Red Wings Team Report
INSIDE SHOTS
Tomas Holmstrom’s(notes) ability as a net-front specialist, coupled with his strong start, made him a natural pick for the 2010 Swedish Olympic team.
But Holmstrom, who turns 37 on Jan. 23, appeared to be a long shot to make the Olympic team coming into the season. Ravaged by injuries, his struggles the second half of last season carried over into the playoffs, leaving him to wonder how much he had left in the tank.
He is revitalized this season, leading the Wings with 13 goals heading into Thursday’s game against Colorado. But Holmstrom wasn’t certain he’d be selected by Sweden until Sunday, when the team was revealed and he joined fellow Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom(notes), Henrik Zetterberg(notes) and Niklas Kronwall(notes) on the squad.
All four played on Sweden’s 2006 gold medal-winning team in Italy.
“You never know what kind of team they want,” Holmstrom said. “You have no time to play together. The mixture’s got to fit right away. I’m proud and happy about it. It’s going to be an honor.”
Zetterberg said Holmstrom will be even more valuable on the NHL-sized rinks in Vancouver (85 feet wide, as opposed to 100 feet wide for Olympic-sized ice).
“He’s going to be huge for us, especially on the power play,” Zetterberg said.
Blue Jackets 1, Red Wings 0 (OT): Jimmy Howard(notes) turned in perhaps his finest performance in his brief NHL career, making 39 saves. Unfortunately for the Wings, Columbus goalie Steve Mason(notes) was just as good, stopping 34 shots for his second shutout. Fredrik Modin(notes) knocked in his own rebound 3:12 into overtime.
The Wings had a tremendous opportunity to break through during the first half of the second period, when they had three power plays, including a two-man advantage for 43 seconds.
NOTES, QUOTES
• The Wings were shut out for the third time in their last four games and the sixth time this season—all in the last 17 games. It is only the second time in franchise history they have been shut out six times before Dec. 31. The team’s single-season record for most shutouts against is 10 (1939-40 and 1958-59).
• The Wings have gone 267 minutes, 33 seconds without a goal from anybody other than Todd Bertuzzi(notes), who has three goals during that stretch.
• F Dan Cleary doesn’t expect to be selected Wednesday for the Canadian Olympic team, but he hasn’t given up hope. Cleary participated in Canada’s orientation camp in August. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has been mentioned as a candidate for the U.S. team.
Quote To Note: “We got to find ways to get it in the net. We’re going to have to get dirty goals. We’re missing a lot of skilled players. We’re not going to get those pretty ones. We have to throw it to the net, get those rebounds, make it hard on their (defense). That’s how we’re going to get goals.”—Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski(notes).
ROSTER REPORT
Goaltenders: Jimmy Howard, Chris Osgood(notes).
Defensemen: Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Brad Stuart(notes), Brett Lebda(notes), Derek Meech(notes), Doug Janik(notes).
First Line: Todd Bertuzzi, Pavel Datsyuk(notes), Tomas Holmstrom.
Second Line: Drew Miller(notes), Valtteri Filppula(notes), Kirk Maltby(notes).
Third Line: Kris Draper(notes), Darren Helm(notes), Patrick Eaves(notes).
Fourth Line: Brad May(notes), Justin Abdelkader(notes), Mattias Ritola(notes).
Player Notes:
• LW Ville Leino(notes), a healthy scratch for the fourth time this season, admits he is lacking confidence. He has just three goals and three assists in 35 games and is not competing nearly as hard as coach Mike Babcock would like.
• RW Mattias Ritola, who was reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) after one game with the Wings last week, was recalled to play Monday in place of healthy scratch Ville Leino. Ritola provided more speed and offensive potential than Leino has shown most of the season.
• C Valtteri Filppula skated much better in his second game back following a 26-game absence due to a broken wrist. Filppula generated chances with his speed and also won 10-of-15 face-offs.
Medical Watch:
—D Jonathan Ericsson(notes) is out until early January with a bone bruise in his left knee sustained on Dec. 14.
• C Henrik Zetterberg is out until early January with a separated left shoulder sustained on Dec. 17.
• LW Dan Cleary is out until mid-January with a separated shoulder sustained on Dec. 9.
• D Niklas Kronwall is out until mid-January with a sprained left medial collateral ligament suffered on Nov. 21.
• RW Jason Williams(notes) is out until mid-January with a fractured right fibula sustained on Nov. 7.
• LW Johan Franzen(notes) isn’t expected to return until March due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, sustained Oct. 8.
• D Andreas Lilja(notes) is on long-term injured reserve due to concussion-like symptoms. He has been skating but remains out indefinitely.
- Jordan Messier scores winner as Americans top Thunderbirds 3-2
- Versteeg's SO goal gives Blackhawks win
- Dustin Sylvester's three points help lead Ice past Warriors 5-2
- Spezza leads Senators past Flames
- Senators keep marching with win over Flames
- Tampa Bay wins its 4th straight with victory over Vancouver Canucks
- Canucks struck down by Lightning
- Mackenzie Royer scores twice to lead Hitmen past Broncos 6-1
