So, the Wings came to play in a nationally-televised game. That doesn’t seem to happen very often.
Two in a row: That’s their longest winning streak since they beat Chicago and Washington last month. It’s a little depressing how good that feels. 3+, please.
50 SO: Osgood’s 50th career shutout. 29 saves. Another reminder that he’s still got it. He’s been tested more in other games, but the Bruins are no slouches, even in their slumping form. Shutting them out means something. Maybe not a lot. But something. Especially when you consider the team’s relatively…
Weak defensive effort: The absence of Rafalski (and yes, even ‘09-’10 Ericsson) is a likely partial cause, but I didn’t think this was one of the Wings’ better defensive efforts. 29 shots isn’t an astronomical number, but it is a bit higher than you’d like this team to allow. The first period especially was a little loose with 13 allowed shots.
They tightened down for the second and third, but I came away feeling like they didn’t have the puck often enough. 8 shots per period is more like it, but the Bruins still had the puck too much. A skilled team, to be sure, but it’s something the Wings can improve upon.
Leino: What a let down. He got rocked early, which might have messed him up for the rest of the night, but I expected more from him a game after being benched. Helm stepped it up. Leino should have too. He was good enough to get promoted off the fourth line to the third line, but he was largely unnoticeable. Not cool.
Janik: I barely noticed him, which is exactly what you want from a guy with his job description. When I did see him, his #37 threw me off briefly, but he seemed to be doing the right things. A successful call-up, I say.
Holmstrom: The guy is amazing. When you consider the abuse his body has taken over the years, it’s incredible he’s still able to produce like this.
Penalty fest: After letting everything go the whole game, the refs got a little whistle happy at the end. Consistency is still a major problem with the officiating in this league. Embarrassing.
Versus: I really dislike Versus’ habit of showing a series of pointless replays immediately following an on-ice event that begs for a replay. They show saves, hits, players skating–anything but the penalty or whatever just happened. If they do show it, it’s a single high-angle 10-second clip that doesn’t help at all. How are new fans supposed to learn the penalty side of the game if they never get to see penalties? Similarly annoying: cutting to commercials the second a whistle is blown.
Also, the visual feed cut out at one point for a short span. Would have been fine had the morons in the box been calling the game like they were supposed to, but because they were chatting it up like a couple of fans meeting at a bar, I have no idea what happened during that time. Obviously, it wasn’t much, but the point is Versus announcers spend far too much time chatting and not enough time actually calling the game.
Next up: San Jose on Thursday. The Sharks have been strong so far this season and will be a good test of how serious the Wings are about their budding turnaround.
Yeah, pretty solid effort. Nothing I’m getting too over-excited about, but nice to see nonetheless. Boston can’t seem to score to save their lives, but a shutout is still a shutout.
The powerplay could still use some work. I know they scored a PP goal, but it cames 2 seconds in, so not really indicative of powerplay success. I thought it was kinda strange to see Pav and Hank back on the same PP unit after Babcock said they would be split up so as both wouldn’t be tired right after the PP.
I don’t know exactly what it is, but something just doesn’t seem right to me with Hank. It just seems like he is making some bad plays with the puck in his own end. I don’t remember the exact timing, but 1 shift stuck out in my mind when he turned it over 2 or 3 straight times while trying to clear. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still playing pretty well, but just not up to his lofty standards, in my opinion any ways.
Bertuzzi’s nice pass to Pav aside to set up the 2nd goal, I thought he had one of his weakest games as a Wing. His other passes always seemed off the mark, and I really wish someone would talk to him about having 2 hands on the stick every now and then. Your on a line with Pavel, the puck will come to you, even if your not expecting it, get both hands on it and leave it on the ice. Do that, and you’ll be a good fit on Pavs line, just ask Homer.
As for Janik, I was thinking the same thing, didn’t really notice him which is a very good thing for a young defensive-minded defensman.
Big test coming up tomorrow, San Jose is scary, it is the regular season after all…
I’m just disappointed that I couldn’t see the game. I’m really tired of this Versus/DirecTV thing and am beginning to give up hope that it is ever going to be resolved. I would have liked to have seen the Wings first shutout of the year.