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Reunited Euro Twins to keep rolling |
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They’ve been reunited and it feels so good.
Peaches and Herb?
No, silly, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
The dynamic Euro Twins of the Detroit Red Wings will play their second straight game as linemates Monday as the Wings play host to the Florida Panthers at Joe Louis Arena and Detroit coach Jeff Blashill is of a mind that this latest reunion of these two superstars could end up being a long-running engagement.
“The one thing we talked about when I brought them in the office (to tell Zetterberg and Datsyuk they’d be playing together) - I think it was Friday afternoon - was they asked to make sure they had some time together.”
Entering the second game of a five-game homestand, the timing couldn’t be better for a reunification.
Datsyuk make no effort to hide his excitement at being back on the ice alongside Zetterberg.
“It was like holiday,” Datsyuk said. “We long time don’t play. We need little bit of time but as far as our first game, we get lots of chances, have lots of fun.”
Datsyuk collected two assists in Saturday’s 5-1 over the New York Islanders and felt like the old chemistry between himself and Zetterberg was quick to resurface.
“Who say it’s old?” Datsyuk joked. “It’s new, young.”
Datsyuk admires the approach Zetterberg takes on the ice.
“He really holds the puck,” Datsyuk said. “He makes good decisions and he is also always in the danger zone.
“I tell him ‘Just pass to me and I shoot.’ This is how we work.”
Justin Abdelkader, the third member of the unit, figures it’s the perfect opportunity to sick Datsyuk and Zetterberg on unsuspecting opponents.
“I think they both think the game really similar,” Abdelkader said. “Even not playing with each other for awhile, they still know where each other is going to be.
“When they’ve had stretches they’ve played really well together. They haven’t had a number of games where they’ve been together in recent years but I think yeah, especially at home you can get the match-up you want, so it can work to our advantage.
“I thought as a line we had good chemistry last game so that was a positive.”
Green Out; Kindl In
Mike Green will take a seat as the Wings play the Panthers.
“Greenie tweaked his groin a little bit in the game the other day, so he’ll be out,” Blashill said. “I don’t think it’s anything too serious. It’s day to day right now.
“Jakub Kindl will take his place.”
Just recalled from AHL Grand Rapids, Kindl hasn’t seen NHL game action since Dec. 29 at Winnipeg.
Blashill felt Kindl would actually draw benefit from his recent AHL time that can aid his transition back to the NHL game.
“I think one of the advantages for Jakub was that he was down in Grand Rapids and had an opportunity to play (nine games),” Blashill said. “I think that’s a huge advantage.
“I’ve watched guys that when they sit for two months and try to play. It’s extraordinarily hard, whereas that gives the call-up guys way more of an advantage, because they’re down there playing. The levels aren’t that much different. The adjustment is the adjustment, so Jakub has done a good job over his career here.
“He’ll have an opportunity to be on the power play. That’s one area where I think he has excelled, he just probably hasn’t gotten too many opportunities. So, to play to his strengths means he’s a great outlet passer. He’s got to make sure he’s tight-gapped and he’s got to be real good on the power play.”
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