Over the last little while, the many fans of Detroit Hockey have seen some bad hockey. Some call it a slump, others call it fate. What I can say is that I am not surprised of the results. The first reason for this is that the referees have been doing a terrible job. The second reason for this is that the Red Wings once again seem to lack heart. The final reason for this is very scary goaltending woes.
Now I know it is common for the fans of every team to blame most losses on the referees. I am partially doing so here. The Refs since the Vancouver game have been anything but good. In most of the games it was just as bad both ways, but in a couple the refs were downright one-sided. However, the Wings need to be ready for bad officiating going into the playoffs, or another Oiler’s/McGough incident may occur. They have the firepower and defense to win, but it just seems that they do not care. This transfers to my next point.
The Wings are built as good as almost any team in the league in both offense and defense. On the offense they have at least 9 guys who have, or potentially can, reach 20 goals (in their career, not just this season), while the defense has several former all stars and rounded out with grit and speed. So why then, is the team in this slump now? A lack of Heart. In the past, it seemed like the Wings could win any game based on heart alone, and heart was spelled Yzerman. Now he is gone, the years of being spoiled are over and the team needs to give 100% every night. Datsyuk seems to finally understand this and is showing off his incredible skills again. Hudler and Filpula seem to get this, but they are both rookies who could not possibly be depended on to carry the team. The only player who I will not single out is Todd Bertuzzi. He has just come back from injury and is being put out there to get back into game shape. He is a former star and leader, and can be so again. If he looks like he lacks heart, blame Babcock. The only way I see this team get heart again is if the new center of the Red Wings gets back into playing shape quick. Not Yzerman this time, but Zetterberg. He holds the key to winning the cup…yeah, that Cup. He plays a complete game, and apparently no one else on the roster can. Now a lack of heart only holds a team with this much talent back so much, so that is not the only problem.
What is the next problem? Goaltending. I am a fan of both Hasek and Osgood, so this is in no way a bash. The problem with Hasek is that he never seems to learn. He is run into more than he should, as is any goalie in the NHL, but he seems to think the refs will eventually call something. Well, they have. When he embellishes, they call dives or they call GOAL. However, I doubt this will continue to be a problem as Hasek is a great goaltender who wants to win, no matter what. I honestly believe that the St. Louis Shootout winner and the goal off of Haseks bad judgment will teach him his lesson and he will stop the poor plays. What about Osgood, then? Well he is a Starter, no question in that. He won a cup as one and played as one pretty much since entering the league. I think this years problem is that he gets rusty from sitting so much. Throw him in more often and see if we can fix that problem, especially since he is our insurance if/when Hasek goes down again.
Now if you are scared about this slump, it is not a time to worry. The Wings have fought out of these in the past. In the 01-02 Stanley Cup winning season, the wings lost quite a bit in the last month of play, then again in the opening round before bringing their A game and winning again. That was not long ago, and the team knows adversity from it.
Now I know it is common for the fans of every team to blame most losses on the referees. I am partially doing so here. The Refs since the Vancouver game have been anything but good. In most of the games it was just as bad both ways, but in a couple the refs were downright one-sided. However, the Wings need to be ready for bad officiating going into the playoffs, or another Oiler’s/McGough incident may occur. They have the firepower and defense to win, but it just seems that they do not care. This transfers to my next point.
The Wings are built as good as almost any team in the league in both offense and defense. On the offense they have at least 9 guys who have, or potentially can, reach 20 goals (in their career, not just this season), while the defense has several former all stars and rounded out with grit and speed. So why then, is the team in this slump now? A lack of Heart. In the past, it seemed like the Wings could win any game based on heart alone, and heart was spelled Yzerman. Now he is gone, the years of being spoiled are over and the team needs to give 100% every night. Datsyuk seems to finally understand this and is showing off his incredible skills again. Hudler and Filpula seem to get this, but they are both rookies who could not possibly be depended on to carry the team. The only player who I will not single out is Todd Bertuzzi. He has just come back from injury and is being put out there to get back into game shape. He is a former star and leader, and can be so again. If he looks like he lacks heart, blame Babcock. The only way I see this team get heart again is if the new center of the Red Wings gets back into playing shape quick. Not Yzerman this time, but Zetterberg. He holds the key to winning the cup…yeah, that Cup. He plays a complete game, and apparently no one else on the roster can. Now a lack of heart only holds a team with this much talent back so much, so that is not the only problem.
What is the next problem? Goaltending. I am a fan of both Hasek and Osgood, so this is in no way a bash. The problem with Hasek is that he never seems to learn. He is run into more than he should, as is any goalie in the NHL, but he seems to think the refs will eventually call something. Well, they have. When he embellishes, they call dives or they call GOAL. However, I doubt this will continue to be a problem as Hasek is a great goaltender who wants to win, no matter what. I honestly believe that the St. Louis Shootout winner and the goal off of Haseks bad judgment will teach him his lesson and he will stop the poor plays. What about Osgood, then? Well he is a Starter, no question in that. He won a cup as one and played as one pretty much since entering the league. I think this years problem is that he gets rusty from sitting so much. Throw him in more often and see if we can fix that problem, especially since he is our insurance if/when Hasek goes down again.
Now if you are scared about this slump, it is not a time to worry. The Wings have fought out of these in the past. In the 01-02 Stanley Cup winning season, the wings lost quite a bit in the last month of play, then again in the opening round before bringing their A game and winning again. That was not long ago, and the team knows adversity from it.
