Face their Villains
The Red Wings’ villains seem more fearsome than Shan Yu, the antagonist in Mulan, at times. In due time, retribution will come to the Ottawa Senators—primarily Mathieu Joseph. It took a while for the Wings to clap back at Claude Lemieux and the Colorado Avalanche. When it rained, it poured, and I anticipate the same over the next few seasons for this budding rivalry. However, I don’t think the Wings’ biggest rival is the Senators. Instead, I think the Wings’ biggest rival is themselves.
I can’t tell you the number of ridiculous penalties I’ve watched veterans take. Game after game without any accountability. Neither from the coaching staff nor from the players themselves. How does it do your team any good for you to be lazy, emotionally short-sighted, or just plain silly?
If I had a quarter for every time the Red Wings work exceptionally hard to get the puck from the opposition only to turn it over, pass it to the opposing team, or throw it to no one, I could make it hail all over the darn country. Nobody on the team has an allergy to the puck that I know of, so I’m not sure why they act like they do at times (like all the time recently).
The puck is the most valuable item on the ice, it would be nice to see the Wings treat it with the respect it deserves.
These obstacles make up the Wings’-version of The Hun Army that is pictured in Mulan.
True to Your Heart
As we reviewed in the training montage portion, I vote the Wings have some fun.
Yes, it’s important to make the playoffs; yes, it’s important to play well; yes, it’s important to win games. What’s the point of any of this if the players aren’t having fun? I understand it can be difficult to have fun when things are challenging, but this is a kid’s game that these players get to play for a living. For the love of God (in my best John Keating impression, borrowing one of Chris Osgood’s specialty ties), have some fun!
The Wings need to have faith in themselves, have some fun, and don’t stop believing as anything is possible. When this team is on, they can win any game, anywhere, against any opposition.
“When you’re true to your heart, then you’ve got all you need to make it through,” as the ending credit tunes go in Mulan (beautifully sung by the great Steve Wonder and 98 Degrees).
No matter what happens this season, the Wings will be much better off to have experienced these struggles now. As they get going again, as I suspect they will, I anticipate they will bloom as beautifully as any flower. It may not be as quickly as anyone wants, but these adversities will make it worthwhile for the Wings to look themselves in the mirror later on.