The Curse Of The 2-Goal Lead Strikes Again

By Adam W Parks

Saturday, October 17, 2009 Avalanche 4 @ Red Wings 3 SO

David Byrne once wrote: "Everything is divided, nothing is complete. Everything looks impressive, do not be deceived." An accurate summation of the Red Wings shoot out loss to the Avalanche. The Wings season so far can be chalked up to inconsistency, both on the offensive and defensive ends. But Saturday's terrible defeat to Colorado was less about consistency, and more about complacency. Through two periods of hockey, Detroit dominated defensively and kept pressure on Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson. The Avs appeared to have a 0% chance of winning that game, let alone even scoring a goal. Shots on goal in the first period were 13-5 Wings, and 23-13 through two. With a two-goal lead heading into the second intermission, everyone watching the game expected a shut-down third period and a well-deserved shut-out for Chris Osgood. Apparently the players in red and white shared the same sentiment. Colorado won the shots battle in the third 13-7. 13 shots on goal. The same amount they had through the first two periods. Colorado's goals came just 2:37 apart. Cody McLeod snapped a wrist shot five-hole on Osgood after a break down at the Wings blue line, and rookie Matt Duchene wristed one from the top of the circle that Ozzie still wants back. Complacent, unorganized hockey.

MAKING FILPPY FLOPPY

Valtteri Filppula flipped the lead back in favor for the Wings. Centering what continues to be Detroit's best line with Ville Leino and Jason Williams, Filppula cleaned up an easy rebound after the trio pushed strong across the blue line, connected tape-to-tape passes, and charged in on Anderson. It was Filp's second goal of the season, a number that is sure to rapidly increase and possibly inflate to a career high for the young center, but it was all for naught. A poor line change created a Colorado three-on-two that resulted in an easy second goal of the game for McLeod with less than three minutes left. "It was just kind of an open net," McLeod said. Sure was.

(doorbell rings) WHO IS IT? GOONS. WHO? HIRED GOONS.

Is it coincidence that McLeod scored twice in the third period after fighting the newest Red Wing tough guy Brad May? The pair squared up and exchanged Jack Johnsons and Tom O'Learys during the first period which could only be called a draw. It seemed like an appropriate time for May to drop the gloves: late in the first period with just a one goal lead. Perhaps not getting the best of McLeod gave the 25-year-old the confidence to lead his team back from a deficit...twice. May, 37, was a great last minute free agent signing for Detroit to replace the muscle and fists of Darren McCarty (not resigned in off season) and Aaron Downey (signed with Phoenix). May, a former 14th overall draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 1990, was once part of the most feared pairing in all of the NHL. May and Rob "Rayzor" Ray terrorized opponents of the Sabres for years. The duo are infamous for the NHL's installation of the rule that requires a player's jersey to be tied down. However May may be best known for his "incidents". Does a 20-game suspension for slashing Blue Jacket forward Steve Heinze in the nose in 2000 ring a bell? How about more recently, in the 2007 playoffs as an Anaheim Duck, when he cold-cocked Minnesota's Kim Johnsson, knocking the defenseman utterly senseless. Wait, it gets better. May then lifted the unconscious Johnsson up and proceeded to body-slam him back onto the ice. Here's an interesting twist: it was May who, allegedly, put a bounty on the head of Steve Moore, whose career was savagely ended by, yup, Todd Bertuzzi. Ken Holland appears to have taken the Montgomery Burns approach to this season. "I prefer the hands-on touch you only get with hired goons."

A GOOD POINT MADE ABOUT A BAD POINT EARNED

Despite the failures in the third period Detroit did earn an important point. The Wings also gave away a dirty, shameful, and embarrassing point at home to a young, confident, and surprisingly good Western Conference rival. The Avs out-shot the Wings 3-1 in the overtime session and won in the shoot out 2-1. Entering the fifth season of its installment, the shoot out at the end of overtime continues to be a controversial and polarizing way to settle a hockey game. To some, it's the most exciting overtime event in all of sports, an opportunity for the skilled players to showcase their moves and goalies to make back-breaking saves. Honestly, who would not want to watch Pavel Datsyuk and Dominik Hasek square off in a best-of-27 shootout? Opponents of the shoot out prefer the old school method of a tie if neither team scores during the five minute overtime period. Each team gets a point, and the fans go home at best indifferent. A simple Simpsons reference should settle this matter once and for all. In the eighth episode of the sixth season, Bart and Lisa square off in an ultimate show down of sibling rivalry: on separate ends of a hockey rink. The game is tied and in the final seconds Bart is awarded a penalty shot against Lisa. In a heart-warming moment, forward and goalie embrace and decide that their relationship is more important than the game. Time runs out, game ends in a tie. A man in the stands asks, "What the heck is a tie game?" A woman cries, "This is Outrageous!" A weeping and disappointed Homer exclaims, "They're both losers. Losers!" The arena quickly erupts into vandalism, fist-fights, and fires.

GRIFFIN EGGS

Justin Abdelkader is really making the most of his time in Detroit right now. He almost ended up back in Grand Rapids, but was back on the fourth line with Darren Helm and May, and scored the first regular season goal of his fledgling career. The Muskegon native and Michigan State University National Championship hero is making it difficult for the Wings coaching staff to leave him off the roster, and Spartan fans love to hear the MSU fight song played inside Joe Louis Arena when he scores. Helm dished out an assist on Abdelkader's goal giving each their first point of the season. Could these two plus May be the next Grind Line? Former Griffin/Red Wing Kyle Quincey, who was a Black Ace on Detroit's 2008 Stanley Cup team spent last season in a Kings jersey but signed with Colorado in the offseason and has been one of their best men on the blue line. He has one goal and six points, a plus-3 rating, and ten penalty minutes in eight games this year. Griffins fans were sad to see Detroit's 2003 fourth round draft pick (132 overall) leave Michigan, but are happy to see a player groomed in the Red Wings organization succeed...in Colorado...damn it.

NOTES AND NUGS

Bertuzzi: Starting to Impress?-Bert picked up his first goal of the season during a power play in the second period. He got position on and out-muscled Adam Foote in front of the crease and tipped in a pass from Henrik Zetterberg. He also made a perfect pass from the boards to Zetterberg in the third period, but Anderson's glove was more perfect.

Foote to face-Nicklas Lidstrom once stopped the heart of the hated Chris Pronger with a slap shot. Against the Avalanche he nearly shot a hole through the hated Adam Foote's stupid face. Who says Lidstrom isn't physical enough?

There Will Be Blood-Jason Williams was the recipient of a high-stick to the face from Marek Svatos that drew blood, giving the Wings a 4:00 double minor early in the third period up 2-0. They failed to convert, split open and meltdown ensued.

MICKEY'S QUOTE OF THE GAME

Banter with Ken Daniels and Larry Murphy about protecting the melon leads to Mickey reminiscing about his playing days, "I can't imagine wearing a helmet." Got to love the Mick.

Peace.