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Assessing the Wings at mid-season |
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As they hit the mid-season mark with a 3-2 victory at Calgary Wednesday in their 41st game of the season, the Detroit Red Wings were in a mood to assess their campaign to date. Fifth in the East with a 22-10-9 slate, the Wings are ahead of where most placed them at the start of the season.
“The big difference is injuries,” Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said of the team’s improved play from a year ago. “We don't have the same injuries we had last year.”
A healthy group of Red Wings for the most part have been able to be strong on both the power play and penalty kill and netminder Jimmy Howard has rebounded from a poor 2013-14 campaign to return to the form that once made him an NHL all-star.
“We pretty much have the same team, but I think we're more consistent, I think we're a little deeper,” Zetterberg said. “Special teams have been really good and goaltending's been really good.”
Youngsters Tomas Tatar (16 goals) and Gustav Nyquist (15) continue to be productive scorers, rating 1-2 on the team in goals and giving the Wings some consistent offensive spark beyond veterans Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.
“They’re real good players and they’re getting better and we expect them to get better,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said of Tatar and Nyquist. “We talk like they’ve arrived. No. Let’s just keep getting better.”
Second-year center Riley Sheahan has evolved into a steady two-way pivot with an offensive upside he’s only beginning to explore. Sheahan’s impressive goal Wednesday, when he turned Calgary defenseman Deryk Engelland inside out before wiring a wrist shot past Flames goalie Kari Ramos brought an even more impressive comparison from Zetterberg.
“That was vintage Yzerman, I think,” Zetterberg said. “Stevie used to do that move a lot.
“I think he's been watching him.”
The Detroit captain is enthralled by what he sees from young players like Sheahan on a nightly basis as they continue to evolve into their full-time roles as NHLers.
“I think he's a very good all-around player, but I think he's focusing on doing the right stuff,” Zetterberg said of Sheahan. “Sometimes the offense is lacking a little bit because he wants to play good defensively. But I think the last month or so you've been seeing that he is really good offensively if he just lets himself go.
“I think that's the thing. He's holding back maybe and he should just play the way he can.”
Babcock agreed that there’s plenty of productive upside where Sheahan is concerned once he grows more comfortable in his role as the team’s No. 2 center.
“He’s starting to come,” Babcock said. “He’s got to learn to hit the net. As he does that he’s got a heavy, heavy shot.
“He knows how to play. As he gains confidence he’s going to get better and better and he’s an important player for us.”
Justin Abdelkader already has 11 goals, a career high and is a solid part of another effective forward unit with Zetterberg and Nyquist.
“It's a good line,” Zetterberg said. “I think we complement each other good.
“Obviously, Abby's working real hard in front of the net and in the corners to get us the pucks. I think me and Gus are good at finding each other.”
There are still concerns. The Wings have just one right-handed shot and none on the defense. With so many young players, there are nights when the team gets away from its gameplan and looks lost. Consistency in their approach is a key if this team intends to continue to grow and develop into a legitimate contender.
“We’re trying to figure out if we’re good or not,” Babcock said. “That’s the biggest thing. To me, to be a good team it’s about finding a way to look after the details every single day, putting your work habits before your skill. If you do those things you have a chance to be good in this league.”
As they enter the second half of the regular season, the goal for the Wings is a simple one.
“Our focus is to keep improving as a team,” Babcock said. “When you play right and you’re detail oriented you have a chance to be successful. When you’re not, it might look good once in a while but you don’t win.
“I like winning.”
Pulkkinen Recalled
The Wings recalled winger Teemu Pulkkinen from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and placed Johan Franzen (upper body injury) on injured reserve.
Pulkkinen, 23, sits atop the AHL leaderboard with 20 goals in 33 games and is second in the league with 39 points. Pulkkkinen is currently on an eight-game goal scoring streak for Grand Rapids, which ties the franchise record, and has tallied nine goals and 13 points in that span.
Last season, Pulkkinen paced Grand Rapids with 59 points (31-28-59) in 71 games en route to becoming the Griffins all-time leader in goals scored by a rookie.
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