It’s a familiar cry in hockey rinks whether you’re in Alaska or Alberta. When a team isn’t scoring, the fans will bellow out “shoot.…
For the Detroit Red Wings, that isn’t just a spectator mantra. As they prepared to face the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday at Rexall Centre, it was their mission.
The Red Wings own the NHL’s worst shot differential – firing an average of 21 per game while surrendering a far-too-high total of 33 per night – and it’s a trend they recognize had better be altered quickly or it will be a long season in Hockeytown.
“I don’t think you can continue on the shot differential that we’ve had and have success,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill admitted. “It can happen in different games throughout the year but it can’t continue on a regular basis.
“We have to do a better job of limiting their shots. We have to do a better job of creating ours. I think it stems most from zone time. I think we have to do a better job of getting out of our zone faster and spending more time in the other team’s zone.…
Lineup Changes To that end, the Wings have juggled some of their forward lines and will play Riley Sheahan between Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar.
Skating with the guys who were 1-2 in goals for Detroit last season – Tatar scored 29 and Nyquist netted 27 - it’s an opportunity for Sheahan to display that he can be counted on as a steady offensive presence down the middle.
“He’s a guy that does everything well,… Nyquist said of Sheahan. “He’s a good faceoff guy, he’s good defensively. He’s on the right side, he’s got real good skill, I think underrated skill. He can really makes plays and he’s a really smart player.
“He’s got an absolute bomb of a shot, too, so he’s kind of a player who does everything well.…
Blashill trusts Sheahan without the puck and believes he has what it takes to be a force with it as well.
“I think Sheahan’s actually played well so far this year,… Blashill said. “He’s done the things he does. He’s really good defensively. He’s got a big body so he protects the puck well and he’s able to make real good I’d say seam passes in tight spaces. I’d like to see him spend a lot of time in the O-zone.
“I think that line in particular has to be a line that can be a go-to line, that can be a dominant line. I’m looking for them to really take the next step.
“We talked about having more production than just from Z’s (Henrik Zetterberg’s) line. That’s a line that certainly I’d like to see take a step.…
Sheahan is taking a straightforward approach to his gameplan.
“I think it’s pretty simple for me, just get those guys with the puck with a little bit of space and let them sort of work their magic,… Sheahan said.
Detroit’s other three forward lines will see one change in personnel, Landon Ferraro drawing back in while Joakim Andersson joins Tomas Jurco as healthy scratches: Justin Abdelkader-Zetterberg-Dylan Larkin; Darren Helm-Brad Richards-Teemu Pulkkinen; Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Ferraro.
Blashill will go with the same defense pairings as Saturday’s game in Montreal: Niklas Kronwall-Jonathan Ericsson; Danny DeKeyser-Mike Green; Kyle Quincey-Jakub Kindl.
Brendan Smith will be a healthy scratch for the second game in a row, but Blashill indicated Smith would play during Detroit’s three-game Western Canada swing.
“I would expect to see Smitty in the lineup on the course of this trip,… Blashill said. “It’s not tonight, but whether that’ll be Friday or Saturday, expect to see him in the lineup.…
Blashill also has his netminding schedule set to go for the entire trip. Petr Mrazek gets the nod against the Oilers and Saturday at Vancouver, while Jimmy Howard will play Friday in Calgary.
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