brett 1,029 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 By the standards of most players, 11 goals and 25 assists with a plus-11 mark through 41 games would be a very productive season. Most players, however, are not Pavel Datsyuk. We are accustomed to magical things from Datsyuk, who entered 2009-10 with back-to-back seasons of 30-plus goals and 97 points. But this season has been a struggle, as it has been for the Red Wings as a whole, who have had to battle through a seemingly endless string of injuries following an offseason makeover. "He's like the team as a whole has been," teammate Nicklas Lidstrom told Dana Wakiji of the Detroit News. "We haven't been as effective offensively as we've been in the past. We've had to play real well defensively to win games. We have to win games with less scoring than we've had to in the past. Everybody has had to adjust to that, not just Pav." Fair enough. The Wings have accented defensive play more this season, and the superbly skilled Datsyuk surely excels in that area. But in the past, he has been able to take defensive excellence and turn it into offensive opportunities. So far this season, those chances haven't come with normal regularity. "I am worried, yes, but not like a lot," Datsyuk said. "The most important thing is that we stay strong as a team." Coach Mike Babcock, who knows his team better than anyone, says it isn't a mystery for Datsyuk's offensive drop. With Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson leaving as free agents and Johan Franzen, Dan Cleary and Tomas Holmstrom losing time to injuries, continuity has been at a premium. "He hasn't had the surrounding guys as much this year and that has made it harder," Babcock said. "But it's amazing when all you do is check, check, check, it's because you don't have the puck as much as you are used to." "It is what it is right now, but I am looking forward," Datsyuk said. "We have 30 games left. I am going to do my best and get my numbers back up where they usually are. I never stop fighting. I had 31 goals, then 32 goals. I want 32 goals again." hope pav and the guys have a strong finish! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Datsyuk2Zetterberg 1 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 yay. at least he hasn't given up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sharomyga 6 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 hope pav and the guys have a strong finish! get it done Pavel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjm502 165 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 Sounds like he is going to step it up a bit. Pav didn't seem like he was doubting himself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krayzie_Bone 58 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 if you cant reach it gopher it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuck in socal 56 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 A goal a game will keep the haters away. Go Datsyuk! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Pred 48 337 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 Pav wants 32, what I want is 1 or 2 fellow countrymen on the roster with him. Kovie and Frolov on his wings next year would be nice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kira 451 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 I do not doubt that he can do it. The power of the mind is a wonderful thing. Don't lose faith, Pasha...I haven't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted January 23, 2010 Pav wants 32, what I want is 1 or 2 fellow countrymen on the roster with him. Kovie and Frolov on his wings next year would be nice! Would be nice, but then we lose a quarter of the team to accommodate and we lose the depth that has kept this team afloat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted January 24, 2010 why does frolov always get so much play? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13dangledangle 968 Report post Posted January 24, 2010 Let's do this Pav... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted January 24, 2010 What's going on with Pav and Z as far as scoring goes? I'm sure they're "doing a lot of good things" but they're supposed to score aren't they? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firehawk 305 Report post Posted January 24, 2010 Some nights Zetts is invisible out there. I do not get it this year. I know pieces hvae been missing, but come on. These guys are supposed to be super stars in the league. I expect more out of them, simple as that. HOpefully this is just a bad season and we can squeek into the playoffs and the new season starts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marty Barry 230 Report post Posted January 24, 2010 Pav wants 32, what I want is 1 or 2 fellow countrymen on the roster with him. Kovie and Frolov on his wings next year would be nice! You may have something there. Don't know if a bunch of Russians could ever make it in Detroit, but it's worth a shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tane 17 Report post Posted January 24, 2010 If datsyuk can will himself to the level he played at in overtime last week against the hawks, When he decided to blow by Brian Campbell, and Give him a piggy back ride towards the net, he'll be fine. That was the most impressive play I've seem from him all year. We just need to see more of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
