The script is becoming a familiar one for the Detroit Red Wings. They play solidly for a spell, occasionally even come away with an early lead. Then their advantage steadily erodes and the next thing you know, the other team is making off with the two points.
Friday, Detroit lost for the fourth time in a row, squandering a trio of one-goal leads before falling 5-3 to the Winnipeg Jets at Joe Louis Arena.
The post-loss refrains from the players are also beginning to sound familiar.
“In the third (period) I thought we shot ourselves in the foot,… Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “I thought the first pass was decent at times but we couldn’t get the puck out and we couldn’t get it deep.
“I think we’re just not assertive enough for whatever reason. We’ve got to a little bit more want the puck, talk to each other a little bit more and win the 50-50 battles.
“I know it sounds like all clichés, but when everything comes down to it, a lot of it is those 50-50 pucks. In the third I thought we didn’t win enough of those.…
Justin Abdelkader’s goal 10:48 into the third period put the Wings ahead 3-2 but it was all Winnipeg after that.
“It’s just bad breaks here and there,… Abdelkader said. “We’ve just got to do a better job of managing the game, of managing the puck at times.…
Finishing what they’ve started is another issue that continues to haunt Detroit. The Wings squandered a 2-0 led at lost 4-3 at Philadelphia in their previous game.
“We’ve got to finish it out for sure,… Blashill said. “We obviously lost a couple of assignments there, where we allowed them (opportunities to get goals) that I don’t think we should have.
“We can’t miss those assignments and we’ve got to make sure we finish the game.…
Power Outage A power play that went 0-3 and seldom appeared threatening also didn’t help Detroit’s cause.
“I think for starters I think we’ve got to do a better job of coming together and entering the zone with possession,… Kronwall said. “Tonight at times we weren’t on the same page. And that’s something that’s not good enough. That can’t happen.
“We’ve got to come together and have a little bit more poise. Once we entered the zone I thought we had some decent looks but we’ve got to be more dangerous and create a little bit more chances.…
Knee Holds Up Seeing his first action all season after rehabbing a wonky knee, Kronwall played 18:14 and was pointless and minus-one on the night.
“I felt OK,… Kronwall said. “The knee held up and I felt decent.
“I tried to keep it short. I tried to keep it simple. There were a few turnovers you’d like to clean up, obviously. It was nice just to get back out there with the guys again.…
Blashill felt Kronwall’s experience allowed him to overcome a lack of a training camp and preseason preparation.
“I thought Kronner played pretty good,… Blashill said. “Kronner’s got a great brain, he’s got great smarts. He’s got great poise under pressure.…
There was debate on the subject of when Kronwall might play again.
“I’m definitely hoping to play Sunday (at home against Edmonton),… Kronwall said. “Again, everything comes back to the coach’s decision and we’ll go from there.
“We’ll see here moving forward, monitoring things but I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the lineup again.
Blashill was non-committal on the topic.
“We’re going to get to tomorrow, see how it is and make decisions moving forward,… Blashill said.
Howe Endearing The Wings intend to recognize several of the franchise’s legends during the farewell season at the JLA and Friday they honoured Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe. Howe’s children were on hand for the celebration of their father’s life. Howe died in the summer at the age of 88.
“What the Wings are doing this year for some of the alumni I think is an absolute great idea,… Mark Howe said. “So many wonderful players in the history of this organization, to have some of these people recognized is great.
“Our father being one of them just makes it special for us.…
Since their father passed, the Howes have heard tales about their dad from people who crossed paths with Gordie over the years, and they continue to hear more about how their dad touched the lives of so many.
“I think it’s a part of the grieving process but it’s also part of again, celebrating the kind of man he was,… Murray Howe said. “You don’t want to forget him because he was so important to so many people. He meant so much.
“As a family, we’re still learning a lot more about who he was through everybody that contacted us to share their experiences with him and the impact he had on them. So it’s kind of nice.
“As long as people want to have events and honor him, we’re thrilled. We’ll just keep that rolling as long as people want to.…
As much as they understand the sense of loss that hockey fans feel with Mr. Hockey gone, to the Howe children, the loss is far greater to overcome.
“For all the fans and his hockey family, it’s a great loss, but it’s still your parent,… Howe’s daughter Cathy explained. “I still sometimes wait for — Dad, I’d hear him getting up and his little dog would come in. I knew he was up and around. He would try and pick the dog up and sneak around the corner in the kitchen like I didn’t know he was there with that big grin on his face, and say ‘Good morning.’
“I still miss that. I’m still waiting for that.…
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