NHL Playoffs 2012: Is It Time for the Detroit Red Wings to Worry?

Ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to insert "fat lady warming up in Nashville" joke here. As much as it pains me to say it, the Detroit Red Wings are being beaten by a better team in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. The cliches involving potential and talent have accounted for exactly squat.

The time to panic was before Game 3. Showing an actual sense of urgency in Game 2, Detroit played with a fire and passion that was noticeably inconsistent in Game 1. With home ice swiped by Detroit in Game 2, Nashville promptly earned the first two playoff wins at the Joe Louis Arena in their franchise history, taking the home edge right back.

The Red Wings, unbeatable at home for most of the year, got outplayed in every area for two straight at the Joe. They now must win in the most hostile country bunkhouse this side of the Mississippi—the Bridgestone Arena—Friday night just to stay alive.

It's potentially a huge step forward for the Predators, who have never topped Detroit in the playoffs. It's also a huge step back for the Red Wings, who must address serious shortcomings on their roster.

The blind faithful will point to the useless stats like shots and faceoffs and hits, all areas that Detroit owned last night, and Sunday. These same folks will point to the scoreboard if the tables were flipped. The reality is, Nashville is the hungrier team.

The bounces haven't gone Detroit's way, the absurd, non-suspension for Shea Weber didn't go Detroit's way, but generally Nashville just seems to want the games more.

There are the token moments in the game when Detroit looks like they have flipped the switch and dominate the game. Those moments have amounted to nothing, as the Preds have withstood almost every flurry, and counter-punched their way to a commanding series lead.

Whenever a series tilts in one team's favor, there has to be accountability. So who is to blame for the Red Wings' deficit?

My suggestions of a serious roster overhaul were met with derision and mockery the last time the Wings faced adversity. Sometimes your opponent is just better. You throw everything you can at them, and they have an answer for every move you make. The Red Wings rarely find themselves in this position, but they haven't significantly improved their roster in about four years.

It may be time to face the music, courtesy of Music City. Nashville has gotten better, and is still getting better. The Red Wings are stuck at just good, but not good enough anymore.

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