Big Red Machine

As I’m sure most of you were also doing last night, I watched the NHL Network air the ABC/ESPN broadcast of the 2002 Stanley Cup Game 5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.  Gary Thorne and Bill Clement kept reiterating the star power, and the to-be Hall of Fame players.  That was a stacked team.

But it got me thinking: with the signing of Mike Modano, the Wings have really added some serious depth to the forward lineup through three lines, and the fourth is chock full of potential.  We’ve been reading and speculating about what they’ll do to solve the glut of players in the system who could all feasibly play next season.  Again, that’s an astonishing amount of depth when you can reunite the Eurotwins and then slate Mike Modano on the third line and call it a day.  This immediately reminded me of having Igor Larionov and Luc Robitaille on the third line in 2002–Future Hall of Famers at the time who, while considered to be in the twilight of their careers, still contributed immensely regardless of being lower down the chart.

Similarly, Modano was clearly thought to be done by the Stars, who chose not to bring him back.  Robitaille had 30 goals and 50 points in the 2002 season with the Wings, playing on the third line and the second unit power play, much like what Modano’s role sounds like it will be.  Granted, Modano is a center, not a winger, and I have a feeling he’ll be dishing to Hudler and Cleary a decent amount.  Still, if he can pop in 20 goals, I’ll be thrilled.

Sports Illustrated had an interesting preview for the 2002 playoffs, which is still online.  Darren Eliot took a look at all four lines, plus first unit power play, and top three defensive pairings, and offered his analysis.  As I was going through this, I kept thinking of how these line’s qualities and characteristics were visible in the current Red Wings’ lineup.  And so I present my comparison of the 2002 team versus the potential lineup of the 2010-2011 Detroit Red Wings.

Today is only the forward lines.  Tomorrow I’ll take a look at defensive pairings and the power play unit.  And while Eliot didn’t offer any thoughts on the goalies, I’ll try to draw some comparisons Monday.

Edited to add: which do you think is the “better” team, looking at the depth and potential?

Great win by the Wings tonight.  One of the more complete games I’ve seen them play this season.  Which begs the question: why can’t they play at least half as well for the others?  Is it just because they’re the Sharks?  We’ll never know, I suppose…

Goals were as follows:
Detroit: Pavel Datsyuk (unassisted); Patrick Eaves (Janik, Helm); Dan(ny) Cleary (Filppula, Miller); Darren Helm (unassisted)
San Jose: Patrick Marleau (Heatley, Boyle)

– Why on Earth would Sharks fans even think of booing Brad Stuart?  He was traded; it’s not like he asked to leave or anything.  Sure he went to Detroit and won, but still.  I don’t even pretend to understand what goes through the minds of the fans out in California.

+ Speaking of Stuart, another amazing desperation save, diving across the crease to keep the puck out.  Keating joked that they were going to nominate him for Vezina at this rate.  Keating may be a terrible interviewer, but he does make a point that Stuart’s had several such plays this season.

– Also, Sharks fans booing when Meech was holding onto the puck behind the Wings net, waiting for the change to complete.  I guess they got impatient and bored?  That’s what Ken Daniels hinted at.  Do they boo their own team when they do the same thing?  Seriously, they need to learn a thing or two about hockey.

– Wings didn’t seem entirely awake until Pavel scored their first goal.  After that they really seemed revitalized and started taking it to the Sharks.  Still would like to see them play an ENTIRE 60 minutes at some point.

+ Pavel’s goal was just a great all around play–picked off the pass from the Sharks in the Wings’ zone and zipped it into the twine at the other end.  Good things happen when you backcheck.

+ HEY we didn’t get shafted on a goal review!  Eaves’ goal was batted in, and immediately Nabokov was whining to Kerry Fraser that it was a high stick.  It went to review and thankfully stood.

+ Dan(ny) Cleary had an eventful evening: a goal and a quasi sort of fight with Devin Setoguchi, of all players.  He also had a wide open breakaway in which he didn’t get a great shot, and was stopped by Nabokov.  I was briefly worried that he might do something to his shoulder, but he was tussling with Setoguchi, who isn’t exactly a pugilist.  2 goals in as many games for Cleary, since his return.  Let’s hope he can keep it up.

+ Oh Helm.  He’s just completely made of awesome.  Made a move to clear the zone, without a stick, and then managed to score.  He’s really rounding into form, gaining a scoring touch and looking more and more like the guy we’ve watched in the playoffs the past two seasons.  He’s finally learning how to finish around the net when he’s flying in at a zillion mph.

+ Jimmy had a perfectly solid game.  He wasn’t called on to make a ludicrous amount of saves, or stand on his head, but he was simply confident.

First off, I’ve been kind of terrible about blogging this week, but several things have chosen this moment to take over my life.  This late, the recap is kind of a moot point, but oh well.

This was a game that I mentioned on The Obstructed View that I was looking forward to this week, since the Kings have managed to surprise quite a few people with their play, and are poised to make the playoffs if they continue strong.

When I was thinking about this game, I pondered the idea of Quick, who was selected as the 3rd goalie for the US Olympic team, versus Howard, who was also in the running and obviously not picked.  The fact that my brain immediately found nothing wrong with assuming, days in advance, that it would be Howard vs Quick is really indicative of the goaltending situation in Detroit.  Sorry, Oz.

- Apparently it’s all Lebda’s fault that Holmstrom’s foot is broken.  Way to go, Brett.

+ It was imperative that the Wings won this game in regulation to prevent the Kings from gaining a point.  Prior to the game the Kings were 5 points ahead; now they’re 3.  The Wings have got to gain ground against Western Conference teams if they want to be in control of their post-season chances and not leave it to fate that a team of ahead will have a second-half meltdown and fall out of the standings.

- Murph pointed out that it’s all Swedes who are injured, plus Williams.  All of the Swedes except Lidstrom have been on IR at some point this year.  That terrifies me.

+ Welcome back to the lineup, Dan(ny) Cleary.  He took over Homer’s role, planting himself in front of Quick, whacking it in with 0.2 left in the first period.  See boys and girls?  Good things happen when you go to the net.

+ My God was it good to see him and Zetterberg back out on the ice.  Zetterberg didn’t really do a ton, but he’s getting a pass for now because just having him out was a relief.

+ Cheers Rafalski for saving an almost goal by Ryan Smyth, who had a wide open net earlyish in the 2nd

+ Wings had a great PK on the Datsyuk interference call.  The Wings seemed to get about as many chances on the PK as the Kings did with the man advantage.

= Howard had a ridiculous game, in more than one sense of the word.  On one hand, he was played pretty scrambly, with a few too many snow-angel saves for my comfort.  He had quite a few poor rebounds and would have been scored on due to his turnover early in the first of Rafalski hadn’t bailed him out.  I feel like most of the mad flurries in front of the net were because he either didn’t stop it in the first place, or didn’t control the rebound well.  He almost gave me a heart attack several times.  And sorry, but I don’t know what he was thinking on the Kings goal–trying to catch the pass I suppose, but he left the left side wide open for Ryan Smyth to pop it in.

On the other hand, he was lucky to the point of obnoxious, stopping the 27 shots that the Kings put on net in the 2nd.  He lost his stick at one point, was scrambling and sliding around, everyone was in the crease, and he still managed to save them.  He had the luck of I don’t even know what.  I realize you make your own luck by playing well, but I’m really with Matt on this that I’d prefer to see him more settled and in control of the puck.  At the same time, 51 is really effing incredible and there’s zero questioning that.  There are no points for style, as long as you get the job done, and by god he did.  My blood pressure would probably improve, though.

I’m not just ready to proclaim him the Messiah, yet.  Another note, putting aside the idea that Osgood needs/wants starts so that he can get on a roll, how about giving Howard a rest?  He’s starting against San Jose in what will be his 8th straight.  He’s young and he’s got the Olympic break to rest, but he’s still got potential for burnout.

- The Kings controlled the majority of the game and put 57 shots on net.  57.  That cannot happen.

- Did Leino play?  I don’t really remember seeing him at all.  This also may be because I watched the Yahoo feed, which was terrible quality, but I simply couldn’t tolerate listening to the Kings announcers.  But really, I think I didn’t notice Leino because he didn’t contribute to the game whatsoever.

+ Darren Helm is my Hero.  The key was that he zipped up the ice to not allow Quick to play the puck, gained possession, and whacked it in.  With a couple of minutes remaining, I wrote on Twitter, “Shit, we need 2 in regulation here, boys. Can’t afford to give LAK anything. We can’t afford OT, do you hear??”.  I’m convinced that message was transmitted directly to Darren Helm’s brain and then he scored.

Someone must have pissed off the Hockey Gods.  There’s just no other explanation for the obscene amount of long term injuries the Wings have sustained this season.  The icing on the cake is today’s news that Dan(ny) Cleary, who was hit in the 3rd last night and didn’t return, has suffered a separated shoulder.  He’s expected to be out 4 weeks, as per Bruce McLeod’s Twitter.

To recap:
2/28 Lilja, concussion, out indefinitely
10/08 Franzen, ACL, 4 months
10/29 Filppula, wrist, 4-6 weeks (cast removed, looking at end of December)
11/07 Williams, fibula, 2 months
11/21 Kronwall, MCL, 2-3 weeks
12/09 Cleary, shoulder, 4 weeks

So what is there to be done?  Ville Leino will return to the lineup, but I have serious doubts that it’ll help much.  Does Kenny bring up a GR kid (even though we’re already playing with half their roster)?  Does he make a trade?

If you ask me, there’s only one thing left to do: sacrifice to the Hockey Gods.  I volunteer Bertuzzi.

Every Monday (I hope) I want to post my picks as the Red Wings’ three stars of the week.  This is clearly a biased endeavor, and may or may not take actual statistical accomplishments into account.

#3: Dan Cleary
2-3-5 for this past week, and was +7.  He’s rounding into form, finally, and contributing offensively.  The line with him, Zetterberg and Leino looks strong.

#2: Niklas Kronwall
3-4-7 for the week, with at least 2 points in all three games.  Junior’s been solid on the power play, getting 2 goals and an assist on the man advantage.

#1: Henrik Zetterberg

This is a no-brainer if ever there was one.  4-5-9 in the last three games, with a hat trick and 5 points on Saturday against the Ducks.  Not only has Zata been blowing up the score sheet, he’s just been a beast on the ice.  He was everywhere–on the forecheck, mucking around in the corners, and busting to get back on defense.  And to the joy of Wings fans (apparently those even outside of Michigan), he scored free Arby’s curly fries for all with his hat trick.

Kronwall said:

“He kind of took over. He’s been playing really well for us as of late. He had some good chances early, too, and he stuck with it and really came through when we needed him the most.”

Of both Cleary and Zetterberg, Babcock said:

“I thought that whole line was great,” coach Mike Babcock said of Zetterberg, Cleary and Ville Leino, a line that accounted for four of the seven goals. “I thought Cleary (goal and two assists) was fantastic. But whenever we play against the dominant players in this league, Zetterberg always lifts his game and he did that tonight.”

Well that sucked.

Goals were as follows:
Detroit: Dan Cleary (Rafalski, Lidstrom)
Toronto: Wayne Primeau (Orr, Finger); Phil Kessel (White, Blake); Jeff Finger (Stempniak, Stajan); John Mitchell (pp; Kessel, Beauchemin); Alexei Ponikarovsky (Grabovski, White)

Trying a new format here for my game recap, and it’s going to be my plus/minuses of the game.  Yes, it’s a blatant riff off the +/- stat.  And the hope is that there will be more pluses than minuses.  Unlike tonight.  Ahem.

Pluses
+ Good for Cleary for getting his 100th career goal.  Now that he’s gotten over that milestone hump, here’s to hoping that he can start producing a bit more offensively.
+ There was a nice smattering of Red Wings fans at the ACC, and occasionally got the “Let’s Go Red Wings” chant going.  Unfortunately it was quickly washed out by “Go Leafs Go”
+ The Leafs did a very cool job at the beginning, showing first a montage of past Hall of Fame inductees, and then having several of them introduced.  They lined up to greet the 2009 inductees.  Stevie Y got a huge ovation.  As did Scotty Bowman.
+ I’m putting this under pluses just because I thought it was a cool stat, but apparently the Red Wings and Leafs are 274-274 in career games (ignoring ties which is 93).  So they were touting tonight’s game as the tiebreaker.  (Apparently the tie occurred at the Red Wings opener in the 08-09 season, when they lost their banner raising game to the Leafs)
+ Lidstrom had a very nice hit at one point, driving Ponikarovsky off to the side boards.  You don’t see it very often, so you appreciate it when you do.
+ Well, this is a plus for me, but I had a surprisingly good vantage point from my seat.

Minuses
– I saw a girl wearing a white RBK Edge style Red Wings jersey, with number 7 and Lindsay on the back… and if that wasn’t bad enough, she turned around and there was no logo on the front!  It was totally blank.  No Winged Wheel.  Talk about a jersey foul… I wanted to get a picture to send to Puck Daddy, but didn’t get a chance.
– Speaking of Cleary, he’s -7 on the season so far.
– The defense sucked.  I saw way too much of Lebda (16:35, 1:02 PP) and Ericsson (20:03, 3:58 PK).  Even worse, they were usually paired together.  I had a feeling that Babcock thought that the Leafs’ anemic offense was a good opportunity to give them more ice time.  Too bad that backfired.  Though it wasn’t entirely their fault alone–everyone was a little lackadaisical.
– Along those lines, I felt like they took the Leafs too lightly.  Or they simply didn’t care because it’s an Eastern/Western conference game.  Who knows, but it was unacceptable.
– Honestly, I thought Howard should have, and was going to start tonight’s game.  Along what I personally think is the reasoning for giving Lebda and Ericsson so much ice time, I would have thought it a good chance for Howard to play.
– Jason Williams has a freaking broken leg.  He was bringing the puck into the zone and slide into the end boards with a Leaf player.  It didn’t really make a huge bang on impact, and I was honestly surprised to see him hurt.  I was also very relieved to see it wasn’t Rafalski–it happened on my end, and I could only see the 2 and what was either an 8 or a 9.  This sucks regardless, but I agree with Matt that it would have been much, much worse had it been Raf.
– There was simply not enough established pressure.  Too much cycling and pretty passing on the power play.  The Red Wings outshot the Leafs, but that doesn’t matter when they get outplayed completely like they did tonight.
– Ozzie sucked.  Let’s be honest with ourselves, this was not a good game for him.

Random thoughts on Toronto,  the ACC, and Maple Leafs fans:

More can be found on my Twitter.  I’ll also be posting pictures from my weekend up here in a short bit.

The 2009-2010 season starts today.

Oh, I know it actually started yesterday. Joe Sakic had his number retired in Denver; a nice little ceremony and all that.

But it starts today for us. For Red Wings fans. They are dropping the puck in Stockholm in about 30 minutes against the St. Louis Blues.

Most of the MSM are espousing about how this is the year that the Red Wings start to lose their grip on Western Conference and Central Division supremacy. Prognosticators are putting Detroit anywhere from 2nd to 4th (Hockey News), in the Conference standings.

ESPN’s Scott Burnside sticks them behind the Blackhawks for the Central Division. Conversely, Allan Miur from SI is a smart cookie, and thinks that until they’re knocked from the throne, they’ll continue to rule the Division.

I agree with most that the Red Wings are likely to come in second in the conference, probably behind San Jose.  But I even hesitate to do that.  And there’s no way they’re losing the division titles to the upstart Blackhawks.  Why?  Because Detroit wants this.  They’re going to redeem themselves from last season.

CBC’s Elliotte Friedman twittered  several days ago:

Will say this: people predicting the demise of the Red Wings are going to be disappointed. This is a hungry group.

He also received this quote from a Detroit player:

“I hate Pittsburgh. I hate the Pirates. I hate the Steelers. I hate the Penguins. Don’t get me wrong….I respect them. But I hate them.”

On the record, Dan Cleary admits that he’s pissed to Burnside:

That final game frequently invades Cleary’s thoughts.

“All the time,” he said. “Driving, get up to use the bathroom, watching TV, see a hockey commercial. For me, I don’t know how other people deal with it, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it. I don’t know. You never know if you’re going to get back there again. And to be able to go two years in a row was special.

“All due respect to Pittsburgh, and I believe they deserved to win because they beat us four out of five, but I can’t stand Pittsburgh. I was so happy we won Sunday,” Cleary added, referring to a preseason victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday shortly before the team jetted across the Atlantic. “I’ll always be like that ’til we get there again. I’m just being honest.”

Cleary’s thrilled that they won an exhibition game–agame that Pittsburgh played without Malkin or Crosby. That says something; a lot, actually. A statement like that shows how deep this bitterness goes, and how hungry they are to prove that Detroit’s not done. This is a team that is still intensely disappointed with last year’s outcome.

More from Friedman:

“We’re pissed off,” one player said when I visited Detroit last week. “I still don’t know how we lost,” added another. The Red Wings are motivated and angry. What sets them apart is their sense of professionalism. It’s all business all the time. The only thing that matters is winning. Some teams say it but don’t mean it. This team means it.

Damn straight. And they’re getting down to business today.