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Zetterberg a fan of 12 and 6 |
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Just about everything that didn’t work for the Detroit Red Wings in Saturday’s 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins clicked during Sunday’s 4-0 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Dylan Larkin, the club’s leading scorer with 35 points, potted the game-winning goal. Anthony Mantha, the Wings’ goal-scorer leader, buried his 15th goal of the season, while rookie left-winger Tyler Bertuzzi netted the first goal of his NHL career.
According to Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, the difference in the equation came down to simple math. He thinks that 12 goes with 6 much better than 11 goes with seven.
For much of the season, Detroit coach Jeff Blashill has opted to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. In his post-game comments to reporters, Zetterberg made it abundantly clear that he’s much more in favor of the more traditional 12 forwards and six defense format.
“I think when we play with four lines and six D it gives us a little different look,” Zetterberg said. “We can roll on four lines a little bit more. We don’t have to double shift like if we play with 11 and seven.”
Evidently, based on his post-game comments, Blashill and Zetterberg have discussed this matter at some length, because the coach wasn’t surprised at all to hear of his captain’s praise for the 12-6 option.
“Did he tell you to tell me that?” Blashill joked.
Dominic Turgeon made his NHL debut skating on the fourth line with David Booth and Luke Witkowski. “I thought that line with Turgy and Booth and Witter was good from the start,” Zetterberg said. “They just kept going, kept buzzing around with a lot of energy.
“It’s something you need in a team. You can’t just have guys who make plays. You’ve got to have guys that create a lot of energy and they did that tonight.”
No. 1 (Part I)
Bertuzzi tallied in the third period, the final goal of the game.
“I was excited,” Bertuzzi said. “I think I took two whacks it before it eventually went in. I squeezed it through his five-hole.”
No. 1 (Part II)
Turgeon was just settling in for his pre-game nap prior to Saturday’s AHL game in Grand Rapids when his phone rang with the call to get to Chicago.
“It was exciting,” Turgeon said. “It’s been a dream ever since I was a little kid. For me to get that call, it was a dream come true. It was fun.”
Turgeon’s dad, former NHLer Pierre Turgeon, was able to get to Chicago to see his son’s debut. The Los Angeles, for whom Turgeon is an assistant coach, allowed him to leave early from Saturday’s game against Anaheim in order to catch a flight to Chicago.
“That meant a lot to me that they let him come here,” Dominic said. “It was exciting for me and my family that he could be here to watch it.”
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