commentary...

the Red Wings' 2011-2012 season has been very streaky and inconsistent,in total... being a fan of the Red Wings has given me indigestion,at some times,this season... winning 23 home games in a row will always be a highlight of this season,but an inconsistent power play,and lack of team offense,has also been evident this season... the Red Wings' most valuable player has been goaltender Jimmy Howard,but coming off a broken finger,and a tender groin injury,has dampened his overall record... what started off to be a Vesina Trophy-type season,has turned into just a very good season,for him... Henrik Zetterberg has been a very good player,the last 65,or so,games,of the season,averaging almost a point a game... Nicklas Lidstrom has had a very good year,but i may believe that he may feel a little letdown,missing 11-12 games,down the home stretch of this season,and not getting back to his usual stellar play... Pavel Datsyuk was on pace,for a very good season,but injury have slowed down his usual great play,and the Red Wings have not played their best,since early February,and that is a disappointment to the whole team,and to the fans...
to advance past Nashville,they have to win three straight games,two of those games,in Nashville... not impossible,but they are making Pekka Rinne look like Montreal Canadiens' Ken Dryden,who won the Stanley Cup,before winning the Calder Trophy(rookie of the year),when he backstopped the Canadiens,to the Stanley Cup,with only a handful of NHL games,after being recalled from the minors,late in the 1970-71 NHL season(he played only six NHL games,that season,before the Stanley Cup playoffs)...
enough talk about what happened,but this season will be a sad one,unless the Red Wings show some grit,in the games remaining,no matter,if one is remaining,or many more... the heart of a champion will be shown,win,or lose,because the Red Wings will play for team,and personal pride... they know what they need to do... i am not saying that the Red Wings have not played badly,against the Nashville Predators,but stupid team mistakes have cost them,at least,one game,so they need to come out "on time",and play their best game,of the season,one game at a time...