This one stings chief.  Watching that game last night, I felt like it was a playoff game, and it hurt like a playoff loss.

Posted by Animal Drew from The Mitten on 11/12/08 at 09:21 AM ET

I’m pretty ok with what happened last night.  Obviously I’m disappointed we--once again--couldn’t close out the Pens, but as the Chief said… these problems have been festering all season.  If we’ve learned anything since Uncle Mike’s been our Uncle, it’s that he doesn’t panic.  This team doesn’t panic.  Its captain doesn’t panic.  They haven’t suddenly lost the ability to defend.  They just don’t have any urgency to their game right now.

Everything will be fine, and all this will be sorted out.  In the meantime, yeah we lost a disappointing game against GBB, but we all know the regular season means squat.

Plus, it really was a hell of a game.

Posted by Incognetis from Exile in Alabama on 11/12/08 at 10:11 AM ET

You know what?  *#$%@& this.  We have to live with it this morning.  We have to endure Pens fans who tell us how horrible Ozzie is but somehow forget the MAF let in 6 of his own.  We have to deal with the fact that one of the best players in the league...the friggen Selke winner for christ’s sake...was completely undressed. We have to eat a whole shitload of crow.

But now we find that Mitch wrote a hockey column in November?

*#$%@& this.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 11/12/08 at 10:31 AM ET

But now we find that Mitch wrote a hockey column in November?

*#$%@& this.

Motherfu**.  I read that “column” early this morning and meant to comment on it then forgot.  Dammit.

The Delicate Genius chimes in and I missed the boat.

For now.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/12/08 at 10:39 AM ET

The coach and the Captain had better light a fire.

“Gotta nip it in the bud.”

Posted by O-Joe on 11/12/08 at 10:57 AM ET

Of course Mitchy Boy wrote a column.  Piling onto the Lions and Wolverines week after week must be exhausting and why keep at it when you’re handed a column on a silver platter in last nights Wings game.  Way to earn your paycheck, Albom.

Posted by clemshady from Greenwood, SC on 11/12/08 at 10:58 AM ET

What the hell happened last nite?!?!?

I hear Jeff Finger is on the market.

Posted by Nate A from the Church of Babcock on 11/12/08 at 11:05 AM ET

Why can the Wings not win at the Joe?

Are there too many friends and family in the room before the game?

Maybe they need to move the team to a hotel the night before a home game.

Just saying....

Posted by w2j2 on 11/12/08 at 11:10 AM ET

After the Wings went up 3 - 1 in the first period and then had that dismal power play right after I said “they are gonna lose this game”.  Which probably seemed like a ridiculous thing to say after they were up by 2.  But unfortunately I was right.  They play well with their foot on the floor.  And that’s it.  They don’t play well with it only half way down.  And hopefully Babs will show them how to clear the zone too.

It’s like that goofy commercial:
We need 100% of you, to give 110%, 100% of the time

Dan

Posted by ITDeuce on 11/12/08 at 11:14 AM ET

Holy Jumpin!  I had to leave the comfort of widescreens and Rumbear Manor for a Boy Scout meeting, we are up 5-2 and then.....WTF??

Seven goals....sheesh.

Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 11/12/08 at 11:42 AM ET

You forgot something Chief.
The defending SC champs, playing a SCF rematch, couldn’t sell out a game.
You could hear people booing hossa from on TV.
You could hear a “Lets Go Pens” Chant on TV.

Hockey Town is a joke.
A pathetic joke.

I don’t care if its the economy or whatever excuse you fans can possibly pull out.  If you lose the fans, for whatever reasons, you should lose the title. Still calling you Hockey Town is like still calling Rome an Empire.

What Jokes.

Posted by kstewy16 from A Better Hockey Town then Detroit. on 11/12/08 at 11:56 AM ET

GBB missed that scout meeting because if the game, Rumbear, so should have you. Let the kids earn their “navigating urban ghettos at night” badge by making it home on their own.  Can any of those scouts skate backwards, cause we could use some D right now.

Lids has been a shell of his former self since the injury last season.  Starting to sound like a broken record on that point.  Kronner is still on vacation, and Raffi is letting so many people skate around him he is reminding me of Brian McCabe as a Leaf.

Even Uncle Mike is not in the game.  I called the timeout call a Coach of the Year move sarcastically, and 15 seconds later they score and prove me right.

No this will never equal the pain Game 5 gave me while at JLA, but this is enough to piss me off.  We used to be money in the third, now our third period value is slipping faster than the dollar is.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/12/08 at 11:58 AM ET

I’m glad the whining about officiating has been shelved for a post.  The powerplay time was even last night ladies and Detroit converted 3 to Pittsburgh’s 1.  I’ve never seen a group of people less willing to accept the fact that your team is capable of putting up a stinker every once in a while.  It was a great back and fourth game that came down to Datsuk having his pants pulled down in overtime. 

Great game.  Can’t wait for February. 

The Pens out worked The Wings.  Quit making excuses and man up. 

Can’t wait to read your post over at tPB today, chief.  Hopefully we won’t have to hear about your boat.

Posted by Stily from Harrisburg, PA on 11/12/08 at 12:00 PM ET

“Nip it!”

Posted by O-Joe on 11/12/08 at 12:00 PM ET

VooX

The dollar is actually gaining strength compared to the Euro and the Pound.  It’s not as bad off as you might think.

Posted by Stilly from Harrisburg, PA on 11/12/08 at 12:02 PM ET

Good thing we’ve got all this defensive depth.

Er, uh…

Oh and Kyle Quincey is getting huge amounts of love for his play in LA right now.

Sigh.

I’m not going to sit here and question Kenny Holland, and the depth we do have is nice to have...it just would’ve been more fun to have the freedom to move some of these pieces in and out (Lilja, Lebda I’m looking at you both, sternly) at will to have made room for guys who could advance and fill better since we’re looking at a top four on the blueline and a roulette wheel for the final two spots.

It’s frustrating and let’s face it, this frustration has been building for a while.  The record is misleading and we’ve been bitchy for a bit here and just thankful that they’ve been winning despite their bad efforts. 

Last night should be the message and I’m hoping Uncle Mike will use the time to start knocking heads and threatening lives.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 11/12/08 at 12:03 PM ET

I hate it when people use the economy, and the fact that they are broke as an excuse to not go to a game.  The nerve of some people.  Putting food on the table over a game.  sheesh.

But, in all seriousness.  Who cares?

Dan

Posted by ITDeuce on 11/12/08 at 12:04 PM ET

No this was not Game 5 but it was still embarassing.  Where is Norris Nick?  Where has he been all season?

Why did McCarty get so little ice time last night?  Heck, I’m not the biggest DMac fan but he was definitely providing some energy out there.

Fundamentals are shaky on defense.  I would agree that Ozzy is no better or worse than last season but the defense in front of him is horrific.  The GAA is horrible.

Also, the Wings needs to score more even strength goals.  It is great to have a clicking PP but the PK needs help and we need more even strength goals.  I still feel that this team isn’t clicking yet.

It is one heck of a hangover.  Time to get over it and get back to work.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 11/12/08 at 12:24 PM ET

Rafalski had as bad a game last night as I ever seen him play.  Is he sick? Is his mother sick? He was not there.  Kudos to the Punguinos for not giving up.  It was a fun regular season game to watch, but it would have been funner if we won.

Posted by Rosemary from Land of Enchantment on 11/12/08 at 12:45 PM ET

If Mitch Albom is one of the five people you meet in heaven, I’d rather go straight to hell.

Posted by Mike from Chicago, IL on 11/12/08 at 12:49 PM ET

Sloppy friggin play, especially in their own zone.  Neither Lidstrom (-2) nor Datsyuk (-3) were impressive in their own end last night.  Last night you could sense that their T/O would end up in the net, they did.  Rarely happened last year, the opponent rarely had the puck.

Chief is right.  IMO the team is not mentally nor physically comitted to playing in their own zone.  They lose races to loose pucks, loose battles on the boards and end up chasing the opponent around in their end = penalty and/or goal.

Last night was just the most pathetic example of their terrible defense.  DET is 23rd in GAA.

I suppose it is natural, with all of their talent, for the Wing to assume you can just outscore the opponent; and play with the puck.  It must surely be more fun to play up and down; and make pretty scoring plays. Oh, and to have a the #1 PP in the league just makes matters worse. 

I don’t think, however, it will win many games in May or June; let alone in November.

Perhaps the Wings miss Drake and his punishing neutral zone body checks,much much more than they ever could have realized.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Hades on 11/12/08 at 12:49 PM ET

If you lose the fans, for whatever reasons, you should lose the title

i wasn’t aware that titles were given out based on attendance. thanks for that little tid-bit.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 11/12/08 at 12:51 PM ET

Jeff - the Drake we saw in the playoffs (and the guy we remember best) was 1,000 times better than the Drake we saw in the regular season last year. 

I don’t think he’s the guy the team misses.  The team has been sloppy defensively and whatever it is that’s ailing them has to get corrected quickly because teams can keep up with them now and if everyone gets caught on to what the issues are, look out.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 11/12/08 at 01:03 PM ET

i wasn’t aware that titles were given out based on attendance. thanks for that little tid-bit.

That’s why the Laffs have been winning so many Cups lately…

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 11/12/08 at 01:06 PM ET

Just wait - soon everyone will be a Michigander, and then we can talk about buying hockey tickets over groceries.  Though, the U.S. dollar is strengthening against every major currency except the yen - which, apparently, is on some nanorobotsteroid concoction.  Not so good for exports, though.  Soon, yes, soon everything will be as good as gold - which isn’t so good at the moment, actually.

That said, and even taking the terrible officiating into account, the Wings lost that game hands down.  What’s worse, by now the Wings should know beyond any doubt they’re going to get phantom calls, no calls, the whole deal - which should be factored into their playing.  Like Chief said, you can’t ignore the stats - which are crap (relative to the talent on this team, anyway).

51 GF and 47 GA so far.  At the end of last year it was 252 GF and 179 GA.  Maybe that’s partly due to the minor rule changes this year, but I haven’t been paying attention to that.  Also, most games have been 1-goal games.  Um, sorry, but with the firepower we have that should not be the case.  And in the majority of those games we’ve allowed 3 or more goals against (in fact, in only 3 of 14 games has there been 2 or less goals against).  Again, sorry, but with the defensive talent we have - nevermind our goalies - that shouldn’t be the case.

Shots for/against:  36.29/29.29.  Last year:  34.39/23.49 (defense!).  Sure, that includes William Tell, too - who either shoots directly at the goalie, at the boards, at the netting, or at teammate’s faces - so, whatever, the last three spots he shoots at should just be considered giveaways (since they’re not counted as shots).

I hear the Griffins are doing pretty well.  Maybe we could just swap teams for a month?

Posted by jrl123 on 11/12/08 at 01:06 PM ET

Just for sheer comedic relief, chef, throw up that ridiculous goalie ranking deal that has Osgood ahead of Luongo again.  Take off his ugly winged wheel, and Osgood is Cloutier.

Posted by rwhater on 11/12/08 at 01:28 PM ET

Alright. alright...I’ve had time to center myself.

I guess I didn’t really even realize what Chief was trying to say...how could I?  I was still seeing Datsyuk falling to the ice as Staal was taking the puck from him, I was watching Osgood slide over after the shot was already past him, I was watching Lidstrom swing and miss that clearing attempt when Staal put in the tying goal.  But I’m ok now.  I’m focused and in complete control.  I have finally come to that realization, and you know what?  It actually makes me feel a lot better.  They ARE hungover, they are hungover like nobody’s business.  Z is having his growing pains being away from Datsyuk, Rafalski is making mistakes with the puck, Lidstrom is actually looking like a mortal, and Osgood is playing sub-par.  But guess what?  We’re hungover and we’re still sitting atop the Central Division, and #2 in the Western Conference.  The Poultry were crying Stanley Cup hangover into this season for crying out loud!  It’s ok, Uncle Mike will take care of everything.  I just hope they can shake this come April.

Hockey Town is a joke.
A pathetic joke.

I don’t care if its the economy or whatever excuse you fans can possibly pull out.  If you lose the fans, for whatever reasons, you should lose the title. Still calling you Hockey Town is like still calling Rome an Empire.

What Jokes.

Posted by kstewy16 from A Better Hockey Town then Detroit. on 11/12/08 at 10:56 AM ET

The joke is on you, my friend and that stupid tag.  Change your tune, we’ve been though this argument before and squashed it.  I don’t think Rome ever won 4 cups in 11 years and chances are neither has whatever team you call your own...not lately anyway.

Posted by Animal Drew from The Mitten on 11/12/08 at 01:33 PM ET

Just for sheer comedic relief, chef, throw up that ridiculous goalie ranking deal that has Osgood ahead of Luongo again.  Take off his ugly winged wheel, and Osgood is Cloutier.

Should I include the 3 Cups?

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/12/08 at 01:36 PM ET

Sure.  So who did Babcock start in the playoffs again last year?  A washed up Hasek or Osgood in his “prime?” Face it, for the two cups that Osgood had anything to do with, a trained monkey (no offense Draper) could have been in goal for the Wings.  Maybe not a washed up Hasek last year, but a trained monkey?  Sure.

Posted by rwhater on 11/12/08 at 01:43 PM ET

Elroy.

Couldn’t be much more mediocre if he tried.

Was he hiding from the media again after this one?

...But I thought he forgets what he did during the games as soon as they’re over!  Whoops.

Posted by nu on 11/12/08 at 01:51 PM ET

The Pens out worked The Wings.  Quit making excuses and man up.

I’d say that Staal single-handedly outworked the Wings in the 3rd and OT.

The Penguins came into the game with much more of a need to make “a statement” than the Wings did. Unfortunately for them, this was not Game 7 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. It was a regular season game...and an early one at that. The fact is the Wings have yet to play a solid 60-minute game and they’re still 9-2-3 or something like that.

As somebody pointed out, Uncle Mike can use this game to his advantage. Here’s hoping he does just that.

RE: Fans of the Penguins, Sharks, Ducks and/or any other team laying claim to anything, the Detroit Red Wings are and will remain the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Until your team skates the Cup in June, I will be withholding my congratulations.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 11/12/08 at 02:14 PM ET

Elroy.
Couldn’t be much more mediocre if he tried.
Was he hiding from the media again after this one?
...But I thought he forgets what he did during the games as soon as they’re over!  Whoops.

Because if it’s posted anonymously on the internet, it must be true!

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 11/12/08 at 02:20 PM ET

I’ve been in and out today, and told myself I wasn’t going to join the fracass here. Well.... here goes.
We have some things to work on, it’s a loooooong season yet. Put on your big boy pants today and get your butts to the rink and get to work. It’s the lack of HARD WORK that is costing -hurting us. Simple. We aren’t wanting “it” bad enough when we should be busting our asses. “It” being a loose puck, finishing a check on your assignment, going back hard on the back check etc etc etc. The work ethic has been non-existant, relyance on offense is a bad habit supported by a killer PP. Bad habits turn into trends and that is a slippery slope.
Now if we’re in this bitchfest mode in Feb, then we’ve really got something to worry about.
BTW Chief, I was a tad crass with a few remarks last night as well. I am a slow learner too, but I have a hard time convincing myself that us being confident in our team makes them play like $hit in the 3rd. Now if they are over confident.... there’s a big boo boo in and of itself.
Don’t enter into an arguement with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Let the pot shots come from all over after a defeat, one regular season loss brings all the $hit slingers. G’ahead pick on Oz, pick on the empty seats at the Joe, lame lame lame… I pay as much attention to the repetitive cheap shots as I do my wife nagging about my dirty clothes on the bedroom floor.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/12/08 at 02:53 PM ET

Because if you wish somebody was making up stats, that’ll make them false!

Unfortunately, having a guy in goal who’s a blatant gaping, diving, cheapshotting, gutless HACK in full view of EVERYONE is a little harder to obscure.

And until YOUR team is skating the Cup in June, I’d hold off on the self-congratulations as well.  You have a whole five more months to think about getting knocked out of the playoffs.

...(New season, bitches.)

Posted by nu on 11/12/08 at 02:53 PM ET

Unfortunately, having a guy in goal who’s a blatant gaping, diving, cheapshotting, gutless HACK in full view of EVERYONE is a little harder to obscure.

Dude. You have some issues. You actually seem to take his success as a personal affront and you revel in him playing badly. Have you considered what that says about your mental state?

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 11/12/08 at 03:06 PM ET

Ever since I was a kid, a good spanking always came with a lesson to be learned.  If last night’s spankee learns the lesson without the need for many more applications to reinforce the learning experience, the end result will be well worth it.

Posted by BobTheZee on 11/12/08 at 03:21 PM ET

Dan,
I do not think that 100% commercial is all that goofy.  Uncle Mike just needs to employ that in practice now. Seriously.

Last nite, the team just got comfortable, and then was outworked the last 15 minutes of the game.  Good thing the alcohol had kicked in by then.  It numbed me to what I was witnessing.  I kind of laughed it off.
Disturbing signs though.  Cannot help but wonder how long we will go without all 4 lines rolling, and very little 5 on 5 scoring.  Still think a infusion of Helm, Abbadabbadoo, or others should be coming.  Regardless of them having to pay their dues.  Hope all is well before I see them play the Dive in Dec. at the Ass Can.

Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 11/12/08 at 03:33 PM ET

So who did Babcock start in the playoffs again last year

and who lifted the cup at the end of the SCF? with an incredible post-season performance while cindy and the rest of the pens sat on the ice crying like girls? i just...can’t...remember....

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 11/12/08 at 03:34 PM ET

So the Wings lost a game. Big deal. I’m sure they will lose a few more games this season.  Yes there is a hangover. So what. I’m sure Uncle Mike’s Flying Circus will be in form come June when it really matters.  Lesson learned. You can’t win them all.

The only thing I see here are the loyal fans with the highest expectations for their team and rightly so.

After all, The Detroit Red Wings are the current Stanley Cup Champions. Deal with it. Because when your from Detroit, That’s how you roll. Bitches.

“BRING IT ON!”
“AGAIN!”
“THIS IS THE YEAR!”

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 11/12/08 at 03:48 PM ET

You forgot something Chief.
The defending SC champs, playing a SCF rematch, couldn’t sell out a game.
You could hear people booing hossa from on TV.
You could hear a “Lets Go Pens” Chant on TV.

Hockey Town is a joke.
A pathetic joke.

I don’t care if its the economy or whatever excuse you fans can possibly pull out.  If you lose the fans, for whatever reasons, you should lose the title. Still calling you Hockey Town is like still calling Rome an Empire.

What Jokes.

Posted by kstewy16 from A Better Hockey Town then Detroit. on 11/12/08 at 10:56 AM ET

Its exactly that which I can’t stand. I’m usually an innocent bystander just reading and laughing at this wonderful page.

Detroit = POOR

I’m sorry were not thriving right now like the abnormal Pittsburgh...I mean it only took you guys 30 years to bounce back. Get over it...People might not be able to afford tickets but hockey is one of the highest rated tv programs in Detroit whenever the Wings are on. I was at the game last night cause i’m lucky.

I did have to settle down a few Pitt fans after the game by simply pointing at the # 11…

Posted by bp29er from Livonia on 11/12/08 at 04:25 PM ET

More than one million people turn up for our Cup parade.  Despite the empty seats we have the 4th highest revenues in the league.  No bandwagon, just fans.  Arm-Pittsburgh barely held onto the Pwns.

Once they lose more free agents, the bandwagon will empty on the Pwns again.  Then the team will relocate to Hamilton where they will be renamed the Steelers to mock the Arm-Pitt.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/12/08 at 04:40 PM ET

t’s the lack of HARD WORK that is costing -hurting us.

Word.

I’m sorry were not thriving right now like the abnormal Pittsburgh...I mean it only took you guys 30 years to bounce back.

Maybe Mike Illitch should throw a fit and threaten to move the Wings to KC…

Detroit ain’t the prettiest town in the world, but at least we can all take solace in the fact we don’t come from frigging Pitts-burgh!!!

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 11/12/08 at 04:47 PM ET

It’s pretty much as predicted.  The Wings implode and the Pens fans come out of the woodwork.  They were shitting themselves at the beginning of the 3rd period last night and then start talking big after it was all said and done.  Congratulations.  You won an exciting game...in November.  I’m not normally one to get into the mud-slinging, but the posts over at PenisBlog are cracking me up.  They are so blinded with rage about Detroit and the Wings (and us) that it’s surprising they can put together a coherent sentence.  It’s the sort of hate that completely has made my day knowing we irk a group of people so badly.  Heh.

Posted by clemshady from Greenwood, SC on 11/12/08 at 04:50 PM ET

Hangover is more than just sloppy play as well, it’s the lack of mental intensity to get up for every game. The Wings have the target on their backs this year and they should know they’re gonna get the best effort from every team they play. The problem is that the Wings just simply aren’t going to match that intensity, night in and night out. It’s a sad reality.

This team is playing like it did after the All-Star Break last year. Remember that blow out loss to the Kings? Ozzie got pulled in 2 of 3 games? The similarities are there, but this is a vastly different season.

Being at the game last night always gives you the appreciation of seeing things you can’t pick up on television. I noticed last night that the likes of Draper, Maltby and Kopecky were barely noticeable, regardless of how much ice time they saw. The Wings have been very loyal to Draper and Maltby, but after last night it makes you wonder how far that loyalty can go when you have NHL-ready players in Grand Rapids who can play their roles with more energy and speed. I’m not trying to complain or insinuate anything, but it really does make you think.

IMO, the back to backers coming up in Florida are two very important games. I expect Conklin to play Thursday night, and if he plays well you might see him on Friday. I think now is a good time for Babs to send messages to some guys who aren’t performing well, and that includes Rafalski and Osgood.

Right now this team needs a spark and it’s not getting it from the 20 guys on the roster. While it’s no time to panic, the Wings are very fortunate they’re 9-2-3 and not 5-6-3. The players and coaches know what needs to be done, now we’ll just have to see if it actually translates onto the ice.

Posted by Jeremy from Bowling Green, OH on 11/12/08 at 04:55 PM ET

It’s the sort of hate that completely has made my day knowing we irk a group of people so badly.  Heh.

Dude, I’ve had a $hitty day & that’s not left over from game #14 of the 82+ game season.  I think that sentence brought the first $hit eating grin to my face, and I usually sport that $hit eating grin alot. Thanks Clem.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/12/08 at 05:39 PM ET

There’s not much to say. I’ve been way too broken up today over this loss. Time to move on. We play again tomorrow...still more games to play.

I just hope they get the picture. I hope they can fix this…

Posted by Tyler from Arizona on 11/12/08 at 06:16 PM ET

So who did Babcock start in the playoffs again last year

and after he got yanked, how many weeks was it before the Wings lost a game with Osgood in net?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 11/13/08 at 11:18 AM ET

Glad I could help, MO!  I consider A2Y my support group for a superior form of retards.

Posted by clemshady from Greenwood, SC on 11/13/08 at 12:19 PM ET

^lol

Sometimes it looks like we want to play the fun game, but don’t want to play the boring game.

--Lilja.

The day that you find yourself agreeing with Lilja, or worse posting an echo of his statements before he makes them, that is the day you have God’s permission to shoot yourself. We’ll miss you Chief.

Posted by Osrt on 11/13/08 at 12:49 PM ET

^lol

Sometimes it looks like we want to play the fun game, but don’t want to play the boring game.

--Lilja.

The day that you find yourself agreeing with Lilja, or worse posting an echo of his statements before he makes them, that is the day you have God’s permission to shoot yourself. We’ll miss you Chief.

Dude. I saw that today and almost threw up my cocoa krispies.  I need to mend my ways.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/13/08 at 01:17 PM ET