Early Start for Wings against Blues Today
Given how inconsistent the Red Wings have been lately you have to wonder how they will play this afternoon. Detroit has generally struggled to put forth a solid effort in early games so today might not be much different. Here are the results of some of their recent early games:
March 11: Boston 6, Detroit 3
March 4: Colorado 4, Detroit 3
Chris Silva reports for the Free Press that Mike Babcock has made it clear he expects a better effort from the team.
“Just the focus — you’ve got to be prepared to start,” Babcock said. “The only time you’re dealing with a run when things aren’t going the way you want, and penalties have been a part of it, you question your focus.”
The Wings also want to kick-start their offense, which has returned to the dry spell they had earlier this season. Captain Nick Lidstrom suggested in the same article that they need to get back to the basics:
“We have to get back to shooting the puck a lot more. I think getting the puck more to the net is going to create more scoring chances for all of us.”
This is a good point. On the goal that Pavel Datsyuk scored against Columbus, he simply couldn’t pass the puck or throw it back to the point. He was the only player in the offensive zone so he was forced to go against his instinct to pass first and instead shot the puck. Detroit did get some good goal-scoring opportunitites that hit posts and they did get some solid traffic in front of the net. So long as they can do that for a full game and not for a little over one period they should be fine. So I’d agree with the head coach that the focus is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed right now.
Todd Bertuzzi should play in his second game as a Red Wing today. It remains to be seen if he lines up once again with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom. His average shift the other night was for just over 40 seconds, so it will be interesting to see how long he’s on the ice for his shifts this afternoon. Mathieu Schneider is nursing an injury and did not practice yesterday, so he may not play today. If he doesn’t then Andreas Lilja will be in the mix on defense.
With the red-hot Colorado Avalanche losing to Edmonton the Red Wings have locked up a playoff berth. The Oil snapped a brutal 12 game winless streak. Colorado’s excellent rookie Paul Stasny also went his third straight game without a point after setting a rookie record with a point in 20 straight games.
Reports are that Henrik Zetterberg is skating and shooting but is still pretty far away from getting back onto the ice in a game. The goal seems to be to get into the lineup in time for the playoffs:
“If it’s the same progress as it’s been the last week, I’ll be playing,” Zetterberg said. “But you never know with the back. A little tweak, or something, and you’re right back at the beginning.”
Zetterberg, out since Feb 26, didn’t do anything for about three weeks. This week, he has been able to put on the gear and do some light skating and shooting — for about 20 minutes a day.
“Every day you get closer,” Zetterberg said. “I go out there myself and get a feel for the puck. I’m still far away from playing but taking each step every day.”
Mike Babcock hopes to get him back for a few games prior to the playoffs but given that his back is injured the team is going to be cautious. He could be in the exact same situation Pavel Datsyuk was in last season when he missed most of the last month of the season and the first few games of the playoff series against Edmonton.
Red Wing Talk
Here are links to some of the conversations going on at various message boards that follow the Red Wings.
Impressions on Todd Bertuzi’s first game in Detroit - Red Wings Central
Western Conference Playoff race Standings - HF Boards
Booing Sergei Federov - Let’s Go Wings
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