If you are looking for something to pin the recent run of success of the Detroit Red Wings on, look no further than the club’s balanced attack that has produced 27 goals over the past six games as they head into Saturday’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the New York Rangers.
“I looked at it today, we’ve got 11 guys who have three points or more in their last five (games),… Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “In the early going when we were winning, we were lucky to have three guys (scoring).
“We’re playing a Rangers team that’s real deep and when you’re playing teams that are real deep, you need a number of guys who can finish or you have no chance.
“Obviously, we’re trying to create depth at all positions and Blash (Grand Rapids AHL coach Jeff Blashill) is in the minors and is doing everything he can to help us with that. We’re trying to do that right here and competition for jobs is critical. Any of those internal battles that you can have make your team better.…
Among those sniping for Detroit are forwards Pavel Datsyuk (6-4-10 in five games), Tomas Tatar (1-3-4 in three games), Henrik Zetterberg (1-6-7 in six games), Stephen Weiss (4-5-9 in six games) and Tomas Jurco (1-3-4 in five games).
While excited by their plan of attack, Tatar also felt it was important that the Wings remember to take care of business in their own end as well.
“I think it’s been (better) quite a bit,… Tatar said of Detroit’s offense. “Last year we didn’t score many goals. This time we always seem to score four goals in a game which is huge.
“It’s good to have good offense, but you have to think defensively. We have to be better there. We can’t outscore a team every time. We have to play a little better defensively and hopefully the offense will stay.…
Making The Most Of It Among Detroit’s regular forwards, none plays less than right-winger Jurco, who averages just 11:54 per game, but owns 2-8-10 numbers in 23 games.
“He hardly gets to play, to be honest with you,… Babcock said. “We hardly put him out there and yet when he’s out there - in points per minute he’s probably leading our team. He’s done a real nice job for us.
“He can really skate. He’s in a position right now where he’s battling to get one of those top nine spots. He wants to play all the time, so he’s doing a good job for himself. We like what he’s done when he’s had the puck and without the puck. And he’s fast.…
Stumbling Block Ask the Wings why they are winless in five against the Rangers and you’re likely to get the same answer.
“Lundqvist,… Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith said, referring to Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. “I don’t know. I think they’re just a good squad. They play well, they play hard. They’re a good team.
“Sometimes we’ve had trouble scoring on them. If you look back on the scores of the games they’ve been relatively low, a lot of one-goal games. They’ve been tight, so I think that’s something where you’ve got to tip your hat to Lundqvist.…
Here’s a tip for the Wings – Lundqvist isn’t playing Saturday. The Rangers have opted to go with back-up Cam Talbot. The Wings will counter will No. 1 goalie Jimmy Howard. Back-up Petr Mrazek is slated to start Sunday in Carolina.
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