2/23 GDT : Red Wings 3 at Ducks 4 (SO)

[joesuffP 1,746]

How many times has a goalie this year made zero saves in a shootout

[HockeytownRules19 902]

Yes He did have an off game sort of... But saying he is freaking terrible is a joke... He has been our MVP for just about the entire season

Edited February 24, 2015 by HockeytownRules19

[RedWingsRox 614]

I'm not a Howard hater, but statistics don't lie. If we as fans are more comfortable and confident with someone else in net imagine how the players feel, they work their asses off only to lose a game they deserve to win while we just spectate.

I think the players are far more understanding than all the LGW coaches and GM's. Players understand that they have bad nights and stand up for one another.

Give it a rest people, Howie had a bad night, gave up one point. Players go through stretches like this and have to fight it through.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Stop bickering over Howard in the shootout everyone!!!!!! I’m sick of hearing this crap.

We all know he lost tonight’s game because he blew it in regulation.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Howard has games where he absolutely won't allow his team to get a W no matter how great they play. One of our best games of the year. A game like this in the playoffs can kill us in a tight series

[cnot19 191]

True enough. He's starting to morph into a shootout weapon.

Yes he is which is nice because he's learned how to use his speed to back down goalies then has options to shoot or deke

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Eyeball test makes me want Mrazek more. He will be rock solid for 3 or 4 then have a stinker. I'm okay with that and I'd rather that then having subpar games every night but not having any complete meltdowns.

I think your forgetting that Mrazek was pulled in 3 of his last 8 starts. Thats not rock solid and then a stinker every now and then. Howars better GAA and save % also proves that "subpar" every night is better.

Edited February 24, 2015 by GoalieManPat

[barabbas16 499]

Does Howard suck in the shootout....hell yes. But to say with another goalie the Wings would have won all those shootouts is just flat wrong. People forget that the Wings are one of the worst teams at converting there shots in the league.

Why do you think that people forget that? Maybe it is because ANYTHING looks awesome when appearing next to a Jimmy Howard shootout performance.

[mustbeburtreynolds 14]

Yes He did have an off game sort of... But saying he is freaking terrible is a joke... He has been our MVP for just about the entire season

That's a bit of a stretch, I'd argue Datsyuk has been our MVP all season, besides the games he missed of course.

Idk I'm not a Howard hater by any means, I don't like ragging on goalies because it's the toughest job on the ice, but the simple fact is there are certain goalies that certain teams cannot win a Cup playing in front of, and I feel as of the last couple of years that Howard and the current Wings are one of those can't-win combos. Unless they f*cking max out with 3 new defensemen I don't see it happening.

Edited February 24, 2015 by mustbeburtreynolds

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Stop bickering over Howard in the shootout everyone!!!!!! Im sick of hearing this crap.

We all know he lost tonights game because he blew it in regulation.

Regulation, OT, shootout it doesn't matter. The guy still flat out made us lose after playing a great 40 minutes.

[Salviaman 104]

We got 77 points now. That's always a good thing.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Idk I'm not a Howard hater by any means, I don't like ragging on goalies because it's it's the toughest job on the ice, but the simple fact is there are certain goalies that certain teams cannot win a Cup playing in front of, and I feel as of the last couple of years that Howard and the current Wings are one of those can't-win combos. Unless they f*cking max out with 3 new defensemen I don't see it happening.

The issue with that statement is your assuming the rest of the Wings team in that time are valid Cup contenders and the mix of them and Howard are what prevents them from winning. Thats just simply not true as the team hasnt been a valid contender for 3-4 years. There wasnt enough talent regardless of who was in net. Remember people said the same thing about Osgood and look how that turned out.

Edited February 24, 2015 by GoalieManPat

[aflac9262 211]

I'll try not to go into a Jim Mora rant, but I do not feel Howard is going to take the Wings anywhere in the playoffs at the rate he is going. It's only been a couple of games since his return from injury, so hopefully he'll pick it up a bit down the stretch. I am really frustrated with how much of an unnecessary defensive liability Howard is though. It is bad enough our defense has its rich moments during contests, but adding fuel to the fire is even more incredibly frustrating. I know that shootouts are not part of the playoffs, but good goaltenders don't blow it off like it's nothing. His numbers in the shootout are outright pathetic (1-8, 9 saves/24 shots faced, a 37.5% save percentage). Good goaltenders find a way to at least be somewhat respectable in the shootout.

[mustbeburtreynolds 14]

The issue with that statement is your assuming the rest of the Wings team in that time are valid Cup contenders and the mix of them and Howard are what prevents them from winning. Thats just simply not true as the team hasnt been a valid contender for 3-4 years. There wasnt enough talent regardless of who was in net. Remember people said the same thing about Osgood and look how that turned out.

I'm not claiming hard facts here, just the vibe I get. A lot of different things need to come together at the same time to triumph over 29 other teams and I just get the feeling it won't happen with Howie as the #1. I'd feel better if him and Gus or Mrazek did a 50/50 split like Ozzie and Hasek in '08.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

Howard's brutal rebounds cost the Wings tonight, it's an area he's always had problems with and hasn't seemed to improved this over the years. His playing the puck is also somewhat below par for an NHL level N/M as well. Hopefully he'll get his act together because you know darn well he ain't getting moved or demoted by the head office anytime soon.

[RedWingsRox 614]

We got 77 points now. That's always a good thing.

Yes ... let's just take a step back. We have 77 pts and we are 3 pts back from Tampa with 4 games in hand. If we go .500, we will leap frog them and position ourselves in one of the top 4 = home ice for round 1.

Calm down people ...

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

I think your forgetting that Mrazek was pulled in 3 of his last 8 starts. Thats not rock solid and then a stinker every now and then. Howars better GAA and save % also proves that "subpar" every night is better.

True but Mrazek's a rookie and currently an AHL goalie. How can you really compare right now.

[WingsallTheway 383]

True but Mrazek's a rookie and currently an AHL goalie. How can you really compare right now.

Also, Howard was pulled last game and you could argue that he should have been after the third goal against the Ducks..

So 2/2

Howard has been solid all season but seems to be shaky coming back from injury. The same could be said last year. Maybe he needs to be feeling 100% in order to be effective, which can be an issue

Edited February 24, 2015 by WingsallTheway

[DRW Dominance 255]

i didn't mind the silverberg goal....great shot....perry's goal was downright disgusting

but yeah, great game spoiled by poor goaltending. i really wish we had a goalie that could play the puck too. not that that had anything to do with tonight. i'm just sayin'

[Z and D for the C 712]

Regulation, OT, shootout it doesn't matter. The guy still flat out made us lose after playing a great 40 minutes.

The wings have had late game defensive breakdowns all year. If Howard is so bad, then how did he keep up in the game for 50 minutes?

[rick zombo 3,739]

After sleeping this one off I'm going to say that it was nice to get 5 out of 6 in the last three. One point in the next three will make this a 500 trip.

Also, the Wings stopped playing in the third lat night and tried to sit on their lead. I don't put ALL of the blame on Howard.

[Dabura 12,207]

Played a perfect road game for about 40 minutes. Our breakouts and transition game were fantastic.

We have to learn how to play with a lead, put a game on lockdown. Can't expect the opposition to play nice and on your terms. When they press, we need to raise our game in kind.

[Rivalred 630]

Went to bed when it was 2-1 and we lose in a shootout. Go figure

[Smite 399]

Went to bed when it was 2-1 and we lose in a shootout. Go figure

Don't worry the Wings did the same.

[kipwinger 8,524]

Other than the usual suspects, I was impressed with Kindl, Weiss, and Marchenko last night. Am I mistaken in saying that Weiss was moved back to center last night for while? If so, I think it's a smart move. He's got really good vision and play making skills, and he's a deft skater, but he's REALLY weak on the boards. In Babs' system the wingers usually do the board work, so I'd much rather see him played to his strengths and stuck back in the middle while Sheahan is up on the second.

Kindl, still bad defensively (par for the course) but he's seemed really confident with the puck. He's looking to skate, pass, and make plays. Since skating, passing, and shooting are his best qualities, I hope he continues doing what he's doing. It might earn him a regular spot again...even if it's on another team.

Marchenko shouldn't ever go back to GR. He's smart, reliable, and makes his partners better. At this point, I'd be confident putting him and any of Kindl, Ouellet, or Smith on the ice as a third pair. A testament to his play, and a hell of a option to have going into the trade deadline and playoff push.