There is clearly something very wrong with the Red Wings, but the more I see of this losing streak, the more I believe other teams have figured the Wings out.
The Red Wings are at their best with the puck (a lot) and their ability to get their skilled players in open space to create scoring chances. It seems fairly obvious opponents realize this and are forcing the Red Wings into coughing the puck up by clogging the neutral zone or forcing low percentage shots from the perimeter. It blew my mind tonight how the Red Wings can't/won't dump the puck in and chase it when the Flames sat back with the lead. The only player on the team that is willing to forecheck hard and go after the puck in deep is Helm. Everyone else wants to make fancy passes and skate through five guys at the blueline.
The Wild and Flames were hardly making any attempt to put the pressure on the Red Wings. Take advantage of a couple mistakes and poor calls and let the Wings self-destruct with their inability to do the things that can end a scoring drought. There's too much talent on the Red Wings roster to just say all of them can't score goals now, a mere couple months after a regular season where they were second in the league in offense. They certainly need a legit sniper (or three), but at this time they need to make adjustments and work harder to score some goals.
I don't know what else can be said. They can keep doing what they have done expecting better or decide enough is enough and rally as a team quickly before it gets ugly where the playoffs are in serious jeopardy. There is no quick fix in the minors or via trade this early in the season. Work harder Saturday and turn this thing around.
Losing Rafalski's outstanding passing abilities certainly isn't helping in this department. Again, Ian White was a good pickup any day of the week, but let's be clear about one thing: we absolutely have not replaced Brian Rafalski yet. Not even close.
