The Pistons decided it would be cool to give up 90 points to the hapless Pacers through the first 3 quarters. They let unheralded big men like Josh McRoberts and Jeff Foster eat up the offensive glass to the tune of 22 points, 20 rebounds combined. Both came off the bench. This team has quit. It's ugly. There's not much left to say.
As for the Red Wings, you hope this is a wake-up call. After surprisingly scoring the first goal of the game, the Wings let the Blues completely dominate them. I know sports writers are prone to hyperbole, but "completely dominate" is no understatement. The Blues put TEN pucks in the net. TEN. The Wings yanked their goalie not once but twice! First MacDonald got the hook, more out of anger toward the team than anything else. Then his replacement, McCollum, got yanked after allowing 3 goals on 8 shots. First, the fans booed. Then the fans left. Most of the 3rd period was played in an empty arena.
Who were these guys that skated around so haplessly? Allowing the Blues free-reign? And it's not like the Blues are an elite team. Their the 13th seed in the West. Coach Babcock had a look of scorn that could cut through glass.
In the Wings' defense, their solid play at the start of the season affords them this luxury. They don't have to fight to get into the playoffs. They're just cruising. It's just hard to feel good about their prospects when they get blown out by a shite team like the Blues. And this isn't the first crap performance. They finished their five-game homestand with one win and four losses. This isn't a way to prime for a long playoff run.
The only silver lining is that we've seen this before. Once the playoffs start, something clicks. They play with more focus and determination. They'll need it.
(Kronwall, by the way, wore the "A" last night with Datsyuk and Draper out.)
As for the Tigers, they open up today against the Yanks. It's not a kind schedule to start the season. After the Yankees, they travel to Baltimore. Then they host KC and Texas at home. Then a seven game West Coast trip against Seattle and Oakland. Then back home against the White Sox. Baltimore, Seattle, and KC are lightweights based on last season. Yet, the Tigers seem to struggle against the minnows and raise their game against the titans, so it's impossible to know what to expect. Last season, the Tigers played significantly better at home. Starting the season with 13 of their first 19 on the road does not bode well.
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