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Today’s pregame Focused more on the trade deadline and Shane Gostisbehere being waived. Very little attention was paid to the contest itself. The game was a reflection of the post, very little attention was paid to playing.
Pickard got lit up for 3 goals against on 8 shots. Yeesh. That was enough to derail the game completely, and only 12:25 into the game Greiss was called upon. To his credit, he stopped 24 of 25, but as per usual got only 1 goal from the team. Verhaeghe continues to score regularly against Detroit this season. Perhaps the worst of the worst was seeing Brett Connelly, whose Abdelkader-like season caused him to cry after scoring just his second goal of the season. If that didn’t flex your gag reflex even a little, you were watching something else. At least Duclair only has one goal against Detroit this year, as opposed to his dominating performances last year. Perhaps the only poetic justice there was how badly he negotiated his own deal, and now has lost pretty much all his steam. Small favors.
Florida has won the season handily, up 5-2, and likely to make it 6-2 on Thursday. I’d said it earlier, this is a team. It’s not just a collective with some talented players sprinkled in. When important players go down, other players step up. It’s a credit to an organization that nearly derailed just a few years ago, trying to completely change its identity. The team is physical and fast attacking. It measures itself by the other resident of the peninsula of pain in Tampa Bay. That will toughen a team up in a hurry.
At least Zadina got one, right? He’s been backchecking and doing all the other things that a player has to do when they’re not scoring. It’s good to see him get rewarded, and I still think the future is bright for #11. There were some other good looks, and Bobrovsky did his best to try and earn the 10 million dollar payday that sees him with a 2.91 GAA and a .903 sv%. That is not money well spent, as it seems the Vezina winner of ages past may well have benefitted from some very good coaching and defense in Columbus. Let’s raise a glass to guaranteed contracts, shall we?
So, make it your mantra. 19 more times. The roller coaster and Bobbly Lashley style hurt locker can only continue to cause pain 19 more times this year. Being whipped around like a rag doll by a n absolute Goliath as we face 3 more games in Florida. These are the times that made 60 year old men cry in 1997. I get it now. I grew up lucky, and may well be in my 60s or 70s before we see that return to glory (I’m 44, God that is scary to think of). I’m sure that, if the cup is raised in that time frame, I will cry inconsolably and likely be treated for dehydration. It will be worth it.
The hope right now is that Yzerman can make some moves to get the right pieces in place. Somehow, this team has won too many times to land at the bottom again. Buffalo, good Lord, Buffalo just can’t get enough high picks or spend enough money. Anaheim, Ottawa and New Jersey will all continue to clamor for bottom spot and the lottery will likely favor New York or Chicago. We have to draft well and develop, make trades and at some point, get a new voice behind the bench.
The last game should have the warning NW at the top of the screen. “Not watchable”. A return to earth after a really good 2 game stint against Columbus. Perhaps Thursday will see a better effort, or at least a first period that doesn’t give the game away in less than 13 minutes. Let me know what you think, and how you cope.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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