Game #1 Roundup
Here are some quick links to other articles regarding Game #1 of the Wings-Preds series. I will update this post when I get back from work tonight.
Detroit News: Zetterberg’s third-period goals, Hasek spark 3-1 opening win
“It’s nice to get that first win behind us but we need to win three more,” Hasek said. “It’s an important win, however you have to leave it behind and move on.”
Zetterberg’s one-timer from Pavel Datsyuk at 6:54 of the third period gave the Wings a 2-1 lead. Zetterberg got an empty-net goal with 18.2 seconds left.
“It’s no surprise,” said Zetterberg of the struggle of a game. “We knew it would be a tight game, they have good goaltending, and we had to play strong defensively. We just have to stay patient and work on our game.”
Bruce MacLeod @ Red Wings Corner:
– It doesn’t look like Scott Nichol will return to the Nashville lineup for Game 2 after a “left arm injury” and that’s a significant loss for the Predators. Nichol centered the third line, but he was a plus-12 in the regular season and won 59.8 percent of his faceoffs.
– I’m not a big fan of Darren McCarty playing ahead of Aaron Downey. But I did love seeing McCarty’s face when Jordin Tootoo acted up.
Detroit News Column: Zetterberg scores two, and a Mule helps Wings kick Predators
We’ve only seen this type of playoff game, what, a few thousand times? Nashville never has won a playoff series. Ellis never had played in an NHL postseason game.
But the Predators grinded and grinded and the Wings skated and skated, outshooting Nashville 40-20. And although it ended with Hank, it started with a kick from the Mule. Early in the playoffs, the Wings often need a boot in the butt, and these days, there’s no boot better than that from Johan “Mule” Franzen, who scored the game’s first goal.
These are the ingredients the Wings must ride, from the rising star to the superstar, from Swede to shining Swede, to outlast another scrappy eighth seed. Zetterberg and Franzen were forces all night, creating numerous scoring chances.
Dave @ Gorilla Crouch:
3. Who will provide scoring depth for Detroit?
Fortunately the Red Wings didn’t need much in the way of scoring depth last night. Their best players [leading goal scorer and hottest player over the past month or so] were their best players and scored all three goals with the final one being an empty netter. Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom were all +2 last night. Z scored two goals while Datsyuk and Lidstrom each tallied an assist. Jason Arnott and Alexander Radulov, in contrast, didn’t register a shot on goal between them. JP Dumont was -3 but did register two shots on goal. Martin Erat was -1 and also put two shots on net.
Detroit Free Press Column: No hero in opposing net - let’s keep it that way, Wings!
It was equally important to have Zetterberg be the guy to do it. Because if the Wings have learned one other playoff lesson the hard way — besides not turning goaltenders from “Joe Who?” into “Joe Wow!” — it’s this: Your stars have to score. Yes, you need role players. Yes, you need team defense. Yes, you need patience. Don’t care. First do this. Get your stars to score. When they do, the world is right. When they do, they –and the other guys — don’t press.
Zetterberg is the Red Wings’ star, their heir apparent to the Steve Yzerman mantle. Getting two goals in the playoff opener (he had the empty-netter to end a 3-1 victory) immediately relaxes him and makes the other team worry. “It’s nice,” he admitted, “to get a good start.”
Detroit Free Press: It’s nice to have Niklas Kronwall in the playoffs
“The thing about Kronner is, he always seems to be overcoming what just happened to him last,” coach Mike Babcock said. “It’s really hard to build momentum in your career, and you’ve seen it in a number of good athletes that are continually hurt, they just don’t build the same momentum. I think now he’s gotten to a point where he’s a real-high end player. Our top three, I think, is elite, elite, elite. But he has a different dimension — he can flat-out run you. Now, with Stuart, you’ve got to be aware those guys are on the ice — they’re going to get you. Now they might not get you on the first shift, but they’re going to get you before the night is over and I think that’s a positive for us.”
Steph @ No Pun Intended:
There seems to be some controversy floating around over Niklas Kronwall’s hit on Rich Peverly regarding if he left his feet or not (A2Y found this shot proving he clearly didn’t!), and on whether or not Zetterberg’s gamewinning goal came on a play that was offsides, but leaving both of those incidents alone, the Wings were still the better team on the ice yesterday night - and whether or not they were playing as good as they can be, they were playing as good as they needed to be, a point with which everyone seems to concur:
Matt Saler @ On the Wings:
All in all, a good start for the Wings. As Hasek said after the game, it was good to get the first win out of the way. They have some things they could improve upon, such as adjusting their offensive strategy, and better passing in their own zone, but overall there isn’t much to complain about. They’ve set the bar and they just have to keep getting over it.
Related Posts
Leave a Reply