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They Would Rather Fight Than Switch |
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The rough and tumble Detroit Red Wings?
Yes, as a matter of fact, and coach Jeff Blashill wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Wings are second in the NHL with 10 fighting majors, adding two more in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders when both Justin Abdelkader and Dylan Larkin dropped the mitts.
Blashill doesn’t mind that one bit.
“If you don’t stand up for each other as a group, it usually means you don’t care much about each other and you’re not going to win many hockey games,” Blashill said. “You better prove you can’t get knocked around.
“It’s just like the bully on the playground. Sometimes you gotta stick up for yourself, or stick up for each other. If people think they can push us around, we’re not going to have much success this year.”
Even though Anthony Mantha, the team’s top goal scorer last season, is out 4-6 weeks after breaking his hand in a fight, Blashill had no qualms whatsoever with leading point getter Larkin’s decision to fight the Isles’ Josh Bailey after Bailey had taken liberties with Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall.
“I think opponents have to know that you’re going to stand up for yourself and your teammates,” Blashill said. “I think that’s a huge thing. Early in his career, I thought a number of teams took runs at (Larkin) to try to test his toughness. I don’t see that anymore and you don’t see that anymore because they know he’s tough.
“Not that he’s going to make a career out of fighting, nor do we want him to. But the fact that they know that he’s got toughness means he’ll get enough space to create offense.”
Larkin indicated that he’d do it again in a heartbeat.
“I saw a play I didn’t like, a hit I didn’t like on a guy that’s got a lot of respect in our room in Kronner,” Larkin said. “I took action.
“I don’t want to fight all the time, either. It’s not my game. But you know what, you’ve got to do it sometimes. Like I said, the hit on Kronner, I thought it was a pretty big slew foot.”
Daley Show
After missing five games due to a lower-body injury, defenseman Trevor Daley will return to the Detroit lineup for Monday’s home game against the Los Angeles Kings.
“I expect Trevor to play tonight,” Blashill said. “I’ll know for sure after warm-ups, but I expect Trevor to play.”
Daley gives the Wings another experienced, veteran hand to man the blueline.
“He’s been a top-four defenseman on a two-time Stanley Cup-winning team in Pittsburgh, so you’re inserting a good player back in the lineup,” Blashill said. “He brings an ability to get out of the zone, both with his skating and his management of the puck.
“He tends to make hard plays out of the zone. He doesn’t over-complicate it. He’s played against other teams’ best since he’s been here at different times. He’s been a good defender, but he also helps your offense and puts other teams on their heels.”
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