To be fair, it's been a tough season for the Red Wings. The team has a total of 166 man games lost due to injury. And we aren't just talking about losing a few 4th liners and depth defensemen. Only three players on the roster have played in all 43 games. Just think about that. Another statistic to consider? Eight Wings have made their NHL debut this year. Eight. I am used to going seasons at a time before a rookie or prospect is skating around in the regular season for Detroit. Now, it seems like every other game a Grand Rapids Griffin is wearing the Winged Wheel.
So, concurrently, Detroit has struggled with consistency. What has always served as a benchmark for the Wings in the past, has now become a glaring weakness. But, another characteristic that the team has traditionally counted on, and yet has morphed into a new vulnerability, is the crowd at the Joe Louis Arena.
The weak attendance and punch-less home ice advantage that the crowd provides has been the largest elephant in the room for years. Pay no attention to the inflated and misleading attendance totals that the NHL tallies. According to the NHL, every home game this year has been a sell out. Have you seen a game recently? Notice all those fans disguised as adjustable red seats? Detroit reports their attendance based on "tickets sold". A disingenuous method used to tout their arena and marketing capabilities.
But, the reality is that the crowd at the Joe has been an embarrassment in recent years. Fans sitting on their hands, only reacting for goals and being quite apathetic towards the product on the ice. It's apparent that the fan base has grown blase towards the Red Wings. A "Wake me when the playoffs start" mentality that has poisoned the atmosphere at the once feared and revered Joe Louis Arena.
But, the reality is that the crowd at the Joe has been an embarrassment in recent years. Fans sitting on their hands, only reacting for goals and being quite apathetic towards the product on the ice. It's apparent that the fan base has grown blase towards the Red Wings. A "Wake me when the playoffs start" mentality that has poisoned the atmosphere at the once feared and revered Joe Louis Arena.
Rarely do deafening echoes of "Let's Go Red Wings" reverberate throughout the Joe like in years past. What about Todd Bertuzzi or Jimmy Howard chants? Nope. Nothing.
During a shaky season, the once steady fans at the Joe have become a weakness. Look at how the team plays on the road. Second best record away from home in the league. The Red Wings are completely different when competing as the visitor. The energy is higher, the tenacity is greater and the results are much better. 13-4-3.
During a shaky season, the once steady fans at the Joe have become a weakness. Look at how the team plays on the road. Second best record away from home in the league. The Red Wings are completely different when competing as the visitor. The energy is higher, the tenacity is greater and the results are much better. 13-4-3.
I have found myself, over the last three season especially, preferring to watch the Wings on the road than at home. It's almost always a better game. Just take a listen to the last two games Detroit has played on the road. The home crowds in Nashville and Dallas were much more vocal than any have been at the Joe. Even when the Stars were down a couple goals, the fans were into it and keeping the enthusiasm up. It was contagious. I caught myself rooting for Dallas to score. That's what a strong home crowd presence can do for a team.
The Red Wings have been abandoned by a passionless and detached crowd that generates little home ice advantage. Detroit would be better served playing in Phoenix, where although only 60% of the crowd is rooting them on, it's a vocal and demonstrative majority.
Detroit has just 18 games left to play at home this season. And it's a fantastical notion to assume the Wings can keep their point total on the road. It's imperative that the team improves their record at the Joe or it will be the first time since 1990 that they will miss the playoffs. 22 straight appearances in the playoffs. 22 straight post seasons with games the Joe. All gone in the blink of a drowsy eye.
Can you imagine April in the D with no Red Wings playoff games and an empty Joe Louis Arena?
Actually, an empty Joe isn't too hard to envision, considering the spiritless crowd frequenting the arena this season. A crowd that may sleep their way into Spring without the Wings.
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