Loss of Composure
Posted 8:29 AM ET | Comments 2
The Detroit Red Wings head back to Joe Louis Arena down 2 games to the San Jose Sharks after losing 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
The loss was catalyzed by a complete lack of discipline by one of the least penalized teams in the regular season. The San Jose Sharks must have taken notice of Jimmy Howard’s reaction to Joe Pavelski’s snow shower in Game 1 and decided to try to get under the skin of the Red Wings the second time around.
It worked. Detroit took some uncharacteristic roughing penalties, including one by Tomas Holmstrom during a third period power play, which negated the man advantage and left the Red Wings to face the Sharks 4 on 4.
The other key to the Sharks victory was their defensive style. While Detroit plays a puck-possession style, the Sharks tend to play a crushing man-on-man defense. They smother the puck holder and stay completely on top of him, leaving him with no alternative but to the fire the puck to the sides, almost blind. The Red Wings by comparison, tend to leave a bit of space and allow the Sharks to enter the zone. The idea there being to cut off passing lanes and force turnovers. The problem is that both styles worked, but the Sharks squeaked by on another fluky goal. That puck took a fortuitous bounce of Jimmy Howard’s glove, up over his head, and into the net. Otherwise, Jimmy saw it all the way, and wasn’t beat clean, like he was on Ian White’s goal in the first period.
Jimmy Howard was again Detroit’s best player, and continued his solid play in net to at least keep Detroit within striking distance. The Red Wings now have a couple days to keep their composure, and figure out the Sharks’ stifling defense and get some pucks to the net. And stay out of the box!
Otherwise, it will be a very short week…
The loss was catalyzed by a complete lack of discipline by one of the least penalized teams in the regular season. The San Jose Sharks must have taken notice of Jimmy Howard’s reaction to Joe Pavelski’s snow shower in Game 1 and decided to try to get under the skin of the Red Wings the second time around.
It worked. Detroit took some uncharacteristic roughing penalties, including one by Tomas Holmstrom during a third period power play, which negated the man advantage and left the Red Wings to face the Sharks 4 on 4.
The other key to the Sharks victory was their defensive style. While Detroit plays a puck-possession style, the Sharks tend to play a crushing man-on-man defense. They smother the puck holder and stay completely on top of him, leaving him with no alternative but to the fire the puck to the sides, almost blind. The Red Wings by comparison, tend to leave a bit of space and allow the Sharks to enter the zone. The idea there being to cut off passing lanes and force turnovers. The problem is that both styles worked, but the Sharks squeaked by on another fluky goal. That puck took a fortuitous bounce of Jimmy Howard’s glove, up over his head, and into the net. Otherwise, Jimmy saw it all the way, and wasn’t beat clean, like he was on Ian White’s goal in the first period.
Jimmy Howard was again Detroit’s best player, and continued his solid play in net to at least keep Detroit within striking distance. The Red Wings now have a couple days to keep their composure, and figure out the Sharks’ stifling defense and get some pucks to the net. And stay out of the box!
Otherwise, it will be a very short week…
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22 Frustration and Redemption
23 Thoughts on the Red Wings' Off-Season
25 Late Entry
29 Now THAT'S a Hockey Game!
31 Last Night's Game Against the Blues
23 Thoughts on the Red Wings' Off-Season
25 Late Entry
29 Now THAT'S a Hockey Game!
31 Last Night's Game Against the Blues
02 Loss of Composure
05 The Frustration Continues...
08 At Long last...A Win!
09 Now, It's A Series!
11 Red Wings Mount Historic Comeback!
12 Random Thoughts on Tonight's Game 7
13 The Mountain Was Just Too High
20 Scenarios for Making Room for Winnipeg
26 A Red Wings Fan's Guide to Brian Rafalski and the Sharks
05 The Frustration Continues...
08 At Long last...A Win!
09 Now, It's A Series!
11 Red Wings Mount Historic Comeback!
12 Random Thoughts on Tonight's Game 7
13 The Mountain Was Just Too High
20 Scenarios for Making Room for Winnipeg
26 A Red Wings Fan's Guide to Brian Rafalski and the Sharks
06 Red Wings Preseason Review
06 A Look at the Western Conference
11 A Look at the Eastern Conference
26 …and the League’s Humanitarian Award goes to…
06 A Look at the Western Conference
11 A Look at the Eastern Conference
26 …and the League’s Humanitarian Award goes to…
Detroit took no penalties for the snow showers. And the roughing penalty to Holmstrom was the right call but, if the refs were watching closely, they would've seen Jason Demers stick Homer in the gut with the blade of his stick, all so very subtly. That's why Homer reacted the way he did.
That's the game though. Homer was outfront about his reaction, which is exactly what the Sharks were trying to do - get under their skin. Holmstrom (and the whole team) should realize this. Detroit took no penalties for snow showers, but San Jose should have. Pavelski provided 2 such showers and the ref had words with him. Thornton should have been tossed in the box after his.