Jeremy Laura: Slow Start, outstanding goaltending sees Detroit fall to Winnipeg

"Finishing is hard" Kenny Holland

Ok, ok, ok.....it's MY fault. If you go back to the 2 previous pre-game write-ups, you'll see that predicted final scores. THAT'S what's happened. I will not do that again. Apologies. Part of me is being sarcastic, the superstitious part of me is serious.......

Look, for 2 games the guys have been DOA against inferior teams. Helly is simply an atmospheric G, he'd beat his grandmother he's so ruthless. Insane....he teleports to the puck's path. Just.....wow.

I harken back to the Wings post-OTT beatdown last year. Same product, different players. Newsie, Tanguay, et. al. have a big job in front of them: Get the boys saddled up and ready to play. This is a deceptively good team; hell, I evwn complimented Holl's play and I don't like the guy (don't hate him, just puzzeled as to why, and for so long...).

Let's see what Saturday brings....

I don't know if we watched the same game. Yes, they started slow, but they absolutely dominated after that. They were up against a goalie who was on fire. He was already a great goalie but last night, I bet the shots seemed to be slow motion. Sometimes goalies have those games and there's not much you can do about it. I can't tell you how many times the Wings, with a roster full of HOF players, would keep the puck in the O zone the entire game, just peppering Brodeur with not only shots, but really good, open shots, and he'd still shut them down. Roy did the same thing numerous times.

It seems like after every loss, it's cut this player, trade this player, dump this goalie, change these lines. You may not be aware that teams play in 10 game increments, then they re-evaluate and adjust. If they adjusted after every single game, they'd win no games. Few people expected Det to be a playoff team this year, but somehow the expectation became a President's Cup.

I don't know if we watched the same game. Yes, they started slow, but they absolutely dominated after that. They were up against a goalie who was on fire. He was already a great goalie but last night, I bet the shots seemed to be slow motion. Sometimes goalies have those games and there's not much you can do about it. I can't tell you how many times the Wings, with a roster full of HOF players, would keep the puck in the O zone the entire game, just peppering Brodeur with not only shots, but really good, open shots, and he'd still shut them down. Roy did the same thing numerous times.

It seems like after every loss, it's cut this player, trade this player, dump this goalie, change these lines. You may not be aware that teams play in 10 game increments, then they re-evaluate and adjust. If they adjusted after every single game, they'd win no games. Few people expected Det to be a playoff team this year, but somehow the expectation became a President's Cup.
- bluelineenforcer

What I expect is for them to put in a full 60 minute effort and stay focused on playing good team defense. The offense will come... but right now they're allowing about 30 shots every game and that is simply not good enough with their current goaltenders... who need more support than that. If they had Sorokin or some other elite goaltender in net we wouldn't be having this conversation. The defense is still a work in process with this team. These next three games coming up will be a good test for the Wings to see if they can hang with the other playoff teams.

I don't know if we watched the same game. Yes, they started slow, but they absolutely dominated after that. They were up against a goalie who was on fire. He was already a great goalie but last night, I bet the shots seemed to be slow motion. Sometimes goalies have those games and there's not much you can do about it. I can't tell you how many times the Wings, with a roster full of HOF players, would keep the puck in the O zone the entire game, just peppering Brodeur with not only shots, but really good, open shots, and he'd still shut them down. Roy did the same thing numerous times.

It seems like after every loss, it's cut this player, trade this player, dump this goalie, change these lines. You may not be aware that teams play in 10 game increments, then they re-evaluate and adjust. If they adjusted after every single game, they'd win no games. Few people expected Det to be a playoff team this year, but somehow the expectation became a President's Cup.
- bluelineenforcer

They were bad in the first, they found better life in the second, and I said they were dominating in the third even up 16-4 in shots before WPG got their 3rd goal. Copp has been an issue for a while. Something hasn’t worked right since that surgery. But the team didn’t dominate the 2nd. They dominated play in the third until they deflated. The 2nd was a pretty even period. More than anything, I said it was the bad start that killed them. The 2 goals Winnipeg scored in the first were all they needed and I gave the goalie his due on that. I mention 10 game segments in almost every write up. I mentioned in from game one. Get 6 wins and 1 OT loss and you’re in the talk heading to around the 100 point area. I don’t mind criticism, but that feels incredibly inaccurate as I mentioned the criticisms you levied. To say the team was “dominant” after a slow start just doesn’t seem accurate. For the third period, they looked like they were taking over an after Raymond’s goal they were skating a lot better. But they looked disjointed in the first. I want Copp to find his game, but if he’s reinjured his core and is trying to play through it, that’s not going to happen

What I expect is for them to put in a full 60 minute effort and stay focused on playing good team defense. The offense will come... but right now they're allowing about 30 shots every game and that is simply not good enough with their current goaltenders... who need more support than that. If they had Sorokin or some other elite goaltender in net we wouldn't be having this conversation. The defense is still a work in process with this team. These next three games coming up will be a good test for the Wings to see if they can hang with the other playoff teams.
- Vladdie_Kon1

I agree that, in particular Boston, is going to be a very different kind of test. The Wings had an incredible start, but were scoring at times once every 5 or 6 shots. I don’t know what the “baseline” is or if the era is changing, but .910 has been considered respectable goaltending. Reimer’s stop on the back door play last night was shockingly good. Detroit had some unsustainable stats and things are going to level out. It is concerning that there are times when only half the Dzone seems to be covered. Maata has looked flustered at times but Gostisbehere has been a nice add. There still seems to be a sizeable drop off from the top 2 or 3 D (depending on how you view them). Seider seemed stronger on his skates last year, getting knocked around a bit more but he and Walman still make for our best pairing and his ascent point wise has been impressive.

I agree that, in particular Boston, is going to be a very different kind of test. The Wings had an incredible start, but were scoring at times once every 5 or 6 shots. I don’t know what the “baseline” is or if the era is changing, but .910 has been considered respectable goaltending. Reimer’s stop on the back door play last night was shockingly good. Detroit had some unsustainable stats and things are going to level out. It is concerning that there are times when only half the Dzone seems to be covered. Maata has looked flustered at times but Gostisbehere has been a nice add. There still seems to be a sizeable drop off from the top 2 or 3 D (depending on how you view them). Seider seemed stronger on his skates last year, getting knocked around a bit more but he and Walman still make for our best pairing and his ascent point wise has been impressive.
- Jeremy Laura

One of my biggest takeaways from the game last night was the Wings didn't get any traffic in front of Hellebuyck. He was able to see almost 100% of the shots coming at him. Wings made it way too easy for him. He's too good a goalie for that. Would have been nice to see some bodies in front of him taking away his vision. Hope the coaching staff addressed that. Boston has the best goalie tandem in the NHL... so the Wings need to screen them as much as possible and frustrate them. You can't spot good playoff teams 2 goal leads and expect to win... so I'm hoping for a much better start to set the tone against Boston.

One of my biggest takeaways from the game last night was the Wings didn't get any traffic in front of Hellebuyck. He was able to see almost 100% of the shots coming at him. Wings made it way too easy for him. He's too good a goalie for that. Would have been nice to see some bodies in front of him taking away his vision. Hope the coaching staff addressed that. Boston has the best goalie tandem in the NHL... so the Wings need to screen them as much as possible and frustrate them. You can't spot good playoff teams 2 goal leads and expect to win... so I'm hoping for a much better start to set the tone against Boston.
- Vladdie_Kon1

I completely agree. The reason I keep my game notes on the write up is little details that I know I won’t remember. WPG defense stayed on the inside of all of our skaters. Holmstrom used to do so well and couldn’t be budged. I didn’t realize how strong he really was. Him and Pav both could destroy everyone on leg lifts. Homer’s biggest criticism is guys not being “tough” enough to get to the front of the net. It’s abuse but only so many players can beat a goalie flat out. You either have to get them to move and open the 5 hole or block their vision and shoot for that blind spot

One of my biggest takeaways from the game last night was the Wings didn't get any traffic in front of Hellebuyck. He was able to see almost 100% of the shots coming at him. Wings made it way too easy for him. He's too good a goalie for that. Would have been nice to see some bodies in front of him taking away his vision. Hope the coaching staff addressed that. Boston has the best goalie tandem in the NHL... so the Wings need to screen them as much as possible and frustrate them. You can't spot good playoff teams 2 goal leads and expect to win... so I'm hoping for a much better start to set the tone against Boston.
- Vladdie_Kon1

THIS is a good assessment; the majority of the SOG came from the perimeter. Good call.

I'm not saying the entire line-up needs to go by any stretch. I do believe that we need a sustainable G set-up, whether it be 1A/B, 1A & Stud 2G....we've had G issues since 5-ever. Heck, most teams that struggle have the same issue at many points in the season.

I'll go back to what I said before the season started; I don't think this team is SCPO-bound, but I firmly believe they are a team that's going to shake many contender's confidence. We have a good team, gimme a G and we can be a potent team. We've shown this team can be surprising, but every team we face has had a chance to see how we play which has lead to harder zone entries, pressure (heavy pressure) on us when we're in the O-zone, and clogging passing lanes. We just need to adjust to the adjustment, and this team has the ability to do that. Make the adjustments, stay outta the sin-bin....