Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock began Tuesday by discussing how impressed he is by the 25-year run of playoff appearances the Detroit Red Wing have assembled.
“No one understands ’cause they’re not living it every day,… said Babcock, Detroit’s coach from 2005-15. “Just think about what they’ve been able to do. What happens is right away you want to go from that, to a bunch of young kids and get going again. It doesn’t happen like that, that’s the problem.
“Ken Holland and Mr. Ilitch and those people have done an unbelievable job over a long period of time, maxing out the resources they have. I went there in ’05, at that time they were supposed to be going into the tank and then the next 10 years they proceeded to make the playoffs every year. They were the only team, I think, if I’m not mistaken, to do that (he is not mistaken). So since that lockout, that’s what they’ve been able to do. But there’s points in time when it catches up to you.…
In the evening, Babcock sent his team out to help the Wings get closer to that point in time, hammering another nail into the coffin containing Detroit’s playoff hopes by virtue of a 3-2 victory.
Self-Inflicted Wounds The script was a familiar one for the Red Wings. They started slowly, turned the puck over frequently and fell behind 3-0.
“We gave them speed, we gave them chances,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “We gave them the puck. We can’t do that, especially against that team.
“They really feed on turnovers and play a defensive style. That’s what they are waiting for and we gave that to them.…
There was exasperation in the voice of Detroit coach Jeff Blashill, who seems confounded by his team’s inability to make the simple play.
“On two of those goals, the two even-strength goals, we had the puck on our stick and we gave it away,… Blashill said. “We had easy opportunities to advance the puck and we didn’t.
“This team has shown lots of character all year in terms of staying with it and continuing to grind but we need more out of more people. We need a little more out of more people. That’s as simple as it comes.…
Russo Debut It didn’t take Detroit defenseman Robbie Russo to stop dreaming and wake up to the reality of his first NHL game. “I think a couple of shifts,… Russo estimated as to when his jitters went away. (Toronto forward Matt) Martin buried me, so I think that kind of woke me up. I think from there on I was pretty comfortable.…
Called up Sunday from AHL Grand Rapids, Russo immediately noticed a difference in the NHL game.
“Everyone is moving out there and everyone does their job,… Russo said. “I think that’s the biggest difference. A lot of guys are in position and they’re looking to attack, so you’ve got to be ready.…
Cruel Fate Just when it looked like Ryan Sproul would finally get his first chance to be a regular on the Detroit defense, fate intervened and crushed his hopes.
Sproul suffered a sprained ACL in Saturday’s loss at Edmonton, and while it’s not 100 per cent certain he is done for the season, it’s about 99 per cent assured.
“I don’t foresee him coming back,… Blashill said. “I don’t want to say he’s out for the rest of the regular season but there is a chance that he might be out for that long. And then it could be much longer than that, depending on if he needs a surgical repair.
“We won’t know that for 10-14 days, once the swelling goes down and we get a better look at the knee.…
The injury came just as Sproul was expected to get a regular turn on the Detroit defense after the trade of Brendan Smith to the New York Rangers.
“It was certainly tough to get injured when he was looking at the next stretch of 20 games he was going to have probably his best chance that he was going to have to date in the NHL,… Blashill said. “That’s a tough thing for sure. But this is life.
“I talk all the time about inner drive and perseverance being the two biggest factors in success. These are marathons, careers. He’s going to have to get his head up and go back to work here, which I’m sure he will.…
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