We put WIlliams on the PK and the suicide watch starts.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/30/09 at 11:51 AM ET

Yeah, I didn’t even think about faceoffs.  Good catch, Pilgrim.  I know Helm can take faceoffs, so that takes care of one line.  I’d go with this:

Helm-May/Maltby
Draper-Eaves/Maltby

These two pairings make sure we don’t have two slow forwards on the PK together.  May and Maltby together would probably be worst case.

I know it’s huge to win PK faceoffs in your own zone, but I’d just as soon not ever have Datsyuk or Zetterberg out to take one if it means they’re going to be wasting a minute or more of ice time out there if they lose it.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/30/09 at 12:16 PM ET

Has May played the PK for any team before? Why would he be a better choice than, say, Cleary?

Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 10/30/09 at 12:26 PM ET

Mostly because I think we need Cleary to take on a larger offensive role and that’s hard to do with more minutes on the PK.  He probably would be better at killing penalties than May would.  Honestly, I’d take Cleary on the PK if Uncle Mike said so, as long as Datsyuk and Zetterberg stop playing it. 

The bottom line is that I look at our defensive woes as being a symptom of an offensive problem.  You can’t help much on the PK really, if you’re down a man then you just play the best you can and hope not to get scored on.  When you’re five-on-five playing that way, then you’re fuched.  I do want backchecking and defensive responsibility when we’re at even strength, but I think always having the puck in the offensive zone is the best form of defense any team can play.  I don’t want to see the Wings become a true trap team.  I grew up in the left-wing lock era which was really just a modified trap, but it was one that didn’t completely ignore forechecking and waste the offensive talent that we still have on this roster, despite the injuries and losses. 

Also, the PK is much less of a problem when you take fewer penalties, which is something that tends to happen when you’re applying offensive pressure.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/30/09 at 12:37 PM ET

Kate, Happy Devil’s Night, er , Birthday.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from 12th place through 13% of the season on 10/30/09 at 12:38 PM ET

Thank you Captain. Ah, Devil’s Night. It is appropriate.

I went back to Detroit and my city was gone, there was no train station.There was no downtown.

There’s nothing left to burn. Bitches.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 10/30/09 at 12:42 PM ET

DET 07-08 McClellan’s last season
G/G:  3.07 (3),  GA/G 2.18 (1),  5-5 F/A 1.41 (1),  PP 20.7 (3),  PK 84.0%  (8)
+.89

08-09 McCrimmons 1st w/Det
G/G:  3.52 (1),  GA/G 2.93 (20),  5-5 F/A 1.20 (4),  PP 25.5 (1),  PK 78.3%  (25)
+.59

09-10
G/G:  3.18 (14),  GA/G 3,54 (27),  5-5 F/A 0.80 (22),  PP 24.0 (9),  PK 71.4%  (27)
-.36

We all knew we would have scoring issues.  But our D and PK has gone from top ten straight to the basement. 
Look at the scoring differential, and the 5-5 F/A.

If we didn’t have a decent PP this season, well it would be worse than the gawd-awful it already is.

This has got to stop.

FIRE McCrimmon - NOW

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 10/30/09 at 12:53 PM ET

Oh, and Jobu, FUCH you too—I’d fire him as well, but it isn’t my call.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 10/30/09 at 12:56 PM ET

DET 07-08 McClellan’s last season ...

08-09 McCrimmons 1st w/Det ...

We all knew we would have scoring issues.  But our D and PK has gone from top ten straight to the basement. 
Look at the scoring differential, and the 5-5 F/A.
If we didn’t have a decent PP this season, well it would be worse than the gawd-awful it already is.

This has got to stop.
FIRE McCrimmon - NOW

Anybody have the personal e-mail addresses of Ilitch, Devellano and Holland. Jeff’s excellent case for firing McCrimmon needs to be seen by those that have the power to do something about it.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 01:09 PM ET

I will be so happy when this God-foresaken month is over. It looks like some one in the Red Wings marketing department feels the same way. I just grabbed this screen shot—-Thankful for November.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 01:20 PM ET

Anyone see the Pen(i)sblog today? Saw the link on the front page, they made their own commercial about how awesome it is to be a Pen(i)s fan today…

good lord

Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 10/30/09 at 01:22 PM ET

I will be so happy when this God-foresaken month is over.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from 12th place through 13% of the season on 10/30/09 at 02:20 PM ET

Be careful of what you wish for…...
If you tink the Edmund Fitzgerald had a bad November, look closely at the schedule.

three (3) B2B, 11-12, 20-21, 27-28.
3 games in 4 nights twice & one day off between = ending Nov, with 7 games in 10 days,

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/30/09 at 01:35 PM ET

WTF
My brother called after the 2nd, then a neighbor came by and I looked up and the game was in OT.  I don;t have a clue.  I will watch the 3rd tomorrow on the archives.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from 11 pts in 11 games…1/8 of season gone on 10/30/09 at 12:18 AM ET

No need to go back and watch it, the LB comments covered it well.

Just ordered materials to build a car with padded walls for the Hasek.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/30/09 at 01:45 PM ET

Be careful of what you wish for…...
If you tink the Edmund Fitzgerald had a bad November, look closely at the schedule.

14 games in 30 nights. Ugh.

Surely, reinforcements will be called up from GR. I just hope one of the call ups is assistant coach Jim Paek to replace McCrimmon.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 01:51 PM ET

I will be so happy when this God-foresaken month is over.

I can’t wait until February, the last couple have been fab-u-lose.

Proving once again that my role in this organization is administrative at best.

REMF.

And I like the talk of taking the Twins off the PK in favour of Helm and Draper.  I endorse these brilliant ideas.  Like the sentiment to fire McCrimmon.  But I’d set fire to McCrimmon in front of the team, to remind them failing has consequences.  Let that mofo burn.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 01:57 PM ET

Just ordered materials to build a car with padded walls for the Hasek.

I got your prototype right here:

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 02:03 PM ET

McCrimmon came from Atlanta

Currently
ATL…9 pts in 9 games..GD -3….Team +/-..+3, 11th in EC ..Team sv% .912
DET…11 pts in 11 games..GD -6…Team +/-..-22, 12th in WC .. Team sv% .881

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/30/09 at 02:08 PM ET

I got your prototype right here

And I see you’ve managed to personalize your prototype with stains of various bodily fluids.  Nice.

They can also be used as Rorschach inkblots.

I see hope and a solid goaltending in one of the stains.  Does that make me certifiably insane?

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 02:08 PM ET

goaltending=goaltender

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 02:10 PM ET

Leave Dats and Zetterman on the PK, it would be worse having them getting stiff on the bench for sometimes 6 minutes straight.

Besides, nothing screws up a PP better than their offensive threat.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/30/09 at 02:13 PM ET

If the Twins play 3 or 4 PK shifts a night, that is 4 or 5 regular 5-on-5 shifts (less tiring).  As our scoring depth is hurting now, double shift the Circus a few times in a period.  You’re almost guaranteed a scoring chance or two per shift.  It works for defensively thin teams like the Pens.

Helm scored SH last night, IIRC.  So he can be a scoring threat on the PK as well.  And Draper is Mr. Faceoff, so is good on the PK.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 02:22 PM ET

I had to look up what “IIRC” was.  I’m going to assume you meant “If I remember correctly” and not “Interactive Illinois Report Card”.

What is this PK you all speak of?  Haven’t heard of it.

Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 10/30/09 at 02:35 PM ET

I had to look up what “IIRC” was.  I’m going to assume you meant “If I remember correctly” and not “Interactive Illinois Report Card”.

I thought it meant “I is really cool.”

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 02:46 PM ET

Hey Tyler, haver seen the PK myself these days.  Quite elusive.  When I find one I’m going to stick my thumb right up its bum.

I am quite surprised you didn’t know the Cherry parody was a gag until late into the clip.  Nice find though, very funny.

I’ve been following Down Goes Brown these days.  That man is angst-ridden, articulate, and damn funny.  He harnesses his fury into wicked comedy.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 02:50 PM ET

haver=haven’t

screw the iphone’s autocorrect.  it can go to he’ll.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 02:51 PM ET

I am quite surprised you didn’t know the Cherry parody was a gag until late into the clip.  Nice find though, very funny.

Yeah when it started bordering on that toilet humor that my mother scolds me about, I looked about 2 inches to the right of the screen to see the info on the video.

Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 10/30/09 at 02:59 PM ET

It was a good delivery, but a little over the top, which is what gave it away for me a sentence or so in. 

I am also an audio guy who has a strong broadcast background so I hear subtle inflections and accents in peoples voices.  Some of those were a bit off.

Once I get to know somebody, if they have little speech patterns I get used to, I can usually do really accurate impersonations of them.  It happens subconsciously when I tell stories and am relating with someone had said in conversation,  I mimic speech patterns.

I do it with ethnic accents as well, and occasionally I have to catch myself.  I’m not trying to be racist, but when recounting something a friend with an accent says, I tend to mimic their accent/inflections.  And people say I don’t have an indoor voice.  Oops.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 03:11 PM ET

And speaking of Down Goes Brown, I check in there today, to see a great post from Tuesday.  Epic even.

the definitive guide to the greatest thing on the internet… analyzed at a Zapruder level of detail”. 

The soundtrack… is generally considered the second greatest heavy metal song of all time, trailing only “everything ever recorded by Guns N’ Roses”, which was tied for first.

As one of the great hockey blogs on the Gore, along with A2Y and blogs of the 19, DGB does not fail to deliver.  I really should be working now, but I can’t help but get off on gems like these:

0:29 - Normally, the person carrying the puck is on the receiving end of the hit. Not Wendel, as this unfortunate Wings defenceman (Doug Halward?) found out…

0:31 - A happy Harold Ballard high fives a fan. Seconds later, the fan’s hand turned into a cluster of vampire bats and flew away…

0:45 - Apparently bored with punching people in the face, Clark decides to turn Brad McCrimmon’s kidneys into paste…

Inadvertently DGB has given us the solution to our coaching problems… Wendel Clark needs to come in and pummel the crap out of Brad McCrimmon.  And if that doesn’t work, set McCrimmon on fire.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 03:23 PM ET

If anybody needs a parking space there is plenty of room in Jimmy Howard’s 5-hole. GOD DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know whats really sad is that we would be right at the top of this division if not for the OTLs!!!!

Posted by pgoody on 10/30/09 at 03:29 PM ET

You know whats really sad is that we would be right at the top of this division if not for the OTLs!!!!

Looking at it from the glass even more empty angle, if not for that extra point, we would be among the worst in the entire league.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 03:34 PM ET

Happy birthday Kate.

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 10/30/09 at 03:43 PM ET

I’m not trying to be racist,

Yeah, me ,too….but some of the crap those white guys on the Wings were pulling in the first period last night was just too much. I don’t know how much longer I can hold back.

Posted by dougie on 10/30/09 at 03:48 PM ET

Looking at it from the glass even more empty angle, if not for that extra point, we would be among the worst in the entire league.

We currently stand 22 out of 30 teams; we are among the worst in the league.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 03:56 PM ET

Happy birthday Kate.

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 10/30/09 at 04:43 PM ET

Thank you Malibu. I just talked to my son in Phoenix. Mid 60’s. Not too hot today. He lives up by the Carefree Highway and I-17.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 10/30/09 at 03:58 PM ET

We currently stand 22 out of 30 teams; we are among the worst in the league.

Yup.  Given injuries, bad luck, droughts we’re looking at a 6th place berth in the postseason.  I cannot give up yet, we will make the postseason.

Just imagine the trolls circling if we don’t make the post-season.  So many teams and fans have been waiting for us to miss the playoffs.  And they’ll let us know about it.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 04:24 PM ET

Leave Dats and Zetterman on the PK, it would be worse having them getting stiff on the bench for sometimes 6 minutes straight.

Besides, nothing screws up a PP better than their offensive threat.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from 11 pts in 11 games…1/8 of season gone on 10/30/09 at 03:13 PM ET

This one got me thinking, so I had to look up the stats.  Not surprisingly, Pavel Selke has only been on the ice for 1 of the power play goals the Wings have given up (8.3%).  Ready for the player culprits of our awful PK?

Brad Stuart: On ice for 9 of 12 PP goals against (75%)
Jonathan Ericsson: On ice for 7 PP goals against (58.3%)
Valtteri Filppula: On ice for 7 PP goals against (58.3%)
Nik Kronwall & Kris Draper: 5 each (41.7%)
Henrik Zetterberg: 4 PP goals against (33.3%)
Lidstrom & Cleary: 3 each (25%)
Eaves & Leino: 1 each

I didn’t see Maltby’s name up in the stats at all and I know for sure he’s been killing some penalties.  Shit, can we afford to take Datsyuk off the PK?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/30/09 at 04:30 PM ET

Yup.  Given injuries, bad luck, droughts we’re looking at a 6th place berth in the postseason.  I cannot give up yet, we will make the postseason.
Just imagine the trolls circling if we don’t make the post-season.  So many teams and fans have been waiting for us to miss the playoffs.  And they’ll let us know about it.

four teams to hurdle just to get to no. 8. Hopefully, in November we’ll see an improvement.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 04:32 PM ET

Just imagine the trolls circling if we don’t make the post-season.  So many teams and fans have been waiting for us to miss the playoffs.  And they’ll let us know about it.

EFF them, we’re our own worst critics. The rest can piss off and take a look at the last 18 or so years of their teams play.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/30/09 at 04:37 PM ET

I’d be most pissed if we missed the playoffs after 18 straight years just because of the significance of the number 19.  What a kick in the balls that would be.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/30/09 at 04:39 PM ET

BTW, Stuart spends nearly a full minute more on the PK per game than anybody else with an average TOI shorthanded per game of 3:28.  Ericsson is next at 2:36 and Lidstrom has 2:33.

Datsyuk is at 1:05

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/30/09 at 04:48 PM ET

From Helene St. James:

As expected, Mike Babcock split up Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk as the Red Wings prepare for life without Valtteri Filppula.

Filppula is out 6-8 weeks with a broken bone in his right wrist he suffered during Thursday’s 6-5 loss at Edmonton. Even with an increased need for skilled forwards who can contribute offensively, Babcock has decided to send a message to Ville Leino and scratch him for tomorrow’s game against Calgary.

“Ville is having a day to watch,” Babcock said. “He hasn’t played hard enough here so he’s going to watch and the other guys are going to play.”

The lines in Friday’s practice were:

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Cleary-Zetterberg-Williams
Draper-Helm-Eaves
May-Abdelkader-Maltby

Leino has two goals and three points in 11 games.

“I haven’t really been able to play my own game and do the things I want and I guess it’s time to do something,” Leino said. “I haven’t been playing my own game and I just want to get back to that. Maybe sometimes I play too simple, sometimes I try to do too much. I’m not scoring right now, so I just have to try to find my own game again.”

—————

I love and adore that third line, I hope they make me get all tingly tomorrow night while I’m at the game. If they lose, I will be taking the gamewrecker title off your hands Chief, but hopefully I don’t have to.

Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 10/30/09 at 04:55 PM ET

Somebody mentioned it earlier; I’m too lazy to look it up. I’d rather have Chelios than Lebda right now.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 10/30/09 at 04:56 PM ET

Just imagine the trolls circling if we don’t make the post-season. 

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/30/09 at 05:24 PM ET

Shut. Whore. Mouth.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 10/30/09 at 05:03 PM ET

Lieno riding some pine eh? Good. The Draper-Helm-Eaves line should be good. That 4th line will be…interesting to say the least…just like this whole season.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 10/30/09 at 05:08 PM ET

And before I forget again, happy (belated) birthday to Kate and Guilherme! It’s too bad the Wings couldn’t give you two a nice birthday present.

Now, to totally rip off Kate…

Let’s Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 10/30/09 at 05:09 PM ET

Ok, I couldn’t resist.  Sorry Okie, I’ll give you back your job soon.  More fun with PK stats.  Took the number of goals allowed and the time short handed and figured out how long a guy is on the ice short-handed between each goal.

I’ll start by saying that Maltby and Helm have relatively decent amounts of time spent on the PK without having a single goal against so far.

The best PKers:

Datsyuk: nearly 10 minutes between goals (9:48) - only been out for 1 goal against
Lidstrom: Just below that (9:24)
Eaves: 7:47 - only 1 goal against
Cleary : 6:24
Stuart, Ericsson, Kronwall, Draper, Zetterberg: All between 4 and 4 1/2 minutes

Worst: Leino with an impressive PP goal against every 11 seconds (11 seconds total PK time, 1 GA)

I think we can afford to take Datsyuk and Zetterberg off our PK to give them more offensive time.  Maltby, Helm, Eaves, and Cleary all seem capable.

Yeah, I know, it’s only an 11-game sample.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/30/09 at 05:11 PM ET

i said it… although with slight shame. i mean it. not only would he be just as effective, but would be a HUGE influence on Big rig. i mean, is lebda supposed to be mentoring Ericsson? talk about a career altering error…

and leino deserves to be scratched IMO. in that same post i commented about the symbolism of him ringing the puck off the post on a WIDE open net. he, of all people, is supposed to bury that. that is quite literally his role on the team. hudler and sammi would have scored there. draper, may, maltby… maybe not. leino HAS to put those in.

not that he should be scratched because of one misplaced shot, but it really was symbolic of his ineffectiveness.

you have to give it to babs, he sure knows how to use the healthy scratch effectively. it seems every time he “gives someone a day to watch”, they come back with a torrent of effort. somehow, it doesn’t seem like it works that way on most teams, but babs really knows how to pick his spots. in fact, i think picking spots is generally his strong suit. like knowing the team needed ozzie gone after 2 the other night, but also needed jimmy to stay in after 4 last night. he seems to always take savvy timeouts at the right time.

you know, i just realized that he’s a real good coach. maybe i should get my ‘dave lewis 4 life’ tattoo covered up finally.

Posted by perfection from LaLaLand on 10/30/09 at 05:11 PM ET

Leino has two goals and three points in 11 games.

“I haven’t really been able to play my own game and do the things I want and I guess it’s time to do something,” Leino said. “I haven’t been playing my own game and I just want to get back to that. Maybe sometimes I play too simple, sometimes I try to do too much. I’m not scoring right now, so I just have to try to find my own game again.”

“Ville is having a day to watch,” Babcock said. “He hasn’t played hard enough here so he’s going to watch and the other guys are going to play.”

I agree. To many I’s for me. He needs to start thinking Team. Bitches.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 10/30/09 at 05:11 PM ET

oh… a bunch of other posts now in between. i meant i said that i’d rather have chelli than lebda

Posted by perfection from LaLaLand on 10/30/09 at 05:12 PM ET

oh, and did everyone notice babs said eaves is getting power play time?! i’m loving it - as i wrote last night, he has “red wings career rejuvenation written all over him”. i’ll make a low wage bet right now that eaves is on our team for the next 5 years or more.

Posted by perfection from LaLaLand on 10/30/09 at 05:14 PM ET

“red wings career rejuvenation written all over him”.

I get the same vibe. A work in progress. A guy like Eaves is smart enough to know how lucky he is to be a Red Wing. I believe he will make the most of this opportunity.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 10/30/09 at 05:20 PM ET