Detroit Red Wings legend Ted Lindsay, considered perhaps hockey’s fiercest leader, is of the opinion that there’s a misconception when it comes to true leadership.
It has nothing to do with fire and brimstone or emotional speeches and everything to do with how you play the game.
Much like what captain Henrik Zetterberg did for the Wings in their 4-0 Game 5 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a victory that gave the Wings a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup series and a chance to close it out Monday on home ice.
From the drop of the puck, Zetterberg displayed a determination and an tenacity that showed the way for the younger Wings, many who could have easily been emotionally fragile after squandering a 2-0 lead in the last six minutes of Game 4 and losing 3-2 in overtime.
“I think this is where lots of mistakes are made by people who think a guy gets in the dressing room and he makes a big show,… explained Hall of Famer Lindsay, Detroit’s captain from 1952-56. “That's not true leadership.
“You do it my leading by example."
You do it the way Zetterberg did it in Game 5.
Zetterberg admitted that he’s not one for flowery prose in order to get the team going and doesn’t see it as the forte of any of the Wings leadership group that also includes Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Kronwall.
“I don’t think me or Nick are the type of leaders that have those speeches in the locker room,… Zetterberg said. “When we speak it comes natural. We try and show it on the ice and off the ice too.
“We’ve been playing together for a long time. We’ve been playing with great leaders all our career here. We’ve been learning from (Nicklas) Lidstrom, from (Steve) Yzerman, from (Kris) Draper, from (Chris) Chelios, and we just try to do the same things they did.…
Those are the traits that Detroit coach Mike Babcock has seen in Zetterberg’s game throughout his career.
“You get guys like Pav and Z and Kronner, they’ve been through it a lot,… Babcock said. “They need help at this stage of their career. They always needed help but they need it more now and they’re getting help but they’re also steady on the rudder.
“They’re not panicking, they’re not getting excited about anything. They’re just going to play. Being determined, I believe that’s what (Luke) Glendening does. Through his determination, he drags you into battle. When Z does that last night, he drags other guys with him.
“That’s what you want out of your leadership group.…
All For One The Wings are truly embracing the team concept in this series. Datsyuk leads the team in scoring with 3-1-4 totals but that’s only good for 27th overall in Stanley Cup scoring this spring. Three different Wings – Glendening, Datsyuk and Riley Sheahan – have provided game-winning goals and nine different Wings have scored goals.
“We’ve been through lots of these and understand how it works,… Babcock said. “Two days ago you’re carrying around the weight of the world supposedly (after their Game 4 collapse). We weren’t but that’s what we’re supposed to be doing supposedly.
“Then today, you’re supposed to be sky (high). No you’re not.
“Sun got up, we’re ready to go.…
Held Off The Scoresheet One intriguing mark of Zetterberg’s Red Wings career is in jeopardy. He’s scored a goal in every playoff series he’s played for Detroit, a total of 22 series in all since he joined the team for the 2002-03 season.
Zetterberg missed Detroit’s opening-round series with the Phoenix Coyotes due to a sprained knee, but has played in and scored a goal in every other series that the Wings have played over the course of his 12-season career.
That there’s a zero next to his name in the goal column is irrelevant to Zetterberg’s teammates.
“You don’t always have to be putting up goals or putting up points to bring leadership,… defenseman Danny DeKeyser said. “Our leadership core has been here a long time and they’ve been through a lot of these series and a lot of these battles. They know how to win.
“If you watched Z yesterday he’s out there battling. I think he’s one of the best defensive forwards. He’s really responsible in his own zone and helping out the D.…
It’s Just Hockey Detroit’s Petr Mrazek became the fifth rookie goalie since the 1967-68 expansion to post a pair of shutouts in the same playoff series. He is also the first goalie to post at shutout at Tampa Bay since Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury on Nov. 29, 2013.
It might seem like heady stuff for a 23-year-old kid in his first Stanley Cup series, but Mrazek doesn’t let such notions enter into his headspace.
“You just have to battle and go there and play hard and try and stop as many pucks as you can,… Mrazek said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve changed something if I play great or if I’ve let in some soft goals.
“I’ve been in AHL playoffs. The NHL is a little different but it’s just hockey.…
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