Game Preview: Wings VS Ducks

Detroit (36-17-2) VS Anaheim (21-24-8)


Gotta get back on the go, here!

The Wings have a chance tonight to tie the 3rd longest home win streak in NHL history, but will have to do it without All-Star goalie Jimmy Howard when the Wings host the Anaheim Ducks.  Detroit can, with a victory this evening, stretch their home winning streak to 19 games.  They will be facing an Anaheim team that was not enjoyed the Joe Louis Arena atmosphere in a very long time.

It behooves the Wings to come out of the gate early in this one.  A quick start with a goal or two early in the 1st period would really help set the tone the Wings may need to cash in a W tonight.  With no Jimmah between the pipes, chances are Joey MacDonald will get the call to shut the door on the Ducks.  Ty Conklin, who was brought in to be the number 2 goalie has been nothing -but- number 2, his save percentage being the worst among goalies appearing in at least 10 games, as quoted by Yahoo! Sports.

Some of the guys really need to step up over the next few games and make a statement.  First among them, in my mind, is Henrik Zetterberg.  Hank notched a goal in Detroit's latest win over Edmonton, but it's not something he's done much of this season.  Danny Cleary and Drew Miller (11G respectively) have more goals than Z (10G) coming into this match. This is not ever supposed to happen. Ever.  We need a concerted effort and a solid mindset to not underestimate an Anaheim team that may be playing more for pride now than a playoff spot, and what a feather in their plucky cap it'd be to sabotage the Wings' hopes of moving toward the record for consecutive home wins.

I'll be keeping an eye on the game till I get home from work.  You may see me on Twitter when that happens, but I hope you enjoy the game regardless!

Let's Go Red Wings!!

Recipe for better success

Damn well trade Conklin, he's goddamned useless, end of story.

Wings Wallow Against Inspired Isles, Lose 5-1

Man oh man, I just can't figure this out.

Is it because the boys write off games against this team?  Is it the underdog complex winning the day game in and game out?  Whatever it is, the Red Wings apparently need to just STOP playing the New York Islanders.

With Pavel Datsyuk out due to a lower body injury, and Ty Conklin, well...being Ty Conklin, Detroit staggered to an embarrassing 5-1 loss in what should have been an easier-than-average tilt.  Instead, we helped the Isles move all the way up to...second-to-worst team in the East.

Good job, boys.  We don't need those gimmie wins, right? Right...?

I didn't get to watch the game, but I don't need to have seen it to know that even without Dats in the lineup, there is plenty of firepower on this team to get more than 1 puck past Evgeni Nabokov.  Was that the reason for this latest bed-soiling against the Isles? Just a case of Nabby haunting us, showing us what we COULD have had instead of Conklin?  Maybe so, but we've got what we've got, and what we've got should be beating NYI into the ice 8 days out of 7.

Thanks to the poor effort last night, Detroit drops out of top spot in the Central, and the Blues have now claimed it.  I know we usually talk out not caring about topping the Division/Conference, but the way we've been playing at home, the Wings may want to make sure that, come season's end, their name is one of the top 3 in the West. Dropping games like last night is just going to make that more difficult.

Wings Stand Firm in Oiltown, Edge Edmonton 3-2

Well, that was a harrowing evening!

Drew Miller came through for the Red Wings in the final frame and once again scored the game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers, holding on for a 3-2 win.  Danny Cleary and Jiri Hudler also scored for Detroit in a game that, in some instances, the Wings could have let slip away.

I say this because there have been similar games played by Detroit that they HAVE let slip away from them.  It's nice to see that Detroit is learning to better adapt when things don't go as planned, like against Los Angeles.  Jimmy Howard was solid again tonight, helping keep the Wings on top with his 20th win of the season, making him the 1st goalie to hit that mark this year.

Couple of thoughts on the game: As I already mentioned, this was a game that the Wings could have let get away from them, what with the speed and raw talent of the youthful Oilers squad.  Thankfully, hard work and experience proved the determining factor in this contest.

The bottom 2 forward lines have just been stellar of late, and it just proves again that a team with depth is a force to be reckoned with.  Coach Babcock has to be grinning inside when he can roll all 4 lines and get production from each one, without having to worry about leaning on the superstars to generate offense.

Now, the Red Wings will head to Vancouver for a date with the Canucks, and a chance to start moving above .500 on the road!

Class dismissed

Oh, and also: Apologies to the Jonny fans, but Ericsson was garbage [again] tonight, my ire is further risen.