No More Excuses

I've been hearing it all season.

"Oh, we'll get better, it's just all of our guys are injured!"

"We don't have consistent goaltending!"

"Look at our schedule, it's ridiculous!"

I'm done. No more. Just suck it up and get it done.

We're coming down the stretch here, and the Wings just aren't looking that interested. It's the same thing I saw in Games 6 and 7 last year in the final; it's like they just don't feel like playing. I've heard a lot of talk about confidence and how it's all mental. Bullcrap. We've got the talent. We've got Nick Lidstrom, maybe the best defenseman ever, on our blue line. We've got the Eurotwins, who are proven, cabable scorers. We've got a rookie goaltender that manages to look good even when he gets pummeled by over forty (even over fifty!) shots.

Done. Now's the time, No more excuses.

Go out there and play like the Detroit Red Wings.

Injuries? Steve Yzerman couldn't walk when he skated with the Cup in 2002. Suck it up.

Goaltending? Chris Osgood led us to two consecutive Stanley Cup finals, winning one. If we would have won last season, he was a lock for the Conn Smythe. Jimmy Howard has saved us on more occasions than I care to count. Suck it up.

Schedule? Two words: Olympic break.

Suck. It. Up.

We've got almost everyone back. The Mule and Howard can't do this alone, people. We've got to light the world on fire here after the break. Win them all. I know you can. Don't think about the next game. Don't think about points, or what's going to happen when (WHEN) we get to the playoffs. Just win.

That's all. Your fans believe in you. All of you. Yes, even Ozzie. Even Bert. You guys have talent. Use it. Get Detroit another Cup.

I've heard more than enough talk since the Cap era started about how the Wings would lose it. About how we're a franchise on the decline. I can't stand to think of what would happen if we missed the playoffs. Don't give the haters ammo. Prove them wrong.

Do it for Nicklas Lidstrom, who has never missed the playoffs.

Do it for Jimmy Howard, who deserves to play in them.

And so it for the fans, who have always, and will always be there for you.

Suck it up. No more excuses.

Just win. Like we all know you can.