They still can’t string together any semblance of a run of success.
Their goaltenders continue to allow suspect goals to slip past them.
Despite their flaws, the Detroit Red Wings clinched a place in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 24th season in succession, albeit through the back door after dropping a 4-3 overtime decision to the Montreal Canadiens Thursday at the Bell Centre.
Dejected as they headed to the dressing room, the Wings immediately perked up when they watched the final seconds of Florida’s 4-2 win over Boston tick off the clock, and the lost points by the Bruins assured that Detroit could not be caught for a playoff spot.
“It was probably the first game I was scoreboard watching in the end,… captain Henrik Zetterberg admitted. “It (Boston game) was 3-1 and then 3-2 and then 4-2.
“I didn’t know how long was left but when we got in here, we put the TV on there was 30 seconds left. So it was good.…
Others were more blunt in their assessment of critics who might belittle the way they achieved their accomplishment.
“They can say whatever they want,… goalie Jimmy Howard said. “We’re in the playoffs.…
Not everyone was basking in the glory. A team that didn’t lose back-to-back games in regulation until the first week of March, the Wings have now gone 17 games in a row without posting successive victories.
“There is no doubt that we haven’t been good enough,… defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “I think that’s the bottom line. Whether that’s been one game or two games in a row, we just haven’t been able to find that groove again.
“We have to get back to playing the way we want to be playing. Tonight we did a lot of good things but there’s still some things we can work on.…
Back In Doubt It’s official – the Wings’ goaltending woes have driven coach Mike Babcock to drink.
Asked if he knew who his playoff goalie would be, this was Babcock’s response:
“No,… Babcock said bluntly. “I’m going to go have a beer and think about that.
“How’s that?…
Just when it appeared Howard was turning the corner back into the goalie that was picked to the NHL All-Star Game in January, he allowed a pair of softies to slip past him – Tomas Plekanec’s game-tying tally and the winner by Lars Eller. One both occasions, Howard wasn’t squared up to the shooter and he paid a price for it.
“I saw the Montreal guy on the outside,… Howard said of the game winner. “I was thinking (Eller) was going to throw it across. In that case, you’ve got to stick with the shooter. Never mind the guy that’s there.…
Howard’s mea culpa on the game-tying tally offered a similar dissection of the play.
“Plekanec did a good job of disguising it,… Howard said. “I thought he was going to whip it across. He turned his wrists over at the last second.…
The two goals again raised the question about whether he’s fully overcome his struggles with tracking the puck.
“It’s just stay with the puck and not worry about having to be in two spots at once,… Howard said.
Babcock was much less scientific in his assessment of the goals that went into his team’s net.
“They can’t go in. Period,… Babcock said. “This is the National Hockey League. They can’t go in.
“We should have won that game. The puck went in, it shouldn’t have went in. We’re going to have to deal with that in the next few days to get that straightened out.…
Rare Penalty Call The Wings were two men short when Plekanec made it 3-3 and they ended up that way after being called for delay of game when defenseman Brendan Smith, seated on the Detroit bench touched the puck while it was still in play.
The Wings vehemently argued the call, but afterward, admitted it was the correct decision.
“I think we were just arguing,… Zetterberg said. “We weren’t sure if anyone saw it. When you see the replay, he reached out and touched the puck outside, so it is a two-minute (penalty).
“No one really saw it. We were hoping the ref didn’t see it either.…
All-Star Teemu One of the Red Wings was named an all-star on Thursday. Teemu Pulkkinen was named to the right wing position on the American Hockey League’s first all-star team.
Recalled to the Wings on March 7, Pulkkinen continues to lead the AHL with 34 goals and ranks fourth in the league with 61 points in 46 games for Grand Rapids this season, surpassing his offensive output from a year ago when he won AHL All-Rookie honors. Pulkkinen is the first Griffins player to post back-to-back 30-goal seasons.
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