The Detroit Red Wings finally posted a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, their first in four meetings this season, but for the Wings, Saturday’s 4-0 shutout at Joe Louis Arena was more about them getting their act together than it was about tasting success against a potential first-round playoff opponent.
Or was it?
“I think it was more important for us to play a solid game,… Detroit right-winger Gustav Nyquist said. “We haven’t played like we wanted the last couple of games, obviously giving up a lot of goals (11 in back-to-back losses to Arizona and San Jose).
“I think we were more focused on getting back to our ways. We can’t be thinking about who we were playing.
“It was just a matter of a big game for us, for ourselves and I thought we bounced back well after two not so good games.…
So there you go. No one was thinking about the playoffs.
Or were they?
“I really respect this team and how they play and obviously we didn’t want to lose three games in a row and we didn’t want to be swept by these guys,… Detroit left-winger Justin Abdelkader said of the Lightning. “We wanted to come out and make a statement here.
“This could very well be out first-round matchup so it was good to have a good game.…
Blanking the NHL’s most potent offense – the Lightning have tallied a league-high 244 goals – was nothing to sneeze at, even if some of the Wings sought to downplay the sudden success they enjoyed against a team that had frustrated them in three previous meeting as Detroit went 0-2-1.
“I don’t know if it was a statement,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “We’ve just got to worry about ourselves.
“We know we’ve got to get points going down the stretch. Tonight was obviously a big game for us and we’ve got a big one tomorrow again (at the New York Islanders).…
Datsyuk Back While the Wings were without center Riley Sheahan due to an upper-body injury, they welcomed center Pavel Datsyuk back after he’d missed five games with what was described as a lower-body ache.
Even though Datsyuk was held off the scoresheet, his mere presence solidified the Detroit club.
“Well, obviously he’s a game changer,… Detroit center Luke Glendening said. “He slows up the game, gives us all more confidence.…
Sheahan could possibly play Sunday against the Islanders, while winger Erik Cole (upper body) is more likely to return Tuesday at home against the Ottawa Senators.
Leading Edge For the first time in the past six games, the Wings held a lead during a game. Their only advantage in the previous five games came when Abdelkader netted the game-winner in overtime against St. Louis.
“I thought we came out and played good right away,… Abdelkader said. “We had a good start. It was a tight game. There weren’t many shots the whole game.
“Even to start, both teams played similar-style games and both teams were patient. It’s always good getting that lead.
“We got that goal, (Joakim) Andersson kind of banged one home and it’s always nice playing with that lead, especially not giving up goals right from the start of games.…
Once in front, the Wings were able to settle down into the sort of hockey they prefer to play and were victimized by the impatience of chasing the game.
“We tightened up today,… Nyquist said. “We executed well. We didn’t spend too much time in our own zone. I thought we boxed out well.…
PK Power Detroit’s penalty kill successfully thwarted six power-play opportunities and much of that had to do with not letting the shots get through to netminder Petr Mrazek.
Glendening and Drew Miller combined to block eight shots.
“It’s just the way it happens,… Glendening said. “You hope to have seven blocks in a game but I guess that’s the way it goes.
“It’s something we have to do to stay in this lineup, that’s for sure.…
Mrazek’s The Man Mrazek blocked 23 shots for his second shutout of the season, a big zero after the Wings fished so many pucks out of their net over the course of the two previous games.
“I thought he was real solid today,… said Detroit coach Mike Babcock who opted to go with Mrazek after two poor performances by No. 1 goalie Jimmy Howard. “We didn’t give him a ton of work, but he was real good with the puck. That helps our D, and he was solid when he needed to be.
“He didn’t have much work today, so that gives him an opportunity to go tomorrow because he didn’t have much work today, and it gives Howie an opportunity to work with (Detroit goalie coach) Jimmy Bedard and freshen up.…
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