A month ago, Jonathan Ericsson’s assessment of his performance to date did not receive his personal stamp of approval.
“Too much up and down,… Ericsson explained at the time. “I want to be more consistent.…
These days, his self-analysis is much more positive. “There are so many small things that makes a lot of difference that can give a little boost in confidence,… said Ericsson, who has three goals and three assists and is plus-five in Detroit’s last 12 games.
“It can make a big difference, but with the team we’re finding ways to win all of the time and we’re not giving up as much as we did.
“I’m playing probably more consistent now than at the beginning of the season, yeah.…
As to his own production, Ericsson, who contributed no goals and just seven assists through Detroit’s first 41 games, is at a loss to explain why it’s suddenly adding up.
“Maybe I haven’t contributed on the offense before, it’s not like I’m contributing every game or so, but the points have been there,… Ericsson said. “I’ve been in on more goals, but I think it’s more coincidence.…
While no one is about to mistake Ericsson for Erik Karlsson, his teammates are quicker to come up with an answer as to why Ericsson is more frequently involved in the attack than he was earlier in the season.
“I thought, just watching the game, he is shooting the puck a lot,… left-winger Tomas Tatar said. “Johnny has a rocket. He’s a really smart player. He knows when to shoot. He can shoot for rebound, tip and I think he’s doing a really good job defensively.
“He’s a plus and doing a really good job on the PK too.…
Detroit coach Mike Babcock thinks a more regular appearance of Ericsson’s compete level has coupled with the emergence of more consistency in his all-around game.
“Especially this last little bit,… Babcock said. He’s bringing more intensity again.
“Big E normally plays real well in the games that on the schedule look like big games to you and then sometimes not quite the same in the rest and so intensity is always something that we need him to bring to the table.
“He has the dimension of size and skating and can pass the puck so we need him to be on the top of his game for us to be the best we can be.…
Ericsson believes lingering after effects from the broken wrist he suffered late last season might have left him scrambling to catch up to NHL pace at the beginning of the season and likely played a role in his slow start.
“I was still getting more and more used to it,… Ericsson said. “It probably never will be (100 per cent) but it’s fine. I think you have to adapt to what you can do and what you cannot do and that gets easier with time.
“In the back of your head you’re having to think about things and if you do it enough times you’re just going to do it naturally instead of thinking about it.…
Toiling alongside Niklas Kronwall in Detroit’s top defensive pair also means that the duo will have their work cut out for them every game and that sometimes will lead to long nights.
“We’re playing against the best lines every night,… Ericsson said. “Everything’s not going to go as you want every night. But I like the challenge every night to get out there against the best guys.…
Ericsson also believes that he and Kronwall have grown together as a pair and become more reliable.
“I can only speak for myself, but I know where he is all of the time and we have really good communication out there,… Ericsson said. “We talk a lot on the ice.
“That helps way more than you think and that’s what we’re talking about before every game, that everyone has to talk all of the time, because it makes so much difference.
“It’s like when you have someone on your back and you’re getting forechecked, they can tell you the play that’s open, because they’re going to see it and you’re not. That makes a huge difference.
“Me and Kronner have ways to help each other that way a lot.…
Also known as the Big Rig, Ericsson is a heavy load to escape when he’s in pursuit mode.
“I would not want to play against him,… Tatar said. “He’s a big, strong guy. He’s a smart player as well. Those guys aren’t easy to play against.
“I would say Johnny has pretty good skill too. Tall guys with good skill know how to handle their stick and with their reach, you think you have the puck and then all of a sudden you don’t.
“They’re tough defensemen to play against.…
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