Holmer Returns, Wings Win, Ericsson Sits

By Adam W Parks

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Red Wings 4 @ Sharks 2

The Sharks bit first, and second, but they were merely flesh wounds as the Wings rallied from a 0-2 deficit for a big win Tuesday night. If the regular season ended immediately after that game, the Wings would probably not be too upset with where they ended up in the playoff picture.

On a hockey night that saw the four teams in front of Detroit earn at least a point, the Wings took two away from the league's top team to move ahead of Calgary and into the eighth seed. If the playoffs were to start now, the Wings would face San Jose at the HP Pavilion where they are 2-0 this season; they are 3-0 against the Sharks overall.

Babs, Adam Parks from Lamp The Light, what's the deal with completely owning the best team in the NHL and struggling against everyone else?

“If you can do it against good teams, why can’t you do it every night?"

Right...

Detroit's first victory on San Jose's ice came in a 4-1 trouncing back on January 9 which, ironically enough, was the Sharks' last loss in regulation before Tuesday night. The Wings have limped through January despite seeing several injured players return during the month. Hopefully, in these handful of games in February before the Winter Olympics break, we will see a healthy, consistent, and confident group of Red Wings gain some momentum heading into the final 20 or so games of the season.

Good Things Come In Pairs

Two reasons why the Wings were able to overcome a two-goal deficit on Tuesday are a pair players who have recently returned from injury: Valtteri Filppula and Tomas Holmstrom. Each assisted on a pair of goals against the Sharks.

Holmstrom is the most recent damaged Wing to heal and return and contribute, as this was his first game since breaking a foot during practice on January 6. He made his presence known instantly by getting helpers on both of the Wings' first period goals. He also registered six shots on Evgeni Nabokov.

Despite missing nearly an entire month, Holmstrom still leads his team in goals (15, tied with Todd Bertuzzi). He looked quick and aggressive along the boards, and the power play appeared normal again with him parked in front of the crease. Detroit's offense is just not the same without him antagonizing defensemen and annoying goaltenders. Welcome back Holmer, you weren't gone long, but you were missed.

Filppula returned from injury in late December and has been a rare bright spot for the Wings in an otherwise dismal month worth of games.

He may only have four goals and 20 points on the season, but half of Val's goals and 12 of his 16 assists have come post-broken wrist. Filp beefs up the second power play line and provides some much-needed flexibility and play-making ability to Babcock's top two lines.

With Filppula and Holmstrom and everyone else back, Ken Holland had to make the tough but inevitable decision to send Justin Abdelkader West to Grand Rapids. When Franzen comes back (Tuesday in St. Louis), Holland will face a larger dilemma: how to cut $1.5M from the roster. Brad May? Ville Leino? Brett Lebda? Derek Meech? Dare I say...Brian Rafalski?

(There will be more to come on salary cap restrictions, possible trades and waiver moves here on Lamp The Light real soon.)

Rotating D: Ericsson Out, Meech In, Kronwall Out, Meech Scores, Ericsson Back In

Detroit's D has not been very tenacious all season long. Sure they have shored things up, somewhat, with the turnovers and sloppy outlet passes in their own zone. They have even managed to get into the NHL's top ten for team goals-against average (2.55). But how many times do you still see defenders out of position and/or handing the puck over to the opposition on a game-by-game basis?

Jonathan Ericsson has become Babcock's scapegoat, and deservedly so. With lofty expectations following an errorless playoff run, the Big E has looked like the Big Rook-E this season. Even with all that size, 6' 4"/220, Ericsson has looked dainty and tentative in the defensive zone (even before he missed time with the knee injury).

Here are his stats on the season through 41 games, let's start with the positive: three goals and ten points. Not too bad for a guy who sees very limited, if any, power play time (Brad Stuart has two goals, eleven points in 56 games and plenty of PP time).

Now the negative. Ericsson has 39 giveaways this season, averaging nearly one per game. That is not the worst on the Wings roster (Rafalski--53 in 52 games), but his minus-12 rating is. Following E on the horrible plus/minus list are Abdelkader (-11), who is wearing a Griffins jersey right now, and Ville Leino (-10), who will likely be waived or traded for a late draft pick to clear cap space because he has been an even bigger turd-disappointment than Ericsson.

Did I mention that Ericsson is gigantic? He is tied with Kris Draper and Drew Miller with 68 hits on the season. Need more perspective? Abdelkader leads the Wings with 152. Darren Helm (113) and Patrick Eaves (100) are third and fourth respectively. Kirk Maltby, who is in a constant battle for playing time on the fourth line, has 81. Granted, all these players have played more games, and they are all gritty guys getting after it with the forecheck, but none of them are quite as gigantic as Ericsson.

Babs drew a line on the ice and scratched the healthy, young defender and gave him a seat next to Holland to watch Tuesday's game.

“We’ve talked over and over and over again, he’s known this has been coming,” Babcock said. “We think he’s a good player. We like what he’s done in the past. We like his size and his talent. It hasn’t gone (well) for him, for whatever reason. He’s got to get that fixed."

Babcock took a breath and then continued talking about Ericsson, as if he had not talked enough:

"We’ve talked enough now. He’s got to decide that he wants to be in the lineup each and every night. Maybe sitting (Tuesday) is what he needs."

Babs, Adam Parks from Lamp The Light, would you say that Ericsson has been 'rolled up' with his problems as the season has progressed and that he has been unable to find a response to said problems?

“This has snowballed on him and he hasn’t been able to respond. By all the meetings and all the help we provided, we’ve really tried to be supportive, and it hasn’t worked.”

WOW WOW WEE WAA! First Leino, then Osgood, now Ericsson. Babcock has a sharp and calculating tongue when it comes to discussing his troubled players with the media. Is it fair? Who cares, these are grown men making a lot of money to play the same game that I work to pay to play in my spare time. There are a lot of guys busting their asses for ice time, getting hurt, playing through pain. I love it--two thumbs up for Babcock--if it does not motivate the individual it is sure to motivate the rest.

With E out, Meech got the nod. Me like Meech. It is unlikely we will see him much more this season, especially if Andreas Lilja, who is playing in his first game in nearly a year as I type, does well in his conditioning stint in Grand Rapids and returns to the Wings roster. Anyway, back to Meech. Remember Kyle Quincey? He's been killing it in Colorado this year. His 22 points (five goals) is second most amongst Avalanche defensemen. The Wings chose Meech over Qincey. Oh well. Me still like Meech, especially when he does things like this:



He wasn't even supposed to be out there on that power play. Niklas Kronwall and Jason Williams own the blue line for the second PP unit, but Kronner tweaked his knee, er ankle, er knee, during the game. The injury is not serious, but he will miss at least one game, opening the door for Ericsson to step back in and show what he has learned and prove he belongs on the ice. Kronwall is confident 'Johnny' will be just fine:

“I went through the same thing. It’s not easy, but at the same time you try not to be too hard on yourself. Just try to keep it simple. Johnny’s just going to improve even more after this. He’s going to get back and be even better for us in the long run. Sometimes this is what you need.”

BTW, FYI, WTF, I hate phrase abbreviations, and Meech's goal was his second of the season--both were game winners. Me like Meech.

Peace.

What The Hell Happened Last Night?

By Adam W Parks

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Coyotes 5 @ Red Wings 4 OT

Mike Babcock should change his name to Bob Lawblaw.



Blah, blah, blah. I love Babs. I love his stoic demeanor, how he keeps his emotions in check with the media. But after Tuesday's bumbling and crumbling defeat to Phoenix, a part of me was kinda/sorta hoping to see a bit of a meltdown. You know, NFL style.



After the loss to the 'Yotes, this is how my dream press conference with Babcock would have gone:

Adam: Coach Babcock, why did your team even play that game?

Babcock: You play to win the game.

A: Why have you lost so many two-goal leads recently?

B: I resent you bringing it up.

A: Is it because your team is unable to match the intensity of their opponents?

B: You don't know what you're talking about. You're a jerk.

A: What did you say to the team in the locker room?

B: What do you care?

A: What couldn't your guys do in the last 90 seconds to prevent the Coyotes from scoring two goals?

B: We couldn't do diddly poo.

A: How do you think Wings fans reacted after this loss?

B: I'm sure people vomited in the stands.

A: Where does this leave your team in terms of the playoffs?

B: Playoffs? Don't talk about...Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win another game!

A: Why are you so highly critical?

B: I'm highly critical because of the way we give games away.

A: In your opinion, what was your opinion of that game?

B: In my opinion: that sucked.


All Joking Aside, I'm Still Pissed

Do I really want to see Babcock have a meltdown? No, of course not. That is not constructive behavior. Do I think that Babs should rip his players, starting with his leaders? Yes, absolutely I do. They deserve it.

This recent complacency that the Wings have demonstrated is enough to drive this writer bananas. If I were in that locker room I'd be tearing it apart, destroying random inanimate objects, and blaming myself before encouraging everyone else to look in the mirror and do the same. Henrik Zetterberg had a different, calmer approach:



Again, like Babcock, it would be nice to see a little more fire in those eyes, hear a little more venom in those words, if only to satiate my own anger and frustration.

A 'What If' Scenario That Pisses Me Off Even More

Here's the skinny over the last six games: Detroit has one victory. They have given up third period leads in four straight and five total. Of those five they won one in a shootout (Minnesota). Of the other four they lost two in regulation (Los Angeles and Washington), and two in a shootout and in overtime (Dallas and Phoenix).

Now let's break down the point dispersal for these five games. The Wings earned two points with the victory over Minnesota, and one point in each of the losses to Dallas and Phoenix. That gives them...2 + 2 = 4...out of a possible ten. Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Washington each came away with two points a piece. Minnesota got one. Take Washington out of the equation since they are in the Eastern Conference, and that is still seven total points handed over to in-conference rivals.

Vancouver currently holds the coveted non-divisional winning fourth seed in the Western Conference, while Phoenix retains its grip on the fifth spot. Here is what the standings from the Canucks down to the Wild look like after last night:

4. Vancouver (66)
5. Phoenix (65)
6. Los Angeles (63)
7. Nashville (61)
8. Detroit (59)
______________________
9. Calgary (58)
10. Dallas (55)
11. Anaheim (55)
12 Minnesota (54)

Okay, so here comes the 'What If' scenario I alluded to in the title of this segment. What if the Wings won all five of those games, in which they held the lead in the third period, in regulation? Instead of four points they would have earned ten. Subtract two points away from the Coyotes, Kings, and Stars, and take one away from the Wild. Now look at the 'What If' standings:

4. Vancouver (66)
5. Detroit (65)
6. Phoenix (63)
7. Los Angeles (61)
8. Nashville (61)
______________________
9. Calgary (58)
10. Anaheim (55)
11. Minnesota (53)
12. Dallas (53)

Be honest. That is about where you expected the Wings to be at this point, with all the guys coming back and all. A month ago I would have guessed the seventh or sixth seed at least. As interesting as it is frustrating, this type of analysis surely does not slip by the attention of coaches, but it must be lost on players who have to remain focused, look forward, and learn from, not dwell on, past. Could the Wings have won those four games? Sure. Should the Wings have won those four games? Yes. Does it do any good to spend a bunch of time thinking and writing about it? No. It only pisses me off more. 'What Ifs' should remain relegated to the realm of fiction.

So...Why The Collapse To The Coyotes?

Reasons to answer that question were tossed all around after the game. Here are the top four. The theme is what were the Wings lacking?

1. Confidence:

“You got to do good things over a long period of time in games to earn confidence, and tonight, the last few minutes killed us.” ~Babcock

2. Execution:

“It’s unfortunate, we had won the draw on the tying goal and didn’t execute. Thought we were going to the half-wall and Pav (Datsyuk) would be there to get it out. That never happened, never got it out. Then, they got a bounce when they threw it off Stewie’s skate, came right out front and scored.” ~Babcock

3. Aggressiveness:

“But tonight, when we were ahead 4-2 with about five minutes left, we got a little tentative instead of going after them.” ~Babcock

4: Desperation:

“We got to play with a little more desperation out there.” ~Jimmy Howard

Peace.

Talking About A Season In Ernest

By Adam W Parks

Wednesday, January 27, 2009 Red Wings 2 @ Wild 5

America's finest novelist would sympathize with the season that America's finest hockey franchise is having. All of Ernest Hemingway's great characters all had great conflicts, and the Wings have faced nothing but thus far this season.

The Sun Also Rises, Even In Detroit

In Hemingway's most definitive and epochal novel, the surly and slightly depressed Harvey Stone (who is lost in his own generation) looks the naive Robert Cohn right in the eye and makes this blunt assessment: "You're not a moron. You're only a case of arrested development."

Sitting at a buddy's house watching the game on Wednesday I muttered in utter disgust, "What the @#$% is going on?" He replied, "We suck."

In regards to the turd the Wings left in Minnesota, you were absolutely right Pat. After their sixth loss in seven games, perhaps it is a proper summation of the last couple of weeks. However, I am not ready to admit that this team, in this season with all the obstacles, sucks.

The Pistons suck this year and have ever since they traded away Chauncey Billups. The Tigers sucked after blowing their lead in the Central Division last fall. The Wolverines and Spartans both sucked on the football field in 2009. And the Lions are the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.

(Sorry, but I could not decide which photo best represented how much the Lions suck, so I used them both.) Due to redundant reasons, the Wings have lacked a certain chemistry all season long. Now they lack confidence. They cannot seem to match their opponents' intensity and determination through 60 minutes of play. That said, we have not yet seen what this team, complete with all of its pieces clicking and working together, can do. Could it be time to wonder if we ever will this season?

I like to think that the Wings have something in common with Robert Cohn. We, or at least I, expected to see somewhat similar successes from previous seasons despite all the changes and new faces. Instead we have witnessed the Wings' growth and development as a team get stunted to the point where they lack any identity that resembles what has become accustomed.

They skate around the NHL in the same red and white with the same formidable Winged Wheel, but opposing teams are not intimidated like they used to be. Their mystique has been reduced to that of a crappy magician. The Phoenix Coyotes can look up at the scoreboard hanging at center ice in Joe Louis Arena, read Coyotes 2 RED WINGS 4 late in the third period, and know they still have good odds to come back and get a point, if not a win.

A less intrepid Wings fan than myself might panic and get pissed off when Detroit loses after blowing a two goal lead, or when they have a 1-3-3 record over the last seven games, but I am practicing the same patience that I have consistently expressed all season long. Chalk it up as a case of arrested development. Confidence can come and go, ebb and flow. The Wings might just be trapped in an eddy right now. Sometimes you have to paddle backwards in order to go forwards, hit rock bottom before making an ascension, like the old man and the...

What Was I Thinking?

Normally I can write myself into a more optimistic outlook. It's not working right now. As I watched the Wild dismantle Detroit's defense and make Chris Osgood look like he was no good, I thought to myself, I picked a Helluva season to start writing a Red Wings blog.

In my years of watching the Wings I have never witnessed something quite like this. Sure I have seen plenty of let downs, disappointments, and early playoff exits, but I honestly cannot recall a time when I looked at the NHL standings in January and did not see the Wings in a secure playoff position. This is ludicrous! Absurd! Who can I blame for this?

I was too young to remember the poor teams of the early and mid 1980s. I never watched the fresh-faced Steve Yzerman when he was an offensive juggernaut, pushing Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux for scoring titles and Hart Trophies. I watched him mold into a Selke Award winner and rightfully earn his eponymous nickname: The Captain.

I don't personally remember names like Harry Neale, John Ogrodnick, and Kelly Kisio. I know Dave Lewis as an assistant coach and the unsuccessful successor to Scotty Bowman, but not as a player. I have little to no recollection of the Wings prior to Nicklas Lidstrom or Sergei Fedorov or Tim Cheveldae. I did not live through 42 years of Stanley Cup drought, only 17.

I HAVE NEVER EVER WATCHED A RED WINGS SEASON WHERE THEY MISSED THE PLAYOFFS.

That is it. I am a spoiled brat of a fan. I admit it. Now I feel a little better.

This season has been a test, as a writer and as a fan from a younger generation. Year in and year out since the mid 1990s my expectations for this team have been Stanley Cup or bust. With more busts than Cups, the Wings have always at least made an argument for themselves, always been a menace for the rest of the league.

So, here is my conclusion about the timing of the blog: this is a great time to start writing about the Wings. It's like when they were swept in the Finals by New Jersey in 1995 and then upset by the incorrigible Avalanche in '96 before finally reaching the promised land in 97. By suffering through these tough times I will appreciate the upcoming good times even more, and my writing will reflect that. After all, what would Hemingway have ever written without experiencing his own conflict?

Peace.

Kronner Returns With 10 Games Until the Olympics Break

By Adam W Parks

Remember this? Martin Havlat doesn't.



It has been since November 21 that we have had an opportunity to see an opponent of the Red Wings get Kronwalled. Do not expect to see too many organ-pulverizing hits tonight, but do expect to see #55 back on the ice against Phoenix.

Niklas Kronwall missed over two months due to a sprained MCL and a prolonged rehab period due to unexplainable complications. The Wings have sorely missed his punishing physical play and his underrated offensive skills.

“We need a boost right now,” Mike Babcock said. “(Kronwall) gives you a dynamic guy on the back end, whether that be physical, defending, on the rush offensively, on the power play, on the penalty-kill.”

“Words can’t describe how important he is to our team," Dan Cleary said. "He does everything great.”

“It’s been a long time, and I can’t wait to get back out there,” Kronwall said.

Neither can we Kronner, neither can we!

Just In Time

Kronwall will make his triumphant return to the ice at home against a Coyotes team that sits like a speed bump on the Wings' path up the playoff ladder. The time is now for Detroit to make a serious push and some real headway heading towards the Winter Olympics break in mid-February.

Of the ten games remaining on the Wings' schedule before the break, just three matchups are against teams currently on the outside of the playoff picture: Minnesota, Anaheim, and St. Louis. All three are from the Western Conference. All three are also jostling with Detroit for a spot in the top eight.

Six of these last ten games are on the road. There is another tour of the California Coast with games against the Sharks, Ducks, and Kings. There is also the first of two bouts with the Penguins; a rematche of the last two Stanley Cup Championships. Ideally, Detroit would win all ten. Hopefully, they can earn 16 of a possible 20 points. Realistically, the Wings should get six wins.

"There's going to be lots of big games in the West between now and the end of the year," Babcock said. "These battles are going to go back and forth. You're hopeful your ups are going to be longer than your downs. It's pretty apparent San Jose and Chicago have separated themselves from the group, but the rest of us are in a battle."

As I look at the schedule, I see victories tonight against Phoenix, Wednesday in Minnesota, and Friday at home against Nashville. That would be three in a row. An emotional loss in a hostile Pittsburgh environment (sorry James, I know you'll be there), followed by a close defeat to the Sharks in San Jose. I think they then drop another to the Ducks in Anaheim for a third straight loss, but then back-to-back road victories over the Kings and the Blues will give them five wins in eight before returning to the Joe. A home win over San Jose and then a thrashing of Ottawa in Detroit will give them four straight and...seven wins.

At least one of those wins will probably end up being an overtime/shootout loss, thus my realistic prediction of six wins and a 6-3-1 record, earning 13 out of a possible 20 points. Losing to Pittsburgh will hurt nothing but pride. Dropping one or two to San Jose won't matter too much as they are secure at the top of the conference. Another loss to St. Louis would be annoying but probably not detrimental. The must wins are Phoenix, Nashville, Los Angeles, and maybe Anaheim; those teams are Detroit's peers right now.

"Every year, as a coach, you think every game you're playing is the most important," Babcock said. "I dont think that's any different this year. In saying that, there's no question it's different when you're locked in (a playoff position). But it's like every year, we're just trying to be a work in progress, trying to get better every day."

So often, when a coach speaks, it sounds like political, fallacious optimism. But I don't think Babcock screws around much with his words.

Peace.

Climbing A Broken Ladder

By Adam W Parks

Saturday, January 23, 2009 Kings 3 @ Red Wings 2

The Wings gave up their third two-goal lead in four games and lost at home to the Kings. The loss dropped them back out of the top eight spots in the Western Conference, but a Flames loss put them back in. It seems as though win or lose the Wings are just stuck in one place. Each time they look poised to move up they slide back down, unable to hold their grip.

Shakedown in the West

Here is what the situation looks like as of Tuesday morning: two teams (San Jose and Chicago) are battling for the top spot, two are writhing at the bottom (Columbus and Edmonton), and eleven others are separated by only twelve points. Leading the middle of the pack are Colorado and Vancouver, tied with 66 points, in a fight for the Northwest Division. Phoenix has all but waved goodbye to the Sharks and the Pacific Division title and are parked with 63 points, clinging to the fifth seed.

L.A.'s victory over Detroit gives them 61 points and a bit of breathing room as they are now tied with the struggling Predators. Nashville is 5-5-0 in their last ten. The Wings are 4-4-2. Despite losing six Detroit still managed to earn the same amount of points and remain just three points behind their Central Division rival.

Although Calgary and Detroit are tied with 58 points, the Flames have been doused in their last ten (1-8-1) and have lost six straight. The future looks brighter in Detroit, and if Calgary is unable to find some consistent ice to skate on, they could get easily get bitten by one from the rest of the pack.

Here Come The Snakes

So shut your windows lock your doors
Here come the snakes you best be sure
To keep your conscience bolted tight
'Cause they'll be lying waiting... ~Eric Bachman (Crooked Fingers)

Of all the teams dwelling outside of the playoff picture that should be most feared of striking with their disgusting venom are the Anaheim Ducks. They appear so friendly and harmless, but if you give them a chance they will crap all over your yard. If the stupid Ducks are able to waddle their way into the playoffs, they could be the most dangerous team in the West.

Like the Wings, though not to the same extent, the Ducks have battled through injuries all season long. Unlike the Wings, they have put together a long stretch of consistent and strong play and victories. Anaheim boasts the second best record in the conference in the last ten games at 8-2-0 (the Sharks are 8-1-1). Currently residing three points behind Detroit, the Ducks gained seven points on the Wings during that stretch.

Another team to possibly keep an eye on is St. Louis. With 54 points, the Blues have a solid goaltending duo (Chris Mason and Ty Conklin) and are well-balanced in the scoring department with ten skaters with 20+ points and eight with double digit goals. For comparisons sake, Detroit has just seven guys with 20 or more points, and only five with ten or more goals.

The most interesting thing about the Blues is that they tend to sing tunes true to their namesake at home. The team has five less wins (9) and twice as many losses (14) in St. Louis than it does in other NHL cities. Teams that comfortable on the road can often times become pitfalls late in the season.

Ponderin' and Predictin'

The Wings have 31 games left. Will Mike Babcock get 50 wins for the fifth straight season? No. Will Detroit win its ninth straight Central Division title? No. Will the Wings make the playoffs?

There is little to fear about that final question. Of the teams currently positioned below Detroit, Anaheim has the best opportunity to slide in there. The Flames have a lot of work to do to turn their season around, but I cannot see them getting back in unless more than two currently contending teams fall out of contention. Despite the weak argument above for St. Louis, I do not like the Blues to supplant any team in front of them. Dallas and Minnesota should mire away in mediocrity and slowly slip out of the discussions.

So if the Wings are in, and Anaheim is in, and Calgary is out, then who is the one likely team to fall? The Avalanche and the Canucks are in a tight race for the third and fourth spots and are not likely to relinquish either any time soon. Phoenix has slipped a little, but Ilya Bryzgalov is likely to return to form and get his fellow Coyotes into the playoffs. The Kings showed a great deal of toughness and resiliency on Saturday, and Jonathan Quick is the real deal. They should be fine.

That leaves the Predators. Nashville is the prime suspect to tumble. They are not necessarily a bad team, but they are just a big fat phony. They widened a gap between themselves and Detroit early in the season, but that has shrunk considerably. Now with the Wings getting healthier, and with four more matchups with Detroit left this season, the Predators seem doomed.

As long as the Wings can secure a good foot hold relatively soon, they will begin to climb the ladder to the fifth seed in the West. Mark it, Dude.

Peace.

Wings: More Desperate than the Other Guys

By Adam W Parks

Thursday, January 21, 2010 Red Wings 4 @ Wild 3 SO

It was a game between two desperate teams. One, Minnesota, sat five points behind the other and were six away from a playoff position. The other, Detroit, sat one point behind Los Angeles and two back from Calgary and Vancouver.

Both teams came into Thursday night's game having lost three straight.

Getting Wild in the North

The Minnesota Wild is one of few teams in the NHL that I do not mind that much. Perhaps it is because they have the second coolest logo behind the Winged Wheel. What is that thing anyway? A bear? A Cougar? I like how the moon is the mystery animal's ear, how the eye resembles the North Star (an homage to the old Minnesotan franchise), and how its mouth looks like a river cutting through the north country.

Or perhaps my slight soft spot for the team comes from my admiration of Minnesota's wilderness. On two occasions, once backpacking, the other houseboating, I have spent extended periods of time in the Boundary Waters area in the northern part of the state. Now, I have lived in and explored Michigan's Upper Peninsula, from Taquamenon Falls to the Pictured Rocks to the Porcupine Mountains. I have seen parts of the Appalachian Trail and rafted down white water in West Virginia. I have done the Rockies north and south, Montana to Arizona. But I'm telling you, nothing compares to the waterways of Northern Minnesota

The most likely reason for my lack of hatred for this team is because of the Wings' dominance over the Wild. On paper Detroit holds history's edge with an 11-1-2 record over the last 14 matchups. But as this season has proved to be true on so many occasions in Detroit, history has no bearing on the present. The Wings needed to play a great game to get a good win, and they nearly let one slip away, again.

Howie Back In Net

"They got a couple of lucky bounces," Jimmy Howard said. "But for the most part, I thought we controlled the game.''

After his first breather in 12 games against Washington, Howard was back in net in St. Paul to face a struggling yet dangerous Wild team. Howard stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced and was excellent in the shootout for his 18th win on the season and improved to 10-4-3 in his last 17 starts.

Babcock has shown immense confidence in his rookie goaltender this season, hence the increased playing time over Chris Osgood. Howie has been quicker, sharper, and more aggressive around the puck than Ozzy. This helps with the intangibles that a goalie must inevitably face in every game, such as the bad bounces that Howard referred to, or simply being in the right place at the right time when things get thick in front. Check out this save:



Notice where Howard is perched to make that first save. He is out in front of his goal crease, challenging the shooter, cutting down the angle at the net. The rebound comes out to his left and he is able to move over and make another save. By staying out of the crease, the rebounded puck stays out of the crease, which keeps the Wild from crashing in around the net. This also allows Howard's defensive support a better opportunity to tie up their men and reduce the chances of a quality scoring chance off the rebound as the puck is nowhere near the goal line.

I hate to say it, but when I watch Osgood in net he looks tentative, and I have very little confidence that when things get hairy in front of him that he will be in the right position to sustain the pressure. Whenever there are a lot of bodies around Ozzy, I do not feel as safe about losing sight of the puck as I do when Howard is in net. As far as the playing time dispute between Babcock and Osgood, I do not see how Babs has any option but to continue to play Howie whenever possible. He gives the Wings the best chance to win because he is the best goalie on the team right now.

Know Your Role

The big name scorers have taken on defensive roles this season, and a large portion of the goal-scoring has come in large part from the role players. Leading these guys have been Darren Helm, Patrick Eaves, and Drew Miller; each played great on Thursday. Eaves, who was an assist shy of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick on Sunday against the Blackhawks, put the Wings up 2-1 in the third period when he capitalized off of Helm's hard work:



It was Eaves' seventh goal and 14th point of the season. Miller put the Wings up 3-1 shortly after Eaves with this tip-in goal off of Derek Meech's shot from the point:



That goal should have sealed the deal for Detroit, but Minnesota got a quick two goal spurt just a few minutes later to tie the game. Miller was called upon in the eighth round of the shootout to do what Henrik Zetterberg, Todd Bertuzzi, Ville Leino, Dan Cleary, and Patrick Eaves could not. It was his first NHL shootout attempt. He is now 100% for his career.

"In the minors, I never did too hot in them, but you got to get your first sometime," Miller said. "He's a pretty big goalie (Minnesota's Nicklas Backstrom), stays with the puck well, so I decided to come in and shoot a little bit farther out, try to catch him thinking another deke. You've got to get your first one sometime, and it feels pretty good."

Babcock tipped his hat to his role guys.

"That's who's been coming through all year," Babcock said. "We wouldn't have any wins if it wasn't for those guys. It's not like our big guys are scoring like crazy. It's been a team thing all year long. Because our power play's been like it was tonight again, just stagnant and standing around a lot, we need those guys."

"It's a huge win for us," Miller said. "We feel we've been playing well, just not getting the results we want. We battled hard tonight and came through with the 'W' in the end. You don't ask how, you just get it done."

Here is the shootout in all its glory:



Peace.

Wings Slip Up On Washington's Ice

What a game, and opportunity, to let slip away. The Wings doubled the Washington Capitals in shots on goal (46) but could not get enough past Jose Theodore for the win in D.C. They shut down the most exciting, entertaining, and all around best player in the world (in this writer's opinion), holding Alexander Ovechkin to zero shots for just the third time this season. They controlled the play for most of the game and scored tough, timely goals.

And yet they skated off the ice without a point to show for their efforts. C'est la vie, such is life, in the NHL.

Just One Game, No Big Deal

Coach Mike Babcock always seems to find a diamond in a pile of crap. Here he discusses his team's good play and what it means for the near future:

“I feel good because I thought our team played real well, real hard. We basically dominated from start to finish. They’re an opportunistic team. They got real good offensive flair and they were able to capitalize. Their goalie was outstanding. But I like the way we played. We played fast, we were on top of them. If we continue to play the way we’re playing we’ll be just fine."

For such a surly looking dude, I am often surprised by his optimism and positiveness, especially after his team blew a chance to leap frog its way into a playoff position.

Coming into the game with 56 points, the Wings sat just one point away from the Los Angeles Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot, and only two points behind both Vancouver and Calgary. Both the Canucks and the Flames were idle on Tuesday, and the Kings were spanked by the Sharks 5-1. The loss negates an opportunity for the Wings to slide into the seventh seed, thusly knocking the Kings out and jumping ahead of Calgary (the Canucks have a game in hand on the Wings).

Now, all of this is moot; fodder for the fans, media, and banthas to chew on. But sitting on the outside looking in is not where we are used to planting our butts as Red Wings enthusiasts. Pundits and talking heads all agree that Detroit is, and always was, a playoff team this season, and I am not doubting that. It just would have been nice to go into our nation's capital, get a win against a Stanley Cup contender from the Eastern Conference, and hit the road again in a better position than where they were to begin with.

After all, the Wings are not the only team with their eyes on the playoff prize, as Dallas and Anaheim both sit just three points behind Detroit. Going back to that 4-1 victory over the Wings on January 5, the Ducks have been on an absolute tear to get back into postseason discussions, winning seven of their last eight. The Stars have not been as hot, but they have hung around all season, and they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with three victories over the Wings.

“You can say we played a good game, but in the end we didn’t score enough goals," Henrik Zetterberg said. “We had a lot of chances, we should be able to put more pucks in."

46 shots. 2 goals. 0 points. Bt as long as Babcock is cool with it, I guess I will be too.

Approaching A Rift?

Chris Osgood, remember him? The guy who went from back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals goaltender to the backup for Jimmy Howard. Ozzy got the nod Tuesday for the first time since December 20 after relinquishing 12 consecutive starts to the rookie, Howard.

Howard has earned his playing time this season and deserved all those starts, but Osgood has been openly frustrated with his own lack of time between the pipes. Does he have a point with statements like this?

“At the start of the year Howie didn’t play for about a month and then I didn’t play for a month. To me that’s not a good way of doing things, to let one guy get stagnant. You have to have both guys going, especially with the amount of games we have, especially coming back after the Olympic break we have a ton of games in March. So we have to have two guys in case something happens."

In theory, this makes perfect sense. But then again so does Communism. If the Wings were sitting atop the Central Division, as they were last season and every other season this decade, I would absolutely agree with Ozzy's sentiment. However, Detroit is 16 points behind Chicago, and Babcock is in a position where he must do everything, say anything, and play anyone who he deems fit to give his team the best opportunity to win.

It is interesting, though, that Babs would give Ozzy his first start in a month against the highest scoring team in the league. To give you an idea of how potent the Capitals are this season, they lead the NHL with an average of 3.69 goals per game. San Jose is a distant second with 3.26, and the Wings currently land in 27th with 2.49.

“It was tough. I haven’t played in a month,’’ Osgood said. “I think if I played a little more...they were good goals, but still I would have stopped them if I were in more of a groove. It was tough, especially against a team that doesn’t shoot a lot but waits for their best chances."

"You practice every day, you get ready every day, so let's play," said Babcock.

No love lost there. Remember this, in the 2005-06 season, Babcock's first as coach of the Wings, Steve Yzerman was just a Robert Lang groin injury away from retiring midseason due to a lack of playing time. Stevie Y only got the playing time because Babcock was forced to play him.

Is this a similar situation? Was Babs setting Osgood up for failure against the Capitals? Or was this a test to see where the disgruntled goalie's head and heart are.

Maybe I'm making too much out of something that might actually be nothing, but, last night, during moments of the game, my thoughts were indeed adrift, "and coasting a terrace, approaching a rift." ~ Tom Marshall

Rusty, or Icy, or Both?

Osgood had plenty of rust on the pads Tuesday night, though they could have been iced over from a slow first period. Washington did not register a shot on goal until nearly 15 minutes into the game and only got three in the first period. If Ozzy was looking for a groove, he had little chance of finding one in this game.

When Osgood struggled last season it was because he was not aggressive enough, not getting outside of the goal crease and challenging the shooter. Take a look at where he is on Nicklas Backstrom's power play goal:



That was a sick move on Brad Stuart, but if Ozzy had been out of the crease he may have been able to poke check the puck, or at least cut down the angle that Backstrom had to shoot with.

David Steckel tipped in the game winner just 46 seconds later. Ozzy started the play out front, challenging the original shooter, but slipped backwards when he lost sight of the puck.



Perhaps this is an entirely different type of goal as Ozzy was reacting to the first shot, but what I see is an unsure, rusty goaltender relying on bad habits. Osgood is a trusted veteran in this league. He should not have to rehash the basics in the middle of every season. Does he have a beef about playing time? Maybe. Should he be prepared and ready play at a high level at any given moment? Absolutely.

Babcock:

“It’s real important to have good goaltending. You can’t win without good goaltending. We’ve been real fortunate that Howie has been excellent for us, gave us an opportunity on a nightly basis."

Nugs and Notes

Attention Darren McCarty: in no way am I saying that Chris Osgood is done, past his prime, or undeserving of an opportunity for playing time. I love Ozzy for all he has done for the Wings, and I hope he comes around and can contribute wins on a more consistent basis this season. Also, I whole-heartedly agree that he has earned his spot in the NHL Hall of Fame.



Peace McCarty, Peace.

Even The Blackhawks Could Not Ruin My Birthday

By Adam W Parks

Sunday, January 17, 2010 Blackhawks 4 @ Red Wings 3 SO

Mom had never been to a Wings game. I had never been to a game that the Wings had lost. Despite the outcome, we had a great time at Joe Louis Arena.

Following the Lodge Freeway we arrived in downtown Detroit. It was a chilly morning, but not too cold for a walk around the arena. I wanted to go down by the river, check out the Canadian side of things, and walk across Steve Yzerman Drive. Once we made it inside, I wanted to show Mom all the sights that the Joe had to offer. She really liked the "Production Line" statues, even though Howe was the only name she recognized. Funny because she would soon meet one of the other guys shortly thereafter.

Not-So-Terrible Ted

As we walked circles around the arena, searching for the perfect lunch amidst all the food vendors, we passed a booth with a table, a stack of books, a short line, and an elderly looking gentleman getting his picture taken. Once I recognized Ted Lindsay, I whispered to Mom, "He's one of the Production guys."

"Go get in line, I'll take a picture of you two," she said. So I did. What the Hell? I thought, I may never get another opportunity to shake 'Terrible' Ted's hand again. I bought his book and he wished me a happy birthday. I asked him, "Do you remember how many goals you scored when you were 29?" He replied with a laugh, "I don't remember what I did last year."

I looked it up when I got home. At age 29 Lindsay hit a professional lull during the 1954-55 regular season, playing in just 49 games with just 19 goals. His 38 points were his lowest output since his first two seasons in the NHL. However he did net seven goals and 19 points in the playoffs in what would become the last Stanley Cup Championship Detroit would see until 1997.

During his playing days Lindsay was one of the most feared players to ever lace up the skates and lay the lumber. Standing just 5' 8", he was considered undersized by even the 1940-50s NHL standards, but his nasty disposition was as notorious as his elbows were fearsome. At age 84, the scars on his face were scarcely noticed amidst the wrinkles, and his handshake was warm and genuine. Nothing terrible about Ted that I could tell.

Although I never got to see the man play, I greatly admire his place in Red Wings lore and what he accomplished wearing the Winged Wheel for 14 of his 17 NHL seasons. It was a huge honor to meet him.

Onto the Game

Mom and I found our seats and I proceeded to inhale an Italian beef sandwich. Our seats were up high in one of the corners, the perfect place to sit and get a true scope of the inside of the arena. We gazed upon the retired names and numbers: Howe (9), Abel (12), Lindsay (7), Delvecchio (10), Sawchuk (1), and Yzerman (19). I pointed out the 11 Stanley Cup Championship banners and refreshed Mom's memory on the Wings most recent successes.

There were several Blackhawks jerseys mixed intermittently throughout. I wondered how rowdy it might get and whether any of the visiting fans would be moronic enough to partake in their idiotic tradition of cheering through the National Anthem. Sure enough, two degenerates a section to our right rapidly clapped throughout Karen Newman's entire rendition. Mom was visibly annoyed. I waited until after the song was over (because that is what respectful Americans do when the National Anthem is being sung/played) to inform her of the ridiculous ritual. She was not impressed, "That's just stupid, disrespectful to our country."

Note to Chicago Blackhawks fans: Do whatever you want in your own home. Do not take your BS tradition on the road with you. You look, and sound, like complete A-holes.

Breaking the Silence

Wings fans had little to cheer about during the first period until Nicklas Lidstrom scored with less than a minute left in the session.



That was the first Detroit goal against the Blackhawks in over 161 minutes. With all the damn Chicago fans in the arena we had to endure plenty of cheering when Troy Brouwer and Patrick Kane put the Hawks up 2-0, and had to continuously stifle "Let's Go Blackhawks" chants with booing and "Let's Go Red Wings" mantras of our own, so it was nice of Nick to give us something to scream about. After Henrik Zetterberg tied it up 2-2 in the second period, the somewhat lethargic crowd sprang to life, and a rivalrous playoff-like atmosphere enveloped the Joe for all fans.

Patrick Sharp scored, just minutes after Hank, to give the Hawks the lead again, but Wings fans kept the noise levels up. This game wasn't over, not yet. Two guys sitting next to me had driven in from Chicago for the game. They were polite, respectful, and good hockey fans. One admitted during the second period that the Wings look "scary good" and nothing like the team that was shutout by his Hawks in back-to-back games in December. During the intermission I joked with them, asking, "So how long has it been since your team won the Cup?" I wished them good luck with Marian Hossa, his 12-year contract, and his playoff ailments. Referring to Detroit's situation with the salary cap, I told them, "Your team better win it this year, because you won't have all these guys back next year."

Emotional Eaves

The player of the game for me was Patrick Eaves. He tied the game 3-3 in the third period with his sixth goal of the season, and roughed it up with Kris Versteeg in the first period for his first fight of the season.



He may not be the guy to call in when the going gets tough, but Eaves held his own against the scrappy, if not pesky, Versteeg. Coming into the game Eaves had just eight penalty minutes. With the fight and a high-sticking call he nearly doubled his season total in that category.

The referees tried to give the game away to Chicago with power play opportunities in the first period. All seven of Eaves' PIM came in the first and Derek Meech, Brad Stuart, and Todd Bertuzzi were all called for minor penalties during the opening session. Evening things out, the Wings were awarded all the PPs in the second period as Colin Fraser, Brent Seabrook, and Sharp were all whistled. With the nation watching on NBC, the refs got out of the way and pocketed their whistles during the third period, allowing the teams to play physical and decide the matters at full strength.

Speaking of NBC, anyone at home watching the game missed out on Eave's goal live as the crew were dissecting replays while the puck went in the net. Here is what you already saw if you were watching on TV:



From our vantage point we could see the shot leave his stick and sneak by the unsuspecting Blackhawks goaltender, Antti Niemi. We were in perfect position to see the screen in front of Niemi and watch the puck sail our way and into the corner of the net. "He didn't even see it!" Mom yelled. Neither did anybody tuning into NBC.

Talking Breakaway Blues

Eave's goal forced overtime and the momentum seemed in the home team's favor. Just seconds into the extra session Zetterberg poked the puck away from Seabrook at the Chicago blue line and walked in alone on Niemi.



A few minutes later Pavel Datsyuk had his turn at a one-on-one with the Hawk's backup goalie, but like his superstar counterpart, came up empty handed.

"We had two breakaways in overtime, it would've been nice to score on one of them," said Mike Babcock. Yeah, Babs, because that would have won the game...

The Wings outplayed and outshot the Hawks four to two in overtime but could not end it against Niemi. Those missed breakaways were to be remembered after the shootout and the game was over.

A Datsyukian Deke and Bertuzzian Spin-O-Rama

Even though the Wings lost in the shootout, everyone was buzzing about the two Detroit shootout goals after the game. First was Datsyuk's little lazy lofter (these are my videos):



If Datsyuk's goal wasn't amazing enough, Bertuzzi followed up with a mad rush to the net and displayed incredible nimbleness and artistry:



"In that situation, you have to be creative," said Bertuzzi.

The game was immensely entertaining and just slightly disappointing. All in all, the outcome was a formality for me; the Wings got a point. The entire experience was just amazing, and the opportunity to spend my birthday with Mom at a Detroit Red Wings game may not come around again. Thanks Mom!

Peace.

When The Playoffs Get Here, Who Will Be There In Detroit?

By Adam W Parks

The Red Wings roster has looked like a patchwork quilt this season with the loss of certain free agents, the additions of others, a slew of injuries, and a few fresh prospects from the Grand Rapids crew. Assuming that Detroit will get healthy and string together some wins down the stretch, they will certainly make it into 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

So what will that playoff roster of 23 skaters look like? Who will be in and who will be left out?

If healthy, the usual suspects will all be there, but who will round out that all-important fourth line? Who will act as the reserves to the top defensive pairings? Who has earned the opportunity to be this season's Justin Abdelkader? Here is a rundown of what a possible playoff game lineup might look like:

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom
Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi
Cleary-Helm-Williams
Eaves-Draper-Miller

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Lebda

Now if all of the players listed above are uninjured, active, and still on the roster (could Drew Miller end up back on waivers?), then there will be five spots left to fill. On defense it seems obvious who will be there.

Feeling Peachy 'Bout Meechy

Wow, that was a lame headline. Apologies. Derek Meech may not see much ice time in the playoffs but he will surely be counted on as a backup. Though his statistics are unimpressive in 33 games this season (one goal, two points, minus-9 rating), Meech has played sound and solid in the wake of the injuries to Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson. He has logged plenty of ice time this season, skating double digit minutes in 17 straight games and over 19:00 in four so far this season. With the lack of point shooters like Kronner and Jason Williams, Meech has logged plenty of power play minutes over the last month or so.

The 8-Ball

Jakub Kindl might be a future top four defenseman in Detroit, but Doug Janik looks to me to be the clear favorite, if not the most deserved, for the eighth blue-liner for the playoffs. Janik, 37, is a veteran who has never sustained a consistent NHL career, but he proved he can fill in admirably when called upon. In 13 appearances with the Wings he has as many points as Meech and a better plus/minus rating with a -3. (Ironically, Janik's last game with the Wings was the 0-6 rout by the Islanders, and he was a -3 in that game.) Janik was called up after Ericsson was lost and showed grit and toughness, amassing 18 penalty minutes with two fighting majors.

A Spot For Abby

Even though he was supposed to start this season wearing a Griffins jersey, Justin Abdelkader has secured himself a playoff spot. In all rights, Abby should have been a regular in the playoffs last year when he scored his first and second career goals in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Penguins. It was the first time a rookie had scored in consecutive Finals games since 1981 when former Wing Dino Ciccarelli did it with the Minnesota Northstars. Forget that he has only three goals this season, Abdelkader is a gamer, a big game gamer, and a physical player with a scorer's nose for the net. He's a Michigan kid. Muskegon. East Lansing. Grand Rapids. Detroit. He has already been a hero once when it mattered most.



Can't Pass On Malts

There are four guys on today's roster that are leftover from the last four Red Wings Stanley Cup Championships: Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper, and Kirk Maltby. Drapes and Malts were question marks heading into this season, but loyalty runs red in Detroit, and each were brought back. Draper has shown positional flexibility to match his world class speed, moving from center to a wing position with Darren Helm. Maltby, 37, has held firm to his grinding wing position on the fourth line and has skated in 41 games this season, more than Patrick Eaves, Brad May, and Ville Leino. Never a prolific point-getter in the NHL, Malts has just three goals and five points this season and has been held pointless since Halloween (32 games), but it is his inexplicable talents on the penalty kill that keep him a valuable commodity in Detroit and a must have on the playoff lineup. Who knows where he will be next season, but I know where I want to see him in late April.

And Then There Were 2

So that rounds out 22 of the 23 available slots, and it comes down to a pair of players with diverse skill sets: Brad May and Ville Leino. If this writer were Mike Babcock it would not even be a question worth pondering. But I am not Babs, I am a writer, and I like to ponder...so here we go!

May Day-The off season signing of Brad May was reminiscent of when they brought in Dallas Drake for the 2007-08 season and subsequent championship. The Wings needed a peg to fill a tough hole. Voila. Brad May. At age 38, the man can still hang with the kids, and knock 'em out too. Now, fighting is a relatively unnecessary enterprise in the playoffs, but May also brings along Stanley Cup experience. He raised the cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks and has played in 88 NHL playoff games with five different teams. Those kind of credentials are vital for a team that will likely be a statistical underdog without home-ice advantage in every round of the playoffs.

Lackluster Leino-What a disappointment this guy has been this season. With all the high hopes and anticipation Leino could have doubled his goals (4) and points (7) at this point in the season and I would still say he was underachieving. He was the guy that had us all saying, "See yah, Hudler! Don't forget to bring a sweater! I hear it gets cold in Russia!" Is there anyone out there that actually thought, before the season started, that Helm (8), Draper (6), Patrick Eaves (6), and Drew Miller (5) would have more goals than Leino? Shut up, you're lying. He had more goals (5) in 27 less games last season, and he has been a healthy scratch often due to a lack of hustle and strength on the puck. Players need to elevate their games in the playoffs. If Leino elevated his level of play right now, he might be a third-liner in Grand Rapids. Babcock has shown patience with him, citing Eaves as a similar wait and see situation/success story.

“Patrick Eaves is an example of a guy we were very patient with and he rewarded us for our patience,’’ Babcock said. “We’ve done that with a number of guys in my time here. We’re just going to keep being patient."

Fine, but for how long? Do any of the other guys who are hustling to loose pucks and grinding in the corners deserve to lose ice time to him? If, and that is a big IF, Leino can get his game together, he would be a valuable scoring option on a lower line, but as I see him right now, he would only be a liability and a waste of a roster spot in the playoffs.

Then again, the Wings need to secure that playoff spot before any of this becomes relevant anyway!

Peace.