Heading into their biggest game of the season, the Detroit Red Wings will tweak their lineup for Wednesday’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Rookie Anthony Mantha is out and right-winger Tomas Jurco will draw in for the first time since March 13 against Toronto.
“It’s been a while,… said Jurco, a healthy scratch for the past 10 games. “It’s hard to come back after so long. It’s not easy but I’ve been working out hard and tried to stay ready as much as I could, so I hope I’m going to feel good tonight.…
While Jurco was forthcoming with the news that he’d be suiting up tonight, Wings coach Jeff Blashill wasn’t interested in sharing much information.
“We’ll make all the lineup decisions after warm ups tonight,… Blashill said, though he did confirm Jimmy Howard as his starting goaltender.
It could be that Jurco’s size and ability on the forecheck made him a better option against the big Flyers than Mantha, whose defensive shortcomings had limited his ice time in recent games with so much on the line.
“Well, I think Jurco first of all didn’t come out because he did anything wrong,… Blashill said. “I think he’s been a good player for us all year. When he’s at his best he’s on the forecheck hard, he’s skating, he’s physical, he’s getting stick on puck creating turnovers, he’s on the track hard, taking away time and space, coming back so our D can gap up.
“He’s a big body that can get to the net and he’s got a real good skill set. So that’s what he does when he’s playing his best.…
Brad’s Enriching As the games get bigger, so apparently does Brad Richards. He had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s win at Toronto and has posted 1-3-4 numbers over the past six games.
“Obviously Brad Richards brings a wealth of experience,… Blashill said of the 2003-04 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. “He's played in big games throughout his career, including as recently as last year, making a big play in the Stanley Cup finals (for Chicago).…
Richards collected a pair of assists in Chicago’s 2-0 Cup-clinching win over Tampa Bay. In 2004, he also collected a helper for the Lightning as they beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 to take the Cup.
“ He’s very calm under pressure, very calm in situations when games get tight,… Blashill said. “He seems to be real calm and makes the right decisions. Some guys get a little bit anxious. Some guys are calm. He's real calm.
“That's the kind of player you want in situations. I thought he did a real good job last week in being in that spot (on Pavel Datsyuk’s line).…
They’re Going Streaking While the media and fans alike obsess over Detroit’s 24-year run of playoff appearances, unless they get asked about it the streak really isn’t a topic of conversation in the Red Wings’ dressing room.
“I don’t think there’s been any address about it,… said rookie forward Dylan Larkin, 19, one of eight current Wings who weren’t even born with the playoff streak began in the spring of 1991. “Everyone knows it. It’s a fact.
“It’s just what it is. It’s an unbelievable record. I’ve a bigger appreciation now for how hard it is. Twenty-five years in a row, that could be something special.…
But it’s not the be-all and end-all to the Wings.
“I think we just want to get into the playoffs,… Larkin said. “When we get in, it’s what we can do there. We’ve been playing the right way these last two games to give us a chance to live out the ultimate goal.
Which of course, would be . . .
“Lifting the Stanley Cup,… Larkin said. “Every season you go into that’s the main goal and I guess that’s the happy ending.…
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