Don't Look Now...
by MrNorrisTrophy on Nov 6, 2009 6:00 PM CST
in News
1 comment
Actually, do look now. Things are starting to return to normal for this team as the season progresses. Following a 3-4-2 start, the Red Wings have turned it around by going 4-0-1 in their last five games contests. Four of the five teams they've played in those games were playoff teams last year, including knocking off last year's regular season conference champions in both the East and West. In fact, Detroit has earned points in 8 of its last 10 games--totaling 13 of a possible 20 points. What's behind the reason for the recent winning ways? Let's take a look at a few things:
- Coaching: You had to know that Mike Babcock could only tolerate the poor performance for so long before whippin' the boys into shape. To me, the biggest sign of this was yanking Chris Osgood from the net against Vancouver after surrendering two quick goals. Babcock showed that it doesn't matter how Cups you have; if you don't play well enough to be in there, you won't be. Same has been true as line-ups have been juggled very often to accommodate the up and downs of the players.
- Better execution: The first half of the season so far was filled with sloppy passing and ineffective chances in the offensive zone. The stars have stepped up following the loss of guys like Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen to injury and others to illness. In the past five games, Pavel Datsyuk has 8 points and is really finding his stride while carrying the team. That Henrik Zetterberg guy isn't that bad either...
- Just a matter of time: The least statistically tangible of the bunch, this is more for our own personal sanity. This team is too good to sit under .500 for too long so it's good to see that indeed the team is more on track than the beginning. A lot of new guys-so maybe the old saying that chemistry has to be built before you can win is ringing true. Bertuzzi's starting to factor into the equation and so is Williams. Datsyuk/Zetterberg can get the puck to these guys or benefit from their passing so it's good to see them getting going.
- Tightening of defensive/goaltending: Don't know if I have to go further than saying the defense is playing much much better and so is Chris Osgood. Being pulled like that in Vancouver will do a lot for motivation and drive any sort of complacency out the window. Nick Lidstrom is solid as always and the other guys are starting to come around in his footsteps.
- Hopefully it lasts is all I have left to say
What do you think about it?
1 comment | 0 recs |
Friday Prospects -- Seasoned Vets
by KyleKujawa on Nov 6, 2009 2:23 PM CST
3 comments
Six full weeks of Friday Prospects. Getting tired of this yet? Good, because neither am I. In this weekly look at the world of Detroit Red Wings prospects, we turn to the American Hockey League to look at a trio of Red Wings prospects who might be ready to make an NHL push soon.
Darren Helm, Jonathan Ericsson, Jimmy Howard, Justin Abdelkader, and Ville Leino represent the biggest influx of Griffins talent to Detroit ever. That would lead you to believe that the Grand Rapids system is depleted, void of high-end talent, and that just isn't the case. Grand Rapids started the season with a long road trip that saw them start the season 1-4. But the Griffins have rattled off five straight wins en route to climbing out of the North Division cellar.
Part of this was due to the two-week tryout of 600+ point NHL scorer Michael Nylander. But the Griffins are getting key contributions out of their young players as well. Here are three young players who might be ready to step up to the NHL, should Detroit's injury woes get any worse.
3 comments | 0 recs
Red Wings beat Sharks 2-1 in Shootout
by joehass on Nov 5, 2009 10:32 PM CST
in Game Recaps
6 comments
On Budd Lynch bobblehead night, it was Henrik Zetterberg's who helped put away the San Jose Sharks.
Zetterberg scored the lone Detroit Red Wings goal with 14:22 left in regulation, then scored at the end of the shootout to seal a 2-1 win over San Jose. It broke the Shark's six-game winning streak and extended the Wings winning streak to three games
Zetterberg took advantage of a shot by Darren Helm. Evgeni Nabokov seemed to cover the puck, but did not get a whistle, Zetterberg kept charging towards the net and swatted the puck into the net to even the score at one.
In the second period, Logan Couture netted his first NHL goal off a nice setup from Joe Callahan (who picked up his first NHL point) and Joe Thornton.
In overtime, Darren Helm had two incredible chances in overtime on a two-on-one, but couldn't put either shot past Evgeni Nabokov. The Red Wings put heavy pressure on the Sharks with five shots in the overtime period.
The shootout saw a series of back-hand shots: Pavel Datsuyk opened with one that easily faked our Nabokov. Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe each tried backhanders that failed to get past Chris Osgood. Then Zetterberg ended the shootout with a simple shot that got past Nabokov for the second time of the night.
Osgood finished the evening with 34 saves; Nabokov ended with 36.
The Red Wings will take on Toronto Saturday night in an Original Six matchup in Toronto.
Catch the high lights below from NHL.com.
6 comments | 0 recs |
[Game Thread] Red Wings vs. Sharks
by joehass on Nov 5, 2009 5:15 PM CST
in Game Threads
144 comments
The Detroit Red Wings take their two-game winning streak against the red-hot San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena tonight. The Sharks are on a six-game winning streak, leading the Pacific Division with 23 points and trailing only the Colorado Avalanche (24 points) in the Western Conference.
San Jose comes in having beaten the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday night 3-2 via a shootout. 8-2 in the last 10 games, Patrick Marleau has scored a point in his last nine starts for the Sharks. Dany Heatley is tied for sixth in the league in goals with 10. Meanwhile, Evgeni Nabokov has a sparking 10-3-1 record in 2009, with a 2.38 goals against average.
It's the first meeting of 2009-10 for these two teams: they split the regular season series last year, with the home team winning every game.
The game is on FSN-Detroit and CSN California. Comment away below!
144 comments | 0 recs |
Quick Hits: 11/5
by AnimalDrew on Nov 5, 2009 5:00 PM CST
in Quick Hits
0 comments
All Healthy Defense Core to Play Sharks
Lilja's Headaches Finally Gone?
0 comments | 0 recs
Looking at the San Jose Sharks
by MrNorrisTrophy on Nov 5, 2009 11:29 AM CST
in Game Preview
0 comments
San Jose Sharks: 11-4-1, 23 points
Key Wins: 6-3 over CBJ, 7-3 over NYR, 4-1 over PHI, 3-1 over COL
Winners of six straight, the Sharks are on fire after a 2-2 start. Coming into tonight's game, both teams look to extend winning streaks in what will likely be a good defensive battle.
| Category | Stat | NHL Rank | Leading... | Stat | Player |
| Goals per game | 3.31 | 7th (5A) | Scorer (Points) |
22 (11 G, 11 A) |
|
| Goals against per game | 2.44 | 7th (16A) | +/- |
+7 |
|
| Power Play | 25.8% | 5th (5A) | Hits |
25 |
|
| Penalty Kill | 83.6% | 7th (20A) | PIM |
42 |
|
| Shots per game | 31.3 | 11th (6B) | Shots |
51 |
Patrick Marleau |
| Shots against per game | 29.2 | 12th (3B) | Blocked Shots |
37 |
|
| Faceoff percentage | 57.4% | 1st (14A) | Faceoffs |
63.9 % |
Scott Nichol |
| PIM per game | 14.6 | 20th (19B) | Wins |
10 |
|
| PP drawn | 66 | 5th (8A) | GAA (>5 games played) |
2.38 |
Evgeni Nabokov |
*The A and B next to the ranking is how many spots Above or Below the Red Wings the team is
The Sharks are in the top half of the league in nearly every category and are on of the best in the league. Head coach Todd McLellan took the Detroit game west to San Jose with him and has implemented the system in a very effective way. The solid defensive play and offensive attack make the Sharks a big threat to the hobbled/sick Red Wings.
Players to watch on offense: Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton
Players to watch on defense: Rob Blake, Kent Huskins
Fear The Fin is the SB Nation affiliate of the Sharks and will have anything you want to read Sharks related.
0 comments | 0 recs |
Quick Hits: 11/4
by AnimalDrew on Nov 4, 2009 5:00 PM CST
in Quick Hits
3 comments
Raf/Big Rig are Feeling Better
NOHS's I can say, "I was there" (again)
3 comments | 0 recs
Two early goals, Osgood shut down Bruins
by MrNorrisTrophy on Nov 3, 2009 8:52 PM CST
in Game Recaps
4 comments
Must be good to be home for the Red Wings. Two first period goals were all the Red Wings needed in the return to Joe Louis Arena with Chris Osgood in great form in net.
Boston's Marco Sturm went to the box for hooking Brett Lebda in the Bruins' offensive zone, putting Detroit on its first power play of the game. Henrik Zetterberg wasted no time, firing a loose puck off the face off over Tim Thomas' shoulder for a 1-0 Red Wings lead two seconds into the man advantage. Zetterberg's third goal of the season came at 14:21 of the first period from Pavel Datsyuk. Shortly following Zetterberg's goal, Tomas Holmstrom scored his 8th goal of the season on a great drop pass from Datsyuk. Todd Bertuzzi got the puck to Datsyuk with a great outlet pass and Datsyuk dropped the puck to Holmstrom in the slot for an easy shot past Thomas.
The second period was dominated by more physical play and close calls on offensive chances, including a blown 3-on-1 for the Bruins that Chris Osgood stopped. The Bruins also spent the first 1:20 of a power play in their offensive zone, applying constant pressure on Osgood. The Red Wings killed off the remainder of the penalty and got two minutes of their own, creating several chances and most importantly, killing two minutes of game clock.
Osgood stopped all 29 shots in the process of earning his 50th career shut out and the Bruins were shut out for the second consecutive game. Detroit's second consecutive win ties the season streak but more importantly the Red Wings pick up two points against a very talented and physical Bruins team. Boston out shot Detroit 29-26 and had a +11 edge in the faceoff circle. Despite the numbers against them, Detroit was able to maintain the two goal lead throughout the duration of the game.
Detroit takes on the San Jose Sharks on Thursday at Joe Louis Arena at 7:30 p.m. while the Bruins face the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
MrNorrisTrophy's Wing of the Game: Although tempting to sneak Pavel Datsyuk in there, I have to give credit where credit is due. Chris Osgood played great in net tonight and along with a few posts, his pads were in the right place at the right time.
4 comments | 0 recs |
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Sat 11/07 | 6:00 PM CST |
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Most Commented
[Game Thread] Red Wings vs. Sharks
by joehass 1 day ago
144 comments | 0 recs
[Game Thread] Bruins @ Wings
by MrNorrisTrophy 3 days ago
54 comments | 0 recs
Game Thread: Wings at Flames
by Christy 6 days ago
9 comments | 0 recs
Red Wings beat Sharks 2-1 in Shootout
by joehass 1 day ago
6 comments | 0 recs
Two early goals, Osgood shut down Bruins
by MrNorrisTrophy 3 days ago
4 comments | 0 recs