WING THINGS
It’s been a busy couple of days for the Red Wings. The Winged Wheel played three times in the last four days and picked up five of a possible six points in the process. The Wings split back to back games against the Capitals, while in both games the losing team came away with a point.
Last night both Jonas Gustavsson and Jimmy Howard made some big saves to blank the Canucks 2-0. Howard started the second period after Gustavsson experienced some dizziness during the intermission. The goaltending combo combined for 24 saves including a penalty shot to earn the shutout against Tortarella’s ‘Nucks.
Justin Abdelkader squeaked one passed Eddie Lack in the second to open up the scoring and solidified the victory by adding an empty netter with 16 seconds left in the third. Abdelkader has started February off right, the Michigan native has three goals in the first two games of the month and has played well alongside Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist on the top line.
NYQUIST’S FIRST HATTY
If there was any debate on who would replace Johan Franzen on Sweden’s Olympic team, Gustav Nyquist put the debate to rest on Saturday night by netting his first hat-trick and adding an assist for good measure in the 6-5 OT loss against the Capitals. While some might say that it was that extra incentive that lit a fire under the Swede, Nyquist’s play since he first joined the team in late November (a debut in which he scored two goals, including the game winner) show’s that he’s not just turning it on now. Gus has looked right at home on the top line and, more often than not, he finds the score sheet. He has 23 points (13G, 10A) in 31 games and has put up five multi point nights.
OLYMPIC BREAK?
The much anticipated Sochi Olympics are right around the corner and the break from NHL action could have a huge impact on the remainder of the season. Ten Red Wings will make the trek to the Black Sea resort to compete for their native lands. Not surprisingly, the majority of the Wings making the trip will be playing together. Six players (Nyquist, Ericsson, Kronwall, Zetterberg, Alfredsson, Gustavsson) will play for the Swedes, while two (Jurco, Tatar) will join the Slovakian National Team. Jimmy Howard will be one of three goaltenders for the Americans and Pavel Datsyuk will be the captain of the hometown Russian Team. Datsyuk hasn’t played since the Winter Classic due to a lower body injury but is hoping to return to play in at least one of the last two remaining games that the Red Wings have before the Olympics.
With so many Wings going to Sochi, it won’t be much of a “break… in terms of the schedule. While everyone is excited to watch the stars duke it out on the international stage, the impact it has on the NHL teams could be big. Guys could get injured, players can burn out with the busy tournament schedule and travel, or on the other hand, teams that don’t send many player could get rusty. Whatever your stance is on the impact that an Olympic year will have on the NHL clubs, it’s tough to say that it won’t make any difference at all. While the action of the Olympiad will be leaving us all breathless, the NHL owners will be collectively holding their breath, hoping that the Games don’t have a negative effect once the players return to their respective NHL clubs.
TWO TO GO
Before getting too wrapped up in Olympic fever, the Wings have a quick road trip in Florida, where they’ll take on the Panthers (1-1-2) on Thursday and then the Lightning (0-1-2) on Saturday.
The Red Wings haven’t been very successful in the Sunshine State this season. Against the Florida teams, the Wings have only managed one win while salvaging points in four games that went beyond regulation time.
Saturday night’s game in Tampa could be one that gets a lot of attention as Steven Stamkos gets closer and closer to returning. The Canadian sniper has two more opportunities to play prior to potentially joining Team Canada in Sochi, once on Thursday against the Leafs and again on Saturday against the Wings. Stamkos has been out since November 11th when he broke his tibia against the Boston Bruins. Prior to being sidelined, Stamkos tallied 23 points (14G, 9A) in 17 games for the Lightning. With Pavel Datsyuk in a similar boat, Saturday could be a return of both superstars to the lineup after extended time out due to injury.