The Wings will look to win a season-high fourth-straight game tonight by avoiding being struck by the Lightning. With just 31 points, Tampa Bay ranks amongst the league's worst, but that doesn't mean they're a bad team. Like the Wings, the Lightning have struggled from a few injuries and a few slumping scorers, but they are only eight points behind Detroit. Tampa is in a four-way tie with the Flyers, Rangers, and Maple Leafs for second to last place in the Eastern Conference, but they are currently only two points away from a playoff spot.Despite being ranked third-worst in the NHL in scoring with an average of only 2.42 goals per game, Tampa has several potentially dangerous bolts on the roster.
Martin St. Louis leads the Lightning with 35 points, and the 2008 number one overall draft selection Steven Stamkos is tied for fourth in the league with 18 goals. Ryan Malone is second on the squad with 16 goals, and superstar Vincent Lecavalier (29 points) is finally beginning to emerge from his relatively slow start to the season. Vinny only has eight goals on the season, but he potted a pair in his last game after going dry for five games.Babcock: Don't Look Back
No other team has had to deal with and fight through the same sort of adversity as the Wings have this season, what with all the injuries rippling through the roster. Jonathan Ericsson is just the most recent in a list that includes Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Jason Williams, Niklas Kronwall, and Dan Cleary. Darren Helm (wrist) will miss tonight's game but is considered just day-to-day and should return soon.
As much complaining that can be done about this unfortunate luck, the Wings must continue move forward without excuses. Sitting on 299 career wins, coach Mike Babcock concentrates on what he has left, not what he has missing.“If we’re waiting for them, we’re not making the playoffs,’’ Babcock said. “So our attitude is just find a way to win every night. I think guys have done a real good job with that, played really hard, given us a chance. That’s all you can ask for. We’re hanging in there.’’
He may not admit it, but I will. The sooner some of these guys come back, the better. The Wings have been able to scrape by so far and are okay with where they are at, all things considered, but any more hits to the roster could prove devastating. We shall see how the latest loss (Ericsson) effects Detroit tonight.
Janik Returns To Detroit
Filling the gap left by Ericsson will be Doug Janik (6' 1", 215), the tough-minded, steady-skating blue liner from Grand Rapids. He was recalled to Detroit once already this season for a 2-0 victory over Boston in early November, but now he will fill the roster on a regular basis until either Ericsson or Kronwall are ready to return."I'm not sure what my role will be," said Janik. "I've just got to go out there whenever they use me, try to the best job I can, keep my game simple and help the team."
Detroit captain and all-around awesome guy Nicklas Lidstrom believes Janik can be an asset rather than just a fill-in. "He can help us defensively, especially on the (penalty kill), being in shooting lanes. We need guys who can play steady defense.''
Kris Newbury, in the lineup for the second straight game tonight in place of Helm, holds Janik in high regard and has nothing but praise for his fellow Griffin. "He's real steady, good defensively. He's one of our leaders down there. He's a big guy in front, so he's very strong. He's very strong on the puck as well. He likes to block shots, clears the puck when he can.''
"Everyone here is so nice, they're very welcoming," Janik said. "We play a similar system there in Grand Rapids so it's a pretty easy transition. I just try to play steady, take care of defense first and move the puck out. That's what I've been doing down there and that's what I'll try to do here."
If Janik is able to do that, he will be just fine and the Wings should not miss much of a beat.
Filp, Franz, and Kronner Skate
As was reported a few weeks ago, Valtteri Filppula returned to the ice last week after having the cast removed from his broken wrist, an injury sustained in a game back on October 29. On Wednesday he returned to practice with his teammates but is not quite ready for contact.“First time shooting the puck, it felt surprisingly good,’’ Filppula said. “Just wrist shots. Trying to get the strength back, get the motion all the way back.’’
All I want for Christmas is a healthy hockey team, and Filps is aiming for a full return shortly after the holiday. Hallelujah!
Apparently a Mule was scented on the ice at Joe Louis Arena. That's right kids, Johan Franzen laced up his skates and tested out his surgically repaired knee this week. Double Hallelujah!! Franzen was lost in the third game of the season and had surgery on October 16. He has already stated that he will not be skating for his native Sweden during the Olympics, and he is still a ways off from returning to the Wings. Nevertheless, this is a great little bit of news for a fanbase that has suffered through a whole lot of bad news since his injury.
“It felt good, so I wanted to get out there to play around, play with the puck a little bit,” Franzen said. “I wasn’t hoping for a good workout or anything like that. I wanted to smell the ice and feel my stick.”
Scent of a Mule! You better watch out where you skate! We need you back at full strength for the postseason! Here, bask in these highlights and dream about March. Wha Wha Whoa Whoa Whoa.
I love that clip of him grabbing Patrick Kane's mouthgaurd right from his stinking teeth. Let's see that again.
Also getting back on the ice was Kronwall who, like Franzen, is out with a banged up knee. Kronner's injury was not as serious as the Mule's, but he is still expected to be out for several more weeks.
“Any time when you’re able to get on the ice again it feels like you’re on the right track,” said Kronwall. “It felt good and it was a step in the right direction. Now we have to start focusing in on getting the knee stronger and I’ll be back soon. I can still feel it’s a little weak and a little loose, just not there yet to compete in practice.’’
Another great sign for a Wings team that is managing to hold itself together with the help of leadership from the big names, extra effort from the role players, and solid minutes from the Grand Rapids guys. Here is what the lineups should look like tonight against Tampa Bay with Jimmy Howard getting another start in net:
Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Leino-Zetterberg-Eaves
Draper-Abdelkader-Miller
May-Newbury-Maltby
Lidstrom-Meech
Janik-Rafalski
Lebda-Stuart
Peace. Stay Healthy.
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