1/10 GDT: Red Wings 4 at Avalanche 5

[SuperNovaXll 124]

At least no one got hurt

[VM1138 1,921]

MacDonald for starter. (Am I joking? Sarcastic? You be the judge) Sorry, I try not to get angry with players and give up on them, but Jimmy "Four Goals" Howard just isn't cutting it.

Bizarre game. The Wings seemed to play really well and forced the play when they needed to, but it seemed every time they tried to clear the puck or make a short pass it hit a stick, stopped in mid-air, or otherwise dropped to the ice after three feet to lie there and wait for a Colorado player to grab it. And it was like the Wings had never handled a puck before, getting it stuck between their skates, missing the puck completely on simple passes....yet they were otherwise passing crisply, quickly, and accurately.

Strange, strange game. Can't say I'm too disappointed, since that sort of strangeness isn't common. Only real downside (aside from losing) was Howard's dismal performance...again. Only one of those goals wasn't his fault, which is about par for the course.

[Draperfan 104]

Bertuzzi is lazy and he sucks.

It took you awhile to figure that one out.

[titanium2 867]

"Catching up hockey is losing hockey" yadda yadda yadda... Move on the next game.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Yes it is.

I'd like to introduce you to the concept of linear time...

[edicius 3,269]

Yes it is.

Yep, because your guy can't hit the net.

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

[wings_fanatic 677]

This was an odd game for sure... but I am not going to sit here and complain about the Wings not starting on time because, simply put, they have been working their asses off these past couple of weeks. They are injured terribly, and despite missing big guys on and off, they continue to grind out W's and points for us fans and it would be shameful to sit here and complain about them tonight because, simply put, they were and are tired. Couple days off now and the Wings will get a WELL DESERVED rest before Friday. Go Wings!

- Great game again by Hank and Nick whom stood out to me again.

- Howard has to be better though... this 4 goals is getting old. The 2nd goal was downright terrible and the 3rd goal he was laying on his stomach again... someone might want to let him know is he NOT the Dominator...

- Hopefully our boys regroup and get ready to go... only 6ish games to go without Pavs!

[GSBrooks13 204]

It continues to amaze me that on paper and skillwise Detroit should be one of the strongest defensive teams every single night yet they just cant seem to pull it together and play consistently. Jimmy may not have been as good as he should have been but I find it hard to blame him.. maybe I feel he earned a free pass in Vancouver haha

[titanium2 867]

The Swedish Five had a horrible night 5 on 5.

Lidstrom -3

Kronwall -3

Zetterberg -3

Holmstrom -3

Franzen -2

[titanium2 867]

Yep, because your guy can't hit the net.

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Niiice.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Draper has really been trying my patience lately.

[VM1138 1,921]

It continues to amaze me that on paper and skillwise Detroit should be one of the strongest defensive teams every single night yet they just cant seem to pull it together and play consistently. Jimmy may not have been as good as he should have been but I find it hard to blame him.. maybe I feel he earned a free pass in Vancouver haha

I don't understand, either. The defense is almost the same as the '08 Cup run, which boasted some of the best defense I've ever seen. Yet...everysince '08 they've just been average. I still think it's McCrimmon's fault, because he was the only factor that changed the makeup of our defense, really. The new guys are pretty much a wash for Lebda and Lilja (though I do miss Lilja here).

I just don't understand how they could go from such a vaunted defense to having such frequent "brain fart" moments on the ice.

Salei was brilliant tonight, we've got to give him credit. He looked fantastic and at one point I thought he was auditioning to be our new power forward, haha.

[Crveni 14]

Bertuzzi is lazy and he sucks.

Trade?

What bothers me about him is his indifference. He is way too cool. Some of you interpret it as a lazy. The worst thing is that he is big and

if only he would use his size once in a while, he would be a potent weapon, a force to be reckoned with. I can appreciate his relaxed

demeanor being that hockey is a game of constant pressure. It is potentially a great asset. However, now, after giving it some time and thought, I think that in his case, it is more a hindrance than an advantage.

I am happy that Jonathan Ericsson is finally starting to take advantage of his size.

And to think that Tatar has been sent back. After the hunger he has showed us.

To me, Bertuzzi has been the most invisible player on the ice, and I am not only talking about this game. Past couple months really.

His highlight is the shootout goal against Calgary. You would think, or hope, that after the penalty he took there at the end, he would leave his heart on the ice, but alas... They say the key to GM's success is patience.

On the postive, we are overachieving considering injuries. Congratulations to Jan Mursak for his first NHL goal. Keep it up.

Jimmy, I have faith in you!

Pavel, I hope you are enjoying your vacation.

Cleary... Godspeed!

Also thank you for your kind words on my intro.

Time for "Fat Tire Amber Ale."

Catch you on the flipside.

Edited January 11, 2011 by Crveni

[Miss Wing Queen 154]

I'm going to give this one to our boys. After a while, I've got to believe that the mental exhaustion of having another teammate head to the injured list eats away at them. It's not an excuse, but it is a factor. I don't blame Jimmy 100% either tonight, since the team looked really sloppy in the first. I'd say it was 50/50. But whatever . . . rest up and move on, boys. Six games until Pavel and Cleary come back.

[titanium2 867]

I just don't understand how they could go from such a vaunted defense to having such frequent "brain fart" moments on the ice.

Lots of reasons I'm sure.

-Teams are faster, smarter, better

-The dmen/forwards perhaps aren't as hungry in the regular season because of the SC ring

[brett 1,029]

rest up

[dat's sick 1,002]

Didn't catch the game (hate these late west coast games) but looking at the highlights on NHL.com a few things strike me:

* Holy crap at Colorado's announcers.. must be some of the worst homers in the league. "wow wow wow what a play by Duchene!!" when the Avs score. When the Wings score: "they score..will it count??..yes, it's a goal.. "

* Howard follows up his Vancouver performance with THAT? Not every goal was his fault but atleast one or two of them he NEEDS to stop. With Ozzie gone for some time Howard has to be more consistant, he can't play like this every other game.

* Defense? Hello?

* Hank continues putting up points atleast. Great to see, no one can say he's not taking his responsibility in the absence of Pav etc.

[titanium2 867]

1st goal against: Kronwall had a chance to make a simple play and didn't. I'm not saying it's Lidstrom's fault by any means but I feel like if Kronwall's partner were anyone else that he wouldn't have been so quick to defer on a play like that.

2nd: Soft goal by Jimmy.

3rd: I'm only looking at the NHL.com highlights so I don't remember if someone had a chance to clear the puck or not or what. It was the end of a PK and so chances are that you're going to have half-hearted hooks and stick checks.

4th: The fault lies in both Zetterberg and Ericsson imo. Zetterberg stopped skating in the neutral zone AND correct me if I'm wrong but on the 2 on 1 usually he has better defensive awareness than that. Maybe he believed that Ericsson would take away the pass but E did not. Failed quite miserably it appears.

5th: I'll never figure out why Draper loves his slap shot so much but oh well. Gotta hit the net. And then again, isn't Ericsson supposed to take away the pass on the odd man rush?

[clutchngrab 12]

Here's where we are at from my view:

Eaves: Kicking ass

Z: Scoring consistently esp. since Dats is out

Homer: can't do much other than get in front of the net - but still great at it.

Mule: FINALLY playing some inspired hockey.

Bert: Tourist...damaged goods - look at Mule for inspiration (trade please)

Helm: Steppin up w/ the injuries

Draper: Meh... Hands of stone - can't hit the net and won't check.

Abbie: Hits now and then but should be in GR if we actually had players with size.

Miller: Meh... Draper without the skill

Hudler: go back to hookers, vodka and the KHL

Mursak: Great speed and promise - Can easily replace Draper or Miller

Tatar (or is Tartar). Ahhh maybe. I'll just say can easily replace Draper or Miller.

Flip: Overpaid and underperforming (trade please)

Pav and Clears: Pav will come back and be pavs. Cleary will come back and could be the CLeary of last year. We'll see.

On D

Nick: Norris type year

Rafi: scores some points, but thats it. Huge deficit in his own end. 6M? (trade please)

Big Rig: Nice improvement this year. Kid is playing tougher and more consistent.

Kronner: Basically a better version of Rafalski, but still shaky in his own end.

Salei: Maybe a Lilja wash. Neither will score.

Stuart: Solid and physical. We will miss him way more than Rafalski.

Kindl: Meh - please limit his ice.

[titanium2 867]

Flip: Overpaid and underperforming (trade please)

I'd like to see you prove this because nobody ever has. Especially the bolded part. I'd really love to see that one.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I'd like to see you prove this because nobody ever has. Especially the bolded part. I'd really love to see that one.

Yeah I mean I don't disagree with a lot of his player assessment to be honest, but when it comes to Flip I think he's been more than worth his pay this year.

[clutchngrab 12]

Yeah I mean I don't disagree with a lot of his player assessment to be honest, but when it comes to Flip I think he's been more than worth his pay this year.

I just don't think he is a top 6 nhl forward like the wings thought he would be. I'm not a hater, I just think that salary plus return is really important today, and for my fake cap money, rafalski and flip should be packaged.

Edited January 11, 2011 by clutchngrab

[titanium2 867]

I suppose it could be worse.

The Red Wings showed up for the last 40 minutes the game while the pens showed up for only the first 40 minutes of the game. I mean, that collapse with, what less than 3 minutes? to go was pretty bad.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I suppose it could be worse.

The Red Wings showed up for the last 40 minutes the game while the pens showed up for only the first 40 minutes of the game. I mean, that collapse with, what less than 3 minutes? to go was pretty bad.

Wings just need to start better, per Howard. "We didn't start on time." He's right, they can't just keep showing up for the last 20 and OT and/or shootouts.

linky

Per Babcock, "We let Howie down..." Yep.

[Broken 16 381]

I just don't think he is a top 6 nhl forward like the wings thought he would be. I'm not a hater, I just think that salary plus return is really important today, and for my fake cap money, rafalski and flip should be packaged.

You don't just package and ship elite, puck-moving defensemen...