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Detroit’s game summary -
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Detroit laid down and gave up tonight. The score aside, Gudas continues to take runs at Larkin, and no response. Almost no significant hitting. No one who has any real hope to bring respect to the room is doing anything. Earning a game ejection would be a rallying cry, at least. Until this squad wants to demand respect from their opponents, they won’t get it. It’s a quick turnaround for another game tomorrow. There’s nothing to indicate that it will be much of an improvement at this point.
First period summary - it may be time to instill a mercy rule. Or, let the coach forfeit at some point. Detroit took a timeout after going down 3-0 and had a momentary glimpse of hope as Ryan ripped a beautiful low slapshot. 69 seconds later Barkov popped in a puck that should have been covered. As disappointing as the score is, Detroit’s response is sickening. Barkov went sliding in to pop that in, someone needs to rough him up at that point. Instead the team just stands there and watches. No hits, no passion. At this early point in the season, the team looks like they’ve stopped caring. The best thing anyone on Detroit can do tonight is put Gudas on IR. That, at least, will show that they care about their teammates. They’d probably get “thank you” cards from 29 teams in the league if they managed to do it.
Detroit has found a commitment to a defensive system. To Blashill’s credit (I’ve been fairly critical) the team is having extended times of good pressure. The goalie tandem has shaved .6 (from 3.73 last year to 3.11 this year) off of Detroit’s goals against. Unfortunately, goals for is nearly identical at 1.94 (2 last year). PK is slightly worse at 73.1 compared to 74.3 last year. The power play is only half as good as last year at an abysmal 7.1% compared to 14.9%. Luke Glendening, hats off, leads the league in faceoff % at over 68%. That is insanely impressive. It’s also pretty much the only category where Detroit weighs favorably against Florida.
So, stepping back, what looks better for Detroit? On ice, like I mentioned, the defensive structure continues to improve. The goalies are definitely an improvement. However, special teams are even worse than last year which saw Detroit 31st in both categories. Scoring has stalled out at around 2 goals. A boost in the power play could have a big impact on that number. It leaves me shaking my head, as this is an area that clearly hasn’t been properly addressed, if at all.
Expectations for Detroit is still that of a bottom 3 team. That’s reality. Stepping back and appreciating the improvements is necessary to keep some sort of sanity during the process. They type of defensive commitment the team is showing will be a boon as the rebuild goes on. Special teams, though, is an absolute atrocity. Putting the puck in the net, to be sure, is on the players. Having a system to creates high value opportunities is on the coaches. The power play is so woefully out of sync game after game. It would almost be an improvement to try and get the team to ignore a power play scheme and just play as they are 5 on 5. Stop adjusting personnel and roll out the regular lines. The team almost seems to panic when the opportunity presents itself. I’m not big on mantra based therapy, but maybe having a huddle and saying, “it’s just a normal shift. There are no special teams. There is no try, do or do not”.
For my pop culture reference, Star Wars part 5 has long been my favorite in the series. I realized decades later how off that really is. The film starts on a frozen planet of death. The “good guys” get stuffed into mutant kangaroos and beaten by Yeti. Eventually they’re chased off the planet and whipped. Han Solo ends up stuck in a giant floating chocolate bar, and Luke loses a hand and gains the universe’s most abusive parent. This sound whipping is actually fairly appropriate for Detroit’s status coming into tonight. The special teams are every bit as frozen as Hoth. Bertuzzi is still shelved, possibly as artwork in the dim halls of a vile gangster (can anyone guarantee he isn’t?). In this version, though, Jabba appears an episode early on the ice in the form of Radko Gudas. The difference? Some people actually liked Jabba.
Gudas, who apparently has family and funds over at player’s safety, continues to escape any type of disciplinary action for being the NHLs version of the gigantic worm of ill repute. Instead of feeding victims to a rancor, he takes on the duties himself and tries to murder players on the ice. Refs seem to enjoy it, or at least enjoy ignoring it. The suspensions for headshots this year aren’t any worse or damning than Gudas’s psychotic attack on Glendening. The Alternate captain was shelved for a few games, and it’d be nice to see someone take the slimy blue line criminal to task for it. Unfortunately, the only thing Gudas does faster than skate to make a dirty hit is skate away from having to answer for it.
Please, please don’t let Mantha near Gudas tonight. If those two drop the gloves Mantha will end up on IR and Yzerman will end up acquiring Gudas. It’s just the way the universe works. It’s a pressing issue, but someone outside the top 6 forward group needs to address it.
My hope for tonight? Some sort of thaw. The power play was 0 for the past 26 at one of the last counts. The average 2 goals scored are at even strength. Adding a power play tally will come close to evening the GA/GF discrepancy. I want to see a lot of heart and a lot of anger. Not usually a great idea, but Florida will play a nasty game in the corners. It would be an ideal time for Givani Smith to return, though there’s no news to that end.
Detroit continues to take baby steps in almost every area except for special teams. It is long past time to hand those reigns to someone else (Bylsma was directing the power play last I knew). The decision making that ends up as turnovers (bad passing and shot selection) or no shots on goal (same) are almost mind numbing. We all love a tic-tac-goal, but the Namestnikov tally last game was much more realistic. Shoot, rebound, shoot, rebound, shoot. Pass it off the goalie guys.
Let me know where you’re at tonight. Would you deal with Gudas, or tell the group to ignore him? How on earth does Detroit break the power play slump that has declined for 2 seasons? See you in the comments.
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