Is Stephen Weiss the straw that stirs the drink for the Detroit Red Wings?
He doesn’t think so, no matter what the numbers might say.
The digits next to Weiss’s name are impressive and so are the team totals when he suits up. Detroit is 8-1-2 with Weiss in the lineup and 9-7-7 when he does not play.
He’ll be back Tuesday as the Wings face the Buffalo Sabres at Joe Louis Arena and looking to help ignite a Detroit team in need of a spark. The Wings are winless in six (0-2-4) with just six goals to their credit over that span.
Weiss has produced 10 points in 11 games and the Wings were 7-1-2 in the 10 games he played after returning from a groin ailment prior to injuring his shoulder in a Dec. 12 game against Florida. They are 0-2-3 while he sat out his latest hurt.
“I don’t think it has much to do with me, to be honest,… Weiss said. “I think for whatever reason we got on a little bit of a hot streak when I came back.
“Those things happen, whether I’m in the lineup or not in the lineup or we’re missing whoever. It’s up to the rest of the guys to pull up their boot straps and get it done.
“Sometimes you get hot and sometimes you struggle a bit. Right now we’re struggling. Hopefully I can add a little bit of a spark.…
Weiss will begin the night skating on the fourth line with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller in place of Daniel Cleary, and the Wings are excited by what Weiss can add to their slumping attack.
“He’s a real gifted offensive player,… Detroit right-winger Gustav Nyquist said. “He’s been in the league scoring points for a long time.
“He makes plays, he’s a good skater, a smart player, a really good all-around player. I think we’ve missed him on the power play and also five-on-five.
“He’s going to help us a lot offensively.…
Howard On IRL To make room for Weiss, goaltender Jimmy Howard (groin) was place on the seven-day injured list retroactive to Dec. 20. Tom McCollum will back up Petr Mrazek again Tuesday and Howard will be eligible to be activated from IRL in time for Detroit’s next game, Dec. 27 at Ottawa.
“Better to miss one than try to force it in one and be out for 3-4 weeks,… Howard said. “It’s just precautionary and we’ll pick up where we left off in Ottawa.…
With the three-day Christmas break starting Dec. 24, it just made sense to err on the side of caution in Howard’s case.
“Yeah, I think that’s the biggest key, just letting it rest,… Howard said. “It wasn’t that serious, just a tweak. “I’ll just give it a rest since we got the Christmas break coming up there and get right back at it after the break.…
“I haven’t had any setbacks, so it’s nice and it’s comforting.…
Holiday Spirit The Wings’ goalies are wearing their festive spirit this holiday season for all to see.
For the second straight Christmas, Mrazek has donned holiday-themed goalie gear, wearing a mask adorned with a snowman. Last season, Mrazek was garbed in snowman goalie pads.
“I like Christmas,… Mrazek said. “I think everyone likes Christmas.…
Both Mrazek and Howard were outfitted with Christmas masks, Howard’s featuring a Santa Claus, which caused him to tease Mrazek that his was the mask bearing the true meaning of Christmas.
“Santa, now that says Christmas,… Howard explained. “A snowman doesn’t say Christmas.…
Mrazek is ready to defend his holiday mask with the same fervor he reserves for defending the Detroit goal from invading pucks.
“It’s a nice mask,… Mrazek said. “It’s painted simple. Mine and Howie, they are simple masks.
“He got a Santa, I got a snowman and then Peter Griffin (from Family Guy on the back plate wearing a Santa Claus outfit) on it.…
Both masks were donated by goalie equipment supplier Vaughn and are being auctioned off to benefit Volunteers of America Michigan’s Adopt-A-Family program.
A dozen Detroit players adopted local families that were hit hard by the summer flooding from torrential rainstorms and the money raised from the goalie mask auction will allow large items such as appliances to be purchased for families in need.
“It’s a cool idea,… Mrazek said. “It’s always nice when you can help out a charity for kids, because they need it.
“It’s a very good idea.…
Already, there is a $6,000 high bid on Howard’s mask and a $7,250 top bid on Mrazek’s mask. Bidding closes Jan. 2 at 12:05 p.m. EST. To bid, go to http://auctions.nhl.com.
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