We Should Have Gooned it Up These Last Two Games

[WorkingOvertime 536]

Biggest hit of the game was from Pavel, Stuart, Helm, and Abs needed to step it up.

Abs registered 7 hits (most from either team by two- he doesn't derserve to be called out for physical play), Bert had 5, Pavs had 4, and Helm had 1. See this for more info http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES020553.HTM.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Leino isn't the only guy I rag on. Seriously, why would you even post that obvious falsity.

How would it have hurt our playoff hopes? It'd wake this team up for one thing and they'd play with some heart and determination in the next game.

What did we tell the Hawks these last two games. That we're not only bad with this roster, but we won't even play physical with it and will avoid any confrontations. Just blow us out and skate away smiling. Let Buffligien or whatever his name is do whatever he wants out there.

In the past, I'd just complain that we don't have the personnel to play this way, but this time it's different. We had the right players but we just didn't utilize them properly.

GMR-- I've watched more than a couple of games with you on justin.tv and let's be honest-- Leino's your main focus for ridicule. You might mock other players on occasion but 80% of your comments are directed at Leino.

I agree that they look lifeless and pathetic out there and I WISH they would've punished the Hawks physically. But dirty hits? I'd rather they didn't go that far. Pound them with legal checks.

Is there any excuse for this play? No. Not one. Datsyuk and Lidstrom are elite players and they didn't create a tiny shred of offense over the last two games. These were the worst times to phone it in. Now the Hawks are 10pts away from us.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

GMR-- I've watched more than a couple of games with you on justin.tv and let's be honest-- Leino's your main focus for ridicule. You might mock other players on occasion but 80% of your comments are directed at Leino.

I agree that they look lifeless and pathetic out there and I WISH they would've punished the Hawks physically. But dirty hits? I'd rather they didn't go that far. Pound them with legal checks.

Is there any excuse for this play? No. Not one. Datsyuk and Lidstrom are elite players and they didn't create a tiny shred of offense over the last two games. These were the worst times to phone it in. Now the Hawks are 10pts away from us.

I wasn't speaking about dirty hits as much as clean hits which send messages and start fights.

Once again, I criticize lots of players for this current play. Read through this thread and you'll see me mention Lidstrom's name more than anybody's. It just so happens that the Leino jokes are funnier.

[stuck in socal 56]

GMR-- I've watched more than a couple of games with you on justin.tv and let's be honest-- Leino's your main focus for ridicule. You might mock other players on occasion but 80% of your comments are directed at Leino.

I agree that they look lifeless and pathetic out there and I WISH they would've punished the Hawks physically. But dirty hits? I'd rather they didn't go that far. Pound them with legal checks.

Is there any excuse for this play? No. Not one. Datsyuk and Lidstrom are elite players and they didn't create a tiny shred of offense over the last two games. These were the worst times to phone it in. Now the Hawks are 10pts away from us.

We are definitely going to need to go on a tear once we start getting healthy if we want to catch up to the Hawks. And lets face it, Leino is everyone's favorite whipping boy this year. I think that is primarily because we all had high expectations for him. He WAS the MVP of the Professional Finnish Hockey League. I saw some of his highlights on Youtube and he seemed like a really talented player. I am sure this year has been tough for his confidence and part is due to the tremendous expectations.

Edited December 24, 2009 by stuck in socal

[Broken 16 381]

Exactly.

We've been bullied around for years in this same scenario, and now we have the perfect chance to hit back and yet we do nothing about it.

We send May out there to have staged fights with Barch, but we don't send him out there in these situations.

Pretty sad.

This is driving me crazy.

[commadore183 103]

No, what we should have done in the past 2 games is, gasp, score! Sure, I like big hits and fights like everyone else, but I rather have the team focus their energies scoring than trying to "send a message". Fights and hits are good and all for the fans, but in the end, the only thing that matters is what's on the scoreboard: more goals than the opposition. That didn't happen in the past 2 games, so what would fights and hits do?

I'll pass on the gooning, it has no real place in hockey as it is today. Entertaining, yes, but nothing big comes of it except for highlights on the sports shows.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

goons could have punched a couple goals in

no excuses for being WIMPS

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

No, what we should have done in the past 2 games is, gasp, score! Sure, I like big hits and fights like everyone else, but I rather have the team focus their energies scoring than trying to "send a message". Fights and hits are good and all for the fans, but in the end, the only thing that matters is what's on the scoreboard: more goals than the opposition. That didn't happen in the past 2 games, so what would fights and hits do?

I'll pass on the gooning, it has no real place in hockey as it is today. Entertaining, yes, but nothing big comes of it except for highlights on the sports shows.

Yeah, tell that to all the other teams.

As for the first part of your post, both games were already out of hand late in the 3rd. I'm not saying we should have jumped them from the opening whistle, but late in the games we should have.

[Guest Crymson]

Babcock lost some of my respect for these last two games.

Divisional games against rivals and the games were blowouts. Yet he didn't even try to goon it up or send them a message late in these games.

And enough of this "we're a classy organization" s***. Sending rivals a message is a part of hockey. There's nothing dirty or improper or unclassy about it. They did the same stuff to us last year in the playoffs.

This would have been a good way to bring this team together and inject some life into them. Instead, May and Janik were benched for the 3rd and the team looked lifeless as it skated off the ice.

Better idea: You should have thought a bit before posting and spared us this senseless stupidity.

This team is respectable. I'm sad that you'd rather see its players reduce themselves to unsportsmanlike behavior our of frustration. "We can't win? Oh, in that case let's just try to be dirty and intimidating. Can't beat 'em legitimately? Go for the legs!"

Good call. Wait, bad call.

Edited December 24, 2009 by Crymson

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Better idea: You should have thought a bit and spared us this senseless stupidity before you posted it.

This team is respectable. I'm sad that you'd rather see its players reduce themselves to unsportsmanlike behavior our of frustration. "We can't win? Oh, in that case let's just try to be dirty and intimidating. Can't beat 'em legitimately? Go for the legs!"

Good call. Wait, bad call.

Good to see you're still my biggest fan around here and are not biased just because of the source.

You obviously didn't read anything I posted throughout this thread, so I'm not even going to bother with you.

BTW, a lot of posters here seem to agree with me so it's not just senseless stupidity. But I guess to you if it's not Crymson's argument, then it must be senseless and stupid. Typical.

Edited December 24, 2009 by GMRwings1983

[cmonster 11]

Yeah, it would be nice to goon it up and send a message. But, this team probably shouldn't try and out goon most teams. For one we risk more injuries, two, you're asking some Euro's do something that they aren't comfortable or familiar with (i.e. play roles they can't opening themselves up to get hurt), and three, because we still have to play them again (i.e. retaliation).

Now that I have indulged the logical side of my brain. I want to see Abdelkader throw down. I want to see him brutalize someone. He is a big kid, power forward type. And, I want to see Bertuzzi throw'em. Bert is a big boy. He needs to throw caution to the wind and pummel someone. May really doesn't need an invitation. He should fight whenever he feels like it. With him we're not losing a high skill guy so what the heck, let'em go.

[commadore183 103]

Better idea: You should have thought a bit and spared us this senseless stupidity before you posted it.

This team is respectable. I'm sad that you'd rather see its players reduce themselves to unsportsmanlike behavior our of frustration. "We can't win? Oh, in that case let's just try to be dirty and intimidating. Can't beat 'em legitimately? Go for the legs!"

Good call. Wait, bad call.

Agreed. No need to reduce oneself to goonery to "send a message". The best revenge is to blow the team out when it matters: the playoffs.

[cmonster 11]

Agreed. No need to reduce oneself to goonery to "send a message". The best revenge is to blow the team out when it matters: the playoffs.

We have to make the playoffs first...

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Yeah, it would be nice to goon it up and send a message. But, this team probably shouldn't try and out goon most teams. For one we risk more injuries, two, you're asking some Euro's do something that they aren't comfortable or familiar with (i.e. play roles they can't opening themselves up to get hurt), and three, because we still have to play them again (i.e. retaliation).

Now that I have indulged the logical side of my brain. I want to see Abdelkader throw down. I want to see him brutalize someone. He is a big kid, power forward type. And, I want to see Bertuzzi throw'em. Bert is a big boy. He needs to throw caution to the wind and pummel someone. May really doesn't need an invitation. He should fight whenever he feels like it. With him we're not losing a high skill guy so what the heck, let'em go.

What euros?

I'm talking about sending May, Janik and Newbury to fight. Those guys getting injured is hardly a huge blow to the team.

All our top players are already injured with a few exceptions.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

We have to make the playoffs first...

So shoves after whisltes and challenging players to fights is goonery?

How long have you been watching hockey?

You guys make it sound like I suggested we arm our players with knives and send them out there to do some stabbing.

[jollymania 162]

Abs registered 7 hits (most from either team by two- he doesn't derserve to be called out for physical play), Bert had 5, Pavs had 4, and Helm had 1. See this for more info http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES020553.HTM.

I didn't feel any of abs's hits were impactful, and he got nailed by Byfuglien, Bertuzzi had one nice bump on Campbell but he wasn't a big presence, neither was pavel despite him dropping seabrook.

[FunkedUp 29]

I agree with the premise of this thread. It doesn't even seem like the wings care at all when they get beat, literally or figuratively. When someone takes a shot at our players, nothing ever happens. The wings don't even know how to properly lose...

Lidstrom needs to step it up and start leading. He barely hits the net anymore. The guy hasn't even scored this year. (that one deflected goal he has hardly qualifies)

Datsyuk needs to put the puck in the net, and needs to start playing with an ounce of emotion.

Leino lives in bizzaro world. always shooting when he shouldn't and passing when he should shoot. Complete bust. I'd rather have Kopecky over him...

The rest of the team needs to step up too...

[BlueMonk 102]

I'm with you. Play hard, hit, finish your checks, muck it up a bit, show some passion. It's never been this team's M.O. but they finally have the roster to do it and it would have been nice to see under the circumstances.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I'm with you. Play hard, hit, finish your checks, muck it up a bit, show some passion. It's never been this team's M.O. but they finally have the roster to do it and it would have been nice to see under the circumstances.

Does anyone here remember the Fight Night at the Joe back in 1997?

That's what rivalries are all about. Not rolling over like a dog and sticking your tongue out, which is what the Wings did. Divelanche players say that the WIngs won the Cup that night.

That's my answer to the posters who wonder how this will help us against Chicago next time we play them.

Edited December 24, 2009 by GMRwings1983

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

This is not a goon team. I don't know why some keep expecting it to be. It's not going to be in the near future.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

This is not a goon team. I don't know why some keep expecting it to be. It's not going to be in the near future.

They have the personnel for it these last few games.

[cmonster 11]

I'm with you. Play hard, hit, finish your checks, muck it up a bit, show some passion. It's never been this team's M.O. but they finally have the roster to do it and it would have been nice to see under the circumstances.

Playing hard, finishing your checks, playing with passion. All things that are part of good hockey. All things that I don't consider to be "goon" hockey. For the most part anything more is extraneous. But don't get wrong I enjoy a good tilt every now and again.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

How would that have helped the Wings make the playoffs?

I think you're losing sight of the real goals here. But then again you rag on Leino every game instead of the dozen players above him on the depth chart, so I suppose I should expect you to have your priorities confused.

SCENARIO TIME

Imagine: We gooned it up the last 2 games at the end after losing 3-0.

How does this affect the next game we play against the Blackhawks?

Like I said above, look at the Fight Night From the Joe game against Colorado in 1997.

How did that help us the next time we played them?

Well according to the players on both sides, it helped a lot.

[HenryMalredo 2]

Gooning it up at the end of the game where the team is getting blown out doesn't send a message, it just makes the team look desperate and pathetic.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Well, this is a tough call.

I understand the cry for passion, pride, and emotion quite easily. And part of me is down with this.

But if the Wings gooned it up, wouldn't it look like they were an insecure, desperate team, on the verge of panic? That's what I've taken away from the years and years and years of other teams trying to do this to Detroit when they were clearly outmatched.

Maybe there's something to be said psychologically for laying low and ignoring the rivalry. You know? Like saying "Whatevs. You guys know we're banged up and icing a team full of plugs but guess what? We don't care, there is no rivalry, we've owned you for countless seasons and that won't change, once we're healthy."

Doesn't anyone think that an emotionally detached Wings team would get under the Hawks skin?