Wings' Reliance on Late-Game Surge Stings, Preds Push Past Detroit

The Red Wings are playing themselves out of any chance for 1st round home-ice advantage.

After an uninspired performance this evening against the Nashville Predators, the Red Wings now find themselves a point back of that very team after being beaten 4-1.  Now sitting in 5th in the West, Chicago is dangerously close to also pushing past Detroit to bump the Wings down to a depressing 6th seed.

Currently I'm waiting for the post-game to hear from coach Mike Babcock.  I'm truly hoping he doesn't say that he thought the Wings played well, despite the outcome, because they did not.  Defense was terrible tonight, and that has been an eerie consistency lately, healthy or not.  Offense was lacking, and far too saturated with fanciness and over-passing.  Babcock came right out and said that more shots needed to be taken, and it seems like the team did not respond to his cries.  SOG were 32-26 in favor of Nashville, and that is just too low a number against a team like the Predators and a goalie like Pekka Rinne.

This last stretch of the regular season has felt excruciatingly long, and it continues on Sunday against Florida.  All the Wings can do now is try to get their act together and call the witch doctor to put the hexes on Nashville and Chicago.

Healthier Wings Take on Jackets

Detroit (46-25-5) @ Columbus (24-45-7)


Gustav Nyquist is making the most of his opportunities.

As Detroit continues to heal, regulars are returning to the lineup.  Jonathan Ericsson and Johan Franzen are both set to come back to action tonight as the Red Wings battle the Columbus BlueJackets.  Even with the many returnees, however, the young man sometimes known by the nickname "Goose" has not been made the odd man out.  Jan Mursak will be a healthy scratch and Nyquist will remain up, supposedly starting on the 4th line where Mursak would have been.

The biggest injury concern now is goaltending.  Ty Conklin will be starting again tonight in Columbus, with Jordan Pearce sitting in as backup.  Jimmy Howard is feeling better, but coach Mike Babcock does not want to rush his return.  Originally Howard was to start Friday, but Babcock decided a home game against the Nashville Predators was not the ideal return date for Jimmah.  Joey MacDonald, meanwhile, is still lamed up with back issues.

Tonight's game will pull Detroit even with the rest of their division rivals at 77 games.  Currently sitting 4th in the West, a win will increase Detroit's point total to 99, 3 ahead of Nashville and 6 ahead of Chicago.  Meanwhile the Blues, who have been on a tear, will see their lead on the division title drop to 6 points.  Sitting at a cushy 105 points with 5 games to go in the season, however, St. Louis will have to all but fall apart for the Wings to overtake them.

Enjoy the game tonight, Wingnuts!

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Hobbled Wings Hold Court with Kings

Detroit (44-22-3) @ Los Angeles (32-25-12)


Games are becoming increasingly critical.  With the St. Louis Blues pulling away in the Central division race, the Red Wings need to find some heroes to keep pace while injuries to many of the Detroit studs get healthy again. The Wings will thankfully see Jimmy Howard return tonight, and Joey MacDonald will hopefully get to settle back into the number two spot after doing all he could to keep the Wings on the winning side of the scoreboard.

Detroit broke the Kings' hearts a few games back, managing a win by getting 4 of their season-low 15 shots past Jonathan Quick in a home victory that some might say they didn't deserve and were lucky to walk away with.

Something tells me that the Wings will need a much more concerted effort tonight at the Staples Center if they hope to secure another precious two points this evening.  With the tear that St. Louis is on, Detroit will need the W to help prevent the Blues from all but running away with the division.

Should be a good match, and I'll be ranting about it later on Twitter, I'm sure.

Let's Go Red Wings!!

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