The NHL’s best power play only delivered once, but once was enough.
The Detroit Red Wings went one-for-two with the man advantage, but Justin Abdelkader’s second-period power-play marker proved to be the winner in a 3-0 shutout of the Colorado Avalanche Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
After a slow start to the season, Detroit’s power play is now 47-for-152 through 51 games, clicking at an NHL-leading 25.8 per cent.
“The power play was dangerous,… Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “We scored the one and were really dangerous in the other one.…
Babcock chalked up the unsteady beginning in man-advantage situations this season to a change in his coaching staff which saw assistant coach Jim Hiller come in to take charge of the unit and the need to grow familiar with a new way of working on the power play.
“I just think it was details,… Babcock said. “Once we got organized, Jim did a great job of bringing some ideas here.
“We were able to teach it right and once the guys started having some success and buying in, now we’re able to adjust based on the other teams. We had to learn what to do first.…
Abdelkader’s goal, his 50th in the NHL, was his fourth power-play tally of the season, giving Detroit a half-dozen players with at least that many goals in man-advantage situations.
“We’re really doing a good job of shooting and breaking the penalty killers down and getting pucks back for second and third chances,… Abdelkader said.
Gustav Nyquist leads the way with 12 power-play goals and his 20 power-play points also show the way among six Wings who already garnered double digits in points on the power-play unit.
“I think we’ve got two units that seem to score fairly equally and that gives us a chance to have a better power play,… Babcock said.
Detroit’s other goals were both empty-net tallies, by Darren Helm and Luke Glendening.
Johnny On The Spot An early highlight to the game was a bout of fisticuffs between two unlikely participants after Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon, the first player chosen in the 2013 NHL entry draft, took exception to a check into the boards he received from Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson and set off in pursuit of the 6-4, 220-pound Ericsson.
“I think I got him with his head down on the ice and I think he got a little pissed off, because he was the one who wanted to go,… Ericsson said. “He asked me, you know, ‘Let’s go, let’s go.’…
Ericsson gave MacKinnon credit for opting to fight his own battles.
“(Detroit defenseman Kyle) Quincey told me it was his first fight, too,… Ericsson said. “It’s not like he went after the smallest guy on our team.
“He did good.…
Mr. Zero Petr Mrazek blocked 28 shots for the third shutout of his NHL career, as the Detroit rookie goalie improved to 12-4-1.
“Tonight’s a big night for him,… Babcock said. “The guy at the other end (Colorado’s Semyon Varlamov) is a star, I mean he’s a heck of a goalie and to go out and beat him 1-0 - I don’t count the empty nets - for a kid is good for him.…
Old Friend The game against the Avs reunited the Wings with Colorado defenseman Brad Stuart, a member of the club’s 2007-08 Stanley Cup championship squad.
“We go back a little bit,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “We spent a lot of time playing with him in Detroit. He’s fun to play against him, but he’s a tough player. He’s really strong. You have to keep your head up.…
Known as a soft-spoken sort, Zetterberg insists they had no trouble hearing Stuart when he barked at them on the ice.
“He just talks quiet to the media,… Zetterberg said. “When he talks to us it’s normal.…
Down The Road The next time the Wings come to Denver, they’ll head to the great outdoors, facing the Avs at Coors Field on Feb. 27, 2016 as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series.
“I think it’s very exciting,… Babcock said. “I know I was really excited for myself, for my franchise, when we got the opportunity because to me it keeps your logo front and center.
“Outdoor games are a great, great experience. We’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some and enjoyed it very much. I think it’s another way to break up the season and it’s going to be in a beautiful city.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun.…
Zetterberg admitted it was difficult to think about a game that is more than a year down the road.
“It is far ahead,… Zetterberg said. “We’ve been in a few outdoor games. It’s a fun experience.
“I think playing here against the Avs will be special. It’s going to be a good venue. Most of the time it’s sunny here so it’ll be a good day.…
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