10/29 GDT: Red Wings at Minnesota Wild

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I was would say that was only marginally less awful than the Columbus game.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

From 5-0 to 5-4.

My god. And Burns scores the game winner for San Jose. Insult to injury.

[Jusek 437]

Red Wings, I'm disappointed.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Kinda weird how these nothing goalies always seem to play as Superman against Detroit.

[AceInTheSleeve 97]

the wings played bad, minnesota played the trap, and the refs need to go back to officiating school because no matter who won that game the calls were s***

[Jusek 437]

Well, at least Jimmy played a good game.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I'm still expecting someone to complain about Howard.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

Wings could have been better in the first half of the game, but they did outshoot the Wild by 16 shots and Harding had a great game. It's disappointing to lose, but the Wings were not dominated.

[P. Marlowe 748]

[WizardOfOz30 1,886]

sigh...... I tried to jynx them

There seems to be something wrong with our jinxing.

I'm still expecting someone to complain about Howard.

There's nothing to complain about with him, it was the rest of the team.

[Sgt. Angry 23]

I'm really beginning to think that the Red Wings have only Datsyuk and Lidstrom as bonified elite players. Zetterberg would be one if he showed up every night. And all the rest are just average NHL players. I'm also beginning to think that a .500 record is about appropriate for this group, especially considering the lack of effort they bring to large portions of games.

[heretic69 10]

Wings could have been better in the first half of the game, but they did outshoot the Wild by 16 shots and Harding had a great game. It's disappointing to lose, but the Wings were not dominated.

They weren't dominated, but they never really threatened either.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

They weren't dominated, but they never really threatened either.

Harding had to stand on his head a few times. The Wings could have player better though. IMO this loss is bad because it's the fourth straight loss, not because the Wings were outplayed (outside of Harding).

[Electrophile 3,554]

Seriously, what is wrong with the energy level of this team? They look like they just got done playing 20 games in a row. I'm out of shape, can't ice skate, and would probably kill myself trying, but I'd have more energy out there than they did. Are they physically incapable of playing back to back games?

Trades won't fix that, but giving their coaching staff a kick in the ass might.

[St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422]

How the f*** did we win 5 games in a row? Homer tonight was our best player. Or at least showed he tried next to Jimmy. f*** our team right now ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Ram 240]

Very frustrating game and stretch here.

Not panicking like some of the rest. They looked really rough around the edges at some early points and some pretty bad plays but things could be worse. They brought it towards the end.

Here's my concern: Hope I'm wrong with this one, but the DRW got a full, "healthy" squad out there right now. I just don't like these so-called chemistry issues with all the line shuffling and what not and the fact that there is a full squad. History's showing that they're gonna run into the injury bug at some point during the year. I mean, maybe it'll be a good thing and some guys will step up, but, at this point, I would have assumed a four game skid during the season would not be with everyone healthy.

Eh, last four are for the birds. Here's to hopefully winnin' all six at Joe. Cheers. Go Wings.

Edited October 30, 2011 by Ram

[St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422]

There seems to be something wrong with our jinxing.

There's nothing to complain about with him, it was the rest of the team.

I think his point though about Jimmy is that someone always puts the blame on him no matter the outcome. No one has said anything I'm surprised cause tonight wasn't his fault. Actually should have been 2-0 Wild that first goal could/should have standed. Didn't really matter in the end lol

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Now it's a problem.

Problem is, the players on this team are what they are. They have peaked in their career's (excluding Emmerton since he hasn't played enough.) Datsyuk, Zetterberg, they are 60-80 pt. players and that is all. Franzen has peaked as a player and will not get any better than what he has been in the past, and so has everyone else. Abdelkader is what he is, and Helm is just a younger Draper. Bertuzzi still hasn't been the same since the "incident" and Holmstrom is Holmstrom, they are both past their prime. I am beginning to believe we have seen the best of our "core" players in season's past and that is all we are gonna get. I don't see Filppula getting any better than what he has been, the same goes for Cleary. Kronwall hasn't been the same hitter virtually since the Havlat hit in the playoffs, well at least not as consistent of a hitter (he has had a couple of good ones.) Hudler, well....bleh. I am beginning to believe you guys about Miller and Eaves, they are basically the same player and they aren't gonna be too much more than 4th line grinders/penalty killers and that is that.

I am not calling for heads to roll or saying our guys suck, they just are what they are and we have seen their best and it just seems like (including the last couple of season's) they aren't gonna get any better than that. Unfortunately, the teams around us ARE getting better. This is the flip side of being so good for so long, lower draft picks (as good as Holland has done with them) just don't compare to top 10 draft picks. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade the last 20 years for a team full of OVechkin's and Stamkos' but we as Wings fans have to come to the realization that this is all we are going to get, and it isn't gonna get much, if any, better. Do I think they will be fine throughout the rest of the season? Of course. I do think they will make the playoffs and possibly get to the 2nd or even 3rd round, but I do believe we have already seen the best of Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Franzen and Kronwall.

[dragonballgtz 273]

So I see Babs has stuck to his lines when the game started as Datsyuk, Z, and Cleary where on the ice when Wild scored. Did he start to change the lines later on in the game? Seems kind of dumb to start with the same lineup that's been failing for the past 3 games.

[Sgt. Angry 23]

Now it's a problem.

Problem is, the players on this team are what they are. They have peaked in their career's (excluding Emmerton since he hasn't played enough.) Datsyuk, Zetterberg, they are 60-80 pt. players and that is all. Franzen has peaked as a player and will not get any better than what he has been in the past, and so has everyone else. Abdelkader is what he is, and Helm is just a younger Draper. Bertuzzi still hasn't been the same since the "incident" and Holmstrom is Holmstrom, they are both past their prime. I am beginning to believe we have seen the best of our "core" players in season's past and that is all we are gonna get. I don't see Filppula getting any better than what he has been, the same goes for Cleary. Kronwall hasn't been the same hitter virtually since the Havlat hit in the playoffs, well at least not as consistent of a hitter (he has had a couple of good ones.) Hudler, well....bleh. I am beginning to believe you guys about Miller and Eaves, they are basically the same player and they aren't gonna be too much more than 4th line grinders/penalty killers and that is that.

I am not calling for heads to roll or saying our guys suck, they just are what they are and we have seen their best and it just seems like (including the last couple of season's) they aren't gonna get any better than that. Unfortunately, the teams around us ARE getting better. This is the flip side of being so good for so long, lower draft picks (as good as Holland has done with them) just don't compare to top 10 draft picks. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade the last 20 years for a team full of OVechkin's and Stamkos' but we as Wings fans have to come to the realization that this is all we are going to get, and it isn't gonna get much, if any, better. Do I think they will be fine throughout the rest of the season? Of course. I do think they will make the playoffs and possibly get to the 2nd or even 3rd round, but I do believe we have already seen the best of Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Franzen and Kronwall.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

OMFG WE'RE GOING TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS. WE'RE ALL DOOMED. ABANDON YOUR POSTS! FLEE!! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

You're trying way too hard.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

At least we can say that Howard is definitely not the problem right now. He's been great.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

So I see Babs has stuck to his lines when the game started as Datsyuk, Z, and Cleary where on the ice when Wild scored. Did he start to change the lines later on in the game? Seems kind of dumb to start with the same lineup that's been failing for the past 3 games.

Well, the issue is, there isn't much Babcock can do with a full healthy roster without some kind of trade. It's way too early to start talking major shake-up, so he just has to work with what he has, which at the moment isn't (or doesn't seem) too much. The Wings miss that pure sniper on the first line. As I stated earlier, Franzen has peaked and it seems to me is on a downward slope. He has been put on the first line, with no results, Hudler, Cleary, Holmstrom, they have all been on the top line, and they are good players in their own regard, but none of them are that pure sniper that I believe the Red Wings need. Who that player is? I don't know. Is he in our organization? I don't think so, unless someone from GRR is going to get a shot and just take the NHL by storm, but I don't think we have that player in the organization. Marion Hossa was and still is the closest we have had, but even he lacked something and that is part of the reason Holland chose Franzen over Hossa in 2009, but even still, Franzen has yet to be the playoff beast he was in 2008, and here we are nearly 4 years later. He has peaked, its obvious.

How do we go about getting that Sniper? Your guess is as good as mine. Holland isn't gonna trade anyone named Datsyuk or Zetterberg, and pretty much anyone else on our NHL roster will NOT get us that sniper, it will have to be a team looking to rebuild and looking to cut salary and it will cost us a bit of our future. But who and how much of our future? I don't know.

I maintain that the Wings need 3 scoring lines with 3 scoring threats along with a 4th line comprised of Helm and Abdelkader and Eaves. (Eaves seems to be the better of him and Miller, if I had to choose.) Like I said up higher, I am not calling for heads or saying they suck, but right now, someone needs to step up and shake the lineup up, I got a feeling if they fall below .500, Holland will start the phones...

...this game was unacceptable.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Well, the issue is, there isn't much Babcock can do with a full healthy roster without some kind of trade. It's way too early to start talking major shake-up, so he just has to work with what he has, which at the moment isn't (or doesn't seem) too much. The Wings miss that pure sniper on the first line.

I meant to same lines instead of lineup. As in why did he start the game with the same lines as the last few games and did he change his lines throughout the game?

But you would've thought that Bruno would get one more crack at it before they waived him just to change something. Give Cleary, Hudler, or Flip a game off and let him try with top six minutes.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

At least we can say that Howard is definitely not the problem right now. He's been great.

With all the great chances the Wild had, it easily could have been 5-0 if Jim didn't stand on his head.