Looking to get his fourth line going in terms of offense, Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill will shuffle his forward lines as they ready to face the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena.
Teemu Pulkkinen will likely be back in the lineup after a one-game absence and will skate on the fourth line with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller, as well as work on the Detroit power play, which has gone zero-for-nine the last three games.
“It looks like we’re going to put Teemu back in as of today,… Blashill said after Monday’s practice. “I’ve got to re-evaluate with the coaches. We wanted to see how it looked on the power play.…
Meanwhile, Darren Helm, still in search of his first goal of the season, will be bumped up to the second line with Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Richards.
“We put Helmer with Pav and Richie,… Blashill said. “It gives that line a little more speed and net presence, a little more of a role on a specific line.
“He’s been good at it before. Pav had 65 points in 63 games (last season), and a lot of that was playing with Helm.
“We’ll see how that goes and it keeps the (Riley) Sheahan-(Gustav) Nyquist-Tats (Tomas Tatar) line together as well.…
Blashill has been happy with their offensive-zone presence of his fourth unit in recent games, but is concerned about their defensive zone work. They were victimized for the tying goals in Sunday’s overtime loss to Florida, and Friday’s OT win over Edmonton, and for two goals, including the game-tying tally, in Wednesday’s 3-2 OT loss to Boston.
“They’d be the first to tell you they want to be the line that’s trusted at the end of games, that goes out and shuts the door,… Blashill said. “It hasn’t necessarily been their particular fault every single time but it’s been too many times they’ve been on the ice and they got scored on late.
“They certainly, absolutely want that to be resolved. They want to be the line that’s trusted the most. When they get more opportunities to do it they’ve got to make sure they don’t give any goals up.…
Glendening admitted that their work without the puck, which should be their bread and butter as a checking line, hasn’t been up to snuff.
“I think we’ve been doing a better job of playing in the other team’s zone, but when we’re giving up chances they’re obviously putting them in, so we have to find a way to minimize that,… Glendening said.
Glendening has one goal this season, while Miller still hasn’t lit a red light through 24 games, but feels they are getting closer to making it happen as a unit.
“I think our line’s been playing well,… Miller said. “Obviously a couple minuses here the last couple of games, those happen. I don’t think it’s because of our play.
“I think our line has been playing pretty well and generating chances. For some reason it’s just tough to score goals right now.…
For The Children The Wings made their annual visit to Detroit Children’s Hospital after Monday’s practice and admitted it pulled at their heartstrings.
“This is extremely hallowed ground,… Blashill said. “We feel honored to have an opportunity to come here. These are great perspective days for us as well to make sure you really appreciate every single moment in life.
“You shouldn't necessarily need that reminder but it's a great reminder as well.…
It’s also an area in which Blashill has some personal experience with as a father.
“My youngest son spent a little bit of time in a children's hospital, for surgery,… Blashill said. “One of my best friends, his boy went through cancer and has now beat it.
“But I know the struggles and the trials they go through and again, I hope that we can put a smile on their face and make their day a little brighter.…
Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg became a father for the first time in the summer and admitted that having children of his own changed his perspective on the day.
“A lot of guys said it, it is different when you come in here when you have a little one at home,… Zetterberg said. “But just for us to come here and hopefully put a smile on their faces and just for them to forget for a little bit and have fun for a little bit means a lot for us.…
As much as the children get excited to meet their hockey heroes, the players themselves get a boost from the smiles they see on the faces of the kids.
“I think when you get these opportunities, lots of times you get more than you give,… Blashill said. “I hope we put smiles on lots of young kids' faces here today.
“I know we're going to walk away with a great perspective and appreciation as well.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer