Like most of North America, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was glued to his television set Sunday night, watching the New England Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX.
Unlike most of North America, as someone who earns his living coaching, Babcock holds a unique perspective on the decision Seahawks coach Pete Carroll made in the final minute of play, opting to pass from the New England one-yard line instead of crashing power runner Marshawn Lynch into the Patriots defensive front.
The result was an interception by New England defensive back Malcolm Butler and international ridicule for Carroll’s play calling.
“Everybody is talking about the bad call,… Babcock said. “I disagree with it.
“What would have happened is they would have stacked him up twice in a row and thrown the interception on the third play and I guess people would have been happier today.
“The two smartest guys about their teams were in the game as head coaches, so now we’re going to second guess them?
“I don’t buy any of that.…
Babcock preferred to view the positive from the play, the read by the rookie Butler that led to his interception.
“What I like is when the ball was snapped and when (Wilson) put pressure on his outside leg, the kid on defense (Butler) knew where it was going,… Babcock said. “To me that’s preparation.
“When preparation meets opportunity you get lucky and that’s what happened right there.…
His high-level preparation is just one of the many qualities that Babcock admires in Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick.
“He wins,… Babcock said. “He’s a life-long learner. He wins multiple different ways. They change their roster every year. The build their identity based on what their roster is that year. Their offense is always changing.
“If he has time to plan he has ways to make your offense go away.…
Babcock also sees parallels between what the Patriots have accomplished on the gridiron and what the Red Wings have achieved on the ice.
“I just think they’re incredible and they’ve been doing it for 14-15 years,… he said of the Patriots. “I like what they do because I think that’s what we do.…
Injury Updates While they can’t say with 100 per cent certainty, the Wings are projecting that they could be receiving a very special Valentine’s Day present this season – a return to the net by No. 1 goalie Jimmy Howard, who hasn’t played since suffering a minor groin tear Jan. 10 against Washington.
Detroit GM Ken Holland admitted he couldn’t be certain about such a projection, but felt it was in the ballpark.
“Until they start practicing every day, I don’t know,… Holland said of Howard. “But I think within a week or two.…
He was even less certain about making a projection regarding forward Johan Franzen, out with concussion issues since Jan. 6.
“I don’t think he’s doing great but I don’t really know,… Holland said. “He doesn’t come here.
“Until he gets to the point where they’re telling me he’s starting to work out, he’s starting to train, we run the team like they’re not on the team.…
Gustavsson Update Jonas Gustavsson made 29 saves in a 4-0 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals Saturday as he returned to the ice for the first time since he separated his left shoulder Nov. 5 in a game against the New York Rangers, seeing action on a conditioning stint with Detroit’s American Hockey League farm club, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
“It was fun,… Gustavsson said. “It was long time since I played, so it was exciting. The longer the game went on, I felt better and better. It was a good test for me.
“Overall, it was a good start for me.…
Gustvasson will play for the Griffins in a Wednesday matinee game at Toronto against the Marlies and then fly to Denver to join the Wings prior to Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, but not decision has been made on if he will be activated from the injured list for that game.
Coreau Honored Already going with their third and fourth-string goalies in Detroit, the Red Wings found out No. 5 on the depth chart also has some game.
Grand Rapids goalie Jared Coreau was named AHL player of the week after becoming just the seventh goalie in franchise history to post back-to-back shutouts.
Coreau blanked the Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals, both on the road. Coreau’s current shutout streak of 140:32 is just 13:26 shy of the franchise record held by Marc Lamothe, the only other netminder in Griffins history to post consecutive road shutouts.
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