GDT 3/14 GDT : Red Wings 2 at Flyers 7

[number9 3,297]

Deleted

Edited March 16, 2015 by number9

[krsmith17 7,191]

Bahaha agenda much Kip? You can pick out 3 goals that were "somewhat" Smith's fault in the past few games in which 11 goals were scored against? So what? I'm sure I can pick out at least 3 for each and every other defender on the team that may have been part of the cause of a goal in that same stretch as well. All while not generating the same offense that Smith has. But he only put up 1 point in that stretch. Again, so what? The points will come. Whether you want to admit it or not, Smith has been playing great hockey lately and really making things happen in the offensive zone.

There was a segment on during the intermission of the Columbus game where York, Elliott are Osgood were talking about how much Smith's game has improved and how much better he has looked as of late. They specifically mentioned how much his defensive game has improved as well as his instinct to read and jump up into plays. They also mentioned how difficult it has been on him having to be paired with so many different defensemen all season long. Chemistry and familiarity with your defense partner can do wonders for a pairing and Smith hasn't had that luxury. The other two pairings have been staples all year long but opposite of Smith has been a revolving door since the beginning of the season. He's been paired with Lashoff, Kindl, Ouellet, Marchenko and Zidlicky. That's not easy on any defenseman.

There are many LGWers that have always bitched about Smith's play, but will happily admit that Smith has been one of our best defenders over this little stretch. But it's impossible for you to admit that. I don't get it. It really seems as if you really just want him to fail, just so you can say, "I told you so..."

By the way, on that first clip, the goal was more on Zidlicky than Smith. I'm not saying that Smith wasn't part of the problem but so were the other 5 guys in red on the ice. Hartnall was Zidlicky's man that was wide open in front of the net. Smith was on his man (Anisimov) behind the net, just wasn't quite as tight as he obviously should have been.

The second one was on both Smith and Kronwall, but definitely more Kronwall in my opinion. First, he bobbled the dump in and gave it right to Voracek, who then crossed over to Smith's side of the ice, it did seem like Smith was caught a little flat footed coming back on his man (Voracek), but Kronwall's man (Schenn) was left wide open in front of the net for the tap in.

I'll give you the third one. Smith made a bad cross ice pass, but to be fair, he made at least 10-15 of those exact same outlet passes tape to tape in those few games, this one unfortunately ended up in the back of their net.

Also, the last non goal was a bad decision, and he was just trying to get too cute with it. And although I don't like the outcome on that play, I do like that he is showing a little more confidence lately. The reason he has struggled all season in my opinion is because of the multitude of defense partners and lack of confidence. I think if he remains with Zidlicky for the remainder of the season his confidence will grow and with that he will continue to generate offense and eventually start to put up some decent numbers.

[kipwinger 8,521]

Bahaha agenda much Kip? You can pick out 3 goals that were "somewhat" Smith's fault in the past few games in which 11 goals were scored against? So what? I'm sure I can pick out at least 3 for each and every other defender on the team that may have been part of the cause of a goal in that same stretch as well. All while not generating the same offense that Smith has. But he only put up 1 point in that stretch. Again, so what? The points will come. Whether you want to admit it or not, Smith has been playing great hockey lately and really making things happen in the offensive zone.

There was a segment on during the intermission of the Columbus game where York, Elliott are Osgood were talking about how much Smith's game has improved and how much better he has looked as of late. They specifically mentioned how much his defensive game has improved as well as his instinct to read and jump up into plays. They also mentioned how difficult it has been on him having to be paired with so many different defensemen all season long. Chemistry and familiarity with your defense partner can do wonders for a pairing and Smith hasn't had that luxury. The other two pairings have been staples all year long but opposite of Smith has been a revolving door since the beginning of the season. He's been paired with Lashoff, Kindl, Ouellet, Marchenko and Zidlicky. That's not easy on any defenseman.

There are many LGWers that have always bitched about Smith's play, but will happily admit that Smith has been one of our best defenders over this little stretch. But it's impossible for you to admit that. I don't get it. It really seems as if you really just want him to fail, just so you can say, "I told you so..."

By the way, on that first clip, the goal was more on Zidlicky than Smith. I'm not saying that Smith wasn't part of the problem but so were the other 5 guys in red on the ice. Hartnall was Zidlicky's man that was wide open in front of the net. Smith was on his man (Anisimov) behind the net, just wasn't quite as tight as he obviously should have been.

The second one was on both Smith and Kronwall, but definitely more Kronwall in my opinion. First, he bobbled the dump in and gave it right to Voracek, who then crossed over to Smith's side of the ice, it did seem like Smith was caught a little flat footed coming back on his man (Voracek), but Kronwall's man (Schenn) was left wide open in front of the net for the tap in.

I'll give you the third one. Smith made a bad cross ice pass, but to be fair, he made at least 10-15 of those exact same outlet passes tape to tape in those few games, this one unfortunately ended up in the back of their net.

Also, the last non goal was a bad decision, and he was just trying to get too cute with it. And although I don't like the outcome on that play, I do like that he is showing a little more confidence lately. The reason he has struggled all season in my opinion is because of the multitude of defense partners and lack of confidence. I think if he remains with Zidlicky for the remainder of the season his confidence will grow and with that he will continue to generate offense and eventually start to put up some decent numbers.

Ok, go ahead. Find me three even strength goals against, during the last three games, for ANY other Red Wings defender. I'll wait.

We're focusing on even strength (and not PK) is because people were saying that Ericsson and/or Quincey should be demoted at even strength in favor of Smith. But he's been MUCH worse at even strength than they have been. If people had said, "Smith should replace Quincey on the PK", I wouldn't argue.

Edited March 16, 2015 by kipwinger

[krsmith17 7,191]

I'm not about to go through all 11 goals to pin point who is to blame on each one. I just pointed out that of the 3 goal videos you posted, one was mostly on Smith, one was mostly on Zidlicky and one was mostly on Kronwall...

I'm actually quite okay with where Smith is playing right now. I'm not one of the people saying that he should replace Ericsson or Quincey although, I don't think it would be the worst lineup decision Babcock has made all year...

Quincey hasn't been his steady self since coming back from injury and he's had a TON of turnovers in his own zone in that time. Whether they were at even strength or penalty kill is irrelevant to me, either way you look at it, he has been making a lot of boneheaded plays. Much more than Smith has. I don't think I even need to get into the Ericsson thing because anyone that has watched the past few games knows how awful Ericsson has been.

Anyway, defensive game aside (we both know that isn't Smith's strong suit), are you actually able to sit there and deny that Smith hasn't looked really good offensively of late? He is flat out making things happen. There is no denying that. The points Will come.

[kipwinger 8,521]

I'm not about to go through all 11 goals to pin point who is to blame on each one. I just pointed out that of the 3 goal videos you posted, one was mostly on Smith, one was mostly on Zidlicky and one was mostly on Kronwall...

I'm actually quite okay with where Smith is playing right now. I'm not one of the people saying that he should replace Ericsson or Quincey although, I don't think it would be the worst lineup decision Babcock has made all year...

Quincey hasn't been his steady self since coming back from injury and he's had a TON of turnovers in his own zone in that time. Whether they were at even strength or penalty kill is irrelevant to me, either way you look at it, he has been making a lot of boneheaded plays. Much more than Smith has. I don't think I even need to get into the Ericsson thing because anyone that has watched the past few games knows how awful Ericsson has been.

Anyway, defensive game aside (we both know that isn't Smith's strong suit), are you actually able to sit there and deny that Smith hasn't looked really good offensively of late? He is flat out making things happen. There is no denying that. The points Will come.

1. Why not, you said you could? Start with the even strength ones, since those are all we have been talking about this whole time. There are only 6 of them. And I already showed you who was responsible for three of them.

2. The Schenn goal posted above is not on Kronwall. Schenn is Smith's guy from the blueline in. In no defensive scheme anywhere do the defensive players stop and go back the other way when the offensive players crisscross. You crisscross with them. Kronwall did. Smith didn't.

3. As I said before, the fact that Zidlicky sucked on the Harntell goal doesn't make Smith's play good by default. Smith sucked too. You cannot let Anisimov make that pass out front. It's Smith responsibility to tie up him or his stick. Smith did neither. The fact that Zidlicky blew his assignment too isn't a free pass for Smith.

[chaps80 1,591]

LOL exactly the same as in a shootout.

Indeed. lol

[chaps80 1,591]

That wasn't Bab's thinking:

"Today's game had nothing to do with Howie. That's why I didn't take him out," Babcock said. "It had nothing to do with Howie. It had to do with it was our problem."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/03/red_wings_once-dominant_penalt.html

Not saying that's what he was thinking, but you don't often see a team leave a goalie in after letting in 7 goals, no matter how bad everyone else is playing around him. I'm sure there was a reason behind it, but he's not gonna go say it flat out to the press so Howard's confidence gets completely crushed. Just more of a wake up call. I'm sure he got one yesterday as well with Mrazek getting the start and playing lights out.

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

He sure tracked it good his last game in Tampa ehh. Lets not forget the kid got pulled in 3 of his last 6 starts before going down.

And Howards had just as many crappy games, it's TB I expect us to lose to them EVERYTIME because we can't match that depth and Style, maybe in the playoffs