Just a quick thanks. You guys make this blog. Every one of you brings something so special and I love your passion. Thank you for every compliment, disagreement, back and forth and mic drop. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an actual game to dissect. I do think it will be a good “cup of coffee” for the players. Carolina is a beast of a team, no “toe in the water” on this one. Right to the deep end

I was surprised to see Detroit had 16 blocks to Carolina's 9. It seemed whenever the Wings actually got a somewhat decent chance, the lane was clogged and they weren't going to let anything get through. I guess that is what happens when you have solid D.

It was also very noticeable Brome was playing overseas when the majority of the team was here doing who knows what. He, Zadina, Ganger, and Hronek seemed to be the only one that could move.

I was surprised to see Detroit had 16 blocks to Carolina's 9. It seemed whenever the Wings actually got a somewhat decent chance, the lane was clogged and they weren't going to let anything get through. I guess that is what happens when you have solid D.

It was also very noticeable Brome was playing overseas when the majority of the team was here doing who knows what. He, Zadina, Ganger, and Hronek seemed to be the only one that could move.
- DRW1991

You can only get a block if the other team actually has control of the puck in the offensive zone and makes a shot attempt.

Getting lots more blocks than your opponent usually means your team is getting badly outshot and smothered territorially, which was definitely the case last night.

You can only get a block if the other team actually has control of the puck in the offensive zone and makes a shot attempt.

Getting lots more blocks than your opponent usually means your team is getting badly outshot and smothered territorially, which was definitely the case last night.
- Sven22

Totally agree with your take on Block shots. Looking at other stats like give-a-ways Detroit had 16 to Carolina’s 7 and if you break that down Detroits offense gave up the puck 9 times to Carolina’s 5. The Hits were also lopsided D = 19 to C = 27.

It’s only the 1st game and I wont give up on the Team but once again I have given up on the coaching. Coaching should have a GAME PLAN, I saw none last night.

Go Wings

You can only get a block if the other team actually has control of the puck in the offensive zone and makes a shot attempt.

Getting lots more blocks than your opponent usually means your team is getting badly outshot and smothered territorially, which was definitely the case last night.
- Sven22

Oh no I completely agree and understand. It just did not seem like that to me at all when watching the game. Like you said though with all the chances they had it makes total sense.

Also, Stretcher was a rag doll out there being tossed around.

Oh no I completely agree and understand. It just did not seem like that to me at all when watching the game. Like you said though with all the chances they had it makes total sense.

Also, Stretcher was a rag doll out there being tossed around.
- DRW1991

Gotcha.

Both of the bottom two pairings got absolutely ventilated last night. Detroit got about 43 percent of the shot attempts with Nemeth-Hronek on the ice, but less 25 percent (!!!!) with DeKeyser-Merrill or Staal-Stecher.

Totally agree with your take on Block shots. Looking at other stats like give-a-ways Detroit had 16 to Carolina’s 7 and if you break that down Detroits offense gave up the puck 9 times to Carolina’s 5. The Hits were also lopsided D = 19 to C = 27.

It’s only the 1st game and I wont give up on the Team but once again I have given up on the coaching. Coaching should have a GAME PLAN, I saw none last night.

Go Wings
- Tee56

I thought Carolina had a bit of a slow start but then the Wings, Erne specifically, came in and started getting physical, which woke the Canes up. From that point on Carolina started throwing their bodies around a bit and the Wings backed off.

Greiss has always had Carolina's number for whatever reason, no matter what team he's on, so it was nice to get a couple past him.

I thought Carolina had a bit of a slow start but then the Wings, Erne specifically, came in and started getting physical, which woke the Canes up. From that point on Carolina started throwing their bodies around a bit and the Wings backed off.

Greiss has always had Carolina's number for whatever reason, no matter what team he's on, so it was nice to get a couple past him.
- BINGO!

I think Greiss has just low key been a consistently good goalie for a long time now. His numbers have always been good and he's still a pretty solid 1B at nearly 35 years old. Never really got his due IMO.

I think Greiss has just low key been a consistently good goalie for a long time now. His numbers have always been good and he's still a pretty solid 1B at nearly 35 years old. Never really got his due IMO.
- Sven22

Any chance he or Bernier becomes trade bait at the deadline for a contender?

Any chance he or Bernier becomes trade bait at the deadline for a contender?
- DRW1991

Maybe Bernier. He's a UFA. But Yzerman might just re-sign him. He'd just have to sign a replacement UFA anyway.

Maybe Bernier. He's a UFA. But Yzerman might just re-sign him. He'd just have to sign a replacement UFA anyway.
- gergeswillems

Yeah, the main wrinkles I think are:

1) Goalie market may be even more weird than normal due to the upcoming expansion draft.

2) The Red Wings have literally no one else in the system that I would want tending an NHL crease for more than a handful of games anytime soon.

If the Wings re-sign Bernier (or really just keep both, new contract or not) they will have to expose one of either him or Greiss and risk losing a decent 1A/1B goalie for nothing. Which might well happen, considering the rest of Detroit's expansion-eligible players will likely be either expiring UFAs, garbage, or both.

I think a lot depends on how well Bernier and Greiss play, and whether or not the Wings are able to exploit the expansion draft to pray away a longer-term solution in goal from somebody before the deadline, and probably other stuff I haven't thought of yet.

TL/DR: I have no idea.

Will Blashill have the game plan tonight (Saturday) vs. Carolina? Also hoping to see Ryan playing.