Misconduct
Red Wings Lose Game, Lose Williams
I'm not recapping tonight's game. Not that any of you are surprised by that, I'm sure.
The only shot the Wings scored on was a damned-near perfect play. A great pass from Brian Rafalski and an incredible shot by Dan Cleary is what it took to get Detroit on the board.
The funny thing is I didn't think Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson looked particularly fantastic in stopping 35 shots. Looking at the scoresheet, I'm amazed that the Wings even got that many chances through to him.
Apparently the Maple Leafs blocked 18 shots to Detroit's 17 but it felt like Toronto was getting in front of many more of the Wings' chances.
Early in the third period there was a moment that I felt summed up the game. The Leafs had been knocking down Detroit shots all night but now there was some open ice with the Wings on a five-on-three. A Wings defender - Brian Rafalski, I think - fires a shot from up high... Only for it to find a Maple Leaf and get knocked aside.
Toronto only had three skaters out there and still the Wings managed to hit one of them with a shot.
And I'm not a doctor but I know a fractured fibula isn't good. This isn't a "put some ice on it" kind of injury. Jason Williams is going to miss some time, and considering the combination he could be with Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen it means the Wings are now missing their entire second line.
Mickey Redmond said partway through tonight's game that the third and fourth lines had played well. Those lines are effectively the second and third lines now.
As a sign of what that means, go take a look at the third-period power plays. Detroit's second unit included Justin Abdelkader.
I like Abdelkader. I think he's got a future in the league and I think he deserves to be here now. I also think he'd be better suited to be with the Griffins for one more season, as Ken Holland wanted to do before Franzen got hurt. With all of these injuries, he's gone from Grand Rapids to centering the Wings' second power play unit. That is some serious loss of talent Detroit is dealing with.
I'll also throw out there that this is one of those five-goal-against games where you shouldn't blame the goalie. We're all Wings fans so it'll fall on deaf ears but I'll put it out there anyway.
Interesting note: The Wings have now lost five "event" games in a row and six of the last seven. In reverse order, they've lost the Hall of Fame Game, the two NHL Premiere games, and Games Six and Seven of last year's Finals. They won the Winter Classic but lost last year's home opener, where they raised the 2008 Stanley Cup banner.
User Comments
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 7:15 PM
Coolest thing about bringing out all the old-timers in the ceremony, with Lanny MacDonald you get a Colorado Rockies reference.
Okay, not coolest, just fun.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 7:16 PM
I should add that, yes, I'm rocking an Yzerman jersey in his honor tonight.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 7:22 PM
Biggest ovation of the night for Stevie. Damn straight.
Posted by Stormo on 11/7/2009 at 7:23 PM
Coolest thing about bringing out all the old-timers in the ceremony, with Lanny MacDonald you get a Colorado Rockies reference.
Okay, not coolest, just fun.
You better believe a Rockies reference is cool
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 7:37 PM
Almost ruined a pretty solid start if it weren't for a goal post there.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 7:44 PM
Will our defensemen stop falling down? That's two in a row now.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 7:44 PM
f*ck's sake. A couple of minutes or so of complete dominance by the Wings then the Leafs go down the other end and score.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 7:58 PM
Big kill on a cheap call.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 8:03 PM
f*cking great end to the f*cking period. Urgh.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 8:03 PM
Top defensive pair and there's still two Leafs in behind them. Jesus.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 8:31 PM
This is taking the p*ss. The Leafs are taking just about all their chances, the Wings the complete opposite.
Posted by Mathieu_Datsyuk132351 on 11/7/2009 at 8:31 PM
Just turned the game on to watch them score. What's going on here!??!?
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 8:37 PM
Fantastic, Wings are getting their asses kicked and now Williams is hurt.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 8:37 PM
This is serious for Williams. Looks like it's his knee.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 8:38 PM
Yeah, that's bad. He's done for awhile. God, this season is brutal.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 8:43 PM
Mickey: "Still no word on Jason Williams..."
f*cked. That's what the word is.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 8:57 PM
On CBC they say he's going for x-rays. In my experience of knee injuries, that's usually just a precation, as there's not much else they can do while there's swelling on the knee.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 9:00 PM
At least the Wings kick ass in the third period?
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 9:22 PM
Finally! Cleary!
Posted by Mathieu_Datsyuk132351 on 11/7/2009 at 9:23 PM
Well, scoring a goal is always a good way to start. Just 2 more now!
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 9:23 PM
Cleary with the milestone but will it matter? We'll see if there's a comeback here.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 9:25 PM
I thought if the extra man didn't touch the puck it was "just" an illegal substitution, not too many men on the ice. Shows what I know.
Posted by Stormo on 11/7/2009 at 9:28 PM
Even CBC (Leafs Central) was questioning the call so you are not alone
Posted by Mathieu_Datsyuk132351 on 11/7/2009 at 9:29 PM
Well, I'd say the light at the end of the tunnel is fading for the Wings.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 9:29 PM
Just couldn't clear the puck, the Wings players were knackered. f*ck.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 9:30 PM
Wow. So much for "keep your stick on the ice and good things happen." Loosely hold your stick in the air and the hockey gods will use it to redirect a puck into the net.
Posted by YzerFan19 on 11/7/2009 at 9:37 PM
Fractured fibula. f*cking fantastic.
I don't even care about the extra goal now.
Posted by Britishwingsfan on 11/7/2009 at 9:38 PM
This is getting embarassing.
Wales losing to the All Blacks was expected, but this certainly wasn't. What a sh*t day on the sports front this has been for me.
Edit: Fractured fibula? Day just gets better and better.
Posted by Creamer on 11/8/2009 at 10:29 AM
Gustavsson looked absolutely fantastic tonight! Perhaps you're just used to seeing fantastic goaltending on a nightly basis?
Regardless, he saved the Leafs butts on more than a few occasions, notably during the Wings powerplay in the 3rd when it was still only 3-1 and the Wings were certainly within striking distance.
Jason Williams
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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