All has NOT been quiet on the Western Front of late and the war was going badly for the Beloved Wings who, prior to last night's game in Boston, lost three of their last four and what's worse... only managed to score four goals in those four losses while suffering TWO shut-outs. Coach Babcock, quoted in the Detroit News: Coach Mike Babcock said before the game, "You go through (lulls) every year. When you get it, you don't love getting it, but when you're through with it, you like it. You have to get through it. We haven't played hard or good enough, and when we do play good, it's (only) for a short period of time."
You can't continue to play like we've been playing, with the energy we've been playing."
That energy returned against the Bruins.
And so did their scoring prowess... the 6-1 final score against the Bruins included two power play goals. All sports teams slump at one point or another during a season, and that's particularly true in the long grind that is the NHL's 82-game schedule. That said, it's difficult to suppress the urge to panic when things start to go wrong. A good comeback game against a division leading team like Boston... on the road... helps restore faith. It also helps to keep things in perspective: while the Wings may have been in a bit of a funk the last week or so they are still the number two seed in the West and lead the Central Division by a comfortable margin.
But I sure would panic if I were a Blackhawks fan. Last year's Stanley Cup champs are 11th in the West and three points out of the playoff picture as we speak. (smirk)
Ah, but can we really call the current 'Hawks team last year's champions when management went through and seriously cleaned house? Surely half of the team was sent elsewhere. Not that I'm a fan.
ReplyDelete...can we really call the current 'Hawks team last year's champions...
ReplyDeleteLiterally, no, coz you're right: a goodly portion of the team was shipped out over the summer. That said, the 'hawks management is also part of the team and they did a LOUSY job of managing the cap. And there's the injury thing, too... which has bit them hard this year. But... that's hockey and the 'hawks are generating major suckage this year.
I do envy your hockey. The void left by the end of football season begs to be filled. Basketball is just not as satisfying, ya know?
ReplyDeleteHockey is GOOD, Moogie. You otta give it a go. Versus network on most Mondays and the odd game or two on Sundays, on NBC.
ReplyDelete