2/6 GDT : Red Wings 1 at Coyotes 3

[Scrappy's Servant 14]

This team isn't one to learn from past mistakes...they seem to enjoy making them over and over again for some reason...they can't play for only 1 period and expect 2 points..especially when every point up until playoffs are huge points!

[scottishredwing 28]

fully deserved the loss, was outplayed most of the game.

im about ready for a trade, road play is pathetic.

Totally agree with this. Team looks stale ,needs fresh ideas.

[Nevermind 363]

I don't ever remember criticizing Nick Lidstrom before...

But is there a reason he didn't do a diving pokecheck when Hanzal was closing in on the empty net? Maybe he was just so mad at Franzen that he didn't care.

[wings_fanatic 677]

Great game by Nick, Pavs and Joey Mac. Poor games noteably from Franzen and Hudler. Franzen with a terrible giveaway to lead to the empty netter and Hudler was just giving the puck away all night. For example, when we won the faceoff with the extra attacker, Hudler had an easy play to pass it back to Nick at the point and instead dumped it around which allowed Phoenix to clear it.

I think it is evident that Kenny needs to make a trade for a scoring forward really bad. The one positive thing is that no more of this road s*** we get to watch a majority of the remainder games at home, where the Wings are 100 times better. BUT, a trade is still going to be the difference between a 2nd round exit and winning the Stanley Cup imo.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

JMac looked solid all game.

[Yzermania 156]

I don't ever remember criticizing Nick Lidstrom before...

But is there a reason he didn't do a diving pokecheck when Hanzal was closing in on the empty net? Maybe he was just so mad at Franzen that he didn't care.

yeah it was kind of weird, my only thought, is that he thought they'd call a penalty shot which is an automatic goal when the net is empty, therefore creating the same outcome, but I agree, it seemed odd to watch Nicklas Lidstrom just kind of give up on a play.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Yzermania

[Guest irishock]

Joey Mac was again rock solid in net. Saved a whole bunch of one timers off turnovers from our own zone.

[HockeytownRules19 902]

Oh well... time to go home for 6 in a row and 8 of 9... Yay!

If you told me before this west-coast trip out of the all-star break we would go 2-1-1, I would have been very happy.

[Red Crazy 201]

I wonder what a Franzen Ericsson package would get us? I like Mule but he is so streaky and is so lazy I think I am ready to see him go for a good return. Ken Holland refuses to admit that Ericsson has been a huge mistake. He needs to make a deal to help this team get by the second round.

[wings_fanatic 677]

No Franzen, lazy at times, still has 20 goals for us and has a pretty good history in the playoffs for us. Ericsson is garbage and needs to go... that is the worst mistake Kenny has ever made signing him to that contract. I say package Ericsson, Hudler+ to get a deal with Washington for Semin, or if Selanne is available, then trade for him.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Not much to say really about that snoozefest of a game, but does anyone else here think Datsyuk is playing hurt? I have this bad feeling his wrist is causing him trouble again. The ice definitely was beyond awful tonight, but Pavel has just looked a little off lately controlling the puck and making his typical magic. I noticed Z took the faceoffs too when they were together on the powerplay and even Franzen was taking the draws on Pavel's line.

I hope it's nothing really, though it has caught my attention more than I want the past week.

[korrowan 111]

So sick of this damn team playing like crap against crappy teams. What is so hard about showing up for the first 40 minutes. Oh and whomever came up with the Wings Powerless Play should hang himself. These short handed goals are out of control and embarrasing.

PS Ericsson and Miller are terrible with the puck in their own zone and shouldn't be allowed to handle it there.

Edited February 7, 2012 by korrowan

[wingsfan4795 552]

I noticed franzen has become an unpopular player on this thread.(I should be a detective) Do you guys not remember what this guy can do in the playoffs? They are good enough that they don't really need him in the regular season, so who really cares if he's streaky.

I still love franzen and wouldn't mind going in to the playoffs with the team they have now (I wouldn't mind a better backup though)

[Rivalred 630]

So sick of this damn team playing like crap against crappy teams. What is so hard about showing up for the first 40 minutes. Oh and whomever came up with the Wings Powerless Play should hang himself. These short handed goals are out of control and embarrasing.

PS Ericsson and Miller are terrible with the puck in their own zone and shouldn't be allowed to handle it there.

While I agree the PP is far from perfect, Miller has been one of the harder workers of late.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Rivalred

[j.hoop 64]

Not much to say really about that snoozefest of a game, but does anyone else here think Datsyuk is playing hurt? I have this bad feeling his wrist is causing him trouble again. The ice definitely was beyond awful tonight, but Pavel has just looked a little off lately controlling the puck and making his typical magic. I noticed Z took the faceoffs too when they were together on the powerplay and even Franzen was taking the draws on Pavel's line.

I hope it's nothing really, though it has caught my attention more than I want the past week.

i dont think datsyuk is/was playing hurt. i was at the game tonight, and the WHOLE team looked tired. every pass just seemed one step behind, every shot seemed just one second too late. you could tell this was the end of roadtrip with alot of travel. joey played a great game and kept them in it during the first half, and although he bit hard on the shorty he overall played a good game. the coyotes have been at home and it definitely showed. they are a subpar team that took advantage of a team with tired legs. 5/8 points is pretty decent for a western canada/u.s. roadtrip.

on a better note, i got to meet babcock and shake his hand tonight, what a down to earth guy.

[Dave 324]

Well I'm no expert, but the ice looked horrible. When that happens you can't rely on skill as much and have to get dirty, which the team was not willing to do. It was their last game on the road trip and you could tell the team was just ready to get it over with.

[jfranzen 51]

Not much to say really about that snoozefest of a game, but does anyone else here think Datsyuk is playing hurt? I have this bad feeling his wrist is causing him trouble again.

I think this may have some truth to it, especially since Franzen was taking faceoffs toward the end of the game.

[Hatchet Barry 71]

Ericsson was absolutely brutal out there. He turns the puck over constantly in our own end. He can't handle the pressure. Can't make a 10 foot pass, can't hit, can't fight, can't clear out players in the crease. I couldn't believe Babcock had him out there in the last 2 minutes of the game with the amount of turnovers he was producing. You'd think with his size he would be more physical out there, but no. I hope there is some GM out there willing to take him come trade deadline. I cringe every time he has the puck in our zone.

[Dave 324]

Ericsson was absolutely brutal out there. He turns the puck over constantly in our own end. He can't handle the pressure. Can't make a 10 foot pass, can't hit, can't fight, can't clear out players in the crease. I couldn't believe Babcock had him out there in the last 2 minutes of the game with the amount of turnovers he was producing. You'd think with his size he would be more physical out there, but no. I hope there is some GM out there willing to take him come trade deadline. I cringe every time he has the puck in our zone.

I bet there's 29 teams that would like Ericsson. Other than the one real bad turn over he wasn't as brutal as everyone makes him out to be.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I bet there's 29 teams that would like Ericsson. Other than the one real bad turn over he wasn't as brutal as everyone makes him out to be.

I bet every Leaf fan said the same thing about Finger. He's not bad, but that contract makes him horrible.

[Vladifan 680]

Ericsson was absolutely brutal out there. He turns the puck over constantly in our own end. He can't handle the pressure. Can't make a 10 foot pass, can't hit, can't fight, can't clear out players in the crease. I couldn't believe Babcock had him out there in the last 2 minutes of the game with the amount of turnovers he was producing. You'd think with his size he would be more physical out there, but no. I hope there is some GM out there willing to take him come trade deadline. I cringe every time he has the puck in our zone.

Then you haven't been watching him all that much. I got really tired of comments like yours so I made it a point to watch him during games. He is getting better at everything, including using his body and making better passes. Yeah, he screwed up his passing last night but who didn't (except maybe Lidstrom)? He also had three excellent shots on goal, two of them coming from close to the blue line. More than we can say for most of 'em.

[Dave 324]

Then you haven't been watching him all that much. I got really tired of comments like yours so I made it a point to watch him during games. He is getting better at everything, including using his body and making better passes. Yeah, he screwed up his passing last night but who didn't (except maybe Lidstrom)? He also had three excellent shots on goal, two of them coming from close to the blue line. More than we can say for most of 'em.

Exactly. Remember when everyone was on him about his horrible pinches? Well he doesn't really do that too much anymore. Also, he's very good at clearing rebounds. This is something that was necessary for Howard last year, and for McDonald this year.

He's 27 and improving very well.

[Vladifan 680]

1328634032[/url]' post='2253379']

I bet there's 29 teams that would like Ericsson. Other than the one real bad turn over he wasn't as brutal as everyone makes him out to be.

Sorry. Meant to punch the "plus".

[puckloo39 5,686]

Sorry. Meant to punch the "plus".

fixed it! and I agree!