In the midst of three games in four nights, the Detroit Red Wings opted to invoke some Eagles’ lyrics on Friday, deciding to take it easy.
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill held an optional practice at Joe Louis Arena.
“Yeah, you always balance between when you practice, where your structure is in your game, and then rest,… Blashill explained. “I think at this time of year rest can be real critical. I think it’s a big factor in being able to play at a high level.
“So I thought our guys played hard, hard, hard minutes last night and I thought it was best to put it in their hands to decide what they needed to do to make sure they’re ready.
“Some guys like Pav (Datsyuk) skated, some other guys decided not to skate and my message to them was do what you have to do. Make sure you’re ready tomorrow.…
The Wings will play back-to-back home games Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers and Sunday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Rewarding Performance The Wings felt they’d been playing decent hockey for much of their three-game losing streak and were finally rewarded for their efforts when they rebounded from a 2-0 first-period deficit Thursday for a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets at the start of this three-game homestand.
“I think we've been playing OK lately,… Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “In Chicago, I don't think the result (4-1 loss) was reflecting how the game was going. I think we had some really good moments there and they barely had a shot on net.
“Yesterday I think we played with a little bit more desperation in our game and more urgency and that's kind of what we have to do here. It's going to be like the playoffs here like it has been the last three or four years. It's going to be a playoffs just getting into the playoffs. We know that. It's time to step up. We've got to do it for 60 minutes, though. We can't just play for 40 or 30 or 50.…
It’s nothing new to the Wings who have fought down to the wire to keep their playoff streak, now at 24 years, intact for the past several seasons.
“We’ve been here before,… captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “The last four years, five years, we’ve been in this and we know how to do it.
“You’ve just got to start playing playoff hockey a little earlier and we’re doing that right now.…
Athanasiou Denied As Thursday’s game progressed, forward Andreas Athanasiou’s ice time dwindled.
“He didn’t get as much as the game went along,… Blashill acknowledged. “I didn’t think he was quite as sharp defensively. Certainly the four-on-four goal against was at a time where it gave him an opportunity to be in a big moment and he didn’t execute to the level he needs to execute at.
“He did some good things, too, set up Tats (Tomas Tatar) on a back-door play. He’s got to make sure with added minutes come added opportunities and not added negatives. He’s been one of those interesting players that in 7 to 10 to 12 minutes can create lots of opportunities but then when it gets higher than that do you still continue to create more opportunities or do you give up more? Everybody ebbs and flows a little bit.
“There were moments of good and moments he needs to be better. He knows that.…
With so much on the line in terms of playoff scenarios, the Wings can’t afford to be fighting to overcome rookie mistakes.
“One hundred per cent,… Blashill said. “As you get down to the end of the season and mistakes get magnified more, you’ve got to make sure you’re as close to mistake-free as possible.…
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