A six-game road trip beginning Wednesday at Chicago against the Blackhawks that includes three games in California couldn’t arrive at a better time according to Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard.
“I can’t wait,… Howard said. “It’s 75 and 80 degrees out there.
“ I’m done with this cold. I’m ready to get out of here.…
In all seriousness, tangling with some of the NHL’s best teams, including the last two Stanley Cup champions (Chicago, Los Angeles Kings) and two of the top three teams in the current standings (Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators) will prove to be a solid test for the young Wings.
“It is,… Howard said. “You look at the schedule and you’re playing teams that want the points just as badly as you. It’s going to be like the playoffs from here on out.
“You’re jockeying for position, you’re trying to get in so it’s going to be like playoff games from here on in.
“It’s a good time for the young guys to get a taste of this.…
Coming to the end of a two-month stretch which sees Detroit play 17 of 23 games away from Joe Louis Arena, this six-game stretch will provide another litmus test as to whether the Wings are capable of running with the NHL’s big boys.
“Absolutely,… Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “You always want to measure yourself against the best teams in the league. That’s where you really get a feel for where you stand.
“And we’re going to be playing some of the best teams coming up, so it should be a good road trip for us.…
Second City Start It all begins for Detroit against their traditional rivals the Blackhawks, who have collected points in six straight games, the most recent a solid 2-1 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the same team that easily handled Detroit 4-1 a week ago.
“It’s the same old guys still pulling their weight,… Howard said of the Blackhawks. “They’re a good team; they’re dangerous.
“You look up an down their lineup and they’ve got good defensemen and (goalie Corey) Crawford is playing well. It seems like they’re back on the right page, especially after watching them play Sunday against Pitt.…
Pacing the Chicago attack is right-winger Patrick Kane, who has jumped into the NHL scoring lead with 63 points. A Chicago player hasn’t led the league in scoring since Stan Mikita did so in 1967-68.
“He’s just got great instincts, great offensive instincts,… Howard said. “He knows when to split and head north up the ice.
“When he gets the puck on his stick he’s dangerous. He makes players around him better.…
Detroit coach Mike Babcock was looking forward to spending some time in the Windy City before heading toward warmer climates.
“I like playing them,… Babcock said of the Blackhawks. “I like coaching against (Chicago’s) Joel (Quenneville). “I like playing their team. I like the city.
I like Gibson’s the restaurant (for dinner), The Pancake House (Wednesday) morning.
“There’s a routine when you go there.…
Locked And Loaded One of the stats the seemed surprising from Monday’s 2-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens was that Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey, who has three goals in 51 games this season, led the team with seven shots on goal.
According to his defensive compatriots, this was no surprise to them at all.
“I think that’s something that he’s done really well for us ever since he came back here from Colorado (in 2012),… Kronwall said of Quincey. “He finds a way to get it through.
“He finds a lane and he’s got a cannon. He does a great job.…
Finding The Net The Wings have struggled in recent years at Chicago, both in the win column and in lighting the red lamp behind the Blackhawks net.
The Wings have lost four straight regular-season games at Chicago, scoring just five goals in those four games:
March 16, 2014 L 1-4 April 12, 2013 L 2-3 (SO) Jan. 27, 2013 L 1-2 (OT) Feb. 21, 2012 L 1-2
Detroit's last regular-season win at the United Center was a 3-2 victory on Jan. 8, 2012.
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