Red Wings-Penguins: Detroit's Defensive Miscues Are Finally Exposed

Something's wrong.

Really, it's been wrong from the start of the season.

Detroit has been a step off defensively, but have managed to squeak by in close games, thanks to their big three of Marian Hossa, Pavel Datsyuk, and Henrik Zetterberg.  But all the offense in the world isn't going to help if your best players on defense don't play well.

Detroit scored a season-high six goals tonight against Pittsburgh. They led the game 5-2 and 6-4. Yet, Pittsburgh had their way in the Wings offensive zone throughout the third period, and handily won a 7-6 game in overtime. This should never happen.

Jordan Staal who had only two goals coming into this game, picked up a hat trick as he plowed his way through Nick Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski. He almost notched his fourth goal as the third period came to a close, but Rafalski took a penalty to slow him down.

Pittsburgh looked like Detroit tonight. They made their home in the Wings offensive zone and stayed there. Detroit's attempts to clear were blocked, and Pittsburgh had a shooting gallery in front of Osgood.

The Wings of last year would have forced this team to take perimeter shots, unfavorable shots that had little chance of getting by. This Pittsburgh team tonight had very favorable shots. Wide-open shots. Detroit was far from aggressive enough—at least defensively.

On a night where Detroit would get great, balanced scoring from McCarty, Hudler, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Franzen, and Zetterberg, the offense was far from the problem. Detroit's forwards flew all over the nice, making dazzling plays as usual—but when it came down to it, Pittsburgh's young defense stepped up when it counted in overtime. and Detroit's defense parted ways for Pittsburgh.

This has been a problem all year. Detroit, clearly the most talented team in the NHL, has played down to the level of their competition. Even on a night when they were playing one of the best teams the NHL has to offer, they didn't step up to the occasion.

Is Nick Lidstrom finally showing signs of age? Is Rafalski's career on the downswing? Can Kronwall not quite handle the additional ice time yet? Until Detroit's defense can show otherwise, these are questions that will continue to plague the team.

Osgood, despite allowing seven goals, made some very impressive saves and did all he could to keep Detroit in the game, but he was hung out to dry tonight.

At one point, Detroit had 12 shots on goal more than Pittsburgh, but the Penguins erased that shot lead in the third period, outshooting Detroit 16 to eight, and four to nothing in overtime.

A regular-season matchup with Pittsburgh does not come often.  Given that Pittsburgh is favored to repeat in the Eastern Conference, Detroit had to make a statement tonight that they were still the top dog in the NHL.

These two teams won't meet again until February 8 in Pittsburgh. Detroit had better have their defense fixed by then, or Pittsburgh will be the least of their worries.