Thursday’s game at the Bell Centre between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings could take on a little more intrigue because it’s a potential first-round playoff match-up, but the Wings don’t want to go there until they get there.
“I don’t even know if that rates on the scale of what we’ve got here,… Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “We have to get in first. I think that’s the biggest thing.
“I don’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about a week from now. I live in today. When you win today everything is OK.
“It’s the game we’re playing and we want to control our own situation and in order to do that we have to win.…
Detroit needs one more win to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 24th consecutive season, but getting it in Montreal could prove a tall order. The Wings have yet to defeat the Canadiens this season.
“They find a way to have one more than us at the end of each game,… Babcock said. “We have to find a way to have one more than them at the end of this game so let’s play well, go in there and give ourselves an opportunity.…
Detroit right-winger Gustav Nyquist admitted that it’s challenge finding a path to overcome the Canadiens.
“They’re a real good team,… Nyquist said. “They’ve got Carey Price in net. He’s been great for them all year. They’re a good solid team all-around too, so it’s going to be a battle for us.
“We need to win the game to clinch a playoff spot and we know that. Hopefully we can go out and do that tonight.…
No matter what the outcome, the Wings are certain of one thing – the atmosphere will be world-class.
“They’ve been awesome games, whether it’s in Detroit or Montreal,… Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said. “It’s an original six environment. I expect the same tonight.
“The games we’ve played have been close except for one. It’s going to be another close one tonight.…
Rediscovering His Touch After going through a stretch where he scored just twice in 21 games, Nyquist has once again found his range, netting five goals in the past nine games.
“I think the puck has gone in now a little bit more than it did there for a while,… Nyquist said. “Obviously, for a while I was in a little bit of a slump goal-scoring wise. I think every player goes through those stretches and obviously it’s nice to see the puck starting to go in again.…
In a version of the chicken-egg theory, Nyquist is shooting more of late. So is he getting more goals because he’s taking more shots, or is he shooting the puck more now that it is going in the net?
“Well, I think that’s one part, but now down the stretch it’s more (about) getting on the inside,… Nyquist reasoned as to his return to sniping. “That’s where the goals are going to be scored, right in front of the net.
“It’s not going to be cute plays, it’s mostly going to be dirty goals in front of the net. You have to fight for them, so that’s what you’ve got to do.…
Howard’s Net Howard will make his third straight start and looks to be regaining both his form and his role as the team’s go-to goaltender.
“He’s got to be good,… Babcock said of Howard. “He’s got to play well and do his job. Every team in the league to have success needs good goaltending.…
Babcock pointed to the other end of the ice and Price as an example of how solid netminding can carry a team a long way.
“There’s no team that relies on it more than this team here (Montreal),… Babcock said. “They’ve got a guy they can rely on. He doesn’t give you freebies. He’s there and square and he’s big.
“Our goaltender tonight has to give us a good opportunity. There’s no scoring in this series, you know there’s not many going in. You’ve got to bear down.
“Jimmy Howard has won his last two starts. In those games he’s given up two in each game.…
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