The Reason the Wings Have Lost

In the 2008 and 2009 playoffs, the mighty Detroit Red Wings went on a 7-game series win-streak good for one Stanley Cup. Since that point they've now gone 1-2 in playoff series'. Sure, it's not an alarmingly bad stat, but for this organization it just doesn't cut it.

The playoffs are a tough environment to win in. Games are closer, scoring is tougher and consistency is nearly impossible against an opponent that is constantly learning about you. Because of this, teams need to be able to win the close games. Holding leads and tying games in the dying moments is the trademark of a resilient contender. Coupling that with 3+ goal blowouts makes a Champion team.

For as long as I can remember, Detroit has always been able to smash teams from time to time. Even in the series' they lose, there are games where they've dominated. In the last three series' the Wings have lost, they've had two 5-goal wins and a 6-goal victory. However, it was the one-goal games that made the difference and cost them in the end.

During the 7-series streak Detroit went 11-8 in games decided by one goal. Not a dominant stat, but again -- when coupled with results by larger margins, it makes for a pretty good Cup run.

Over the last 3 series the Wings have played they've gone 0-7 in 1-goal games.

How can you expect to win a series if you can't win a close game?

Red Wings' fans keep speaking of how undeserved the 4-1 result was but -- all officiating complaints aside -- the Wings couldn't hold their leads and they couldn't score late goals to win the close games. Against a team like San Jose, you can't expect to be smashing them by 3+ goals four times like you can with Phoenix [something which, I might add, I think the Wings were very lucky to do].

I don't know if it's a mental thing or not, but you can't blame an 0-7 run on luck nor can you blame it on the officials. In 2008, Detroit killed a late 5-on-3 powerplay for the Penguins to go on and win a close game to take a 3-1 series lead. That is what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. That's Championship grit.

San Jose is a team that looks like they might be showing glimpses of that kind of Championship grit. Lop-sided penalties aside, San Jose won four 1-goal games against Detroit. That's huge, and as a result, they took the series in only 5 games and await Chicago or Vancouver in the Conference Finals.

I remain optimistic things can change next April but if they don't, the results will be very much the same as they were this year.

Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (SO)

Last night at the Joe, the Red Wings were forced to meet their mortal enemy. No, not the Sharks, the shootout.

After a much more inspired and hunger-filled effort from the Wings, they still couldn't quite manage to squeeze two points from the affair, as they fell to a 4-8 record in shootouts for the season, and 27-21-12 record overall. The loss was made even more costly as the Stars leap-frogged Detroit in the standings with their 3-1 victory over Calgary.

Despite the setback, the overall performance from the Red Wings was quite positive, particularly when compared to preceding lackluster performance in St. Louis on Tuesday.

"We played well. We played with good tempo. We looked like a hockey team," said Red Wings' coach Mike Babcock. "We had every opportunity to win."

Against the top-of-the-West San Jose Sharks, Detroit was for the most part dominant, doubling up the Sharks shot total, 52-26. That lop-sided statistic was not translated on the scoreboard however, as some defensive lapses and some outstanding goaltending from Sharks' goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, saw the game tied at two at the end of regulation.

Further positives for the home team were the performances of Johan Franzen and Jimmy Howard.

In just his second game back from a four-month layoff due to a major knee injury, Franzen again showed he hasn't lost a step. Amazingly, timing seemed to be as normal as the Mule registered 6 shots and 1 powerplay goal on the night, with a touch under 21 minutes of ice-time. His line combo with Datsyuk and Zetterberg looked very dangerous all night, and was only kept from doing more damage by the superlative efforts of Evgeni Nabokov.

Not to be outdone, Jimmy Howard was also fantastic allowing only 2 goals in 26 shots, neither of which he could be blamed for. One, from a powerful play in the crease by Thornton, and one from an ugly defensive lapse from Howard's teammates. The Sharks, while heavily outshot, had some huge chances themselves but were also stymied by the play of their opposing goalie.

Goalscorers for the night were Franzen and Jason Williams for Detroit; and Joe Thornton and Michigan-native Dwight Helminen for San Jose with Patrick Marleau netting the game-winning shootout goal for the Sharks.

The Wings hope to continue to build on these positives, when they host the red-hot Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, and try to go into the Olympic break with a win and maybe even with a provisional playoff spot.