Shane Doan, your number 1 enemy

by Casey Richey on Apr 15, 2010 12:22 PM CDT in Opinion

Following last night's game, it's apparent what style of play the Coyotes are going to use. Physical physical physical. The Coyotes outhit the Red Wings by a 43-20 margin (and those are just the credited hits) with Shane Doan making 9 of those hits.

One of Doan's hits landed him the box for charging but the other 8 surely sent messages. That message is that Detroit needs to play the same style or it's going to be a long series. A total of 8 Coyotes had 3 or more hits last night. How many Wings accomplished the same thing? Two; Brad Stuart with 3 and Darren Helm with 5.

Doan's play set the tone for the entire game and it started early on. Attacking Detroit physically and wearing them down worked better than the Coyotes could have imagined. Paired with aggressive forechecking, the hits (and knowing that they're coming) forced some early passes and bad decisions.

I don't mean to hint that the Red Wings need to completely change their style of game because physicality can only get you so far in a series. But they do need to hit back and with frequency to send the message that they won't be pushed around. The Wings aren't the biggest team by any stretch of the imagination but the guys that do have the size and the hitting ability need to do so. Looking at you, Todd Bertuzzi and Jonathan Ericsson.

Get Justin Abdelkader in there. He lead the Red Wings in hits before being sent back down to Grand Rapids and continued doing so in GR. Even if he doesn't quite have the goal-scoring prowess that Jason Williams somehow has, he can hit back and do the same (if not better job) as a balanced forward.

Once again, I'm not pressing the panic button but merely offering up thoughts on something that's easy to change and will help balance the physical play.

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Every good playoff series has its villains. Looks like this one is no exception.

by Zegarek88 on Apr 15, 2010 12:47 PM CDT reply actions

Gator may not have the scoring talent of Williams, but how often has Williams actually used it? I know he was out for a while this season, but so have a lot of players.

Besides, what does it look like you need most on your 4th line? A talented goal scorer who hasn’t been much this year? Or someone who lead the teams in hits and (in my opinion) passion before he went back to GR?

There have been a few guys who played with heart all year, Helm, Eaves, Miller, Homer, Stuart (maybe not as much heart as the other guys, but he’s done well in tough conditions this year). Those guys looked like they showed up last night (mostly), but every one else was mostly missing. It looked like December all over again.

by sprout42 on Apr 15, 2010 1:07 PM CDT reply actions

I jest, I jest... ;)

by mikerlz on Apr 15, 2010 1:08 PM CDT reply actions

coyotes are a hungrier, less talented ducks team

i think the recap hit it on the head – i’m not sure the coyotes have the skill to score at will, but if they out hustle the wings like they did for much of the 3rd period, we can easily lose the series.

by redwingxviii on Apr 15, 2010 1:09 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Get Bertuzzi and Williams outta there… they are both soft, there is a reason we got rid of them both already….

im so sick of seeing bertuzzi not hit anyone and then one hand the puck all over the ice…

i much rather see guys with speed and heart that are willing to win battles in the corneres instead of just floating around…

by Alex Evers on Apr 15, 2010 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

Am I alone here?

I don’t hate Shane Doan. He’s a good player, plays hard, tough worker, a good leader for Phoenix. He plays with a bit of reckless abandon, which goes over the edge a bit at times, but man he really energized the Coyotes yesterday and was their MVP hands down in that game. All in all, though, he’s not a dirty player in my eyes. Every player goes over the edge from time-to-time, so that’s not enough to label him as “dirty”

I may grow a bit of hatred towards him as this series progresses, but I don’t think it’s quite time to put Doan on the level of the Prongers/Carcillos/Getzlafs/Perrys of the hockey world quite yet (p.s. the Flyers are the new Ducks team this year, not the Coyotes. Be VERY glad Pronger plays in the east!)

by tehGOALIE on Apr 15, 2010 1:58 PM CDT reply actions

That hit on Kronwall was pretty dirty IMO

And the ones on Cleary and Homer (waaaayyy after the whistle). There’s a difference between playing tough and dirty. He crossed that line last night a few times.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Apr 15, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

In his defense...

And I don’t really like defending a Coyote player, but it was really hard to hear the whistle a couple times. That one hit on Kronwall was pretty dirty, but it was rightfully assessed a penalty…if he keeps doing THAT sort of hit, then my hatred will grow for him, especially if for some reason one of those blatantly obvious dirty hits doesn’t get called a penalty.

BTW, on that Kronwall hit, why was it the ref 100 feet away from the play called it rather than the one right next to it? I mean, his arms/elbows/hands pretty clearly went for Konners head.

by tehGOALIE on Apr 15, 2010 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

It's not the penalty I'm worried about with that hit

It’s the NHL not having the balls (for lack of a better word) to crack down on the head shots they were so adamant on protecting during the regular season. The sheer incompetence of this league is the most frustrating thing.

As for the Cleary hit, play was still going on. His man already had Cleary tied up, yet he still felt the need to come flying in and hit Cleary into the bench. There’s no need for that.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Apr 15, 2010 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

haha i agree

that was just shits and giggles. doan is a great player and was dishing it out making us look like wimps

by mikerlz on Apr 15, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Question on the Charging Call.

Doan charged Kronwall. Wings had the puck entering the Yotes zone. Whistle is blown, play is stopped, and the penalty was called. Did anyone else notice that? Am I missing something? Why stop play when Wings have the puck? Howard should have left his crease on a delayed penalty call. Right? The only explanation I could think of on why play was stopped was to keep on eye on Kronwall. Other than that…. I am stumped by the quick whistle.

by PhattyPaddy on Apr 15, 2010 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

looked weird to me when it happened

i assumed the wings had stepped offsides

by redwingxviii on Apr 15, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, it was offside.

I seem to remember Homer being a little early into the zone when the whistle blew.

by Elfuego51 on Apr 15, 2010 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

offsides.

That makes sense too. Thank you. Go Wings.

by PhattyPaddy on Apr 15, 2010 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with what a lot of what has already been said…Yesterday’s game was reminiscent of the Anaheim series last year. I hope the penalty kill can recover, or else it may be a quick series for PHX.

Doan is a good player, and has really ramped it up so far (I know it’s only been one game), and our guys need to do the same. Not only Ericsson and Bert, but everyone needs to respond. Pav can check people real hard when he wants to, Eaves normally hits more often, and Lilja has to start using his size to his advantage. Maybe we need another scrum that Howard gets involved in =) =) =)

by plopperrawr on Apr 15, 2010 2:47 PM CDT reply actions

Forget about Doan. If Franzen doesn’t pull his head out of his ass, this is going to be a short series.

by alexcutter on Apr 15, 2010 3:02 PM CDT reply actions

Not just Franzen

Outside of Pav, Jimmy and Stuart, no one on the Red Wings had a good game. The whole team needs to play better.

by Ghat on Apr 15, 2010 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Shane Doan played his ass off

the Wings have to match that intensity

Life is a waste of time and time is a waste of life... so lets get wasted all the time and have the time of our lives!

by JazzyBBP on Apr 15, 2010 4:52 PM CDT reply actions

Open Letter to Mr. Bet Man

Mr. Bettman put the thumb down on the Redwings season in November and they fought back despite 18 goal calls that went the wrong way after review, and despite phantom penalty calls that went the wrong way during the season, and despite injuries that would have broken lesser teams. That being said, last nights fiasco took the cake!! The referees made terrible call after terrible call and missed two really big calls. The interference in the front of the net on the faceoff when Morris scored Helm was knock on his rear off the draw and the highsticking incident that everyone in the Western Hemisphere had a clear view of except the four blind mice on the ice err and Mr..Bet Man!!

by Marcmargolis on Apr 15, 2010 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

dude,

you are flat out ridiculous with your conspiracy theories.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Apr 15, 2010 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Right

That is why the /NHL quit stealing games from the Redwings three weeks before the season ended, right after I got a article publish in the FREEP about goals called back. The article was mentioned on the TSN broadcast that night and the NHL got one last goal call back in then and then like magic the Redewings started getting calls!!

by Marcmargolis on Apr 16, 2010 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Usually when you write such an influential article

you link it when you refer to it. I don’t believe this for a second. These conspiracy theories are ridiculous.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Apr 16, 2010 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Copy/paste from the last thread when you said this

Honestly, does anyone think Bettman and the rest of the NHL are even competent enough to pull off something like that? This isn’t the NBA.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Apr 15, 2010 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Where do you think the NBA Policy was intiatiated?

In Gary Bet Man’s deputy NBA post.

by Marcmargolis on Apr 16, 2010 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Bettman was long gone

ever before the NBA was accused of “fixing” games (which is also crap, other than Donaghy).

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Apr 16, 2010 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Bet Man's Iverson Policy

Is documented…and was put in place with Rod Thorn and Gary Bet Man in administrative roles.

by Marcmargolis on Apr 16, 2010 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Do you work for the NHL Front Office or the NBA?

by Marcmargolis on Apr 16, 2010 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

18?!

What is your source on that, or did you figure it out yourself? I assume that’s just a count of calls that went against the Wings, not actually based on whether it was the “wrong” call.

In my opinion, the reviews have been much improved this season. When there is a problem, more often than not, it is that the referee has too much power over the review (or is unwilling to say “I’m not really sure what happened and made a guess for the initial call, but I’ll go with whatever you decide”).

by bleep bloop on Apr 15, 2010 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Mr. Campbell's Assistant

The system is broken with a purpose! To bump up the LA, Nashville and PHX franchises!! look at the statistical data to prove the point. Overtime records.

by Marcmargolis on Apr 16, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Here it Is!!

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Sports main: Lions | red wings | tigers | pistons | wolverines | spartans | Outdoors
Posted: 3:53 p.m. Feb. 27, 2010
Reader column
At least 17 reasons why Red Wings have struggled
BY MARC MARGOLIS /
SPRING, TEXAS

Comments (12) Recommend Print E-mail Letter to the editor Share
Facebook Twitter FarkIt Digg Del.icio.us Reddit Newsvine This column was submitted by a freep.com reader and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. Click here to submit your own column.

Seventeen is a prime number and the primary reason the Red Wings season has gone all wrong.

This year, the Red Wings have been on the wrong end of seventeen goal calls that went to the goal judge. The rules just do not seem to apply to the Red Wings in the same manner as they do for the rest of the NHL.

This has been a banner year for teams that are usually not contenders. The Kings, Coyotes, Predators, Avalanche and the Canucks all have inferior talent, yet all have better records than the Wings. Why? Seventeen called-back or goals awarded in the oppositions’ favor as opposed to five for the Wings.

Some real whoppers stand out. Brad May’s no goal that was in the net and did not get whistled dead. Steve Ott’s no goal against Jimmy Howard as a deciding goal in the shootout. Scottie Earl’s goal that he slapped into the net with his glove. The list goes on and on and on.

Also, we’ve seen odd penalty calls that to come at very concerning times with regularity. Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and especially Todd Bertuzzi seem to have targets on their backs that say “Put me in the box!” The Wings may lead the league in penalties called against them late in the third period with a lead. I don’t believe they have changed their game. The league has changed it for them to increase “parity.”

What’s also plagued Detroit are injuries. It’s hard to not find a Red Wing that has not been injured this season. Why? The league has opted for a more violent game in the hopes of attracting a different audience. As a ice hockey purist, I think the new game stinks. Too many hits to the head, no respect for another player, sticks out of control and way too many hits after the play that do not get called.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is to blame. Ten years ago, hockey was on the rise. Now, the NHL is a shadow of itself.

Back in December, Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson had to be helped off the ice by Brian Rafalski, left, and Pavel Datsyuk. (AP)
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