The playoffs "When it matters most".

[MuleRyder 0]

I cannot comprehend what this little tid bit of information is supposed to mean? Does an 82 game season somehow become less of an accomplishment because of what you do in 24 games?

I see this line being tossed around a lot about certain players, ie Danny Cleary. Apparently struggling in the regular season is fine because he "Brings it when it matters most". While Datsyuk finishes second in scoring on the team in the playoffs and "Chokes".

87, 87, 97, 97.. Those are the totals for Pavel Datsyuk over the last four years. Hes led this team in scoring since the 2003-04 season but his accomplishments are tarnished because he didn't succeed "When it mattered most"?

I hate to be the messenger but "It matters most" to actually make the playoffs. A sixty point season by Zetterberg isn't somehow overwritten because he "Takes it to another level" in the playoffs. And back to back 100 point seasons by Datsyuk isn't somehow tarnished because he ONLY scored 23 points in the playoffs.

Why do so many people accept this excuse?

Edited February 8, 2010 by MuleRyder

[TheOwl 77]

Last post-season was a brutal for Datysuk and Hossa. Their the reasons we lost the Cup. Franzen, Cleary and Zetterberg carried the Wings offensively. Datysuk needs to step it up. The rest of the forwards have been relatively OK (except Leino). The problem with Detroit is the D right now, huge melt downs at crucial times. They should completely over hall the D pairings.

[MuleRyder 0]

Last post-season was a brutal for Datysuk and Hossa. Their the reasons we lost the Cup. Franzen, Cleary and Zetterberg carried the Wings offensively. Datysuk needs to step it up. The rest of the forwards have been relatively OK (except Leino). The problem with Detroit is the D right now, huge melt downs at crucial times. They should completely over hall the D pairings.

Datsyuk was hurt, FACT.

Hossa was a 40 goal scorer with the injury he had. He was a complete ghost, while Datsyuk was still the same defensive player he was.

Osgood's game seven melt down, Hossa not scoring, Malkin not getting suspended, Pens 6 on 5 for a full minute.. the list goes on. There are plenty of reasons why Detroit didn't win a cup. Blaming the most consistent player on the team, who happened to be injured, during an MVP season is just ridiculous.

[MannyK 16]

Datsyuk was hurt, FACT.

Hossa was a 40 goal scorer with the injury he had. He was a complete ghost, while Datsyuk was still the same defensive player he was.

Osgood's game seven melt down, Hossa not scoring, Malkin not getting suspended, Pens 6 on 5 for a full minute.. the list goes on. There are plenty of reasons why Detroit didn't win a cup. Blaming the most consistent player on the team, who happened to be injured, during an MVP season is just ridiculous.

Osgood had a melt down in Game 7? i do not remember that... I do remember the final score being 2-1 though...

it's still kind of crazy to think that you can give up a total of FOUR goals in a matter of FOUR home games in a playoff series, and still lose (outscoring them 12-4 at home) craziness....

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

the rest of the forwards have been bad, pavel is not to blame, he is a playmaker and there are no playfinishers. lidstrom is also old and not as good and kronwall has been injured for a while. even z has not been as good as he was in 2008, i wonder if he will ever be a 40 goal scorer again

[e_prime 1,936]

I cannot comprehend what this little tid bit of information is supposed to mean? Does an 82 game season somehow become less of an accomplishment because of what you do in 24 games?

I see this line being tossed around a lot about certain players, ie Danny Cleary. Apparently struggling in the regular season is fine because he "Brings it when it matters most". While Datsyuk finishes second in scoring on the team in the playoffs and "Chokes".

87, 87, 97, 97.. Those are the totals for Pavel Datsyuk over the last four years. Hes led this team in scoring since the 2003-04 season but his accomplishments are tarnished because he didn't succeed "When it mattered most"?

I hate to be the messenger but "It matters most" to actually make the playoffs. A sixty point season by Zetterberg isn't somehow overwritten because he "Takes it to another level" in the playoffs. And back to back 100 point seasons by Datsyuk isn't somehow tarnished because he ONLY scored 23 points in the playoffs.

Why do so many people accept this excuse?

"When it matters most" is when you're in the playoff hunt for the Stanley Cup. That's why the regular season doesn't "matter as much."

I don't necessarily think it's an excuse so much as it is another saying to add to the ever growing pile of sports cliches.

It's an 82 game season and not everyone is going to play their best through the entire season, whether it be due to injury or streakiness/slumps.

(I sometimes think we, as fans, forget this...)

However, it's ridiculous to *not* think that it matters in the regular season.

In fact. Right now, it matters more.

If we don't "bring it" or "take it to another level" in the next stretch of games, we won't even be playing when "it matters the most."

To me, it's all soundbyte sports cliche. The things players say in interviews that cause us all to groan and shake our heads.

Don't want to throw a teammate under the bus or call 'em out for poor play?

Hell no you don't so, dial up a cliche.

I absolutely hate it when being interviewed after a loss, a player says, "It is, what it is."

Really? No s***. You lost. It's a loss. How about some insight as to why you lost?

Why you couldn't "bring it?" Why you weren't able to "reach down inside you for something more?"

Was tonight just not a "giving 110%" kind of night for you?

s***. Just come out and say it, "Lebda blew goat balls tonight. Kenny's gotta trade that pylon."

Edited February 8, 2010 by e_prime

[Guest lilja4mvp]

is this a serious question? some players raise their game for the playoffs, others don't. you're comparing dan cleary and pavel datsyuk? did you stop to think that thoise 2 players might have slightly different expectations from everyone as to how they perform? you're asking why the playoffs matter more than the regular season?

have you been eating paint chips?

[HockeyTownHouligan 57]

you wonder if Z is a 40 goal scorer again? WOW, they just signed the man to a 12 year deal! Why wouldn't he be a 40 goal scorer again. he is still young enough and is still one of the best two way forwards in the game next to datsyuk. And don't even start with datsyuk not producing because correct me if im wrong but i think he leads the league in takeaways and has a pretty good +/-.

[StevieY'sguy 1]

you wonder if Z is a 40 goal scorer again? WOW, they just signed the man to a 12 year deal! Why wouldn't he be a 40 goal scorer again. he is still young enough and is still one of the best two way forwards in the game next to datsyuk. And don't even start with datsyuk not producing because correct me if im wrong but i think he leads the league in takeaways and has a pretty good +/-.

If takeaways went on the scoreboard we wouldn't be battling for our playoff lives right now...according to many people on here at the end of last season Datsyuk was the best all around player in the NHL..well the last time i checked "all around", included putting the puck in the net.. the league leaders are all in the high 30s, low 40s in terms of goal scoring..Pav is supposed to be this offensive wizard, I'd really appreciate it if he started playing up to that moniker...Mikael Samuelsson would be our leading goal scorer right now in case anyone was wondering....

[HockeyTownHouligan 57]

If takeaways went on the scoreboard we wouldn't be battling for our playoff lives right now...according to many people on here at the end of last season Datsyuk was the best all around player in the NHL..well the last time i checked "all around", included putting the puck in the net.. the league leaders are all in the high 30s, low 40s in terms of goal scoring..Pav is supposed to be this offensive wizard, I'd really appreciate it if he started playing up to that moniker...Mikael Samuelsson would be our leading goal scorer right now in case anyone was wondering....

Yes i would agree with you on the goal scoring thing, but you can't doubt that the guy has been trying defensively on the back check. I was mainly replying to the guy that said Z wouldn't be a 40+ goal scorer again. I do stand corrected on pav though he does need to score more to be a factor in the games again. He needs to regain that ability to take over a game by himself again.

[HowSwedeItIs 0]

If takeaways went on the scoreboard we wouldn't be battling for our playoff lives right now...according to many people on here at the end of last season Datsyuk was the best all around player in the NHL..well the last time i checked "all around", included putting the puck in the net.. the league leaders are all in the high 30s, low 40s in terms of goal scoring..Pav is supposed to be this offensive wizard, I'd really appreciate it if he started playing up to that moniker...Mikael Samuelsson would be our leading goal scorer right now in case anyone was wondering....

Datsyuk is on pace for 21 goals, while Zetterberg is one pace for 23...

Zetterberg isn't a playmaker hes a goal scorer, while Datsyuk is one of the best passers in the game. Perhaps you should complain about the "Golden Swede" before you start riding Datsyuk for being seven goals off from his average.

[Osgood the Best 2]

Was tonight just not a "giving 110%" kind of night for you?

Since we're talking about cliches

OK, here's one that bugs the s*** out of me. 110%? that's not even possible, it just sounds retarded.

@OP

I almost totally agree with you, yes the ENTIRE season is "when it matters most" because without wins there you will not make the playoffs. However, look at Ozzie last year, if he did not step up his game, the Wings would have been out in round 1, so there can be an argument about that being "when it matters most."

[HowSwedeItIs 0]

Since we're talking about cliches

OK, here's one that bugs the s*** out of me. 110%? that's not even possible, it just sounds retarded.

@OP

I almost totally agree with you, yes the ENTIRE season is "when it matters most" because without wins there you will not make the playoffs. However, look at Ozzie last year, if he did not step up his game, the Wings would have been out in round 1, so there can be an argument about that being "when it matters most."

Step up his game? Osgood shouldn't have been in the NHL last season based on his regular season play and only STARTED playing like an NHL caliber goalie after reaching the playoffs.

Its great to have players like that but someone has to show up to play for 82 games consistently and up till this point, Datsyuk and Lidstrom have been the two most consistent Wings in the regular season.

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

I cannot comprehend what this little tid bit of information is supposed to mean? Does an 82 game season somehow become less of an accomplishment because of what you do in 24 games?

I see this line being tossed around a lot about certain players, ie Danny Cleary. Apparently struggling in the regular season is fine because he "Brings it when it matters most". While Datsyuk finishes second in scoring on the team in the playoffs and "Chokes".

87, 87, 97, 97.. Those are the totals for Pavel Datsyuk over the last four years. Hes led this team in scoring since the 2003-04 season but his accomplishments are tarnished because he didn't succeed "When it mattered most"?

I hate to be the messenger but "It matters most" to actually make the playoffs. A sixty point season by Zetterberg isn't somehow overwritten because he "Takes it to another level" in the playoffs. And back to back 100 point seasons by Datsyuk isn't somehow tarnished because he ONLY scored 23 points in the playoffs.

Why do so many people accept this excuse?

Playoffs tend to be shorter than the regular season...every year. 82 games, 87 points is not that far off of 24 games with 23 points. Ridonculous argument if you don't look at averages and points per game. Even then, it's a little wonky because the great ones always get a little more attention from defensemen when they are in the playoffs.

As for the way things are going with this team, I thought it was quite obvious. All these injuries have not only taken players out of the game, but someones linemate goes missing too. Chemistry is a wonderful thing in hockey, and when you f*** with it, things go bad.