Why do Sharks have the Red Wings number?

 

by Brandt Corbin

           

                Sitting back watching game two between the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings, it become rather obvious that the Sharks have the Red Wings number. To some this will not be a surprise as last year the Wings were disposed by the Sharks in five games. But the question needs to be asked why do the Wings struggle so badly when the games mean the most versus there Northern California rival?

Discipline and specialty teams

                Detroit’s strength is not their penalty kill, and so far its killing them in the playoffs this year. Another problem in the second round, the Wings have been very undisciplined taking stupid penalties left right and center. Put those two together you have a recipe for disaster.

Do the Wings need to make changes

                If they lose again to the Sharks in the second round, do they need to make changes? One cannot blame goaltender Jimmy Howard, year one he was an issue but this year he’s been very solid. The core of Detroit is fine, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Fransem, Lindstrom and Rafalski, then it has to the supporting cast.

                In the old days you had Draper, Maltby and McCarty, speed, grit just overall tough to play against. The Wings have to admit, they’ve become to easy to play against, not enough fight back overall in the lineup. An example is this, during the first two games in this years series, Howard has been given a snow shower after the whistler, with little or no push back. What they need to start doing is making San Jose’s life miserable, while staying out of the box. Whether that is slashing glove at Niemi once after the whistle, shoving the Sharks best players. In other words they need to get nasty and start paying a price, getting into the hard area’s and get dirty. The passive, skilled, speed game won’t get it done against San Jose.

Work with what you have

            Going into game three, two nights from now, I’d create a new grind line. Justin Abelkader, Darren Helm and Todd Bertuzzi, this lines job is to create mayhem in San Jose’s end. Lets face it, Motown loves rockem sockem hockey, give the fans what they want see. Eventually that li nes physicality will lead to turn overs and powerplays.

            Do not insert Mike Modano in the line-up, he cannot and will not make any difference at this point. Think about putting in Kris Draper for game 3, send a message to Patrick Eaves or Jiri Hudler and take them out.

            If the Wings do not make some are all of these adjustments, this series cannot and will not last more than six games.