hossa has to be thinking “this is the team that shut us down last year?”

Knowing Hossa, he’s probably thinking more along the lines along the lines of what he can do to improve the situation.  Last I checked, he’s a positive force in the locker room and on the ice.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/30/08 at 11:43 PM ET

Where’s the extra 2 on Murray? The announcers just said he clotheslined a Red Wing. Last time I checked, that’s roughing.

Not quite a clothesline but he definitely jumped in.  I’d be shocked they didn’t call it but I’ve been watching this road trip.

Posted by DetroitHockey on 10/30/08 at 11:43 PM ET

SJ announcers say that McLellan is urging his team to keep the pressure up, close out the Wings…

THAT’S OUR GAME!!!

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/30/08 at 11:45 PM ET

If Hossa could stay positive after 2.5 years with the Thrashers, I don’t think this will faze him.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 10/30/08 at 11:46 PM ET

If Hossa could stay positive after 2.5 years with the Thrashers, I don’t think this will faze him.

i would think all that was keeping him positive was the thought of sweet, sweet escape.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 10/30/08 at 11:48 PM ET

Sure, and the thing that’s driving him now it the thought of the Cup.  I guess we’ll see what motivates him now.

Pens lost 4-1.  Huh.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/30/08 at 11:51 PM ET

he’s playing motivated, thats for sure. he looks like he wants it bad.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 10/30/08 at 11:53 PM ET

I guess we can find some solace in not losing 4-1 to the Coyotes?

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 10/30/08 at 11:53 PM ET

Yeah, but a large part of the rest of the team is looking, well…‘hungover.’  May be a bit harsh given the recent schedule, but still…

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/30/08 at 11:54 PM ET

You said it, Sadie, though the Yotes look much improved this year.

Are we three the last left in the liveblog?

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/30/08 at 11:55 PM ET

Mac wanting to start something??

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 10/30/08 at 11:55 PM ET

ya maybe we’re being a little harsh. playing as poorly as they have and still being 7-2-2, could be way worse. look at the stars and pens.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 10/30/08 at 11:57 PM ET

i tell you though, the OT losses are rough, i feel like this team should outplay everybody at 4-4.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 10/30/08 at 11:58 PM ET

SJ announcers say that McLellan is urging his team to keep the pressure up, close out the Wings…

THAT’S OUR GAME!!!

That WAS our game when McLellan was here,
This year it is more like MO said
“leaking goals & giving up leads”

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/30/08 at 11:59 PM ET

I haven’t watched the Coyotes this year; can’t see much improvement in their record.  My boyfriend will be glad to hear they’re looking better.  He says he can’t take seeing Gretzky on the verge of tears in interviews anymore.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 10/30/08 at 11:59 PM ET

Raffi!  DIGNITY!!!

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 10/31/08 at 12:02 AM ET

Gramps, I’d not convinced McLellan was the talent in the room, and that the staff is all a bunch of nincompoops without him.  I was just saying that he’s brought some of our game to the Sharks.

Rafalski with the consolation.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/31/08 at 12:02 AM ET

alright, looks a little more respectable now. night all.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 10/31/08 at 12:02 AM ET

Well, that was gorgeous.  Makes me feel a bit better about staying up for this.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 10/31/08 at 12:02 AM ET

Where was that for the other 59 minutes boys.

Babcock, please whip their asses in practice for the next ever.

Posted by Alex from Innisfail, Alberta on 10/31/08 at 12:03 AM ET

DIGNITY

maybe the perfect word to go with the avatar

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 10/31/08 at 12:03 AM ET

Vancouver sunday, then five relaxing days off.  Night all.

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 10/31/08 at 12:03 AM ET

Sadie, is their record not that much better?  I thought it was.  The few moments I’ve seen on On The Fly: Final of their play have looked a lot sharper & more skilled than last season.  It really should be better—they’ve got far better talent this year.

Right, I’m going to grab half an hour of shut-eye.  Night all.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/31/08 at 12:05 AM ET

Well, they brought it up to 4-4-0 tonight.  But now that I take a closer look, they are beating some respectable teams—the Pens, the Caps, the Ducks (ok, not saying the Ducks are respectable, but you get what I’m saying)—so they’re doing something right.

Guess I’ll get back to work.  Night.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 10/31/08 at 12:12 AM ET

Gramps, I’d not convinced McLellan was the talent in the room, and that the staff is all a bunch of nincompoops without him.  I was just saying that he’s brought some of our game to the Sharks.

i’m not saying that either, just pointing out he was the only major change, and their not playing like last year.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/31/08 at 12:22 AM ET

San Jose was very impressive. can they play like that all season and get themselves into position to be a force throughout the playoffs? that will be the next step and if they take it, they will be very tough to beat. I’m not giving the wings much slack about how many games in how many nights.  They are one of, if not the best conditioned teams in the sport.  I think we miss some players, I wish we could find a way to get Filppula on the second line because he has clearly been a force in the last three games, moving his legs, skating the most. we miss Cheli for more then one reason. Plus our fourth line is a waste.  time will solve some of these problems.  No need to panic but we do have to get back to playing our kind of hockey. teams will also look at this game as some sort of blueprint on how to defend against us. Not too many teams in the NHL can pull it off though, at least as well as the sharks did.

Hats off to the Sharks, they earned it tonight, they were on a mission.

Night, night!

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 10/31/08 at 12:26 AM ET

Just got home from the game. What a load of….... The forecheck was pathetic by the Wings. You could really see that they played last night and then traveled up the 101. No one seemed on the same page for the Wings until the final minute.

As far as McLellan goes… well I’m tired of pointing out that there have been other changes and other factors besides just the PP coach leaving.

Granted these are not the Red Wings we remember from last year, but we gave up leads and goals during bad stretches last year (February and 34.7 come to mind) and McLellan was still there.

We are just getting out worked right now. The Wings did not press along the boards tonight and the Sharks did. They have always been a good regular season team (the sharks) and have spanked the Wings at the Tank (every year it seems), so I still see no reason to worry.

Oh by the way the officiating was lax at best from were I sat.

Posted by SharkBaiter from at play in the Labs of our Lord on 10/31/08 at 02:21 AM ET

From the write up on the game:

A couple of things to remember, however. It’s October. The Red Wings were playing the second night of back-to-backs and for the fifth time in seven nights.

Honestly, will anyone recall what happened on this night in March, April or May?

Holland went on record before the season started predicting 70 of the Red Wings’ 82 games would have the feel of a playoff game. He said that all but 12 would be the kind of games that could go either way.

Coming into Thursday night Detroit was 10-for-10 in terms of playing the kind of game that fit into Holland’s 70-game category. Eight of the 10 were one-goal decisions, and the other two were by two goals only because they included empty-net scores.

The Detroit Red Wings had this one coming. Coach Mike Babcock knew it. So did general manager Kenny Holland. Deep down, the players knew it, too.

“I guarantee you every team we’ve played was their biggest game of the year,” Babcock said. “That means mentally you’ve got to be on all of the time. We haven’t been. It is impossible. But in saying that, we’ve done a pretty good job.”

Posted by SharkBaiter from at play in the Labs of our Lord on 10/31/08 at 02:30 AM ET

just finished watching the whole thing, and while I didn’t want to be a downer earlier and mention it, I knew this would happen.  Our team didn’t have their legs tonight or their rest and it showed.

Let the Sharks think they can roll over us again, they are an excellent team and we’ll see how they like matching up with us next game when, as pointed out already, they have tired legs and we are fresh.

Sammy was invisible.  As predicted by a few of us, Cleary and Filppula looked better on the 2nd line together and Zatta was more effective.  Cleary and Filppula are really working well together.  I can see them on the third line together with Leino/Helm when the cap space allows them to be called up.  We will have three very deadly lines, and a good energy line.  Oh Boy.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/31/08 at 02:46 AM ET

6 games in 8 nights, then 6 days off, which will be another reason to make excuses “they’re stale, they gotta get their legs back after the layoff, etc..”.  I thought they had rubber legs after the first 2 minutes last night.  San Jose was quick to the puck but that was not a reasonable comparison.

It will be interesting to see if the Wings can get their game back before Dec 18 when the Sharks come into JLA for their 3rd game in 4 nights and 2d of back to back.  If they look fresher and faster on that night too then we have major problems and need to expedite the Abbadabba and Helm move for Maltby and McCarty right away.

What evil monkey concocts the NHL schedule?

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 10/31/08 at 08:16 AM ET

This was a “league” or “trap” game, as people like to call it.

What makes it difficult isn’t the game itself, but they lost a game the night before that they should’ve won (up 3-1 with 25 minutes to go), especially knowing they were going into a “trap” game and were likely to have a hell of a time being competitive.

I always said give it till November. In my mind, if things are not improved over the next 10, then we have some concerns.

Though Nick needs to lose the visor, ASAP.

Posted by Nathan on 10/31/08 at 08:58 AM ET

I hope Cheli’s ready soon. Force Tick Tock’s hand to make a move to clear some cap space and sort out the roster for good. An injection of a GR flavor please, Helm, Abbadabadooo, Leno.. pick one. Can’t hurt over the 4 liners who slog out most of the game watching anyway. Yeah yeah, the kids need the playing time on GR… BAH. We need not over-ripen everyone for years.
Now, if Malts can be sat due to non performance and not get the hint. Sit him another couple, hell park Sammy’s ass for that matter .. but that damned man crush. Is Sammy married? Maybe he caught Uncle Mike in bed with the wife and uses that to bribe? There’s got to be a reason, how the EFFFFF can anyone be that partial to that useless bag is beyond me.
Something has to give us another line at least, the Grind line need not be iced again this season. They’re invisible. Period. Thanks for the memories, truly. But here n now is kind of important.
Z’s lost no matter whom we put on his Wings. Franzen is missed “that way” but there’s another hole on that line to be plugged & will The Mule be off when he returns (like he was last year til @ what March?).
Visor or not, the man with the C on his chest needs to shut the door to the room and speak to the lads a little bit. No need to rip asses completely, but rally the troops a bit.
And after the game against VAN, me thinks Uncle Mike’s got plans to work on a few things on our “layoff”.
Maybe I’m just pissy about being up late all week.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/31/08 at 10:23 AM ET

LOL, yeah MO, you are a little pissy, but I’m with you… hate so many late games in such a short period of time. Imagine how the players feel?

While I don’t have any concerns about Z’s performance, I agree completely with the comments you make about the fourth line. In a perfect world, Mac would be the 13th forward, Maltby would be waived and/or sent down, and Abbadabbadoo and Helm would play on Draper’s wings. All that speed on one line? Another line with two centers capable of taking draws? Huge.

And that, my friends, is my biggest concern. The d-zone coverage has been bad. But all teams go through periods of lazy play. That’s normal. What concerns me is how poor the Wings have been on face offs compared to past seasons.

Posted by Nathan on 10/31/08 at 12:42 PM ET

Oh by the way.. It was my sons first Wings game last night.

He only cried after the third goal by the Sharks…..but didn’t we all?

Posted by SharkBaiter from at play in the Labs of our Lord on 10/31/08 at 01:01 PM ET

I wasn’t expecting a good game from the Wings last night but not that bad.  YIKES.  i got a text from my buddy saying “The Wings look like butt.”  Yup.  I really am not sure what is up with the D.  They are getting schooled and it isn’t pretty.

Conklin started off strong and I don’t blame all those goals on him, he was left out to dry too many times.

It is only October.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 10/31/08 at 01:31 PM ET

Nathan,
I’m not calling out Z by any means, but he needs a wing man per say is all. 2 would be better and he’ll have the Mule back soon nuff.
Speaking of the Mule… he going on LTIR or not? Anyone know anything?

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/31/08 at 03:07 PM ET

But all teams go through periods of lazy play.

I don;t see that as the Wings problem.  If anything they are guilty of overbackchecking.

By that I mean:
The backcheckers are going after the puck carrier when the D clearly has them covered, instead
of covering the other forwards they will be passing to.  There have been times when I see 2 backcheckers going after the puck carrier when the D has them covered.  From there it breaks down, and resembles a game of shinny.  They were overbackchecking last year when 3 of our top D were out.  Not only did it confuse our defense, but brought our breakouts to a halt.

Every team we have played this year, is playing us for those cross ice passes and intercepting them.
It may be time to come up with a plan B.

As much as I admire veterans, one thing has never changed:
Your team is only as good as its 4th line, and it may be time for some
youthful enthusiasm and speed.

As far as McLellan only being in charge of the PP?

“I know Todd was a head coach for a long time, a thinker, liked hockey, had coached in Jacques Lemaire’s organization in that system, so he had a lot of good things to talk about, whether that be on the penalty kill or power play or team defense,” Babcock said.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 10/31/08 at 03:47 PM ET

We’re past the ten game mark. It’s safe to start worrying and talking about fixing problems, right?

*Hops on Stress Train*

Posted by Tyler from Arizona on 10/31/08 at 04:26 PM ET

Just up for work again, and Gramps, what you just said about ‘over-backchecking?’

Yeah, I’m thinking HAMMER-NAIL-BAM.  That may be one of the most intelligent comments anyone has ever said here (again, what are you doing here with us on A2Y?).  Not to sound like a fanboy, but when I read that I could literally feel the pieces falling into place in my head.  That is exactly what is wrong with this team.  Everybody is working too hard, and instead of sticking to their assigned roles and doing those to the best of their ability, they’re trying to do everything and getting nothing done as a result.

You may have an unnatural fondness for Lilja and a strange taste in coaches, but man, you just jumped in my estimation by about two hundred points.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/31/08 at 07:18 PM ET

Everybody is working too hard, and instead of sticking to their assigned roles and doing those to the best of their ability, they’re trying to do everything and getting nothing done as a result.

well put.  the Wings have always been about everyone playing their role and trusting their teammates to do theirs…but it seems like everyone is trying to cover the puck carrier in our own zone and then the other team’s D is wide open not even at the blue line but half way to the hash marks.  how many goals have been scored lately where someone from behind the net centered out to someone near the hash marks?  quite a few as I remember, and more chances like that too.  hopefully Babbles sees what we see and will correct.

although 7-2-2 isn’t a bad start at all, in fact most teams’ fans would absolutely LOVE to start out that way…and here we are worrying.  I guess that’s what happens when you’re used to, um how many is it now 100-point seasons in a row?  well, 13.4% of the way into the season, we’re 16% of the way to 100 points…so isn’t all well?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 10/31/08 at 07:54 PM ET

playing us for those cross ice passes and intercepting them.
It may be time to come up with a plan B.

East to west is pretty. North to south controls territory so long as the outlet passes are good and you gain the zone.
The cohesive D and system seems to be a consistent theme to date. And I’ve beaten the 4th line drum as well HTT.
Paul,
Good points. But we’re critical cause we’re capable of another gear or 2. Life isn’t that bad, but not that “good” either. Expectations remain high. Thats good.
I heard a caller on the AM sports radio here in KC calling out the Chiefs for mailing it in due to rebuilding and saying basically “good franchises nevew truly rebuild, they build from within and maintain some core players”. Granted it’s a Chiefs fan and all.. .but time to tool up the 4th line and keep the ball going into the future as opposed to saluting the past.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/31/08 at 08:14 PM ET

The cohesive D and system seems to be a consistent theme to date

Supposed to be a “lack of cohesive D”..... damn beer

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/31/08 at 08:17 PM ET

Happy Halloween, bitches.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 10/31/08 at 08:51 PM ET

Gabe…. Epic. Brilliant. All that shit.
Cheers.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/31/08 at 08:58 PM ET

Wow Gabe!  Happy Halloween to you too, albeit a bit late!

Where’d you round up that gear?

Posted by lilja4ever on 11/01/08 at 04:51 AM ET

Nice setup Gabe, but is that bad juju? Ya know, dead wings?

Anyway, since we have taken to making good intelligent points about backchecking, 4th lines, youth movements, etc., I’ll just take this moment to note that Andrew is now HTT’s bitch.

Do with your fan boy as you please.

How many wins in November?

Posted by Osrt on 11/01/08 at 10:04 AM ET

Nice setup Gabe, but is that bad juju? Ya know, dead wings?

Thought about that.  Also figured some chucklehead would make a Chelios comment.  But in the end, I decided it’s a positive piece about a goalie that died from boredom.  I call it “Lilja Gets Traded”.

Where’d you round up that gear?

I overcompensate for living in hockey dead zone…you should see my office. And yes, my wife is a very understanding and patient woman.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 11/01/08 at 10:26 AM ET

Very nice Halloween (or is it there all the time?) get up Gabe, you evil genius.

I just think that we need to start integrating jump and youth into the 4th line and creating the heirs to Zetterberg and Datsuk, as Zetterberg and Datsyuk were integrated in 2002 and 2003.  If the main contribution of Malts and DMac is supposed to be edgy energy, then that’s not happening.  Draper can still skate and at the end of the day (season, really) will still be one of the premier defensive zone face off specialists in the league, but not many more seasons of that either after this one.

I feel sometimes that Z should be thrown a bone and be allowed to play with Hossa and Dats for some shifts, guess Uncle MIke figured that of the 3 Z could best create magic on his own on another line.

Oh yeah, before I forget, Jenifer and Baroque are still tied up.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/01/08 at 10:41 AM ET

you should see my office.

The finished living space in the gararge at home is the Man Cave for me Gabe. All Redwingian from Stevie Y retirement night stuff to 97 Cup stuff and shelves of pucks, cards. mugs…. best of all the man cave has a bathroom… now I just need to build a bar.
Ya’all remember the babe alert behind the Wings bench for the SJS game & I said my sis was at the game? Have Chief post the pic I e-mailed him and tell me if the pics are from the babe alert seat…. just sayin’ she sent me a few pics and she sat RIGHT behind Uncle Mike and Paul. I’d post the pics but not smart enough…. funny old world sometimes.

feel sometimes that Z should be thrown a bone and be allowed to play with Hossa and Dats for some shifts, guess Uncle MIke figured that of the 3 Z could best create magic on his own on another line.

Hank has mad skills and is a puck hound, but he needs some help. Hard to make magic with William Tell. Give him Fil for a few games at least they can figure out who wants to play up the middle and go from there.
Any new on the Mule yet? LTIR? Cheli about ready? Something’s gotta give with the cap to activate Cheli. Do we need to make room to have Cheil do a “conditioning stint” in GR?

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/01/08 at 11:11 AM ET

Oh yeah, before I forget, Jenifer and Baroque are still tied up.

It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago...nope, still not over it. on 11/01/08 at 12:11 PM ET