Familiarity supposedly breeds contempt, but can it breed success?
Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill doesn’t think so, and based on the start his team is off to this season, maybe he has a point.
The Wings will play the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second time this season when they meet Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit is just coming off a weekend back-to-back set against the Ottawa Senators and has already faced the Carolina Hurricanes three times this season, but according to Blashill, facing the same opposition so frequently in a short span of time isn’t necessarily an advantage.
“For me it doesn’t matter,… Blashill said. “I mean, they’re in the same boat, we’re on the equal footing that way. I think at this time of the year we’re more focused on our team first and foremost and that’s certainly where we are right now.…
Some of his players begged to differ, feeling that more knowledge of the opposition can aid in preparation.
“I guess you get to know them a little bit,… Detroit right-winger Gustav Nyquist said. “You get to know their tendencies a little more the second game.
“We played Ottawa twice in a row here and kind of knew what to expect from them going into the second game, so it helps your preparation for sure.
“We know what type of game they want to play and how to be successful against it. We’ve got to do our job and really execute.…
Defenseman Niklas Kronwall’s line of thinking was more in line with that of his coach, feeling there wasn’t an advantage in knowing the opposition so well and agreeing that the most important aspect of game preparation was ensuring they were down with their own gameplan.
“Obviously playing them not long ago you know a bit more about them but we’re trying to prepare ourselves just as we do against any team,… Kronwall said. “Put the time in and a lot of times if you get yourself prepared, you’ll have a better outcome.…
Playful Teasing Nyquist, the two-year-old colt named for the Wings forward, won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Saturday. It’s one of many thoroughbred racehorses that owner Paul Reddam, a huge Wings fan, has named after Detroit players, but the first one that’s been a success on this level.
“I’ve read that he’s had horses that are named after some other players as well,… Nyquist said. “I heard Kronner wasn’t a very good one, so that’s a good thing.…
In case he wasn’t aware of that fact, Nyquist ensured to point it out to Kronwall.
“I’ve heard about it,… Kronwall admitted. “That’s just how it goes.
“I’m happy he’s doing well.…
Stone Suspension Detroit forward Landon Ferraro, the victim of the head hit in Saturday’s game that led to a two-game NHL suspension for Ottawa forward Mark Stone, will be able to play Tuesday.
“I just saw him at the very last second,… Ferraro said, recalling the hit. “I just tried to get my head out of the way as much as I could. I was able to pull it back a little bit.
“I don't know, I just got hit and then I didn't really know what was going on for the first second. I got up pretty quick. It was more kind of to tell myself I was all right. It's scary.
“Whether he meant to or not, I don't think he tried to but that's what we're trying to get out of the game. It's scary but I'm all right.…
The Wings will go with the same 18 skaters who beat Ottawa 5-3 on Saturday. The only change will see Jimmy Howard get the start in goal.
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