RSS
Is 63 possible?
Victory after victory after victory, there's still one team that the Detroit Red Wings cannot put behind them in the points race.
The Red Wings won their 40th game of the season, Saturday, coming in just their 54th outing. Their rate of success is phenomenal and has them 17 points ahead of the second-best team in the Western Conference (through Saturday) and 16 points ahead of the second-best team overall. That's tremendous separation when you consider that the deviation between any two teams that are second through 30th in the standings is two points except for a four-point gap between the 28th and 29th place teams.
But even this late into the season and even after seven consecutive victories, the team that the Red Wings cannot shake is the Detroit Red Wings … the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings.
That squad set an NHL record with 62 wins.
This year's squad is dominating the present, but is just able to keep pace with the past.
This year's Red Wings have won their past seven games. Four victories ago, the team caught up with the 1995-96 team's pace. (Early in this season, the Red Wings were ahead of that pace, but a loss in Game 46 finally saw them drop behind.)
Each of the past three victories has matched the strides of the team from a dozen years ago. Both teams had 40-10-4 records through 54 games.
"There are similarities," said Kris Draper, who along with Chris Osgood, Nicklas Lidstrom and Kirk Maltby were members of both the current and 1995-96 Detroit teams. "The come-from-behind victories, finding ways to win hockey games. I think that's something that's the same."
Draper stops talking for a moment and smiles. Draper was just 24 for most of that 62-win season. Maltby and Osgood were 23. Lidstrom was the old man at 25.
"Obviously it was a long time ago, '96," said Draper, who then slips out of conversation and into the interview-speak of the veteran, making sure to praise teammates and maintain humility. "I know the one thing that you think of when you're walking out of the rink is that we didn't necessarily from start to finish outwork a team or deserve to win, but great goaltending gave us every opportunity to win."
That 1995-96 team, however, did something that was historic. Although it wound up losing to Colorado in the Western Conference final, winning Stanley Cups the following two seasons with near identical rosters helped solidify its legacy of greatness.
How often did the Red Wings win a dozen years ago? As dominant as the current Red Wings are, they'll need 22 victories in their final 28 games just to equal that 62-win total.
It's a thought, however, that has a veteran like Osgood yielding to youthful thoughts.
"Let's see what we do in the next 15 games," said Osgood. "It's doable, but it's going to be real difficult just because all the teams are bunched up. Points are so important to them. They're going to be going all out every night. It's going to be tough."
One trait possessed by the current Red Wings that if continued gives them a shot at matching the 62-win mark is the ability to win difficult games.
Three nights ago, the Red Wings won a game turned into shut-down defense-first by Colorado that was scoreless for 57 minutes. In Boston two nights ago, the Bruins clogged the neutral zone, got ahead early and still couldn't beat the Red Wings on home ice after Detroit had played 600 miles away the night before while the Bruins were lounging in their living rooms.
"We're learning how to play down and dirty games," said Osgood. "The last few years, we would have had a 50-50 chance to win a game like this. … This year, we win 2-1 or 3-1 or 3-2. We wouldn't have won those last year or the year before. We don't panic. We stay focused. We don't care who scores. We can win in more ways this year than I've ever seen before."
In coach Mike Babcock's first season in Detroit (2005-06), the Red Wings won 58 games. Babcock remarked how that squad seemed to win on good night or on bad, just showing up seemed to lead to victories. This winter, Babcock has noted that it's difficult to believe that this team wins more often than that team did.
And wins are the currency with which Babcock determines all value.
"We're not the people who said that winning in the regular season isn't important," said Babcock. "Anybody who tells you that is full of it. Winning every night's important. That's what you do. That's why you play. You try to be the best that you can be. I don't know what the stats are over the past 10 years, but there's no way you've got as good a chance if you crawl into the playoffs as if you're the best team. There's no way. It can't be possible."
The Red Wings won their 40th game of the season, Saturday, coming in just their 54th outing. Their rate of success is phenomenal and has them 17 points ahead of the second-best team in the Western Conference (through Saturday) and 16 points ahead of the second-best team overall. That's tremendous separation when you consider that the deviation between any two teams that are second through 30th in the standings is two points except for a four-point gap between the 28th and 29th place teams.
But even this late into the season and even after seven consecutive victories, the team that the Red Wings cannot shake is the Detroit Red Wings … the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings.
That squad set an NHL record with 62 wins.
This year's squad is dominating the present, but is just able to keep pace with the past.
This year's Red Wings have won their past seven games. Four victories ago, the team caught up with the 1995-96 team's pace. (Early in this season, the Red Wings were ahead of that pace, but a loss in Game 46 finally saw them drop behind.)
Each of the past three victories has matched the strides of the team from a dozen years ago. Both teams had 40-10-4 records through 54 games.
"There are similarities," said Kris Draper, who along with Chris Osgood, Nicklas Lidstrom and Kirk Maltby were members of both the current and 1995-96 Detroit teams. "The come-from-behind victories, finding ways to win hockey games. I think that's something that's the same."
Draper stops talking for a moment and smiles. Draper was just 24 for most of that 62-win season. Maltby and Osgood were 23. Lidstrom was the old man at 25.
"Obviously it was a long time ago, '96," said Draper, who then slips out of conversation and into the interview-speak of the veteran, making sure to praise teammates and maintain humility. "I know the one thing that you think of when you're walking out of the rink is that we didn't necessarily from start to finish outwork a team or deserve to win, but great goaltending gave us every opportunity to win."
That 1995-96 team, however, did something that was historic. Although it wound up losing to Colorado in the Western Conference final, winning Stanley Cups the following two seasons with near identical rosters helped solidify its legacy of greatness.
How often did the Red Wings win a dozen years ago? As dominant as the current Red Wings are, they'll need 22 victories in their final 28 games just to equal that 62-win total.
It's a thought, however, that has a veteran like Osgood yielding to youthful thoughts.
"Let's see what we do in the next 15 games," said Osgood. "It's doable, but it's going to be real difficult just because all the teams are bunched up. Points are so important to them. They're going to be going all out every night. It's going to be tough."
One trait possessed by the current Red Wings that if continued gives them a shot at matching the 62-win mark is the ability to win difficult games.
Three nights ago, the Red Wings won a game turned into shut-down defense-first by Colorado that was scoreless for 57 minutes. In Boston two nights ago, the Bruins clogged the neutral zone, got ahead early and still couldn't beat the Red Wings on home ice after Detroit had played 600 miles away the night before while the Bruins were lounging in their living rooms.
"We're learning how to play down and dirty games," said Osgood. "The last few years, we would have had a 50-50 chance to win a game like this. … This year, we win 2-1 or 3-1 or 3-2. We wouldn't have won those last year or the year before. We don't panic. We stay focused. We don't care who scores. We can win in more ways this year than I've ever seen before."
In coach Mike Babcock's first season in Detroit (2005-06), the Red Wings won 58 games. Babcock remarked how that squad seemed to win on good night or on bad, just showing up seemed to lead to victories. This winter, Babcock has noted that it's difficult to believe that this team wins more often than that team did.
And wins are the currency with which Babcock determines all value.
"We're not the people who said that winning in the regular season isn't important," said Babcock. "Anybody who tells you that is full of it. Winning every night's important. That's what you do. That's why you play. You try to be the best that you can be. I don't know what the stats are over the past 10 years, but there's no way you've got as good a chance if you crawl into the playoffs as if you're the best team. There's no way. It can't be possible."
posted by Chuck Pleiness at
1:33 PM
9 Comments:
That 62 win season was a blast to watch since there were so many great memories. The 11-1 shellacking of the Habs that made Roy head to Colorado. The 1,000 assist by Paul Coffey. The goal by Osgood against the now-defunct Whalers. And the best of all, Yzerman's Double OT winner against the Blues.
But I think they were too worn down by Round 3 after two series that shouldn't have lasted as long as they did. The Avs were great that year and simply had the fresher legs in the Conference Finals.
Hopefully the Red Wings won't expend all their energy in the regular season but a 60 win season would be something special.
Even if the '07-'08 Wings match that 62 win mark, it won't be the same. The '96 guys did it without the benefit of the shootout.
If they match it AND win the Cup though, then it'll be much better.
Bruce, I have say that it is certainly possible. The Wings will have more games against the Central done the stretch than any other division and well all know how that went earlier in the season.
I would like to see them keep plodding away and winning close games to get seasoned for the playoffs. I hope they can finish strong and not give up because they are winning with some regularity. Time will tell
Losing could also make us face adversity. From here on, the last 30 or so games are going to be positive experiences no matter if we win or lose. We can turn our TVs off and smile after each game because each game will make us stronger. We are the only team that doesn't have to worry about getting a playoff spot.
To Justin: In my opinion, if there was no shoot out, I would say that almost easily we'd have won 5 out of the X number of OT games we went to if infinite OT rules were still in place. That's how often the puck is in their zone. So don't degrade our excellent record.
"Even if the '07-'08 Wings match that 62 win mark, it won't be the same. The '96 guys did it without the benefit of the shootout."
Yeah? They also did it without the salary cap. Yzerman, Shanahan, Hull, Federov, Robitaille, etc. Compare that teams top two lines to this teams top two lines. Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Homer is a benefactor of playing with those two. Nothing against him, but you could put say, Downey, with those two and he'd have a stellar year.
This team earns each win they get, whether from their netminder or second, third or fourth lines.
Alex: the old rule was not infinite OT. That's never been the case in the regular season. In '95-'96, teams played one 5:00 OT session; if nobody scored the game ended in a tie. It is a legitimate difference between a hypothetical 62-win season this year and a 62-win season that year, because the shootout FORCES every game to end with a winner and a loser. In the same way, people pointed out (validly) that the 62-win team in '96 arguably did not surpass the 60-win Montreal team from '76-'77, because the 60-win Montreal team only played 80 games (instead of 82) and didn't have the benefit of overtime to transform some ties into wins.
Cementslinger: the '96 team didn't have Shanahan, Hull, or Robitaille on it. Shanahan was acquired during the '96-'97 season, and Hull and Robitaille were acquired prior to the '01-'02 season.
@bryan152:
I was at the Whalers game when Osgood scored. Unfortunately I was a Whalers fan. :(
As fans we shouldn't expect a 62 or higher win season. We probably don't even want it. The last 30 games should just be learning experiences.
Adam, You're right. My bad. But they DID have the Russian 5 and Scotty Bowman. That's gotta count for something!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home