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Power play and goaltending in form |
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As the Detroit Red Wings steadily march toward the inevitable official end to their 25-season run of playoff appearances, as if it were a cruel twist of fate, their power play and their goaltending, two elements that have eluded any form of consistency for most of the season, are suddenly operating at an NHL caliber.
The Red Wings have scored six power-play goals in their past six games, and have scored with the man advantage in four of those six games after taking 13 games to get to six power-play goals in the sequence prior to that. Detroit’s power play is operating at a 30 percent efficiency rate (six-for-20) over that most recent six-game span.
“When I look at the course of the year I think we’re 11th in five on five offense,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “Offensively, we’ve been fine that way.
“Our power play struggled. Certainly, in the last month or so it’s been much better and that makes it a little bit easier. Those things are positive.”
Blashill certainly sees a difference in the power play right now from what he’s witnessed for much of this season.
“No question confidence is a huge factor,” Blashill said. “It’s a huge factor in individuals, it’s a huge factor in units and it’s a huge factor as a team.
“Certainly, our power play (units) both feel better about themselves as units and while they still have to take on their own identity a little bit, I think both units have done a good job.”
Meanwhile, at the other end of the rink, the return of Jimmy Howard from a knee injury has coincided with the rediscovery of form from Petr Mrazek, giving the Wings a stellar 1-2 punch between the pipes.
“He’s played really good,” Blashill said of Howard, 3-1 since his return, including victories over the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens. “It’s hard to be out that long. It’s hard to predict that a guy is going to come back and play as good as he has. He’s certainly put the work in to be ready.”
Howard was among the NHL leaders in goals-against average and save percentage at the time of his December injury.
“He kind of looks like he did before he left,” Blashill said. “Before he got hurt, the puck was sticking to him, he was real sound from a technical standpoint and he’s not letting any easy ones in.
“Between him and Petr both guys are playing real good.”
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