The rest of the NHL is getting sick of dealing with a healthy Darren Helm.
The speedy Detroit Red Wings forward was at his pesky best again Saturday, setting up a goal and scoring another as the Wings downed the Arizona Coyotes 3-1.
After missing the vast majority of the previous two seasons with a variety of ailments, Helm has played every one of Detroit’s 52 games this season, producing 11-13-24 totals.
“I feel like I’m playing without any hesitation or worrying about what I had in the past, like trying to protect anything,… Helm explained. “I can play a physical, hard-working skating game that makes me successful.
“When that’s in the back of my mind, like I’ve a shoulder or a groin (injury) and to take it easy, it doesn’t help my game. Right now I don’t have any of those thoughts in my mind. I can just go out there and play.
It was Helm who got the puck up to Tomas Tatar for his breakaway goal that proved to be the game winner.
Later, he outraced Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to pot an empty-netter and seal the victory.
“He’s one of the fastest guys in the league,… said Tatar, who sent Helm on his way for the empty-net tally. “I just tried to chip the puck out.
“He was pushing the pace and he beat a guy and had the goal.…
Currently skating on a line with Tatar and Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit coach Mike Babcock likes what Helm adds to the unit.
“I thought Helm had energy right from the get go and really skated,… Babcock said. “He’s been important for Pavel. He gives Pavel legs.…
Helm is one goal away from his career high of 12 scored in 2010-11 and far removed from the pain of recent seasons.
“It’s tough to be playing when you’re not healthy,… Helm said. “I’ve been healthy. I’ve been feeling pretty confident every time I go out on the ice and obviously the guys I’m around now have definitely helped.
“I have fun playing with Tats and Pav and we’ve been having a pretty good run right now and playing good hockey.…
Helm is also seeing power-play time and has four power-play points this season.
“It feels great,… he said. “I never really saw myself getting these kind of opportunities a few years back. I saw the guys we had, so talented and skilled, so I figured that opportunity wouldn’t come to me.
“I just kept working hard and I got the chance. I’m trying to prove every second I’m out there that I can play out there, chip in and help the team.…
He tried to take the same attitude while working to get better through his many injuries.
“It wasn’t easy,… Helm admitted. “It’s all worth it now having gone through that.
“It’s made me stronger and smarter as a hockey player and as a person. It was a learning experience.…
At the same time, it’s a growing experience he could do without experiencing again.
“I’m glad it’s in the past and I can just play now,… Helm said.
Czech Mate Winning yet again, Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek, now 8-1 since No. 1 netminder Jimmy Howard was injured, came within 1:54 of his second straight shutout and foiled fellow Czech Martin Erat with a blocker save on a third-period penalty shot when the Detroit lead was just 1-0.
“I was expecting that he was going to shoot,… Mrazek said. “I was hoping five hole or blocker, and he just shoot on the blocker and the blocker was there, so I was happy.…
Almost as happy as the Wings are about the play of Mrazek, their rookie netminder, who is only 22 years old.
“You can see him just getting better every day, almost,… Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “He moves the puck so well, he reads the play and again he came up some huge saves for us.
“The penalty shot there, stuff like that gets the whole team going.…
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