Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings News Red Wings sign defense prospect Mattias Backman, who's shown much improvement in Sweden | MLive.comThis guy is going to be good. I officially pronounce myself as Mattias Bäckman's number one fan. So in 10 years when he is winning Norris trophy's with Ryan Sproul, I can say that I am his number one fan and actually have something to back it up. Red Wings' Darren Helm staying off ice after latest setback, hoping extended rest will cure back | MLive.com I know I am maybe overreacting but I have thought the same thing for a while. Is this it for Helm? It's tough to think about but he has played like 4-5 games in the last year. Not good. Plus, a back issue isn't like breaking a hand, these things can linger. Bad news/good news: Red Wings’ Darren Helm’s definitely done, but Danny DeKeyser may yet return | The Malik Report Why must you give me bad news Malik? Blackhawks and Red Wings have 2 of the NHL's top coaches matching wits in 2nd-round series - The Hockey NewsOnly one of them actually has wits. DeKeyser holding out hope for playoff return | ProHockeyTalk"As long as they keep winning here, that just gives me a better chance for a return with every win." - Dekeyser Red Wings' Daniel Cleary back to his old self | Toronto SunWe need Cleary to be good. In fact, we need him to be great. Shoalts: Red Wings are proof that depth means everything in the playoffs - The Globe and MailThe lack of depth is why the Ducks lost in the 1st round. They simply couldn't match the Wings on all four lines. Cole: Holland builds another winner | Windsor StarWhen has he not built a winner? NHL News Alain Vigneault fired by Canucks; Two assistants also gone - SBNation.comCleaning house i see. Veteran blueliner Sutton retires from NHL | TSN Edmonton Oilers lose one of their best defenseman. And I am only slightly exaggerating. Kings in a good spot despite adversity - Cross Checks Blog - ESPNI hope that San Jose beats the Kings. I think the Wings have a better chance than them and I want the Wings to beat the Sharks before leaving the West. Gillis: Vigneault fired because results weren’t there | ProHockeyTalkDisappointing considering all of the talent that Vancouver has. Goaltender situation kind of screwed them over a bit though. It hung over the team all season. LA Kings apologize for Kevin Ryder’s sexual assault joke on Twitter | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! SportsFor someone who isn't offended by it, it was kind of funny. But not funny enough to warrant you tweeting it on an official NHL twitter account. Is it Panic Time for the Blackhawks? | The Hockey WritersIt's panic time. The Wings are-a-coming! Brad Richards, postseason disaster for the New York Rangers | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! SportsRemember when we wanted him to come to Detroit? Yeah, I am glad that didn't happen. After starring for Team USA, Ducks goalie Gibson ‘ready for the NHL right now’ | ProHockeyTalkDecent goaltending depth in Anaheim at the moment. Veteran blueliner Sutton retires from NHL | TSN Edmonton Oilers lose one of their best defenseman. And I am only slightly exaggerating. Darin Pastor wants to know why his offer to buy the Coyotes was rejected | ProHockeyTalkPastor wanted to pay the cost of purchasing the team over a 15-year period which the NHL clearly didn't like. Also, Pastor included an out-clause which allowed him to relocate the team in 3-5 years if he didn't like the situation in Phoenix. After finding this out I totally understand why the NHL rejected the bid. Basically no money now plus the Coyotes would maybe still move. Jakub Voracek crashes, totals Ferrari in Czech Republic; Flyers say he’s OK (Photos) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! SportsAt first I thought this was about Jakub Kindl, but then I read the rest of the title and breathed out. Let's Go Red Wings!

The Red Wings are up 2-1 in their series against the Blackhawks, but they've won anything yet. We talk hopes vs expectations with this team, who is the MVP, and what this playoff run means for the organization. So enjoy the latest episode of WIIM Radio. You can check us out on iTunes and download the podcast to your iPod or iPhone. You can also download the episode here. Stick tap to Brandon Langer for creating our intro. He just released his latest album. You can check it out on Facebook or iTunes. Let's Go Red Wings.

Center Joakim Andersson has filled a big void at center on the Red Wings' third line and has been complemented by skilled wingers Damien Brunner and Gustav Nyquist.

Young defenseman was scheduled to have his cast removed on Wednesday. He said surgery had helped his thumb heal quicker than it would have ordinarily.

DETROIT — The Wings have given the Blackhawks something they haven’t had to face this lockout-shortened season … adversity. Chicago began the season 21-0-3, an NHL record, and all but coasted to the Presidents’ Trophy. “I think all year long we’ve been in a very favorable position,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “I don’t think we’ve been against it in any areas as far as many stretches in games being down or definitely in a series we haven’t been down.” The Blackhawks, who trail Detroit 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, needed five games to eliminate Minnesota in the first round. “It’s a great test for us, it’s a good challenge for us,” Quenneville said. “The adversity that we’re in right now we’ve got to find a way to overcome it and it will be a good challenge at the end of the day to find out about everybody.”

DETROIT – There aren’t many Swiss-born players in the NHL, but IndyCar driver Simona de Silverstro has her favorite and it’s not Damien Brunner. Simona de Silverstro, who’s in town to test at Belle Isle, is a fan of Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller, who the Wings eliminated in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. “Oh,” Brunner laughed when told she wasn’t a fan of his. “Maybe she should become a Red Wings fan.” Brunner also was all over Twitter for a video that saw him nailing teammate Gustav Nyquist just below the waistline with a soccer ball. The incident occurred prior to Game 3. In that game, Brunner assisted on a goal by Nyquist to opening the scoring. “I want to see the whole thing,” Brunner said. “I heard they showed it on TV in Canada. They showed us in warm-ups and then they showed his goal. That’s funny that I assisted on his goal too. “That only happened because we’re not in the PK meetings, so we were the only two guys out there playing soccer,” Brunner continued. “We play to 10, and this guy, normally, you give him the ball and he can never give you a nice ball back. So he gets the ball up here (pointing to the outside of his head) and if I try to touch it I’m never able to get it back to him. It was like 10 times in a row so I picked it up and threw it at him. Lucky I hit the bull’s eye.”

Speedy center hasn't skated in nearly three weeks. He hasn't relinquished hope of returning later this postseason. He said surgery has not been discussed.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings had six power play goals in their opening round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Through three games of their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series against the Chicago Blackhawks, they have yet to record a goal with the man advantage. At practice Wednesday, Wings coach Mike Babcock tinkered with his forward units, keeping his top two lines during 5-on-5 play intact on the power play. “We went through every single scoring chance we had on the power play in this series this morning,” Babcock said. “We talked a lot about our power play. We had a run through and let the guys see what’s going on and we tried to make adjustments. We’ve had some real good looks, but we haven’t scored yet. Sometimes when you get real good looks and you haven’t scored you stop shooting.” If things remain the same from practice, Justin Abdelkader will be added to the power play, skating alongside Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen. “I don’t know, we’ll see, it was just one practice,” Abdelkader said when asked if he will see power play time in Game 4 Thursday at 8 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena. “If I get the opportunity I’m just going to do what I do, go to the net, retrieve pucks and be hard on the puck. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Abdelkader added. “Things are constantly changing, constantly trying different things. If my name gets called I will be ready.” The Wings are 0-for-12 on the power play this series, registering 16 shots on goal. “Chicago does a good job blocking shots,” Abdelkader said. “We just have to find ways to get the pucks on the net, create second and third chances by getting pucks back. They’re a good penalty killing team and any team that’s that good on the penalty kill for that long is doing a lot of good things. I think just commitment to their system is why it’s working. We have to find a way.” Chicago has not allowed a power-play goal this entire postseason, killing off 29 straight penalties. “We need good net front presence, let’s pound the puck, let’s get it back, let’s throw it in there and create some chaos,” Babcock said. “We’ll get one. We’ll loosen up and get going. Right now our power play has to be a bigger factor than it has been in this series.” Henrik Zetterberg, Valtteri Filppula and Daniel Cleary made up the other unit up front, while the blue line parings remained the same – Damien Brunner/Niklas Kronwall and Carlo Colaiacovo/Jakub Kindl. Colaiacovo agrees with his coach about creating more chaos in front of the Blackhawks goal. “Get pucks through, traffic in front of the goalie and create chaos in front on their net,” Colaiacovo said. “It’s not like we’re not getting chances. The pucks don’t go in and sometimes those things happen. We’re confident in the groups we put out there. When they’re out there they’re going to get a goal or create momentum for us. That’s what a power play is for. You want to take advantage of the extra man, but you also want to make sure the momentum that comes off it stays on your side. “Sometimes the best thing is to just get it down there, whether it’s on net or not on net, you just want to get it down there and create some chaos with their killers,” Colaiacovo continued. “When you’re retrieving pucks off rebounds or during chaos that’s when the penalty killers move and things open up.” Through three games of the series, the first power play unit was made up of Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen, while Filppula, Cleary and Gustav Nyquist was the second unit. “We have to find a way to get through their layers of players that they present when we decide to take the shot,” Kronwall said. “We have to get the pucks in there. We haven’t done a good enough job of that. We have guys in front that are doing a great job and we have to make sure we get the puck in there.” Zetterberg feels the Wings are generating more chances early in games with the man advantage, but once they have to lead it changes. “Later in games when we have the lead and we ge

DETROIT – Darren Helm recently had another setback in his recovery from a sore back that has kept him out of the Red Wings’ lineup all season. This time, team doctors have all but shutdown the 28-year-old center, who hasn’t been on the ice sinc...

IMPORTANT VICTORIES 1) We won the game.2) We have the series lead3) We are outplaying and outcoaching Chicago for two games in a row4) We're seriously getting under Chicago's skin, frustrating them and they are taking dumb penalties and losing concentration because of it.5) Huge confidence booster6) Every line is producing and playing very well7) Chicago is confused8) Our defense is improving (I think)9) Jimmy's on FIRE10) Our PK has been very good11) We're playing like a championship team, how we should have played all year12) Man, our rookie line is great13) We have gained more momentum14) Minus Kane, we've been nearly shutting down their star players15) One more win for us pretty much seals it16) Fewer mistakes 5 THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY TAKE THAT CHICAGO!!Toews loves whining more than I thoughtHa Ha! Chicago fans. WE ROCK!!!! Chicago can't even win when they whine to get penalties IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED PP really needs to get their act together Brendon Smith has been playing well at times and needs to do it more often PP really needs to get their act together Shut down Kane better PP really needs to get their act together Stop hitting the post and get it in Did I mention that our PP needs to get their act together? THOUGHTS Jimmy Howard has been great, he's really underrated and Chicago can't figure him out Toews whines too much All four lines have been producing very well, doesn't happen on most teams but they've really looked good Nyquist, Brunner and Andersson, what a great line. Great line, great chemistry and impressing more and more every game, rookies for the win. Our PK has really been amazing. Shaw's an a-hole We've been in control for most of the game for the past two games Chicago doesn't know how to deal with losing, they've been disoriented, frustrated and lost. We have been shutting down their stars except Kane, I like the first bit but we have to find a way to shut down Kane Babcock is the best coach in the league, he out-coached the Ducks last game and is out-coaching Chicago this game Jimmy Howard is averaging one less goal let in a ga me than Corey Crawford is When Franzen got hurt, Crawford went over to him and I think he told Franzen that help was coming, he showed class there if that is this case, kudos to him Being with Zetterberg has improved the game of Cleary and Filp. Zetterberg is a better captain than Toews is I probably missed some things or said things that may not have been fully accurate, this is my opinion and I may be incorrect so any insight would be appreciated. LGRW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! via themajors.net via assets.sbnation.com And via assets.sbnation.com IMPORTANT VICTORIES 1) We won the game.2) We have the series lead3) We are outplaying and outcoaching Chicago for two games in a row4) We're seriously getting under Chicago's skin, frustrating them and they are taking dumb penalties and losing concentration because of it.5) Huge confidence booster6) Every line is producing and playing very well7) Chicago is confused8) Our defense is improving (I think)9) Jimmy's on FIRE10) Our PK has been very good11) We're playing like a championship team, how we should have played all year12) Man, our rookie line is great13) We have gained more momentum14) Minus Kane, we've been nearly shutting down their star players15) One more win for us pretty much seals it16) Fewer mistakes 5 THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY TAKE THAT CHICAGO!!Toews loves whining more than I thoughtHa Ha! Chicago fans. WE ROCK!!!! Chicago can't even win when they whine to get penalties IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED PP really needs to get their act together Brendon Smith has been playing well at times and needs to do it more often PP really needs to get their act together Shut down Kane better PP really needs to get their act together Stop hitting the post and get it in Did