By the Numbers: Thrashers 2, Red Wings 0

Postgame Thoughts

I don’t really have alot of words for this one. You’ll hear alot of discussion from both the “they played hard and are just snakebitten” camp as well as the “I don’t care how many shots they take, they aren’t playing hard” faction too. In reality, it’s probably a combination of both sides. It’s true that the pucks aren’t going into the net, but at the same time the Wings aren’t really putting together 60 minute efforts. Yes, I’m aware that I sound like a broken record, but you can’t argue with the truth. In this case, the truth is that great teams sometimes have to make their own luck and the Wings just aren’t making it happen at this point.

It’s unfortunate that this team continues to operate under the mindset that they are an elite team and things will eventually work themselves out. It very well may work out that way, but why these guys refuse to pick up the mantle of the hardworking, gritty team that earns every inch is somewhat baffling to me. For so many years, Wings fans have treated the regular season with a great deal of indifference, always pointing to the playoffs as the start of the “season.” Now, with things not going the way fans and players expected, the Wings are still clinging to the elitist idea that everything will work out in their favor in the end, and these are still just bumps in the toad. Personally, I’d love to see the team adopt the mentality of the underdog, playing with a chip on their shoulder which has never really existed before. Let’s not forget, that’s where this dynasty originated from. Maybe it’s time to embrace it once again.

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Production Charts

*The season totals are updated here and here.

Line Production

Special Teams Production

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CSSI

*Season CSSI numbers are updated here.

Goal 1 (ATL 1 DET 0): Nik Antropov (2) from Maxim Afinogenov (12) and Vyacheslav Kozlov (9) at 5:02, First Period

• Wings on ice: Helm, Leino, Maltby, Stuart, Ericsson

• DP(-): Stuart (-2) for trying to high-stick Schubert’s outlet pass out of mid air and then going down way too early to try and block Afinogenov’s crossing pass, effectively taking himself right out of the play. Leino (-1) for pulling up while dropping back to cover Antropov. A little more hustle, and Ville wouldn’t have had to attempt a pair of fruitless reaching pokechecks.

Goal 2 (PPG) (ATL 2 DET 0): Vyacheslav Kozlov (3) from Ilya Kovalchuk (9) and Todd White (7) at 9:08, Second Period

• Wings on ice: Zetterberg, Clear, Lidstrom, Rafalski

• DP(-): Lidstrom and Rafalski (-1) for falling asleep a bit and letting Kozlov get in behind them.

Miscellaneous Points:

• HP(+): Lidstrom (+1) because his season numbers may be down and he may be taking a hit in the CSSI total numbers, but he still exudes confidence and control when he’s on the ice and he needs to be the one to help right the ship now. Plus, he leads the team in +/-.
• DP(-): Leino (-1) because he looks like he belongs back in Grand Rapids these days. He just doesn’t look comfortable out there yet and he continues to struggle to produce. For a guy that was supposed to add some goals to the lineup, he’s been a huge letdown so far.

Chart time:

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers