Ugh-Ly

I had the misfortune of watching the Red Wings last night. They lost 6-2 to the Buffalo Sabres. To say the Wings were outplayed is a vast understatement. They were outworked in every facet of the game, by a team that didn't even make the playoffs last year.

It's more than a bit worrisome. The Wings normally reserve these pathetic outtings on the last game of a West Coast road trip. Not a quick jaunt over Lake Erie. In the 2nd period, the Sabres outshot the Wings 18-4. Osgood was pissed after the game:

"Everybody says just (sweep) it under the carpet, forget about it. We can't forget about it when you play like that. It's not what we're about."

The rest of the league is praying, hoping that the Wings return to mediocrity this year. So far, they've obliged. They truly look pedestrian. The problems from last year remain. They can't kill off a power-play (fifth worst in the NHL). They can't clear the puck from their zone. And, most shockingly, they also can't possess the puck. Part of the problem could be the reshuffling of the players. Yet, both Williams and Bertuzzi are former Wings. I thought the transition would be smoother. Apparently not. The team has no cohesion.

All is not lost, though. They did beat two of the better NHL teams recently - Chicago and Washington. So, they've still got juice in the tank. And it's a long season. Babcock has time to right the ship, but teams are really licking their chops.