Someone old and someone new combined to help the Detroit Red Wings leave the Tampa Bay Lightning feeling blue.
Rookie Petr Mrazek made 44 saves and veteran Pavel Datsyuk scored a pair of goals as the Wings opened this best-of-seven Stanley Cup series with a 3-2 victory over the Lightning Thursday at Amalie Arena.
“It’s a good feeling now but lots of job ahead of us,… Datsyuk said. “If we play like that – together – we have a good chance.…
Highway Robbery Mrazek did what many goalies have achieved over the annals of Stanley Cup play, giving his team a win the Wings all recognized that they probably didn’t deserve.
“He stole one for us,… winger Darren Helm said.
Getting busy from the get-go enabled Mrazek to get going in his Stanley Cup debut.
“It helped me the first five minutes,… Mrazek said. “They shoot from everywhere and it hits you.
“That’s a huge part of the game that they didn’t score in the first five minutes.…
Many times, Detroit coach Mike Babcock has watched as another team’s goalie has haunted his club in playoff action.
“You’re standing on the bench and you think you’ve got the puck and it’s not going in,… Babcock said.
While he enjoyed the view this time around, Babcock is aware that to continue to play that way would be series suicide for his team.
“We’ve got to get quicker,… Babcock said. “I thought their D did a good job of being up on us and I didn’t think we executed early with the puck.
“We’ve got to do a better job of that and be a little heavier on the puck in the offensive zone and spend some more time in there. We didn’t have enough forwards going, but Mrazek stood tall for us and we can all get better, which is a real positive for us.…
He’s A Magic Man Datsyuk’s health was of serious concern to the Wings over the course of the past month, but Thursday, it was the Lightning that Datsyuk left feeling under the weather.
He scored a pair of goals for the Wings, opening the scoring in the first period and then setting a franchise record for the fastest goal from the start of a period when he scored eight seconds into the second period to give Detroit the lead for good.
“Every games he does something special,… Helm said of Datsyuk. “Once, twice, three times a game he’s pulling pucks out of piles that a normal person wouldn’t be.
“That’s why he’s so great and so effective for our team.…
It was Helm who made the pass to spring Datsyuk for his second of the night.
“I didn’t even give him a good pass and he’s still able to bring it down, calm it down and put it up in a hurry,… Hel said. “It was a good skill play by him.
“I’m glad we have him.…
PK Stymies Lightning Detroit’s penalty killers successfully staved off seven Tampa Bay power plays and put the final nail in the Lightning’s coffin when Luke Glendening’s shorthanded goal made it 3-1 early in the third period.
“I think it was just our work ethic,… Glendening said. “From the outset we were committed to getting to pucks and trying to block shots and obviously your best penalty killer has got to be your goalie and Mrazek was great.…
Experience? What’s That? Besides Mrazek, defenseman Alexey Marchenko and forward Landon Ferraro also made their Stanley Cup debuts and Babcock didn’t shy away from utilizing either in key situations.
Ferraro saw some power-play time and was out on the ice during the final minute of play as Detroit defended its one-goal lead.
“I know I just need to use my speed, keep it simple, get pucks out and shoot as many pucks as I can,… said Ferraro, who was taking nothing for granted.
“As of right now I’m in the lineup, so it’s just go about your business and if you’re in the lineup, you’re in the lineup.
“I’m happy to be here and if I’m in the lineup I have to make sure I’m doing my part.…
Babcock wasn’t all that concerned about the complete lack of Stanley Cup play on the trio’s resume.
“I think experience matters but so does ability,… Babcock said. “It’s great to have all the experience in the world but if you can’t move anymore that doesn’t do you much good.…
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