Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Sara’s random Red Wings thoughts. Here are a couple things that have been on my mind lately…
Jonathan Ericsson
This fanbase desperately needs some good news, and have no fear for…Jonathan Ericsson is here? Wait, really? Yes, Jonathan Ericsson. I know it sounds crazy, especially coming from me the reliable driver of the Riggy Sucks Hot Taeks Bus but I have to give him credit this season, I’ve been impressed with his improvement. Many of us were prepared to destroy the universe when we heard about his hip problems, but he has been dare I say, reliable, this season (so far). He set up a beautiful goal with a great pass in our game against the Islanders, and I no longer have this sense of panic when I see him with the puck. He’s a strong contender for a most improved award.
Petr Mrazek
So Petr Mrazek has had an interesting ride so far this season. It seemed like Jimmy was our man until he went down with an injury, but Mrazek appears to be turning things around. I wouldn’t say he has been brilliant, but he hasn’t been letting in a bunch of flub goals either. I think he’s getting better, and if we continue to baby his confidence a little bit until he can stand on his own, I think he could bounce back for us. Coreau isn’t the worst backup goalie in the world, and it isn’t ideal for him to be put in games just to get lit up and save Mrazek the trouble, but that might be the reality we live in for a little while until Jimmy comes back (which appears to be later this month barring any setbacks).
Jeff Blashill
Blash. What are you doing? Who are you? Were you abducted on the way from Grand Rapids and this has been an imposter the whole time? Were you taken over by a Yeerk? Or a pod person? Or some kind of intelligent, but bad at hockey strategy, wombat alien? I was cutting Blash a lot of slack, he was new and trying to fit himself into Babcock’s system, when in my uneducated opinion he should have stepped out of that shadow and done his own thing. But he was learning, so surely this season he would be back in action implementing his awesome systems right? Nope. We continue to get the Jeff Blashill Bingo Wheel (of Line Shuffling Doom), which from my armchair perspective puts a damper on developing chemistry. We’ve had a couple of lines click, but just can’t seem to get all 4 lines rolling. Which isn’t Blash’s fault entirely, we’ve had a lot of injuries (as usual), but it is at least a little bit to a moderate bit his fault.
The 3rd Period Bugaboo
Hold on one second while I scream into the void. Ok, that’s better. So let’s talk about the 3rd period. Maybe we should never take a lead into the 3rd period and do the Lions’ comeback victory thing? I can only imagine the kind of speeches that happen in the locker room during intermission when we are approaching the 3rd period with a lead, maybe it goes a little something like this:
Zetterberg: Ok guys, we’re in the lead, so let’s make sure not to fall apart. For sure.
Team: Sounds good Hank, let’s go play some hockey! (High fives and general positive vibes)
*a few minutes later*
(puck drops)
Team: OH NO HOW DO YOU HOCKEY AGAIN? WHAT DO WE DO?
Zetterberg: Ok, what you’re doing now? That’s the thing you should not do. That is not how you hockey. At all. For Sure.
(Other team scores)
Sigh. I don’t know what the answer is, are they trying to hard? Are they not trying enough? Are they psyching themselves out? Should we, the fans, adopt new superstitions to help? If any of you are cursed please let us know in the comments so we can figure out a cure.
We’re scraping points where we can, but it’s not enough. Make the playoffs or miss the playoffs, which is going to be better for the team? It’s an argument that’s been going on for years and shows no sign of stopping now. I guess all there is to do now is to trudge forward, and if you are fortunate enough to go to a game, start a hearty Let’s Go Red Wings cheer and inject some energy into the arena for our boys.
