Detroit Red Wings Clips February 4, 2014

Detroit Red Wings Clips February 4, 2014

Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Detroit Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist added to Team Sweden PAGE 3 Check out Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard's Team USA helmet PAGE 4 Detroit 2, Vancouver 0: Why the Red Wings won Monday PAGE 6 Detroit council votes today on arena deal; Ilitches to get land for $1 PAGE 11 Detroit 2, Vancouver 0: Jonas Gustavsson starts Red Wings' shutout in

net, Jimmy Howard finishes it off PAGE 13 It's official: Wings' Gustav Nyquist replaces Johan Franzen on Sweden's

Olympic team PAGE 14 Canucks coach John Tortorella returns vs. Wings following 15-day

suspension PAGE 15 Wings' Pavel Datsyuk shrugs off suggstion he's resting up for Olympics PAGE 16 Patriotism, pride lure stars to Olympics, but it creates a conundrum for the

NHL PAGE 19 Oh, what a relief: Jimmy Howard rescues Wings as sub PAGE 21 Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Does recent offensive outburst bode well for

remainder of regular season? PAGE 22 Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist named to Swedish Olympic team as Johan

Franzen's replacement PAGE 24 Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk still hoping to play before Olympics; Jonas

Gustavsson in goal tonight PAGE 26 Jimmy Howard relieves ailing Jonas Gustavsson as Red Wing goalies

combine for shutout (with video) PAGE 28 Lashoff in for Smith and Gustavsson starting as Red Wings look to stay in

playoff hunt PAGE 30 Datsyuk hopes to return before Olympics, but hasn't ruled out taking part

in Games if he doesn't PAGE 31 Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk hasn't ruled out playing in

Olympics PAGE 33 USA TODAY / Gustav Nyquist replaces Johan Franzen on Team Sweden PAGE 34 Wings blank Canucks 2-0 PAGE 35 Wings lose starting goalie, still get shutout PAGE 37 Jonas Gustavsson leaves game due to dizziness PAGE 38 Nyquist replaces Franzen on Team Sweden

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Detroit Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist added to Team Sweden

6:28 PM, February 3, 2014

By Carlos Monarrez

Looks like it’s time for Gustav Nyquist to start getting some Russian language lessons from Pavel Datsyuk.

Sweden’s Olympic hockey team announced Monday that Nyquist would replace concussed Red Wings teammate Johan Franzen on its squad for the Sochi Games.

Nyquist has been on fire recently. He had a hat trick and an assist in Sunday’s 6-5 overtime loss at Washington and 12 points in his past eight games before Monday’s game against Vancouver.

“It would be a lot of fun to go with other Swedish teammates to Sochi and to represent your country in the Olympics,” Nyquist said after Monday’s morning skate. “It would be something special. I would be really excited for it.”

Nyquist will be joined on Sweden’s team by fellow Wings Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Jonathan Ericsson, Jonas Gustavsson and Niklas Kronwall.

The increased offensive production has been a result of Nyquist using his speed to create more chances for himself.

“I thought Gus has really played well of late,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “When he skates, he’s a real good player for us. He’s working hard on his shot, become dangerous with his shot. When he touches the puck, he’s looking to pass it to someone. When you play with Zetterberg, you get passes. (Justin) Abdelkader does a real good job being heavy with those guys.

“They’re making a lot of plays right now. They’ve been excellent offensively and defensively and it’s good for him. You’ve got to earn your confidence in this league. They don’t give it to you and he’s obviously earning some.”

Datsyuk update: Datsyuk, the captain of the Russian Olympic hockey team, is still holding out hope of playing in Sochi, even though Monday marked the 14th straight game he missed with an apparent leg injury.

Datsyuk said he felt better after he went through an optional morning skate Monday with the team. Datsyuk planned to get in some more work today and he would like to play in one or two NHL games before the Olympics begin. Russia opens Feb.13 against Slovenia.

Monster in goal: Coach Mike Babcock said Gustavsson will start in goal tonight, and Brian Lashoff will replace Brendan Smith on defense.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.04.2014

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Check out Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard's Team USA helmet

3:49 AM, February 4, 2014

By Kirkland Crawford

The same man from Michigan that painted former MSU goalie Ryan Miller's mask for the Olympics has introduced his latest piece of art -- the headgear for Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard.

Ray Bishop posted a photo of Howard's mask on his company's Facebook page. The Wings' mask features an eagle on top of the head with blue wings bedazzled with white stars.

Bishop Designs, out of Grand Blanc, also did Miller's mask.


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Detroit 2, Vancouver 0: Why the Red Wings won Monday

February 4, 2014 |

By Carlos Monarrez

At Joe Louis Arena

■ WHAT HAPPENED: Justin Abdelkader scored twice and Jimmy Howard stopped a penalty shot as he and Jonas Gustavsson teamed for the Wings’ first combined shutout since Manny Legace and Dominik Hasek blanked Nashville, 1-0, on Oct. 27, 2001. The Wings won their second straight at home and kept pace by holding on to the final spot in the Eastern Conference wild-card playoff race.

■ GUSTAVSSON OK: The team announced that Gustavsson experienced dizziness in the locker room during the first intermission. Coach Mike Babcock said Gustavsson was fine but would be evaluated further today. Gustavsson stopped eight shots and Howard stopped 16.

■ HE SAID IT: Babcock, on which goalie gets credit for the win and the shutout: “In pitching — we scored, it was the second period, so Howie gets the win. I don’t know. I’m just making (stuff) up now.”

■ FIRST PERIOD: After an aggressive start by the Wings — strong hits and good forechecking — both teams played most of the period like tentative boxers scared of leaving themselves open to a hit.

■ SECOND PERIOD: Drama time! The period started with Howard taking over for Gustavsson. After a pretty listless first period, the second stanza opened with a bang. Justin Abdelkader scored the first goal at 1:08 when his long shot was tipped by a Canuck in front of goaltender Eddie Lack. The Canucks got a penalty shot awarded to them when Jakub Kindl was called for hindering David Booth on a breakaway. But Booth put his shot right into Howard’s midsection.

■ THIRD PERIOD: The Wings killed the Canucks’ fourth power play. Tomas Tatar was called for tripping, but Vancouver never mustered much of a threat. The Wings outshot the Canucks, 10-3, in the period. Abdelkader scored an empty-netter with 15.7 seconds remaining.

■ BACK ON THE BENCH: Canucks coach John Tortorella returned after serving a 15-day league suspension for trying to storm Calgary’s dressing room during the first intermission of their Jan. 18 game.

“I apologize first and foremost to the players (for) the situation I put them in, to the organization, with my stupidity, to the league,” Tortorella said before his team’s morning skate, via the Vancouver Sun. “It’s been embarrassing and not just for me, but for everybody around me in the situation that has occurred here.”

■ SOCHI SENDOFF: Before the game, the Wings saluted all of the Olympians from both teams who will represent their respective countries at the Sochi Games. It was also

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a temporary farewell to the Wings, who play their next two games on the road before the Olympic break, then hit the road when the NHL schedule resumes. The Wings won’t play at home again until March 6.

■ THREE STARS: 1. Henrik Zetterberg (one assist), 2. Lack, 3. Kyle Quincey.


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Detroit council votes today on arena deal; Ilitches to get land for $1

February 4, 2014

By Joe Guillen and JC Reindl

Details of the Deal

■ Detroit City Council will vote on transferring 27 city parcels and 12 properties owned by the city’s Economic Development Corp. to the Detroit Downtown Development Authority.

■ Transfer would take place for $1.

■ The authority wants to use the land for the Red Wings’ new $450-million arena.

■ The authority would lease the future arena to Ilitch family’s Olympia Development of Michigan.

■ New arena would seat about 2,000 fewer fans than Joe Louis, but is projected to employ 440 more people.

Zoom

After weeks of debate and public meetings, the Detroit City Council is expected to decide today whether it will transfer land along the desolate streets of the Cass Corridor for the Red Wings’ new $650-million arena district.

The proposed deal — 39 vacant parcels just north of downtown for $1 — would be the city’s chief contribution to the proposed arena, a joint venture between companies controlled by Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch and the Detroit Downtown Development Authority, an agency which promotes development with tax breaks and other incentives.

■ Editorial: Deal for new Detroit hockey arena should come with stipulations

Some city officials say they’re concerned about the deal and think the city should get more for the land. A Free Press analysis of city records shows that several private landowners succeeded in netting millions for themselves by selling similarly situated land in the arena’s footprint to Ilitch-controled corporations.

But others, including several council members, say the city should give the land because the new arena district will bring jobs, increase property values and rejuvenate an area mired in crime and blight for decades.

City Councilman Gabe Leland, who chairs the planning and economic development committee, said the arena project will provide the city with a needed economic boost. “I ran my election on creating jobs,” said Leland, who won election in November. “This is not the perfect deal that I talked about earlier. There’s an opportunity here to create an environment to create some jobs.”

The arena development would span eight desolate blocks and transform the Cass Corridor, an economic dead zone between downtown and Midtown and once a

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notorious haven for crime and prostitution. The ice could be ready in time for the 2016-17 hockey season.

City records show that corporations under the Ilitch umbrella spent nearly $50 million in the past seven years buying out the private owners. Some of the most lucrative private deals to the former owners involved properties that are currently boarded-up, covered in graffiti and strewn with empty liquor bottles. The owner of a squat one-story building on a ¾-acre parcel along Sibley Street, for example, fetched the highest dollar —$20.4 million — from the Ilitches.

Another major deal

The Red Wings arena would be the latest major investment in Detroit for the Ilitch family, which has spurred earlier phases of downtown’s revitalization. Projects over the past 25 years, such as Comerica Park, the MotorCity Casino Hotel, Hockeytown Cafe and the renovation of the Fox Theatre have brought millions in revenue to the city.

Despite some concerns that the city may not be getting fairly compensated for its land, development experts note that the eye-popping sales prices for distressed Cass Corridor real estate were based on the land being valued as the site of a new sports arena.

On its own, Detroit has been unable to develop the land, which has sat fallow for years and contributed to the corridor’s reputation.

“Right now they’re generating zero revenue for the city,” said Jim Bieri of Detroit-based Stokas Bieri Real Estate. “So the value to the city is, if anything, negative because they have to be concerned about whatever happens on that land, but they’re getting no revenue from it.”

Council President Brenda Jones, who has expressed concerns about whether the arena project will guarantee jobs for Detroiters, said the city’s land has not been put to good use and her goal is to help rebuild Detroit.

“No one has, I don’t think, has been jumping over hoops to buy that land,” she said.

The public land transfer is a linchpin for what could be become Detroit’s $650-million arena district mega-project. The $450-million hockey arena is expected to anchor a $200-million spin-off development of residential, entertainment, retail and office buildings. The total project is to encompass 45 blocks.

The 27 city-owned properties as well as a dozen owned by the city’s Economic Development Corp. would be transferred to the Detroit Downtown Development Authority for $1.

An additional 26 city-owned properties outside the arena site but within the boundaries of the spin-off development would be transferred for fair market value, which has yet to be determined.

The Ilitches’ Olympia Development of Michigan already has agreed to transfer more than 50 properties under its control to the Downtown Development Authority, also within the eight-block arena footprint.

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The development authority will own the future arena site and lease it for up to 95 years to Olympia Development, which will not pay any rent, but would be responsible for paying off a portion of bonds issued to pay for the arena’s construction.

'Nothing in return'

One council member said the city should not be giving away land when it is cash-starved and going through bankruptcy.

“Why are we transferring over this (public) property for a dollar when the value of the land is worth way more than that?” said Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield. “It’s hard for me to just give away land with nothing in return.”

The publicly owned land has a recorded assessed value of about $2.9 million, although it is unclear when the city last evaluated those properties. Assessed values in Detroit are supposed to represent half of a property’s market value.

In a report last summer, council’s policy analysts suggested that all the properties in the transfer should first be formally appraised before they are handed over.

“It would be more ideal for the city to receive fair market value for the transfer of city-owned land ... to help the city financially that is undergoing the largest municipal bankruptcy in the history of the United States,” the analysis report said.

The City Council is expected to vote on the public land transfer today. Should it reject the land transfer, Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr, under Public Act 436, can request that the state’s emergency loan board execute the deal.

Thousands of jobs

The process for assembling the land is laid out in a concession management agreement, which includes many other terms of the arena deal between the development authority and Olympia. The City Council was not involved in negotiating the agreement.

“What’s important is that all legal requirements are met, and the overall benefits to the city make the transfer worthwhile,” Robert Rossbach, spokesman for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., said in a statement on behalf of the development authority.

Neither the developer, Olympia Development of Michigan, nor the Downtown Development Authority has said exactly where the arena will be situated on the eight-block expanse of land west of Woodward and north of the Fisher Freeway. Details for a parking lot next to the arena, such as its size, have not been released yet to the public. Three arenas the size of the Red Wings’ proposed new home — 650,000 square feet — could fit inside the proposed boundaries of the site, according to Corridors Alliance, a community group monitoring the project. Another mystery is exactly what the arena will look like.

The arena portion of the development is projected to create 5,550 construction jobs and sustain 1,100 permanent jobs, which is 440 more jobs than at the Red Wings’ current home at Joe Louis Arena.

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Despite seating about 2,000 fewer fans than Joe Louis, the team’s new venue is expected to have nicer luxury boxes and employ hundreds of additional people by offering labor-intensive amenities, such as restaurants and retail stores.

“Think of the staffing needs required when one offers food choices that range from sushi to high-end food and desserts, as well as the usual arena food choices,” Mark Rosentraub, the University of Michigan professor who computed the jobs figures, wrote in an e-mail last week.

The arena is also projected to generate nearly $16 million a year in new city income tax revenue , including $8.6 million from the three-year construction period and $7.2 million over 30 years for the estimated 440 new permanent jobs.

As proposed, construction of the arena itself would be 58% publicly funded and 42% privately funded. No Detroit general fund dollars would be spent; the state is contributing the bulk of the public investment.

Olympia has agreed to pay $11.5 million annually for about 30 years to help pay off the construction bonds. Olympia will own the arena’s naming rights and will keep all revenues from arena operations, including parking fees and concessions sales. The city will not collect property taxes on the arena.

Overall, the terms are less favorable to the city compared to the team’s lease of Joe Louis Arena. Under that agreement Olympia was responsible for annual rent of $300,000, property taxes capped at $252,000 and a portion of revenues from concessions, souvenirs and ticket sales. The arena, hemmed in by the Detroit River and Cobo Center, was not part of a neighborhood or district’s redevelopment.

Deals under wraps

City and Wayne County property records show that the Ilitches paid millions of dollars for parcels in the district footprint. With the Ilitches trying to assemble as much land as possible for the project, some of the landowners drove hard bargains. But Ilitch Holdings historically has bound property owners in land transactions to confidentiality agreements. None involved in the arena project would speak on the record with the Free Press.

■ The family of a current Little Caesars manager, Susan Zoma, netted $5 million for the sale of a boarded-up liquor and convenience store — Park and Sibley Market — in their possession since 1959. Asked about the sale, an Ilitch Holdings spokesman said the company generally does not discuss or confirm specific transactions. Zoma declined an interview.

■ A company tied to Greater Detroit Cab sold the former cab offices and surrounding sites on and around the Fisher Freeway for $7.8 million. The cab company relocated to Southfield in November.

Included in the cab company deal was the Comet Bar, a shot-and-a-beer bar that, according to its owner, attracts Tigers fans and karaoke enthusiasts and still does good business. The bar’s future is uncertain, said owner Harry (Wayne) Alexander, 68, who is critical of the proposed $1 transfer of surrounding land. Greater Detroit Cab owned the bar and the land it is on.

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■ The Salvation Army got $2.6 million for the old Park Avenue Hotel and several adjacent parcels between Woodward and Cass. The shell of a hotel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and most recently served as a homeless shelter, is known for the giant “ZombieLand” graffiti tag.

■ The priciest land deal so far was secured by the family that owns Prime Parking. The owner received $20.4 million for the building at 66 Sibley.

Mayor Mike Duggan said he did not have a comment on the land transfer. “Kevyn Orr and I had a division of responsibilities, and on his side of the ledger was the hockey arena, which was negotiated by the emergency manager,” Duggan said.

Orr supports the arena project, and it is thought that he will sign off on the land deal if council balks.


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Detroit 2, Vancouver 0: Jonas Gustavsson starts Red Wings' shutout in net, Jimmy Howard finishes it off

3:16 AM, February 4, 2014

By Carlos Monarrez

Watching a hockey goaltender change out of his soaking wet equipment after a game is like watching an onion peel itself, and Jimmy Howard was about to shed his first layer when he saw the throng of reporters around his locker.

“Forget it,” the Red Wings goalie said. “Let’s just do this.”

No time to undress. No time to think.

It was better that way Monday for Howard, who was pressed into duty to start the second period and came up big with 16 saves, including stopping a penalty shot, in a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks before 20,066 at Joe Louis Arena.

Howard got credit for the win but he shared the shutout, the Wings’ first shared shutout since Manny Legace and Dominik Hasek teamed up to blank Nashville, 1-0, on Oct. 27, 2001.

Justin Abdelkader scored at 1:08 of the second period and added an empty-netter with 15.7 seconds left and the Wings were outstanding on the penalty kill, thwarting all five of the Canucks’ man-advantage opportunities.

Jonas Gustavsson made eight saves in the first period but experienced dizziness and didn’t leave the locker room after intermission. Coach Mike Babcock said after the game that Gustavsson was fine but would be evaluated further today.

Howard was supposed to have the day off after a busy Sunday in Washington where he faced 28 shots and lost in overtime.

Then he got the nod.

“Yeah, it was a little bit of a shock there,” Howard said of stepping in for Gustavsson. “But it was one of those things. Sometimes it’s easier to be surprised and go in and play.”

Then he got tested. And run over. Again. And again.

The Canucks looked determined to crash the net and check Howard’s readiness, first with a penalty shot that was awarded to David Booth, who was hindered on a breakaway by Jakub Kindl at 4:41 of the second.

But Howard had a secret in his pocket: a book on Booth, his former teammate with the U.S. National Development team.

“I had an idea of what he was going to do,” Howard said with a fiendish chuckle. “I was laughing when it all went down, when he was getting the penalty shot. I started chuckling, smiling.”

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Booth put his wrist shot right from the slot into Howard’s midsection.

Abdelkader had an idea of what was coming, too.

“I know Jimmy and Boothy are pretty good buddies from the program,” he said, “so I just kind of saw them look at each other when Boothy knew he had a penalty shot. But Jimmy’s really, really been good.”

Howard had to be, with Canucks goalie Eddie Lack closing the door in the final period when the Wings buzzed the net and outshot Vancouver, 10-3.

The Wings won their second straight at home and earned a point for the third straight game. They also kept pace and held on to the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

As Howard looked at the big white board with the current standings, he knew what the team’s effort meant.

“It’s huge,” he said. “That’s a constant reminder, that big board there, every single day.”


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It's official: Wings' Gustav Nyquist replaces Johan Franzen on Sweden's Olympic team

Ted Kulfan

Detroit — Gustav Nyquist is headed to Sochi, after all.

Currently on a goal-scoring binge, Nyquist was added to Sweden’s Olympic hockey team Monday. He replaces injured Red Wings teammate Johan Franzen.

Nyquist has eight goals in the last seven games — he had three Sunday in Detroit’s 6-5 overtime loss in Washington — and has 13 goals for the season.

“Gus has played real well of late,” coach Mike Babcock said. “When he skates, he’s a real good player for us. He’s working hard on his shot and becoming dangerous.

“You have to earn your confidence in this league, they don’t give it you. He’s earning it.”

Franzen told Swedish hockey officials last week he wouldn’t be available to play because of recurring concussion issues.

Nyquist wasn’t available before Monday’s game. But he said last week that opportunity to play for Sweden would be a thrill.

“Obviously it’s not the way you want to get in, get a spot on the roster when your teammate can’t go. I know Mule would love to go,” Nyquist said. “But I’d love to go.”

Nyquist joins Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Jonas Gustavsson, Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall as Red Wings on the Swedish team.

Pavel Datsyuk (Russia), Jimmy Howard (United States), and Tomas Tatar and Tomas Jurco (Slovakia) are other Red Wings expected to compete in Sochi beginning next week, along with Babcock (Canada).

Detroit News LOADED: 02.04.2014

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Canucks coach John Tortorella returns vs. Wings following 15-day suspension

Ted Kulfan

Detroit — Vancouver coach John Tortorella is returning to the Canucks bench Monday against the Red Wings after serving a 15-day suspension by the NHL.

Tortorella was suspended for his role in a Jan. 18 brawl against the Calgary Flames.

Angry about a brawl to begin the game, Tortorella tried to get after Calgary coach Bob Hartley between periods, going as far as trying to get into the Flames locker room.

“I apologize first and foremost to the players, and the situation I put them in, to the organization and to the league,” Tortorella said Monday morning after the Canucks morning skate at Joe Louis Arena. “It’s been embarrassing, not just for me but everyone around me.”

Vancouver was 2-4-0 during Tortorella’s absence — have lost three consecutive games — and has fallen to eighth in the West, just one point ahead of Phoenix for the second and last wild-card spot.

Tortorella wasn’t allowed any contact with the team during his suspension. Assistant coaches Mike Sullivan and Glen Gulutzan ran the Canucks in his absence.

Over their last 10 games, the Canucks are 3-7-0.

“We’ve let a lot of teams back into the picture,” Tortorella said. “We’re in a tough spot right now. It’s up to me to do my job and get this team back.”


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Wings' Pavel Datsyuk shrugs off suggstion he's resting up for Olympics

Ted Kulfan

Detroit — Pavel Datsyuk skated again Monday. He was one of the few Red Wings that did ahead of Monday night’s game against Vancouver, which was to be Detroit’s third game in four nights.

But is Datsyuk any closer to rejoining to the lineup? Is his lower-body injury (believed to be a knee) getting better enough for him to play, with the Olympics just a week away?

As usual, lately, there wasn’t anything definite.

“I feel better,” said Datsyuk, who hasn’t played since the Jan. 1 Winter Classic, but as the captain of the Russian team in the Olympics certainly has motivation to return soon. “I’m hoping, looking (forward) to (playing). I’d like to make sure to play one or two games (this week). That’s my goal now.”

The Red Wings aren’t practicing Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean Datsyuk can’t skate on his own. They’ll practice Wednesday, then fly to South Florida, where they play the Panthers the next day.

On Friday, they’ll practice in Tampa Bay and play the Lightning on Saturday, before players heading to Sochi take off.

Datsyuk wouldn’t speculate as to whether he needs to play at least one game before jumping into Olympic action.

“I don’t think about over there (Russia) now,” Datsyuk said. “I’m thinking about coming back to our team and helping our team. I’m looking to play, not (Monday), but I’m looking to play, hoping one or two games.”

Some Wings fans have taken to social media irritated about the possibility of Datsyuk resting himself up for the Olympics. On that, Datsyuk said, “No comment. Everybody has his own (opinion), everbody has own (decision).”

Lineup changes

With the Red Wings playing their third game in four nights, Jonas Gustavsson replaces Jimmy Howard in net. Howard started both games against Washington over the weekend.

On defense, Babcock was replacing Brendan Smith with Brian Lashoff. Smith took a costly tripping penalty in overtime Sunday, which led to Alex Ovechkin scoring the winning goal for the Capitals. Smith was minus-1 in more than 15 minutes of ice time.


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Patriotism, pride lure stars to Olympics, but it creates a conundrum for the NHL

John Niyo

Detroit — Nobody likes to see their face on a wanted poster. So if you’re struggling to understand the divided loyalties that make this NHL participation in the Olympics such a conflicted mess, you probably should take that into consideration.

Because patriotism plays heavy, to use a bit of hockey parlance. And while it’s one thing to disappoint a city or a state, it’s another to let down an entire country.

Pavel Datsyuk’s grappling with that reality right now. Daniel Alfredsson knows the feeling, too. So does Henrik Zetterberg, having lived through the “day of shame” as a member of Sweden’s Olympic hockey team in 2002 along with the likes of Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom here in Detroit.

An inconceivable quarterfinal loss to Belarus in Salt Lake City — think “Miracle on Ice” minus the Cold War narrative — led to some unprecedented Scandinavian outrage. And as Alfredsson and his teammates headed back to work in the NHL, they were pilloried by their own people back home. “Guilty: They betrayed their country,” was the translated headline on the cover of the Swedish tabloid Expressen, accompanied by mugshots of the NHL players and their seven-figure salaries.

“Obviously, you remember that,” said Zetterberg, who actually was spared some of the grief, still playing in the Swedish Elite League at the time. “It was a tough couple weeks for us.”

They made amends four year later at the 2006 Torino Olympics, defeating rival Finland for the gold medal and returning home to Stockholm for a massive celebration.

End could be near

But at what price, gold? That’s the question that the NHL keeps asking of itself, every four years or so since the mid-1990s, when the league was full of big ideas — and not all of them good. And now there’s a growing belief this latest Olympic sojourn could be the last. Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, suggested as much in recent weeks, citing the overall experience as a “mixed bag.”

Indeed, though the hockey has been great — Canada’s overtime win over the U.S. in 2010 in Vancouver among many highlights – the size of the return on the NHL’s investment is debatable. The league has no control over the tournament or its players during the break, and while it helps build the NHL brand overseas it may be hurting the product here in North America.

The players love the Olympics, almost universally. The owners do not, in similar numbers. That leaves the NHL caught somewhere in the middle, unsure whether to pass or shoot, if you will.

“There’s talk that this one might be the last for NHL players, and I think that would be sad if it is,” said Alfredsson, headed to his fifth and final Olympics at age 41. “I think for

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the good of the game, the P.R. of the game, having the best players in the world together in a tournament like this — it’s great for us as players, but for the fans it’s unbelievable.”

Yet there’s a reason no other major U.S. professional sport puts its season on hold like this. Reasons, actually, from the injury concerns (nearly 70 combined at the last two Games) to the condensed regular-season schedule (the Wings just played 13 games in 26 days) to the timing of it all.

The NHL is going away just as the NFL is clearing the stage, for one thing, and though a USA-Russia game certainly sounds like appointment television, the 7:30 a.m. ET puck drop Feb. 15 does not. (That disconnect will be even greater in 2018, when the host city is Pyeongchang, South Korea.)

One possible solution on the horizon: Plans for a renewed World Cup every two or four years, beginning in 2015, that might satisfy the players’ — and national federations’ — desire to play internationally without interfering with the NHL schedule.

Sochi, or sit

For now, though, there are awkward moments like these: Monday night they held a pregame “Sochi Sendoff” before the Wings-Canucks game at Joe Louis Arena. And there was Datsyuk in uniform, even though he really wasn’t.

Detroit has 10 players scheduled to participate in Sochi, and six of them have missed games due to injury in the last month.

That includes three of their top four scorers, as well as goalies Jimmy Howard and Jonas Gustavsson, the latter of whom left Monday’s game with dizziness.

But Datsyuk, who was named captain of Russia’s Olympic team last month, is the biggest dilemma. He missed his 14th consecutive game Monday — he hasn’t played for the Wings since the Winter Classic on Jan. 1 due to an apparent knee injury — and his own coach, Mike Babcock, was audibly frustrated this weekend.

“Pavel wants to play for his country and be part of things,” said Babcock, who’ll coach Team Canada again this month. “But you have to be healthy.”

Monday, the 35-year-old center took part in an optional morning skate, said he felt “better” and talked about going through a full practice Wednesday. If all goes well, he expects to play Thursday at Florida, and then in Tampa on Saturday before heading to Russia.

“Just make sure I play at least one or two games (before the Olympic break),” he said. “That’s my goal now.”

Datsyuk, who has talked about the pride and pressure the Russians are feeling playing on home ice in Sochi, declined to address the speculation about whether or not he should withdraw.

“I’m not thinking about (playing) over there now,” he said. “I’m thinking (about) come back to our team and help our team.”

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He knows what we’re all thinking, though, his bosses included: A 16-day break certainly wouldn’t hurt his prospects for a healthy finish to the regular season as the Wings fight to make the playoffs.

And when asked about divided loyalties, Datsyuk replied, “No comment. Everybody has (their) own mind. Everybody (has their) own decision. It’s my decision.”

But it’s one the NHL just might decide isn’t in the league’s best interest going forward.


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Oh, what a relief: Jimmy Howard rescues Wings as sub

Ted Kulfan

Detroit – Jimmy Howard earned a shutout and victory Monday and he probably should have gotten a save, too.

Howard relieved Jonas Gustavsson after the first period after Gustavsson became dizzy between periods, Justin Abdelkader scored a second-period goal and an empty-net goal, and the Red Wings defeated Vancouver, 2-0.

Playing their third game in four nights, the Red Wings relied on goaltending, a great penalty kill (Vancouver was 0-for-5), and grit and determination.

“These are games you have to battle it out and have to be professional,” Abdelkader said. “It’s not an easy game to play. But we played sound defensively and cashed in on our chances.”

Gustavsson did not return to the Red Wings bench after leaving through one period.

General manager Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock both said Gustavsson was fine after the game.

“He’s fine,” Babcock said. “Everything settled down. I don’t know why he was dizzy. All I know is they came in and said he wasn’t going to go in for the second.”

Howard stopped all 16 shots he faced (Gustavsson had eight saves) and the two goalies had the first Red Wings combined shutout since Oct. 27, 2001 (Dominik Hasek and Manny Legace against Nashville).

“Sometimes it’s easier to be surprised and just go in and play,” Howard said. “You just have to be ready and play to your capabilities.”

Howard was tested early, stopping David Booth (Michigan State) on a penalty shot at 4:41.

Howard, himself, was run into by Vancouver’s Alex Edler in the second period — Edler and Luke Glendening were tied up — but shook off the hit.

“Nothing like a penalty shot and getting run over to get into the game,” Howard said. “(But) it was a good (victory), a huge two points for us. We just have to keep this rolling into the Olympic break.”

Abdelkader scored at 1:08 of the second period.

Abdelkader snapped a shot from inside the blue line that appeared to deflect off a Vancouver skater and go high over goalie Eddie Lack — who was superb for the Canucks with 28 saves, including several dazzling ones late in the game — for his seventh goal.

“Gus (Nyquist) and Z (Henrik Zetterberg) made good plays on the goals down low and I just tried to get a shot through to the net,” Abdelkader said .”I knew I had to get it high.”

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The Red Wings had an opportunity to build on the lead with a two-man advantage for a full two minutes beginning at 11:18. But Lack and the Canucks held off the Red Wings.

After struggling on the penalty kill the last couple of games, the Red Wings killed all five Canucks power plays.

“It’s (the penalty kill) been good all year, just in the last little while we got on our heels a little bit,” Babcock said. “Tonight we got after them, we were aggressive instead of passive and we were rewarded.

“Our goaltending was solid, our team was solid, and it was a good team win. We got five of a possible six points here for the weekend, and that’s crucial for us. We’re trying to tread water with the guys we have out.”

The Red Wings (25-19-12, 62 points) conclude the pre-Olympic break of their schedule with road games in Florida (Thursday) and Tampa Bay (Saturday).

“We need all the points we can get here,” Zetterberg said .”It’s been a good weekend for us, so now we just have to keep it going and go down to Florida and have good games.”

Vancouver (27-21-9, 63 points) has lost four consecutive games and eight of their last 11.


21

Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Does recent offensive outburst bode well for remainder of regular season?

Brendan Savage

on February 03, 2014 at 3:03 PM, updated February 03, 2014 at 4:48 PM

Scoring goals hasn't come easy for the Detroit Red Wings this season.

It was especially difficult early in January, when the Red Wings scored 14 regulation goals in their first eight games. That's an average of 1.75 per game. Is it any wonder they went 3-4-1 in that stretch?

December wasn't much better as the Red Wings scored 32 goals in 14 games, an average of 2.3 per game. That translated to a 5-7-2 record.

Add it all up and it's no wonder they're fighting for their playoff lives with the Olympic break looming next week.

But lately, the Red Wings have started to score with more regularity.

In their last six games, the Red Wings have scored 21 goals for an average of 3.5 per game. Throw out last week's 5-0 loss in Philadelphia and they've averaged 4.2 goals. And that average isn't the result of one or two big games. The Red Wings have scored at least four goals in five of those six games.

Gustav Nyquist has been the biggest spark plug during the recent offensive eruption with eight goals in his last seven games after bagging his first career hat trick in Sunday's 6-5 overtime loss in Washington.

All things considered, is the Red Wings' recent offensive outburst a good sign moving forward?

HISTORY

The Red Wings lead the all-time series with Vancouver 85-54-18-6.

In their only meeting this season, the Red Wings beat the Canucks 2-1 Oct. 30 in Vancouver, kicking off a three-game winning streak in the opener of a four-game western Canada road trip.

Daniel Alfredsson and Tomas Tatar scored the Red Wings' goals in Vancouver and Jimmy Howard made 19 saves while picking up his first victory in almost three weeks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nyquist, who else? He's trying to earn the last spot on Sweden's Olympic team and is arguably the hottest player in the NHL right now.

Ryan Kessler, who grew up in Livonia, had a goal and three assists Tuesday in a 4-3 loss at Winnipeg and has five points in his last four games.

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.04.2014

22

Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist named to Swedish Olympic team as Johan Franzen's replacement

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – As Swedish Olympic officials pondered a replacement for the injured Johan Franzen, they could not overlook the hot streak his Detroit Red Wings teammate, Gustav Nyquist, is riding.

Nyquist was selected Monday to replace Franzen on Team Sweden for this month's Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Nyquist, 24, is playing the best hockey of his career, with eight goals in his past seven games, including his first NHL hat trick in Sunday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

He has 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in his past eight games and 13 goals in only 30 games this season.

Before learning he had been selected, Nyquist talked Monday morning about how special it would be to join Red Wings teammates Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson and Jonas Gustavsson on Team Sweden.

“It would be a lot of fun to go with all of these Swedes in this room,” Nyquist said. “To go to Sochi and to represent your country in the Olympics would be something special, and I would be really excited for it.”

Nyquist attributed his recent surge to moving his feet better, shooting more and going to the net. He also credited linemates Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader.

“I got a few good bounces and the puck was really finding me in the end,” Nyquist said. “I can’t credit my linemates enough; it’s been fun to play with Zetterberg and Abdelkader.”

Nyquist said he received many congratulatory calls after notching his first career hat trick, but he wanted to put it behind him quickly and focus on Monday’s game against Vancouver.

“Gus has really played well here of late,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “When he skates he’s a real good player for us. He’s working hard on his shot, becoming more dangerous with it.

“When he touches the puck he’s always looking to pass it to someone first, but when you’re playing with Zetterberg you’re getting passes. Abdelkader always does a real good job of being heavy for those guys. That line is making a lot of plays right now. They’ve been excellent both defensively and offensively. Good for him. You have to earn your confidence in the league. They don’t give it to you. He’s earned some.”

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Franzen withdrew from the Olympics last week due to a concussion that has forced him to miss all but one game since Dec. 15. The club hopes he will return after the Olympic break, which runs from Feb. 9-24.

The Red Wings still have 10 players bound for Sochi. In addition to the Swedes, Jimmy Howard (USA), Pavel Datsyuk (Russia) and Tomas Tatar and Tomas Jurco (Slovakia) will be participating. Babcock is Canada’s head coach.


24

Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk still hoping to play before Olympics; Jonas Gustavsson in goal tonight

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – Jonas Gustavsson will be in goal tonight for the Detroit Red Wings when they host the Vancouver Canucks (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit) in the last game at Joe Louis Arena until March 6.

The only other lineup change from Sunday is on defense, where Brian Lashoff replaces Brendan Smith.

Pavel Datsyuk will miss his 14th consecutive game with a knee injury but said he still hopes to play in one or both games before the Olympic break after tonight – Thursday at Florida and Saturday at Tampa Bay.

Datsyuk, who is Russia’s captain for the Olympics in Sochi, said he still hopes to play in the event but was vague about whether he would participate if he can’t play at least one game beforehand.

“I don’t know,” Datsyuk said. “I’m just trying to make sure I play one or two games (before). That’s my goal now.

He added, “I’m not thinking about (Olympics) now. I’m thinking about coming back to our team and helping our team.”

Gustavsson (13-4-3) is looking to rebound after allowing nine goals in his previous two starts – a 5-4 shootout loss to Florida and 5-0 loss at Philadelphia.

Gustav Nyquist looks to continue his hot streak. He has eight goals in his past seven games and 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in his past eight games.

“We have a lot of kids in our lineup right now that have played well for us,” coach Mike Babcock said. “If we can hang in there, ideally we’ll get Datsyuk back; he’s a key guy for us.”

The fading Canucks (27-20-9) have lost three in a row and are 4-9-3 in their past 16 games. Head coach John Tortorella returns behind the bench tonight after serving a six-game suspension for his actions during a Jan. 18 game vs. Calgary, when he attempted to enter the Flames dressing room.

"I apologize first and foremost to the players for the situation I put them in, to the organization for my stupidity, to the league," Tortorella said after today's morning skate. "It’s been embarrassing and not just for me, but for everyone around me. What’s happened was deserved.

"It hasn’t been a great two weeks. It’s been very embarrassing for my family and for myself and more importantly, everybody around me that I’m supposed to represent. As far as the nonsense I caused, I want to move by it."

25

Here are the Red Wings’ anticipated lines and defense pairs:

Gustav Nyquist-Henrik Zetterberg-Justin Abdelkader

Tomas Tatar-Riley Sheahan-Tomas Jurco

Joakim Andersson-Darren Helm-Daniel Alfredsson

Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Patrick Eaves

Jonathan Ericsson-Niklas Kronwall

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jonas Gustavsson (starting)

Jimmy Howard


26

Jimmy Howard relieves ailing Jonas Gustavsson as Red Wing goalies combine for shutout (with video)

Ansar Khan on February 03, 2014 at 10:11 PM, updated February 04, 2014 at 1:40 AM

DETROIT – Playing on consecutive days, their third game in four nights, the Detroit Red Wings were prepared for a grueling grind-fest on Monday.

They did what they needed to do to win; reverting to the tight-checking, solid defensive game they had gotten away from recently.

Jimmy Howard and Jonas Gustavsson combined for 24 saves and Justin Abdelkader scored both goals to lift the Red Wings past the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 at Joe Louis Arena.

Howard (16 saves) relieved an ailing Gustavsson at the start of the second period. Gustavsson stopped all eight shots he faced in the first period before leaving due to dizziness. The club said Gustavsson is fine and ready to practice Wednesday after being checked at the hospital.

Justin Abdelkader scores twice in Red Wings victory over Vancouver The Red Wings beat the Canucks 2-0 to capture five of a possible six games while playing three times in four days

“It was a little bit of a shock there, but sometimes it’s easier to be surprised and go in and play,” Howard said. “Nothing like a penalty shot and getting run over to get you into the game.”

It is the first time since Oct. 27, 2001, that two Detroit goalies have combined for a shutout. Manny Legace and Dominik Hasek did it back then in a 1-0 victory at Nashville.

“I thought we did a really good job playing sound defensively, trying to limit our turnovers and mistakes,” Abdelkader said. “Guys just had to grind through and battle it out tonight. It’s one of those games where you got to be a professional. They’re not easy games to play in but we played sound defensively and cashed in on our chances.”

This game was a polar opposite of the Red Wings’ wide-open 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday. The Red Wings (25-19-12) had allowed 18 goals in their past four games and 27 goals in their previous seven games.

“Washington plays differently than most teams; they just run-and-gun,” defenseman Kyle Quincey said. “These (games) are a little easier to defend. Their power play is the biggest thing. It was a grind playing last night and coming home and playing tonight. It was definitely a battle and no one felt good in here but when you feel like that you know you have to play well defensively.”

The Red Wings killed five Vancouver power plays, including a penalty for too many men on the ice with 4:37 remaining in the third period. Detroit had been struggling on the penalty kill, as opponents had converted 10-of-31 power-play opportunities in the previous eight games (32.3 percent).

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“Outstanding,” coach Mike Babcock said of the PK. “It has been so good all year and for the last bit we’ve been on our heels for some reason. Pete (assistant coach Bill Peters) straightened it out here today and said let’s get on it and go after them. I thought we did a real good job instead of being passive we were aggressive. We got rewarded for it, plus we got good goaltending in those situations.”

Said defenseman Niklas Kronwall: “I thought we had some good pressure up ice and I thought we came back well in our own zone and were all in good spots.”

Howard stopped David Booth on a penalty shot at 4:41 of the second period.

“I played with him at the U.S. program; I had an idea of what he was going to do,” Howard said. “I was laughing when it all went down. When he was getting the penalty shot, I started chuckling and smiling.”

Abdelkader sealed the win by scoring a power-play goal into an empty net with 16 seconds left in the third period. It was his third goal in the past two games and his eighth of the season.

Abdelkader opened the scoring at 1:08 of the second period. He flung the puck toward the net from the top of the faceoff circle. It sailed over goalie Eddie Lack’s right shoulder.

Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist drew the assists. Zetterberg has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in his past seven games. Nyquist has 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in his past nine games.

The Red Wings swept the two-game season series from the Canucks, who have lost four in a row and are 4-10-3 in their past 17 games.

It was the Red Wings’ last home game until March 6 against the Colorado Avalanche, when they will retire Nicklas Lidstrom’s No. 5 jersey. They play their next five on the road, including two before the Olympic break (Feb. 9-24) –- Thursday at Florida and Saturday at Tampa Bay.


28

Lashoff in for Smith and Gustavsson starting as Red Wings look to stay in playoff hunt

By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily

Posted: 02/03/14, 12:28 PM EST

DETROIT >> Quick update from the Wings’ morning skate prior to their game tonight against the Vancouver Canucks at Joe Louis Arena.

Jonas Gustavsson will start in goal and Brian Lashoff replaces Brendan Smith along the blue line.

Wings coach Mike Babcock shook his head no when asked if Smith was injured.

“I’ve seen lots from Lash so he’s going in,” Babcock added when asked what he’s seen of Smith lately.

Smith drew a tripping penalty in overtime that led to the game-winning goal by Washington on Sunday.

The rest of the lineup remains the same.

Vancouver and Detroit find themselves in unfamiliar grounds as they both are battling for their playoff lives.

“Things do change,” Babcock said. “We haven’t been the same team since ’09. We’re aware of that. There are number of options in the league. You can be bad for 10 years and get a bunch of first round picks or you can just try and do it on the fly and that’s how we’re doing it, on the fly. We want to continue to make the playoffs and try and improve our team.”

Both teams are in the second of two wild card berths in their respective conferences.

“We have a lot of kids in our lineup right now that have played well for us,” Babcock said. “We just think we need time for them to make progress. If we can hang in there, ideally we’ll get (Pavel) Datsyuk back, he’s a key guy for us, no different than (Vancouver’s) big guys. He will be a key addition.”

Gustav Nyquist should learn if he’s going to the Olympics this afternoon as a replacement for Johan Franzen.

“We’ll see what happens here,” Nyquist said. “I think they’ll announce it tonight, Swedish time, so we’ll all know by this afternoon, I’m assuming, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

“It would be a lot of fun to go with all of these Swedes in this room, to go to Sochi and to represent your country in the Olympics is, would be something special, and I would be really excited for it,” Nyquist added.

Nyquist is making a strong case for it coming off his first career hat trick.

29

“Yeah, I guess it was good timing,” Nyquist said of his hat trick. “But again, I try not to think about it too much. They’re going to make the decision and I can only do my best over here to play as good as possible. I don’t know what they’re thinking for a replacement, what type of player they’ll need, or something like that, so we’ll see what happens and we’ll all know by the end of the day.”

Nyquist has eight goals and four assists in his last eight games.

Babcock said it’s got to be easy for the players in the locker room to not look ahead to the Olympics.

“All you have to do is look at the standings,” Babcock said. “I don’t know why you would have any trouble being focused at all. We’re in a battle for our playoff life. All the players know that and understand that. The other thing about it is if you’re not focused you get injured. And I don’t think anyone in here wants to be injured. They have to be dialed in and focused otherwise you’re not going to be helping the team.”

Macomb Daily LOADED: 02.04.2014

30

Datsyuk hopes to return before Olympics, but hasn't ruled out taking part in Games if he doesn't

Posted: 02/03/14, 12:38 PM EST |

By Chuck Pleiness

DETROIT >> Pavel Datsyuk took part in the optional skate Monday at Joe Louis Arena and still hopes to return for a game or two before the Olympics.

“Hoping, looking to,” Datsyuk said when asked if he was still going to play in the Olympics. “I don’t know. I’m just trying to make sure I play one or two games (before). That’s my goal now.

“I’m not thinking about over there now,” Datsyuk added. “I’m thinking about coming back to our team and helping our team.”

Datsyuk wouldn’t say if he couldn’t play in a game prior to the Olympics that he wouldn’t be able to participate in Sochi.

“I’m not thinking about I don’t something,” Datsyuk said. “I just want to play. That’s my goal.”

Asked about what some fans are saying that if players can’t play for their NHL team that pays them then they shouldn’t play in the Olympics, Datsyuk said, “No comment. Everybody has own mine. Everybody has own decision. It’s my decision.”

Datsyuk last played at the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.


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Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk hasn't ruled out playing in Olympics

By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily

Posted: 02/03/14, 8:25 PM EST |

DETROIT >> Pavel Datsyuk still plans to get in a game or two before the Winter Olympics.

But he’s beginning to cut it close.

Datsyuk missed his 14th straight game Monday night with an apparent leg injury.

Detroit has two more games before the Olympics, Thursday in Florida and Saturday at Tampa Bay.

“Hoping, looking to,” Datsyuk said when asked if he was still going to play in the Olympics. “I don’t know. I’m just trying to make sure I play one or two games (before). That’s my goal now.”

Wings coach Mike Babcock made it sound like Datsyuk’s participation in the Games is highly unlikely.

“I just watched him in practice, his one leg isn’t holding up,” Babcock said. “Obviously, Pavel wants to play for his country and he wants to be a part of things, but you’ve got to be healthy.”

Datsyuk is also the captain of Russia.

“I’m not thinking about over there now,” Datsyuk said. “I’m thinking about coming back to our team and helping our team.”

Datsyuk wouldn’t say if he was unable to play in one of the final two games before the Olympics if that would ruin his chances of participating in Sochi.

“I just want to play. That’s my goal,” said Datsyuk.

Datsyuk wouldn’t comment on what on what some fans are saying that if players can’t play for their NHL team then they shouldn’t play in the Olympics.

“Everybody has own mind,” Datsyuk said. “Everybody has own decision. It’s my decision.”

Nyquist added to Sweden roster

There will indeed be six Swedes on the Wings’ roster participating at the Winter Olympics with Gustav Nyquist being added to Sweden’s roster to replace Johan Franzen, who withdrew from the Winter Games last week due to a concussion.

“It would be a lot of fun to go with all of these Swedes in this room, to go to Sochi and to represent your country in the Olympics is, would be something special, and I would be really excited for it,” Nyquist said before learning the news after the team’s morning skate at Joe Louis Arena.

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Nyquist joins Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson and Jonas Gustavsson on Sweden’s roster.

Nyquist made a strong case for it coming off his first career hat trick on Sunday.

“Yeah, I guess it was good timing,” Nyquist said of his hat trick.

Coming into play Monday, Nyquist had eight goals and four assists in his last eight games.

“The puck’s finding me, I guess, but also look at a couple goals I get, passes Z makes, they’re pretty good passes,” Nyquist said. “Obviously it helps to play with him and (Justin Abdelkader). Abby does a great job for our line, he’s always first on the forecheck, he’s a big body and he wins so many pucks for us. My linemates are a huge part of that.”

This and that

Brian Lashoff replaced Brendan Smith on the blue line.

“I’ve seen lots from Lash so he’s going in,” Babcock added when asked what he’s seen of Smith lately.

Smith drew a tripping penalty in overtime that led to the game-winning goal by Washington on Sunday.

Vancouver coach John Tortorella made his return behind the bench after serving a 15-day suspension for an incident on Jan. 18 against Calgary.

“I apologize first and foremost to the players for the situation I put them in, to the organization for my stupidity, to the league, it’s been embarrassing and not just for me, but for everyone around me,” Tortorella said before the game. “I’m not going to spend any more time on this. What’s happened was deserved. I hope it makes me a better coach, but it certainly doesn’t stop the situations I’ve put a lot of other people in, especially my other coaches.

“It hasn’t been a great two weeks,” Tortorella added. “It’s been very embarrassing for my family and for myself and more importantly, everybody around me that I’m supposed to represent. As far as the nonsense I caused, I want to move by it. I think too much focus has been put on this. We need to worry about our hockey club right now.”


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USA TODAY / Gustav Nyquist replaces Johan Franzen on Team Sweden

Jimmy Hascup, USA TODAY Sports 4:04 p.m. EST February 3, 2014

Team Sweden replaced one Detroit Red Wings player on its Olympic roster with another Monday. Rookie forward Gustav Nyquist will take the spot of the injured Johan Franzen, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Franzen is dealing with a concussion. He has played once since Dec. 15, and that Jan. 26 return seems premature as symptoms of the head injury recurred.

OLYMPICS: Franzen to miss Games

Nyquist, 24, was recalled at the end of November and has 13 goals and 22 points in 30 games this season. He is coming off the first NHL hat trick (and four-point game) of his career in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

Of Detroit's 10 Olympians, five are on Sweden's team: forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Daniel Alfredsson, defensemen Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson and goalie Jonas Gustavsso.

Sweden begins its medal chase at Sochi on Feb. 12 against the Czech Republic.

USA TODAY LOADED: 02.04.2014

34

Wings blank Canucks 2-0

Associated Press

The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 at Joe Louis Arena

Monday.

Justin Abdelkader scored both goals, including an empty net goal with 16 seconds left in

the game.

Wings goalie Jonas Gustavsson was replaced by Jimmy Howard in the second period.

Gustavsson started the game and stopped all eight shots he faced in the first period

Monday night, but didn’t return to play in the second period because of dizziness.

Detroit will be in Florida Thursday (7:30 p.m., FSN plus).

35

Wings lose starting goalie, still get shutout

By Dana Wakiji

DETROIT -- On a night when the Red Wings' starting goaltender had to leave the game,

the last thing you might expect was a shutout.

But the Wings did shut out the Vancouver Canucks, 2-0.

Jonas Gustavsson started the game and stopped all eight shots he faced in the first

period. But Gustavsson was experiencing dizziness, so Jimmy Howard came out for the

second and played the rest of the game.

Justin Abdelkader quickly gave the Wings a 1-0 lead at 1:08 of the second period. He

also scored the other goal, an empty-netter on the power play with 15.7 seconds left in

regulation

Detroit native David Booth was awarded a penalty shot against Howard at 4:41 when

Jakub Kindl hauled him down.

Howard's reaction? Laughter.

"I played with him at the U.S. program," Howard said. "I had an idea of what he was

going to do. I was laughing when it all went down. When he was getting the penalty

shot, I started chuckling and smiling."

Howard foiled Booth, who didn't seem as amused.

"I remember watching the Winter Classic on TV and seeing that he got beat low

blocker," Booth said.

About five minutes later, Alex Edler ended up crashing into Howard.

"Nothing like a penalty shot and getting run over to get you into the game," Howard

said. "It was a huge two points for us. We just gotta keep this rolling into the Olympic

break."

Howard finished by stopping all 16 shots he faced to improve to 11-12-9.

"Sometimes it's easier to be surprised and just go out there and just play," Howard said.

"You don't have the chance to think about anything. You just rely on your instincts."

According to STATS LLC, it was the first combined shutout by Wings goalies since

Dominik Hasek and Manny Legace had a 1-0 shutout Oct. 27, 2001, at Nashville.

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After allowing 26 goals in their last seven games, it was a refreshing change for the Red

Wings to not allow any for the first time since Oct. 21, which came in a 1-0 shootout loss

to San Jose.

"Obviously, the game in Washington was up and down and a lot of defensive mistakes,

some turnovers and a lot of goals," Abdelkader said. "But that's not our kind of our

ammo going forward here, with our group and the young guys we have in this room we

have to be good defensively, limit the opposition's chances for and try to limit our

turnovers, 'cause you know we've been a team for the most part that's been struggling

to score goals for most of the year.

"Anytime you're struggling to score goals you gotta keep goals out of your net to stay in

games. Going forward we just gotta play solid defensively. Obviously Jimmy and

Monster played a good game for us and made saves when they had to."

Detroit coach Mike Babcock was particularly pleased with the penalty kill, which killed

off all five Canucks' chances.

"Outstanding," Babcock said. "It has been so good all year and the for the last bit we've

been on our heels for some reason. I thought we did a real good job -- instead of being

passive we were aggressive. We got rewarded for it, plus we got good goaltending in

those situations."

Playing their third game in four nights, the tired Wings remained focused.

"It was definitely a battle and no one felt good in here but almost when you feel like that

you know you have to play well defensively," Kyle Quincey said. "That's the way we kind

of focused going in."

It also helped that in the third period, the Wings did not allow the Canucks a shot until

there was only 5:36 left in the period.

"I thought we did a pretty good job of staying on the inside in our zone," Niklas Kronwall

said. "We tried to stay aggressive and I thought we did a pretty good job in the neutral

zone kind of deflecting them early. Our forwards did a great job of having a guy above

their middle option all night long. That made it a lot easier for the D men."

The Wings have two games in Florida before the Olympic break, so there's no time to

rest on their recent success.

"We need all the points we can get there," captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "Obviously,

it's been a good weekend for us. Three in four days and we got five points. Just got to

keep this going here and go down to Florida and Tampa and win some games."

37

Jonas Gustavsson leaves game due to dizziness

By Dana Wakiji

DETROIT -- The Red Wings appear to have gotten a break for perhaps the first time

this season when it comes to injuries.

After starting and playing the first period against the Vancouver Canucks, goaltender

Jonas Gustavsson did not come out for the second period.

The team announced that Gustavsson, who stopped all eight shots he faced in the first,

was experiencing dizziness and would remain in the dressing room.

After the game, Wings general manager Ken Holland said Gustavsson had been

checked out at the hospital and appeared to be completely fine.

Holland said Gustavsson would practice with the team Wednesday and make the trip to

Florida.

Jimmy Howard replaced Gustavsson and stopped all 16 shots he faced to combine for a

2-0 shutout with Gustavsson.

According to STATS LLC, it's the first combined shutout by Wings goaltenders since

Oct. 27. 2001, when Dominik Hasek and Manny Legace shut out the Predators in

Nashville, 1-0.

38

Nyquist replaces Franzen on Team Sweden

By Dana Wakiji

The Red Wings will have 10 players heading to the Olympics after all.

On Monday afternoon, Team Sweden announced via its Twitter account,

@Trekronerse, that Gustav Nyquist would replace Johan Franzen, who has played in

just one game since Dec. 15 because of a concussion.

Nyquist won out over Nashville's Patric Hornqvist and Washington's Marcus Johansson.

Nyquist had a hat trick in Sunday afternoon's game in Washington and has had eight

goals and four assists the last eight games.

Last week, when asked about the possibility, Nyquist was somewhat hopeful, even

though he and Franzen are different types of players.

"I mean obviously it's not the way you want to make the team, to see a teammate go

down with an injury and I know Mule would've loved to go and it's hard to see him not

being able to go but obviously it'd be a great, unbelievable experience for me to be able

to go but we'll see what happens," Nyquist said.

Nyquist has 13 goals and nine assists in 30 games, just behind Franzen's nine goals

and 14 assists in 31 games.

Although Henrik Zetterberg is the captain of both Team Sweden and the Red Wings, he

said he didn't have a say in who got chosen to replace Franzen.

But he did say it was an advantage that so many of the Wings were going, which might

have tipped the scales in Nyquist's favor, along with his recent scoring binge.

"Most of the teams that go over there, if you look at how they put the team together,

they go a lot on chemistry, they go a lot on people that played with each other before,"

Zetterberg said. "Short-term like this, I think that's key."

Team Sweden plays in one of the first games of the Olympic tournament, Feb 12

against Team Czech Republic.

In addition to Nyquist and Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Jonas Gustavsson, Niklas

Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson will also play for Team Sweden.

Pavel Datsyuk will captain Team Russia, Jimmy Howard will play for Team USA and

Tomas Tatar and Tomas Jurco will play for Team Slovakia.

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Wings coach Mike Babcock is the coach for Team Canada. General manager Ken

Holland also assisted Team Canada in selecting players.

Documents

Detroit Red Wings Clips February 4, 2014