Puck possession and zone time haven’t been as significant an issue lately for the Detroit Red Wings, and they figure to become even less so going forward.
As far as the Wings are concerned, their lucky number is 13 – the digits that center Pavel Datsyuk will wear on his back for the first time in the NHL season Friday as Detroit plays host to the San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena.
Datsyuk missed all of training camp and the pre-season, as well as the first 15 regular-season games while recovering from off-season ankle surgery, but he’s been cleared to play and that’s got everyone in red and white excited.
“Pav is I think one of the strongest guys on the puck in the league,… Detroit left-winger Tomas Tatar said. “He’s been really good, his skill level is really high and he’s going to help us for sure.…
While captain Henrik Zetterberg acknowledged that Detroit’s zone time has been steadily improving, inserting Datsyuk into their lineup should only make it trend even further upward.
“I think the last three games we’ve been spending more time in the offensive end than the other team, so we’re getting better, but obviously having him back, protecting the puck and holding onto the puck, will help us,… Zetterberg said.
Perhaps most amazingly at all, the Detroit players don’t believe that game fitness will be any problem for Datsyuk.
“I haven’t seen any issue with that in practice,… Zetterberg said. “Maybe it will be a little different in games but he’s such a good skater and well-trained that I don’t think it will be that hard for him to pick that back up.…
Datsyuk will improve Detroit’s lineup as a whole by dropping players into the positions they are best suited to fill.
“Well, I mean, that’s an early Christmas present for me, eh?… Sharks coach Peter DeBoer joked of Datsyuk’s return. “He’s a great player. Changes their team. It slots everybody down in their proper spots and creates mismatches.
“As much as he brings to the top, it pushes some key guys down for them into mismatch situations. That’s what depth does.…
Anxious to play with Datsyuk after facing him for years as an opponent with the Washington Capitals, Detroit defenseman Mike Green is astonished by Datysuk’s battle level on the ice.
“I’ve learned how competitive he is,… Green said. “Every drill we did when it was me and him, it was a competition.
“That’s probably the one thing I learned about him. I couldn’t believe his work ethic and competition level. I’m just glad I’m on his team now.…
Datsyuk will skate on a line with Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader. Dylan Larkin drops down to the second line between Tatar and Gustav Nyquist, while Riley Sheahan will skate on the right wing of the third line, with Andreas Athanasiou remaining at center on that unit and Teemu Pulkkinen on the left side.
Darren Helm, Luke Glendening and Drew Miller continue as the fourth line, leaving Joakim Andersson and Tomas Jurco as healthy scratches. Detroit coach Jeff Blashill will stay with the same defensive sextet, leaving Brendan Smith as the odd man out. Jimmy Howard starts in goal.
Pulkkinen Fined The NHL has fined Pulkkinen $2,000 for diving and embellishment. He’s the second Wing to be tagged under Rule 64, the first being Nyquist.
Pulkkinen and Smith engaged in a brief scuffle at Thursday’s practice, but Pulkkinen downplayed the altercation.
“There was absolutely nothing special,… Pulkkinen said. “Just the one drill, we were battling hard, that’s what we have to do in the practice and especially in the games. Just battling hard. I’m battling hard, he’s battling hard, that’s hockey.
“You know hockey is hockey. That’s what happens. There is absolutely nothing special and I have nothing against Smitty.…
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