key areas especially defense.

BUT you can't win a game without scoring a goal ... case in point, last night.

So .. keep up the good defensive effort and boyz, let's aim a bit when putting a SOG.

[Rivalred 630]

Yup, the team is focusing so much on defense they forgot how to score goals.

Bwahhahaaaa

[Opie 308]

So in last night's game Howard was just doing what was expected of him?

Because I am pretty sure that is what Doc said, I am sorry I saw a goalie give up one goal on a play were he was trying to save the point shot (which became a pass) which he could not see due to the 2 wings and one blue standing right in front of him. He was down when the pass was received down low, wide open net, GOAL (somehow the Wings would have hit the post though).

Other than that, he was very good last night, IMO, much more than decent, was he stellar, no, was he very good to great, imo yes. Even though the Blues were more intent on line matching and defense, Howard kept the Wings in that game on multiple occassions. And oddly enough the Wings have needed that badly.

But that is my opinion and that is what created my thought for the first response, that and Doc so vehemently posting what Howard will and won't be in the future.

Now, is he an All-star, no, he is all world, no, but he is keeping the Wings in games right now. That is much better than the start of the season, hence this thread.

[b.shanafan14 733]

This is something that has been a long-time coming, improved defense. Goaltending has been decently solid and the Wings are getting back to keeping the opposition to the outside. The one thing they need to improve on in clearing rebounds. Too many times this season there are 2 or 3 Wings near the crease watching a rebound sit there until 1 opposition player pots a gimmee and 2 or 3 Wings immediately look skyward.

[Doc Holiday 0]

So in last night's game Howard was just doing what was expected of him?

Didn't say that pal. I have been happy for Howard's play thus far and think he is doing very well.

Because I am pretty sure that is what Doc said, I am sorry I saw a goalie give up one goal on a play were he was trying to save the point shot (which became a pass) which he could not see due to the 2 wings and one blue standing right in front of him. He was down when the pass was received down low, wide open net, GOAL (somehow the Wings would have hit the post though).

Did I blame Howard for the loss? Nope.

Other than that, he was very good last night, IMO, much more than decent, was he stellar, no, was he very good to great, imo yes. Even though the Blues were more intent on line matching and defense, Howard kept the Wings in that game on multiple occassions. And oddly enough the Wings have needed that badly.

HMMMMMMMMM

He did exactly what was needed. Nothing more. Nothing less.

But that is my opinion and that is what created my thought for the first response, that and Doc so vehemently posting what Howard will and won't be in the future.

Hey, forgive me for saying that Howard has not proven thus far that he should be considered a Vezina candidate, but I guess it is easier to say "You don't know he won't!" instead of giving me something that might make me think he has that potential. He won't be a Roy or Hasek. As much as you don't like it that's the reality. Doesn't make Howard an awful goaltender. Doesn't make his efforts this season any less of a big deal.

Now, is he an All-star, no, he is all world, no, but he is keeping the Wings in games right now. That is much better than the start of the season, hence this thread.

Kinda my opinion on the subject, but since I applied that to the future you seemed offended.

[Opie 308]

I am not offended but:

He did exactly what was needed. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Is not an accurate description of his play, the Blues could have easily scored more than 1 last night.

But again, I am sure, you meant

He did exactly what was needed. Nothing more. Nothing less.

as a compliment!

EDIT: BTW, in the other thread you were not stating:

Howard has not proven thus far that he should be considered a Vezina candidate

You said what he will or will not be in the future, not at his current play he is x. Your original comment was stated as a known fact, and had zero reference to his current level of play.

And I never said Howard will be anything, I have stuck to commenting on his current level of play, because to state what a player will be while in the start of their rookie season would be dumb. I thought Pav Bure would be an automatic HOF bid, injuries may have changed that.

And his current level of play is better than average, is better than decent. He is working his way up the stat ladder pretty quickly and after a bad bad start to the season.

And in some instances is the only reason the Wings are in games, NYR game anyone remember that one, I mean it was so long ago!

Edited December 10, 2009 by Opie

[Doc Holiday 0]

I am not offended but:

Is not an accurate description of his play, the Blues could have easily scored more than 1 last night.

But again, I am sure, you meant as a compliment!

It is accurate. How many "game-breaking" saves did Howard have last night? And do not mention the shot that went into his armpit a few seconds after he was already down on the ice. It was a great desperation play but nothing more than that.

[Opie 308]

You are right he is another Raycroft in the making and you have him pegged all along, good for you.

You win and internet cookie.