Enough is enough! Come on Detroit
Posted 6:39 PM ET | Comments 0
Okay this current Red Wings slide just never seems to end.
After they broke the NHL record for the most consecutive home wins, it seems like an entirely differently hockey, well in most part it is because it is.
Let's take a quick run down of players that have missed a game of late: Pavel Datsyuk, Nick Lidstrom, Jimmy Howard, Todd Bertuzzi, Patrick Eaves, Dan Cleary, Jonathon Ericsson, Johan Franzen, Jakub Kindl and now it was just announced that Darren Helm will be out probably most if not all of the first round of the playoffs. That really hurts the wings considering how great the third line has been for the Red Wings. I mean look at the first three names on that list, where do you go when you lose star-caliber players like that.
The coaches are in no rush to get Nick Lidstrom back on the ice, which is fine with me because all of Detroit is really hoping that he is 100% come April. Pavel Datsyuk just came back on Saturday after missing almost a month and was back to his magic scoring one of the most beautiful goals I've seen roofing the puck over Antii Neimi on an impossible angle.
I was so excited to get Jimmy Howard back in net because I just don't trust Joey MacDonald enough to carry us in the long run and I feel like his lucky streak had reached its end. But Howard what is wrong? I know you don't have the best defenseman in the game right now but this can't be an implication of how the next few years will go without Lidstrom. I have all the faith in the world in Howard and believe he is in the elite goaltender status in the NHL but to be honest I don't think he is healthy right now. He missed a stretch of games with an injury only to get hurt again. He was on pace for a magical season at the all star break and still at the end of the season will have very respectable season, but he has taken quite a stumble in the last couple weeks. The most important stat is the Wins and he just can't seem to get one right now.
It's nice to see all the young guys to take the ice for the Wings so the NHL gets to take a look at some potential stars early. Brendan Smith has been an absolute stud for the Red Wings filling in for the crippled defense. He is a strong skater and really has a great mind of the game. He has tallied 7 points in 13 games and provides the offensive side of the puck an advantage. Forward Gustav Nyquist is another rookie that has been impressive in his stint in the majors. The former Maine Black Bear, got a shot to play on the top line in last night's game against the Capitals with Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi.
Looks like I was right about Jimmy Howard, he has re-aggravated his groin and who knows how long he could be out. But that's not even the beginning of the Red Wings goaltending problems. Backup Joey MacDonald is out because of pain in his left leg and the Wings are recalling Ty Conklin from the Griffins but he must clear waivers first. So the top 3 goalies could be gone just like that. There is a very good chance that Jordan Pearce could make his NHL debut against the Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden...but I mean no big deal right.
The best way I can sum this up is I can't wait for March to be over. But hey doesn't the saying go "In like a lion, out like a lamb"? Well then i still have faith for the Winged Warriors of Detroit, after all anything can happen in April.
After they broke the NHL record for the most consecutive home wins, it seems like an entirely differently hockey, well in most part it is because it is.
Let's take a quick run down of players that have missed a game of late: Pavel Datsyuk, Nick Lidstrom, Jimmy Howard, Todd Bertuzzi, Patrick Eaves, Dan Cleary, Jonathon Ericsson, Johan Franzen, Jakub Kindl and now it was just announced that Darren Helm will be out probably most if not all of the first round of the playoffs. That really hurts the wings considering how great the third line has been for the Red Wings. I mean look at the first three names on that list, where do you go when you lose star-caliber players like that.
The coaches are in no rush to get Nick Lidstrom back on the ice, which is fine with me because all of Detroit is really hoping that he is 100% come April. Pavel Datsyuk just came back on Saturday after missing almost a month and was back to his magic scoring one of the most beautiful goals I've seen roofing the puck over Antii Neimi on an impossible angle.
I was so excited to get Jimmy Howard back in net because I just don't trust Joey MacDonald enough to carry us in the long run and I feel like his lucky streak had reached its end. But Howard what is wrong? I know you don't have the best defenseman in the game right now but this can't be an implication of how the next few years will go without Lidstrom. I have all the faith in the world in Howard and believe he is in the elite goaltender status in the NHL but to be honest I don't think he is healthy right now. He missed a stretch of games with an injury only to get hurt again. He was on pace for a magical season at the all star break and still at the end of the season will have very respectable season, but he has taken quite a stumble in the last couple weeks. The most important stat is the Wins and he just can't seem to get one right now.
It's nice to see all the young guys to take the ice for the Wings so the NHL gets to take a look at some potential stars early. Brendan Smith has been an absolute stud for the Red Wings filling in for the crippled defense. He is a strong skater and really has a great mind of the game. He has tallied 7 points in 13 games and provides the offensive side of the puck an advantage. Forward Gustav Nyquist is another rookie that has been impressive in his stint in the majors. The former Maine Black Bear, got a shot to play on the top line in last night's game against the Capitals with Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi.
Looks like I was right about Jimmy Howard, he has re-aggravated his groin and who knows how long he could be out. But that's not even the beginning of the Red Wings goaltending problems. Backup Joey MacDonald is out because of pain in his left leg and the Wings are recalling Ty Conklin from the Griffins but he must clear waivers first. So the top 3 goalies could be gone just like that. There is a very good chance that Jordan Pearce could make his NHL debut against the Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden...but I mean no big deal right.
The best way I can sum this up is I can't wait for March to be over. But hey doesn't the saying go "In like a lion, out like a lamb"? Well then i still have faith for the Winged Warriors of Detroit, after all anything can happen in April.