GDT 2/3 GDT: Canucks 0 at Justin Abdelkader 2

[canadian wings fan 305]

does Howard get credit for a shutout?

[FlashyG 1,799]

I think the way it works is that the team gets credit for a shutout but neither goalie does.

Howard gets the W though because he was in net when Abdelkader scored to make it 1-0

[canadian wings fan 305]

oh ok thanks for clearing that up.

And does everyone agree Lashoff needs to stay in as our #6 dman? I like the idea of Kindl sitting most of the time with Smith sitting out when he s***s the bed

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

Damn aren't both getting the SO since neither allowed a goal? Nice to see our goaltenders doing well.

Gus has had some sort of heart problems, when he came over hopefully that's behind him, dizziness is scary hopefully he can get well soon.

I personally get dizzy sometimes and it's nothing to worry about. I hope that's the case with monster as well. Hopefully he just didn't get enough iron or something

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

oh ok thanks for clearing that up.

And does everyone agree Lashoff needs to stay in as our #6 dman? I like the idea of Kindl sitting most of the time with Smith sitting out when he s***s the bed

I like the idea of Kindl sitting most of the time with Smith Quincey sitting out when he s***s the bed.

Fixed that for you

[dat's sick 1,002]

oh ok thanks for clearing that up.

And does everyone agree Lashoff needs to stay in as our #6 dman? I like the idea of Kindl sitting most of the time with Smith sitting out when he s***s the bed

Yeah, Lashoff needs to play. He may actually be our least mistake-prone d-man. And we need that, someone who doesn't mess up.

Right now I think Kindl and Smith should be alternating pretty much. I like Smith better because he can provide offense, but he may need the occasional sit down to clear his head after he's had a braindead game like against Washington.

[BadgerBob 297]

Be Afraid...

This looks like the evil triplet for the Sedins

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Though it pains me to say it, we don't have any better options. I mean, he shouldn't be getting the minutes he's getting, but, beyond our top three, who else is significantly better in a top-four role? Smith? Kindl? Lashoff?

None are desirable, but I would say Smith if he's paired with Kronwall. Smith played his most composed and confident hockey when E was out. Smith just isn't going to work getting stuck with the likes of Quincey or Kindl. He needs someone that can cover for him and allow him to jump into the play offensively.

[kipwinger 8,755]

None are desirable, but I would say Smith if he's paired with Kronwall. Smith played his most composed and confident hockey when E was out. Smith just isn't going to work getting stuck with the likes of Quincey or Kindl. He needs someone that can cover for him and allow him to jump into the play offensively.

All you're really saying is that Smith plays best when someone better covers up his mistakes, which is true of every bad defenseman. Smith isn't even adequate defensively on the second pair. Put him on the first and you destroy that pairing (since Kronwall isn't a shutdown guy either). Good first lines would MURDER that top pair. Also, Smith has been paired with Dekeyser and Lashoff (both responsible) plenty this year and that hasn't noticeably improved his performance...so you can't blame it all on Quincey and Kindl. You can't move a guy up to the first pair simply because he's a disaster with every other guy on your team.

The only solution I see is to get a second pair defenseman at the deadline, drop Smith permanently to the third pair with Lashoff, and trade/waive Kindl or Quinecy. Either that or accept that your defense falls off significantly after the first pair.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

This looks like the evil triplet for the Sedins

Strangely enough, that mish-mash would be the best looking of the 3.

All you're really saying is that Smith plays best when someone better covers up his mistakes, which is true of every bad defenseman. Smith isn't even adequate defensively on the second pair. Put him on the first and you destroy that pairing (since Kronwall isn't a shutdown guy either). Good first lines would MURDER that top pair. Also, Smith has been paired with Dekeyser and Lashoff (both responsible) plenty this year and that hasn't noticeably improved his performance...so you can't blame it all on Quincey and Kindl. You can't move a guy up to the first pair simply because he's a disaster with every other guy on your team.

The only solution I see is to get a second pair defenseman at the deadline, drop Smith permanently to the third pair with Lashoff, and trade/waive Kindl or Quinecy. Either that or accept that your defense falls off significantly after the first pair.

Smith plays really good with everyone not named Quincey.

[kipwinger 8,755]

Strangely enough, that mish-mash would be the best looking of the 3.

Smith plays really good with everyone not named Quincey.

Which is why he's been scratched?

[canadian wings fan 305]

I really want to like Smith...but man he's so stupid out there its ridiculous

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Which is why he's been scratched?

He was likely scratched cause he got a garbage call against him and the Wings lost in OT. Babcock loves doing that to young guys whenever he gets the chance, but it takes 50 games to bench Cleary and Tuzzi and he still hasn't benched that spud Q.

[kipwinger 8,755]

He was likely scratched cause he got a garbage call against him and the Wings lost in OT. Babcock loves doing that to young guys whenever he gets the chance, but it takes 50 games to bench Cleary and Tuzzi and he still hasn't benched that spud Q.

That's not even close to the stupidest thing Smith's done this month, and he's only now being benched. If Babs wanted to bench Smith for a single boneheaded incident, it probably would have come after his egregious turnover for a goal against Chicago. Smith is currently being benched for the same reason Kindl was benched. They're both f*cking terrible defensively and don't contribute enough offensively to make it worthwhile to leave them in the lineup.

Making excuses for him isn't doing him any favors in the long run. He's got to get his s*** together. He's got all the tools to do so. But sooner or later he (and the fans) have got to stop blaming his play on Kindl or Quincey or this or that. He doens't provide much offense, is bad in his own end, and leads the defense in turnovers. Hell the strength of an offensive d-man is supposed to be offensive, and puck management. I could forgive his constant blundering of zone coverage, but how does the supposed best young puck mover we have consistently turn the puck over?

[GoWings1905 2,694]

All you're really saying is that Smith plays best when someone better covers up his mistakes, which is true of every bad defenseman. Smith isn't even adequate defensively on the second pair. Put him on the first and you destroy that pairing (since Kronwall isn't a shutdown guy either). Good first lines would MURDER that top pair. Also, Smith has been paired with Dekeyser and Lashoff (both responsible) plenty this year and that hasn't noticeably improved his performance...so you can't blame it all on Quincey and Kindl. You can't move a guy up to the first pair simply because he's a disaster with every other guy on your team.

The only solution I see is to get a second pair defenseman at the deadline, drop Smith permanently to the third pair with Lashoff, and trade/waive Kindl or Quinecy. Either that or accept that your defense falls off significantly after the first pair.

Kronwall and Smith didn't get murdered playing together at all. They did it the entire time E was gone and were fine at both ends. That's why I suggested the pairing -- Quincey and Kindl don't make Smith better, but Kronwall did.

Also, I hardly recall Smith playing with DeKeyser at all. Maybe Lashoff some, but Smith's partner was almost exclusively Quincey before E was hurt.

I do agree that getting another d-man is imperative regardless. Someone that can move the puck and chip in offensively is a big need for the Red Wings.

[kipwinger 8,755]

Kronwall and Smith didn't get murdered playing together at all. They did it the entire time E was gone and were fine at both ends. That's why I suggested the pairing -- Quincey and Kindl don't make Smith better, but Kronwall did.

Also, I hardly recall Smith playing with DeKeyser at all. Maybe Lashoff some, but Smith's partner was almost exclusively Quincey before E was hurt.

I do agree that getting another d-man is imperative regardless. Someone that can move the puck and chip in offensively is a big need for the Red Wings.

Just looked it up. You're right. Smith has not played much with Dekeyser. Still don't think it's a good idea to put him on the top pair though, since he doesn't play defense to any noticeable degree and turns the puck over like it's his job.