When it comes to games against the New York Islanders, the Detroit Red Wings often seem as hopeless as castaways stranded on an island. In the last nine meetings between the two teams, the Islanders hold a 7-1-1 edge. At Joe Louis Arena, where the two teams meet Friday, the Islanders have won four straight, a run of success that dates back to 2003.
Detroit did win 5-0 on Long Island last season, but haven’t tasted victory against the Islanders on home ice since a 6-0 triumph on Nov. 28, 2003.
“I haven’t spent a whole lot of time breaking it down,… Detroit coach Mike Babcock admitted. “I know we never win in there. They beat us by a touchdown. I thought we won in here sometimes.
“I’m not thinking about that. I didn’t look at the records, so I don’t have an opinion on that. I know it’s the game on the schedule.
In that Nov. 28, 2003 6-0 win over the Islanders at JLA, the only current Wing who suited up was Pavel Datsyuk, who had three assists. Manny Legace got the win and the shutout. Others who played that night for Detroit included Darryl Bootland, Mark Mowers and Jason Williams.
Detroit goals were scored by Steve Thomas with two, Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, and Brendan Shanahan. Current Islanders GM Garth Snow absorbed the loss in net.
Detroit’s four-game home-ice losing streaks against the Islanders and Florida Panthers are the club’s longest current droughts. Today’s Wings are at a loss to explain all the losses against the Islanders.
“Usually you don’t have a good explanation, but there should be some explanation for it,… Detroit forward Joakim Andersson said. “I don’t know how it works.
“Sometimes you just keep winning in a building and sometimes you just keep losing.…
This season, with the Islanders sitting second overall in the Metropolitan Division, losing to them is no longer considered an anomaly.
“Obviously, they’ve been playing a lot better this year if you look standing wise,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “They made some good moves before the season, got some good defensemen in and they’ve always been skilled up front.…
Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall can’t explain the past rash of losses against the Isles. “I wish I had an answer to that,… he said, while recognizing that this season’s version of the team isn’t pushovers.
“They’re a good team,… Kronwall said. “This year, I think they’re looking better than they have in many, many years. Their leader (John) Tavares, he’s a few years older now.
“He was always one of the best players in the league. Now it feels like the younger guys behind him are taking another step.…
Lineup News Detroit’s only change from the group that lost 1-0 in a shootout to Columbus on Tuesday will see Johan Franzen, who missed that game due to illness, inserted in place of Daniel Cleary. Franzen will skate on a line with Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco. Jimmy Howard gets the nod in goal.
Cleary has suited up for nine games so far this season. One more game and he’ll earn a $1 million incentive clause from his contract.
That also means that Xavier Ouellet stays on the Detroit defense while veterans Brian Lashoff and Jakub Kindl remain out as healthy scratches.
“I think he’s a hockey player, he just makes plays,… Babcock said of Ouellet. “For me it’s real simple - each and every day you’ve got decisions to make. I try not to confuse the player and the person ever.
“I just try to play the players who are going to give us the best chance to win.…
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