Playing perhaps their best all-around game of the season, the Detroit Red Wings dominated the Chicago Blackhawks for a 4-1 victory Friday at Joe Louis Arena that was exactly as one-sided as the final score would indicate.
“It could be,… Detroit right-winger Tomas Tatar said of whether it was the team’s most solid effort of the 2014-15 NHL season. “We start from the get go, skate hard, battle hard, we were pushing from the start of the game. I think we looked really good out there, so it was great to see.…
Tatar scored his fifth goal of the season and for the fourth time in seven games after netting just one goal in his first nine games.
“Hopefully we’ll find energy for every night and play good so everybody will be happy, and we will get some points,… Tatar said of what was Detroit’s second win in its last six games.
Mule Train
Johan Franzen provided what would prove to be the game winner when the right-winger snapped a 1-1 tie the second period, taking a neat feed from captain Henrik Zetterberg and flipping a backhander past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford.
For the habitually streaky Franzen, it was his fifth goal of the season and third in as many games. Often the brunt of the wrath of Red Wings fans, Zetterberg wondered why there were so many Franzen haters out there.
“I can’t really understand people that complain about Mule,… Zetterberg said. “You look at his season so far, obviously he was out for a little bit (with a leg injury).
“That happens to anyone, but when he’s playing he’s showing up, he’s putting points on the board, he works hard, he’s good defensively. We’re happy and he’s playing well.…
Detroit coach Mike Babcock was also quick to jump to Franzen’s defense.
“It took him a little bit to get back, but obviously Mule had his legs going today,… Babcock said. “That’s what he’s got to do for us. When his legs get going he’s an ultra-effective player. When he’s standing around watching he’s just like the rest of us, not quite as good. “It takes you time when you’ve been injured, especially a leg injury, so it takes you time to get going.…
Fourth Right
The Wings got a pair of goals from what has been a steady fourth line consisting of Luke Glendening, Drew Miller and Joakim Andersson.
“They’re playing good every night for us,… Tatar said. “They have lots of shots. Sometimes the puck goes in, so I think this is what they needed to do.…
Glendening scored the opener, a beauty of a backhander into the roof of Crawford’s net. Glendening now has two goals this season, twice as many as he scored in 56 games as a rookie last season.
“They’ve been playing really good for us in the start of the season and don’t get enough credit,… Zetterberg said. “It’s fun to see them get some goals.…
The captain had special praise for fellow Swede Andersson.
“He works really hard and always in the right place on the ice,… Zetterberg said. “It’s nice to have a player like that if you’re a coach.…
In And Out
The stall containing the gear of back-up goalie Thomas McCollum was quickly emptied after the game. He was on his way back to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.
Petr Mrazek will rejoin the Wings in time for Sunday’s game at the JLA against the Montreal Canadiens. Recalled when Jonas Gustavsson dislocated his shoulder Nov. 5 against the New York Rangers, the Wings reassigned Mrazek to Grand Rapids to get some game action Wednesday and Friday night.
Up Tempo
The game was played at an impressive pace and at times, it appeared as if the Blackhawks couldn’t match Detroit’s speed.
“There's always a lot of hype every time we play Chicago so we know it's going to be a fast game, usually up and down like tonight was,… Detroit defenseman Danny DeKeyser said. “It's a pretty quick game.…
That’s the way Babcock always wants to see his team perform.
“I like us to play fast,… Babcock said. “I like us to be in attack mode. I’m not a big believer that you defend leads. I think you play the game like it’s tied all the time. You put your foot on the gas and go get the opposition.…
Soccer It To Me
Brendan Smith completed the scoring with an empty-net goal, but the Wings were almost left with an empty slot in their lineup when the defenseman suffered an undisclosed ailment during a pre-game soccer warm-up.
“They had a major soccer injury,… Babcock joked. “That warm-up gets a little bit competitive sometimes. So we almost had to get Lash (Brian Lashoff) in. We should have had Lash in anyway (in warm-ups), it was mistake by us, but he (Smith) was fine.…
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