Phazon 24 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 How can a team regress so quickly after 2 consecutive SC finals? Yes i know injuries is a valid excuse, but were getting guys back now. Is babcock being outcoached? Yes it could be some of the problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sherwood40 16 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) Everyone is turning the puck over WAY too much, Dats needs to shoot more, everyone knows he will pass 99% of the time. We don't have anyone on our team that can actually shoot the puck real good. I would love to see Larry Murphy become the defensive coach for detroit. Edited January 31, 2010 by sherwood40 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Seems like every important guy on the team is having a career worst season, except for Howard. They just look too scared out there and don't seem to have confidence anymore offensively. Defensively, they're just getting out of the way and trying to see how good Howard is. There's no other explanation for this defense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest lilja4mvp Report post Posted January 31, 2010 they suck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FirstSamuel1745 0 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 This one's easy. One pace for 55 fewer goals this year, combined with a slightly more porous defense, and a hospital ward full of injuries. Hard to blame anyone for this, though you might wish the healthy players showed a bit more heart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Lack of puck possession. It's mainly the passing game I feel that is bad.. too many giveaways, too many passes behind players or bouncing passes that can't be controlled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rice 42 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 This one's easy. One pace for 55 fewer goals this year, combined with a slightly more porous defense, and a hospital ward full of injuries. Hard to blame anyone for this, though you might wish the healthy players showed a bit more heart. Actually the defense is better this year. They're allowing 2.69 goals per game as opposed to 2.97 last year. Just shows you how good last year's offense was. I still think they'll be able to get rolling once they get healthy. Pittsburgh was something like 5 points out of a playoff spot at this time last year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Can we all just blame this on Kirk Maltby? It's been forever since he put the puck in the net. I blame it all on him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Seems like every important guy on the team is having a career worst season, except for Howard. They just look too scared out there and don't seem to have confidence anymore offensively. Defensively, they're just getting out of the way and trying to see how good Howard is. There's no other explanation for this defense. Technically it is Howard's career worst season since it is his first full season in the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phazon 24 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Actually the defense is better this year. They're allowing 2.69 goals per game as opposed to 2.97 last year. Just shows you how good last year's offense was. I still think they'll be able to get rolling once they get healthy. Pittsburgh was something like 5 points out of a playoff spot at this time last year. that's the thing though. It's not much time left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Can we all just blame this on Kirk Maltby? It's been forever since he put the puck in the net. I blame it all on him. I blame it on Brad May. Wing's have never had a good team with him in the organization. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crashnburnluder 385 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Seems like every important guy on the team is having a career worst season, except for Howard. Im going to be honest... I hope this is his career worst season too... IF so we have a really briight future ahead of us haha.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rice 42 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 that's the thing though. It's not much time left. Once Franzen and Holmstrom come back, they have about a month to get in a groove before the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evil204 4 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Everyone is turning the puck over WAY too much, Dats needs to shoot more, everyone knows he will pass 99% of the time. We don't have anyone on our team that can actually shoot the puck real good. I would love to see Larry Murphy become the defensive coach for detroit. I don't think it has anything to do with a lack of shooters. Our Stanley Cup team didn't have any shooters either. I think the problem is that we're never quick enough to get to loose pucks, always a step behind. It looks like they're coasting all the time, and there's no sense of urgency in their game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 I don't know how everyone can have bad seasons in the same year. Just doesn't make sense to me. What I do see is sloppy passes, they almost pass too much. I see two players six feet apart passing to each other with an opposing player bearing down on them, so they inevitably lose it instead of passing to the wide open player on the other side of the ice. I see a lot of dump and chase, which they swore never to do a couple years ago when they won the Cup and last season. And worst of all, I see a lot of players standing five feet away from the puck and they stand there to wait for the opposing player to pick it up and then just pick up the man and follow them around. I saw that a lot today and it infuriated me. I don't know who to cite an example, but at center ice the puck had was moving slowly and the Detroit player could have easily picked it up without exposing himself or putting himeslf out of position. He would be guaranteed to get the puck. Instead, he came to a complete stop and waited for Pittsburgh to grab it and carry it down ice. If you want to chase the puck, actually CHASE it down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 An aging core 300+ games the last 3 seasons, and the wear and tear those 3 deep playoffs induce Winning so much they've become complacent Losing Hossa/Hudler/Samuelsson to free agency Horrific injury list Loss of their "aura". Opponents know they are vulnerable. 2 years ago a team down by 2 against us with 10 mins to go would throw in the towel, not now. They go for the jugular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Do you guys really think two players are gonna make that much difference? Babcock said it all in that recent interview. We're playing worse with more healthy players than we did when half our team was injured. That tells you a lot right there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDavis35 140 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 I don't think it has anything to do with a lack of shooters. Our Stanley Cup team didn't have any shooters either. I think the problem is that we're never quick enough to get to loose pucks, always a step behind. It looks like they're coasting all the time, and there's no sense of urgency in their game. This seems to be the biggest problem, look what happened after we scored. We nearly took the game over then and there. It's just simply a team that needs to find their drive again. Passion is there, but not quite the drive, there's something missing about it, maybe it's the "x-factor" that we need to pick up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheOwl 77 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Two major things I've noticed over the last few games, one positive, one negative. The D needs to step into the play more, like Lidstrom has been doing. He looks lethal when he shoots from the center of the circles. Let's face it, Rafalski and Lidstrom are pretty bad at shooting from the point. They've gotten a lot worse over time. They should pinch in and shoot, or just pass it. I also think they need to use Datysuk better on the PP. A lot of the time I've noticed him roaming around the front of the net. They need to let him and Zetterberg shoot, maybe rotate them with the D at the point, and shoot from the top of the circle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Two major things I've noticed over the last few games, one positive, one negative. The D needs to step into the play more, like Lidstrom has been doing. He looks lethal when he shoots from the center of the circles. Let's face it, Rafalski and Lidstrom are pretty bad at shooting from the point. They've gotten a lot worse over time. They should pinch in and shoot, or just pass it. I also think they need to use Datysuk better on the PP. A lot of the time I've noticed him roaming around the front of the net. They need to let him and Zetterberg shoot, maybe rotate them with the D at the point, and shoot from the top of the circle. So wait, what was the positive? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 Do you guys really think two players are gonna make that much difference? Babcock said it all in that recent interview. We're playing worse with more healthy players than we did when half our team was injured. That tells you a lot right there. When they were injured they were focused on a "dump and chase" mode because of all the grinder players in the lineup. Now that they are getting more skilled guys back they are attempting to adapt to a "puck possession" style. Over time it should get better. They looked better in that regard tonight, at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hokike 1 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 This seems to be the biggest problem, look what happened after we scored. We nearly took the game over then and there. It's just simply a team that needs to find their drive again. Passion is there, but not quite the drive, there's something missing about it, maybe it's the "x-factor" that we need to pick up. It is called "the routine". they have never been in position where they have to fight for points to get 8th seed. Only reasonable wake up call IMO is missing the POs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baggss 0 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 When they were injured they were focused on a "dump and chase" mode because of all the grinder players in the lineup. Now that they are getting more skilled guys back they are attempting to adapt to a "puck possession" style. Over time it should get better. They looked better in that regard tonight, at least. I agree. Todays game looked a lot more like the Wings that went to the Playoffs last year then I have seen in some time. The only thing missing was shots on goal, they need to start shooting more. Howard did his job and did it well, especially with that many shots at him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest zackmorris Report post Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) I think it's really very simple. If you dont' focus too much on the little things and take a look at the big picture, it all comes down to skating. There are a ton of other smaller aspects but it all comes back to that, the core of our problem. We're not moving our damn feet. We're a puck possession team who isn't possessing the puck, think about it. We're a tired team, we've seen what? 11 playoff rounds in 4 years? The regular season is tiring right now and we might also be a little bored. Whatever the reason, we're not skating like we're able to. We're not retrieving lost pucks as much because the other team outskates us to them. Lost possession right there. We're not skating to the dump ins as quickly. Lost possession right there. We're not moving our feet to get to the net. Lost possession right there. Our 3rd D pairing coughs up pucks like it's going out of style so the forwards stay close to our net no matter which end of the ice we're on. If we're to shoot, the other team will get a rebound easier than we will. Lost possession right there. We're not skating hard enough to take the puck from the other team. They keep it longer than we've always allowed them to. Possession lost again. You have half your team get hurt and replace them with players lacking the true Euro-style skill we're known for. Lost possession x23445. We're a puck possession team who as you can see, for all these reasons, are not possession the goddamn puck and it's killing us. We're playing too cautious. We ned to just start freewheeling and see where it gets us. For a little while. These are all things we do in the playoffs. WE sort of release the tension and caution and bust'er open. Let the D be the D, let the forwards score and the goalie will make big saves. That's our playoff game. Why not do it NOW?! I also think our other "big" problem is the PP. But that's for another topic. Edited January 31, 2010 by zackmorris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krayzie_Bone 58 Report post Posted January 31, 2010 I find my self wondering what place the Wings would be in if they were in the east. That would be nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites