Blues Can’t Finish Comeback

by Brad Lee on Oct 23, 2008 10:33 AM CDT

Yep, he's totally gay.

By Brad Lee

The Red Wings are the best team in the league. And as Emmanuel Legace told reporters after Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to Detroit, you have to play hard the entire game to beat them.

"We were kind of star-struck for two periods, watched them skate around. We dominated the third period," Legace said. "If we play 60 minutes like that, we have a chance to beat those guys. If it wasn't for a broken stick, we'd be tied.

"That's the best team in the league."

The broken stick Legace referred to came in the third period when the Blues had pulled the game to 3-2. David Backes was at his own blue line intending to send the puck back to a defenseman to start the breakout. Instead, he broke his stick, the puck got loose, Johan Franzen pounced, skated around the stunned defensemen and put it past Legace for the game-winning goal.

While it's definitely bad luck and horrible timing for Backes' stick to break on a pass (damn composite sticks), if the Red Wings weren't the best team in the league in the neutral zone, the turnover wouldn't have happened and Detroit wouldn't have scored. The Wings stand up the opposing team at the Detroit blue line better than anyone else. They make the neutral zone a minefield to traverse. What happens is that opposing teams rarely have a flow to their transition game and offense. Players get frustrated, there's no rhythm and Detroit creates so many plays and odd-man rushes from the turnovers this pressure creates.

But when you get down to it, the fourth Detroit goal was luck. Franzen created his own luck by being in position and aggressive. But it's pretty rare to see a player break his stick on a pass.

The first three Detroit goals were due to work right on the doorstep of the St. Louis goal.

On the first, Mikail Samuelsson controlled the puck behind the net. He was given a little time to set up shop allowing the dangerous Henrik Zetterberg to swoop into an open space in front and score almost effortlessly.

Tomas Holmstrom makes his living in front of the net. On a Wings' power play, he camped out like in his normal spot and waited. And waited. The puck was cycled around from the point to the near boards. A little give and go set up Marian Hossa to carry the puck to the near post. The defense shifted toward Hossa leaving Holmstrom alone and ready to bang in an easy goal.

On the third Detroit score, Holmstrom was parked in front of the net again, this time as a screener. Niklas Lidstrom floated down from the left point, to an area near the right point to a spot close to the high slot. They fed him on a one timer and when the puck arrived at the net, Legace wasn't even visible. He was that screened by Holmstrom.

The stalwarts for the Blues so far this season stepped up, but it wasn't enough. Keith Tkachuck and Bradley Boyes both scored again. Rookie TJ Oshie scored his first goal. But like Legace said, there was too much watching, too much respect for the Wings and the Blues couldn't pull off another late-game miracle.

The Blues return to action Friday night at home against the Los Angeles Kings. And in case you haven't heard, Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be in attendance. The self-proclaimed hockey mom will drop the ceremonial first puck. That could get interesting.

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In Soviet Russia, stick breaks you

by Poor College Student on Oct 23, 2008 12:53 PM CDT reply actions

All good points, Brad.

Star-struck is right. How do you not come out with emotion for a game against the Wings?

When is Berglund going to stop looking outmatched? Does he need some time in Peoria? Does he need Skeletor’s Perron treatment? I don’t anticipate he’ll be the next flop a la Backman, but he’s not showing me why he belongs here.

by Pagan on Oct 23, 2008 2:07 PM CDT reply actions

I am not a Brewer basher but last night’s third Redwings goal came as a direct result of his lazy play. He could have taken an extra step and controlled the puck, instead he let it pass by him and it was turned over to the Wings who took several shots before scoring. After that I noticed several times where he passed the puck when he could have skated up with it and maintained control. It was almost like hot potato. He just didn’t want anything to do with actually touching the puck.

by Guinea Pig on Oct 23, 2008 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

Just to clarify, that was in his own zone when that happened.

by Guinea Pig on Oct 23, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

i agree with you pig. I also agree Berglund look star struck. Tkachuk looked awesome. Boy I never thought I’d be saying that. Porter looked good again. I tolds ya all. The defense is our weakest point and it’s been mainly caused by our veterans inability to make smooth passes out of the zone

by Chris D. on Oct 23, 2008 7:42 PM CDT reply actions

Dear all haters and especially Brad,

I had friends in attendance and got your little magazine if you would call it that. And it’s actually really hilarious. The last page when it says you should have cups cause we have been around for 80 years is very true. And we do. 11 to be exact and 3 in the last 11 years and oh ya I think we won last year too, when the Blues didn’t make the playoffs. In the 41 years the blues have existed they have a total of ZERO stanley cups. I’ll take 11 in 80 rather than 0 in 40. And it wasn’t luck that every team passed on Datsyuk and Hank. It’s called great scouting. So when I show up on March 14th with a REAL Stevie jersey and a sign that says better luck next year you can yell at me ( a 14 year-old kid) Detroit sucks when we are going to have another presidents cup under our belts and just a matter of time until that 12th banner is in the rafters and the Blues are struggling to make the plaoffs and will end up in that dreaded 9 spot.

P.S. The title of your magazine shouldn’t say “Battle for First” 5 games into the year. I geuss I can understand since you had to enjoy it while you could.

by Red Wing Lover (Ya what now) on Oct 23, 2008 8:25 PM CDT reply actions

The headline of the paper was what we adults call, ‘tongue in cheek.’ Try googling that sometime.

By the way, thanks for proving that even the next generation of Wings fans will continue to fit the stereotype we’ve all come to know as true.

by gallagher on Oct 23, 2008 9:11 PM CDT reply actions

Eh, Fuck Detroit………..Im over it……Bring on the Kings.

by Big G-Man on Oct 23, 2008 10:20 PM CDT reply actions

In my 35 years I’ve met douchebags of an ilk that cannot be described…other than ‘Red Wing Fan’. My favorite moment came at a Sabres Wings game in Buffalo. These Red Wing heffers were blocking the hallway between the 1st and 2nd—-they were cackling like hens in their Yzerman jerseys. I informed them their fat asses were in the way and they said the typical shit ‘Win a Cup Sabrefan, We’re number one, We got Hasek…’ I had no choice but to hold my fresh purchase of nachos high in the middle of their View Circle and let the tray plop in the middle…I said they looked like a trash can and I needed to toss my nachos. Let’s just say cheese-orange does not match well with Red and White…cunts.

by Keller on Oct 23, 2008 10:24 PM CDT reply actions

And by the way—-Detroilet is the only city that even Buffalo can make fun of due to it’s supreme shithole nature and lack of anything worth visiting.

by Keller on Oct 23, 2008 10:26 PM CDT reply actions

Red Wing Lover (Ya what now) Says: October 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Blah, blah, blah, blah, etc.

Who left the floater in the bowl? As a courtesy to other site users, please flush after you are done.

Thanks in advance…

by Milo on Oct 24, 2008 9:15 AM CDT reply actions

Okay who made up that name and put that post up. What none of these Wing fans had the balls to come on before but wait until they win. I wonder if this cad was a fan pre-1995 when Detroit sucked so bad I almost felt sorry for them.

Come on Detroit is an awesome place to live, they only have mass unemployment, every major company trying to move our or already has, famous for the fires that are started every year on Halloween and the thug life. Detroit is swell. There’s pot holes that only small cars disappear into and frankly it reminded me of my time in Iraq. How can you beat that?

Fuck Detroit and their pussy-douchebag fan!

by Chris D. on Oct 24, 2008 12:24 PM CDT reply actions