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To watch the playoffs, or not watch the playoffs |
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Your team is out of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in
27 years. What’s a fellow to do?
Well, it turns out that it depends upon the fellow.
“It’s weird,” Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg admitted. “Playoffs start and we’re not in it, so it’s not going to be any hockey watching in my house for the next couple months probably.
“It’s going to be hard to see other players be there and we are not in it. But in the same way, it’s a little reality check. We have to be better. This is the fun time of the year and we’re not part of it.”
Forward Dylan Larkin took the opposite viewpoint toward televised postseason play.
Yeah, I will watch,” Larkin said. “I’ll probably watch my buddy Zach Werenski in Columbus and Toronto, with Auston Matthews.
“The first round of the playoffs is pretty entertaining to watch.”
Goalie Jimmy Howard was on Larkin’s wavelength as well.
“I’ll watch,” Howard said. “Even though we do this for a living, I’m still a fan. I still enjoy watching games and watching other goalies and trying to pick up and learn from them.”
With the Wings eliminated, Howard even has determined his playoff rooting interest.
“I’d go with Otter,” Howard said of former teammate Steve Ott, now with the Montreal Canadiens. “We’d become great friends over the course of the year and it’s one of those friendships that’s going to last the course of a lifetime.
“I’ll be cheering for him.”
Watching others battle for the Stanley Cup won’t be something Howard will do easily, though.
“Obviously we all want to be playing here,” Howard said. “This is the time of year when it’s the most fun, being out there and having that electricity from the fans like we had Sunday.
“That’s what every playoff game is like and it makes for exciting hockey.”
Forward Gustav Nyquist was of two minds on the subject.
“I’m sure I’ll keep track of how the games go but it’s disappointing right now,” Nyquist said. “In this room, it feels like we had a lot more to give. It’s not fun to stand here at this point, this early.”
World Watch
Add defenseman Danny DeKeyser to the list of Red Wings headed to the world championship. He will join teammates Larkin and Howard and coach Jeff Blashill on Team USA.
Other Wings made it clear that they wouldn’t be going to the worlds.
“I had a good conversation with the Swedish federation and world championships,” Zetterberg said. “It’s over for me.
“I think it’s time for younger kids to have that experience and play that way for the national team. So I’m not going.”
Center Frans Nielsen also turned down an invitation from the Danish national team.
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Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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