Generally, the last thing a struggling hockey team would want to see on the upcoming slate would be a seven-game road trip but the way things have been going for the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena this season, getting out of town might be exactly what the doctor should prescribe for the team.
“You could say it’s good timing,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “I think a lot of (people) say it’s bad timing. But going on the road and playing some road hockey and grinding out some ugly wins here would be good for this team. We spend a lot of time together off the ice. So I don’t think it’s a bad thing to go on the road.…
Zetterberg is also of the opinion that the Wings might not feel as much pressure while playing away from home.
“We’ll be a little bit looser and we can’t really worry about matchups,… Zetterberg said. “We just go out and play. We put out the line we think we should have out there and the other team’s got to match up against us. When we do that it’s a little easier to get momentum going.
“You get one, two, three, four lines, everyone is going from the hop. So as I said I don’t see it as a bad thing that we go on the road.…
A dismal 7-10-3 at home, the Wings are a solid 8-6-1 on the road.
“I can’t say the process has been way different but sometimes maybe just some minor differences matter,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “I thought the one stretch at home when we got the L.A. and Arizona games, I thought that was the one time we were tight. Sometimes that happens at home a little bit. But other than that I thought we played good against Columbus, I thought we played good against Philadelphia, I thought we played good last night.
“We haven’t gotten results at home. We’ve gotten them on the road.…
Roster Moves As the Wings regain their health, spots have to be opened up and that led to a couple of roster moves Wednesday.
Forward Tyler Bertuzzi, out since suffering an ankle injury Nov. 26 against Montreal, was sent to AHL Grand Rapids, as was defenseman Brian Lashoff.
“Basically, Bert has to go down and get playing down and hopefully get him to a spot where he’s ready to take somebody’s job by how good he plays down there,… Blashill said. “He’s going to have to take a guy’s job who’s a skilled player. We could use muscle if he can come in and prove that he’s good enough. But it doesn’t make much sense for a guy who hasn’t played much in the NHL to just pop right back in and expect him to do that.
“Let’s give him a chance to get playing and get confident.…
Green Skates Defenseman Mike Green, out since suffering an upper body injury late in Detroit’s Dec. 17 win over Anaheim, is skating on his own but has no firm timetable for a return to action.
“I was on the ice today before the guys practiced,… Green said. “I’m still able to skate, stay in shape. I’m going to continue to do that and do the off-ice stuff as much as I can.…
Green was injured when checked by Anaheim center Ryan Kesler, aggravating a pre-existing condition.
“He just got me good,… Green said. “It’s something that’s been lingering for a long time, sort of got exposed and unfortunately I have to take some time off.…
Optimistically, Green wants to return in time for Detroit’s upcoming California trip, which curiously begins Jan. 4 at Anaheim. “Hoping, yeah,… Green said. “Probably the latter part of the trip, but around there.…
With the team struggling, the last place Green wants to be is on the sideline.
“I don’t want to be out… Green said. “Obviously I wish this wasn’t the case, but it is and unfortunately you’ve got to take the right protocol.…
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