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Wings vs. Oilers, and Detroit’s obvious D-ficiencies |
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Today is a game that is incredibly special for a lot of Detroit fans, myself included. Matt Shepard used to say, “the most over-used word in sports is the word ‘great’.” Today is one of those occasions where you see players that embody that word without any need for exaggeration or argument. As the Oilers come in, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both players you could build a team around. To have them share the ice is something special and makes it ok just to enjoy the game being played.
Looking at the home team, Detroit continues to struggle and the result of today will be examined in light of goaltending. Unless something kicks in in terms of team defense (doubtful) it will either be a case of grand larceny between the pipes or an inability to provide that cover that will lay out the result. Still, there are some positives.
Raymond scored his first goal, but is right now clicking at a point per game (1G 7A) and is a plus 3. Many, if not most, don’t care about plus/minus much or at all but on this team that stands out. Seider has 1G 4A and is a plus 5. He’ll jump in front of every puck he can. Edvinsson had a shift yesterday with two failed passes where he then just skated the puck down into the O zone. As a young D man, he seems to be finding confidence (1G, 3A +2). The rest of the blue line is beyond painful.
The team has shown O zone glimpses of better possession and puck movement, but the defensive structure is a punishment to watch. A goal by Buffalo that came on the heels of a bad line change saw the players almost puck watching as it was scored. Either the players aren’t getting whatever message the coaches are preaching or there isn’t a message that’s going to translate into defensive success.
Why is this such a frustration 8 games in? It’s the kind of thing you think about on game 82 as an empty net goal ends your post season hopes. Regardless of the determined finish, the defense needs help. Gustafsson isn’t getting better, Petry looks frustrated, Holl, Chiarot, make your list outside of the top pairing one of whom is now 21 and in his first full season. Without a system, you need D whose instincts and performance can adjust to any scenario. It’s not happening.
There is a flu bug, but this isn’t a brand new problem. The team defense has been a mess since day 1. That was supposed to be the focus of the summer. Last year, add goals. They did. This year, subtract goals against. 2 of the 4 wins were shutouts and in all 4 the team was outshot including a win that saw a total of 10 shots on goal (which I believe is a record for lowest shots in a Wings victory).
If we’re having this conversation, the team certainly is aware of it. We won’t know if they will address it until/unless they do. Trades come out of nowhere and a coaching change (while a little harder to do completely under the radar) feels unlikely but more of you seem to be leaning that way.
The post game will either be a reminder of this entry or someone stating that the “naysaying” is for nothing because the team pulled out a win. Let me know your thoughts and what you expect to see, we’ll see what back to back games with travel (and a flu bug) do for Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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