April 2006 Zetterberg Fan.com

Zetterberg Scores in Wing’s Game Two Loss

By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, April 24^th, 2006

Henrik Zetterberg managed to get his first goal in two games of the 2006 Western Conference Quarter Finals, but the Redwings could not figure out a way to score enough to beat the Edmonton Oilers last night in game two of the best-of-seven series. The Oilers are using a passive trap defensive system that seems to be effective against Deroit’s fast moving offence. Coach Mike Babcock is going to have to come up with a plan to use against Edmonton, if they hope to avoid a third straight early exit from the playoffs.

The team is looking to young stars, Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, to carry a big part of the offensive load this post season. They have not been able to produce many points in the past few playoff rounds against tough Anaheim (2003), Nashville (2004), and Calgary (2^nd round 2004) defences. Edmonton looks to contain the “Eurotwins” as well, matching them with veteran defensemen Chris Pronger and Jason Smith.

Zetterberg’s goal, his fourth career playoff tally, came on the power-play 7:11 into the second period. The puck trickled through the legs of Oiler’s goalie Dwayne Roloson as he attempted to squeeze it with his pads. Zetterberg skated behind him to reach the puck that was sitting in the crease then spun around and fired it in the empty net. The goal gave Detroit a 2-1 lead and momentum was going their way. However, Edmonton followed with two unanswered goals late in the second period.

Zetterberg had chance to tie the game with just 8:45 left in the third on a great individual effort. The Oiler’s moved the puck into the Redwing’s zone, but Henrik stole a pass by Ryan Smyth just inside the blue-line and tore down ice trailed by two Edmonton defenders. As he approached Roloson from the right face-off circle he attempted to lift a back-hander high glove side, but the netminder snared it as Zetterberg and his persuers crash into goal. The Oiler’s added an empty-netter late in the third to seal the win.

Game three is Tuesday is Edmonton. The series is tied at one a piece.

Keep An Eye On

By John Niyo, Detroit News, April 22, 2006

No one will be happier to see Pavel Datsyuk back in the lineup than Henrik Zetterberg and not because Datsyuk is the other half of the Wings' dynamic duo that's under the gun to produce in the postseason after a disappointing performance in the 2004 playoffs.

Zetterberg was pretty well neutralized by the Oilers in Game 1, in part because Edmonton was able to key on checking his line with Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Holmstrom . Zetterberg, who ranked second on the Wings with 39 goals and 85 points in the regular season, managed just one shot on goal in regulation and struggled to find open ice.

"Obviously, Zetterberg drew Chris Pronger and Smith most of the night," Babcock said, referring to the Oilers' top defensive pairing of Chris Pronger and Jason Smith . "But the playoffs are going to be different. It's a challenge for the kid."

Datsyuk Might Be Out Tonight

By Helene St. James, Free Press, April 21, 2006

(Pavel Datsyuk) has developed strong chemistry (on the power play) with Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom.

The Wings expect big things of Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the playoffs; both are coming off pedestrian efforts in their last two tries. They're considered the cornerstones of the team's future, and Babcock got downright poetic in describing the two.

"One has got the puck on a string like no one I've ever seen in my life and can dance and make plays that are on the highlight film all the time," Babcock said, referring to Datsyuk. "And one's just as good as you can possibly be without it and as good as you can be with it. Both are high-, high-end players, and they feed off one another. They want to be better than one another."

The two are the best of friends (they're called the "Euro twins" by teammates). Holmstrom said he thought Datsyuk "looked stiff," but Zetterberg defended his buddy.

"I think he always looks good," Zetterberg said. "Just have to see if he's ready to go."

Zetterberg, Datsyuk Are Primed to Put Playoffs Struggles Behind Them

By Ted Kulfan, Detroit News, April 20, 2006

Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk can't wait for the Stanley Cup playoffs to begin.

They know what's happened in the past. They know that after previous outstanding regular seasons, the playoffs weren't as outstanding. The offense that was needed from them didn't arrive in the postseason.

"It was disappointing," Zetterberg said.

In two previous playoffs, Zetterberg has three goals and two assists in 16 games. Datsyuk, in 37 career playoff games, has three goals and nine assists. He has just six points over his last 16 playoff games.

But the Wings' two young stars are convinced this year will be different. This time, they will provide offense. Pucks will go into the net. Passes will lead to teammates scoring.

There is a crackdown on clutching and grabbing in this new NHL, and Zetterberg, 25, and Datsyuk, 27, believe that will give them the freedom to do what they do best.

"The way the game is being called, it will help us," Zetterberg said. "Before, there was so much clutching, holding, there wasn't much room. It's different now. The new rules have helped. That will help our team."

Said Datsyuk: "It was a tight game (before). Maybe changes in the rules will help. Not just me and Hank. Everybody."

Coach Mike Babcock expects Zetterberg and Datsyuk to flourish regardless of how games in the playoffs are called.

"They were going to get going, and be successful in the playoffs, under the old rules, the new rules, whatever they're going to call," Babcock said. "They're good players. Sometimes it takes time to understand how hard it is at playoff time.

"When the playoffs start, it's a whole new animal. Every puck is a huge battle. These guys will be prepared for that."

Zetterberg has been on a magical ride. He has had an impressive regular season and spearheaded Sweden's gold-medal effort in the Olympics.

He said he is better prepared for the playoffs this time.

"It is a different game," Zetterberg said. "I'm looking forward to it. It was disappointing losing (the last two years)."

The Wings need Zetterberg and Datsyuk to be at their best to have a shot at winning the Stanley Cup, but this is hardly a two-man show.

"They're part of this team," Kris Draper said. "We're not going to put any added pressure on those guys."

Said Babcock: "We're not about one or two guys. We have a lot of depth."

But depth alone won't get the Wings far this postseason if they're not led by Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who finished 1-2 on the team in scoring with 87 and 85 points, respectively.

Draper expects them to take a big step in their careers this spring.

"It was different in the past with stuff not being called (in the playoffs), and it was a grind every night," Draper said. "This is uncharted waters.

"If it's called like the regular season, that'll give those guys more room to do what they have to do. The expectations will be for them to go out and lead this hockey team."

Zetterberg Puts Up Career Best Numbers

Helps Lead Redwings to President’s Trophy

By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, April 17, 2006

The Detroit Redwings finished the regular season today with a 3-2 Win over the Dallas stars giving the Wings 124 points, fifth all-time in NHL history. The Wings won the Presidents Trophy for best record in the league with a 58-16-8 record. They will face the 8^th seeded Edmonton Oilers on April 21^st, in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

If Detroit can keep up their winning pace and go on to win the Stanley Cup it would be a career year both memorably and statistically for forward Henrik Zetterberg, who already has an Olympic Gold Medal with his native Sweden in the Torino games this year.

Zetterberg had his best NHL season ever, finishing the year with career highs: 39 goals, 46 assists, 85 points, and a +29 in 77 games. He surpassed his previous season marks of 22 goals (in 79 games of 2002-2003 rookie season), 28 assists (in 61 games of injury shortened 2003-2004 season), 44 total points (2002-2003), and +15 (2003-2004). With only three seasons in the NHL, Zetterberg already ranks 64^th on the Detroit Redwing’s All-time scoring leaders list with 172 points (76 goals and 96 assists). With his outstanding season this year he has developed into a team leader and his skills are now known around the league.

Brendan Shanahan led the team this season with 40 goals, edging Zetterberg by just one. Niklas Lidstrom had a team best 64 assists, and Pavel Datsyuk led all Redwings with 87 points in 75 games. Career backup goaltender Manny Legace proved he can carry the load of a starter and excelled in the role with a .915 save percentage, a 2.19 goals against average, and a 37-8-3 record in 51 games, erasing all doubt about Detroit’s weakness being in net.

Under the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement this season, the Redwings are in a transition period where they are shifting from being a team laden with high-priced superstars to a well balanced team with skilled players like Zetterberg and Datsyuk, hard working grinders who can produce offensively like Kris Draper and Jason Williams, and experienced veteran leaders in future Hall-of-Famers Steve Yzerman, Shanahan, and Lidstrom.

Detroit has the right chemistry to go all the way this year, proving that they are a world-class franchise that doesn’t have to rely on “buying” a Stanley Cup. They have the right combination of grit, explosiveness, and defensive awareness to win every game, but they won’t take the Oliers lightly in the first round. In the last few years the Redwings have been let down in the early rounds by lack of production from the highly paid veteran leaders. Opposing teams like Anaheim and Calgary out muscled the aged Wings and focused on stopping the tandem of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. This season’s blend of Red wings, while still slightly lacking strength and size, is a more balanced attack and will fare better against younger teams. With a renewed work ethic under new coach Mike Babcock, Detroit is better prepared to skate with speedy team like Edmonton, and they certainly will not take anyone for granted.

Henrik has not personally had a lot of success against the Oilers with only 1 goal and 4 assists and a plus/minus of -3 in 11 career regular season games. He also hasn’t had much luck against pressing and clutching defenses in the playoffs with only 3 goals and 2 assists in 16 games in the 2003 and 2004 post-seasons. However, you can’t expect a player of Zetterberg’s caliber to stay contained for long. He is at the point in his development now where you can expect him to breakout in the playoffs. Look for him to continue the success he has had all year and be one of the leaders for Detroit during the post-season.

Road OK to Zetterberg;

Forward Can Score Big in Any Arena

By George Sipple and Helene St. James, Free Press, April 15, 2006

Don't be surprised if Henrik Zetterberg is a factor in tonight's scoring when the Red Wings visit the St. Louis Blues.

Zetterberg scored two of the team's first three goals in its 7-3 victory at Chicago on Thursday night. He has at least one goal or an assist in all but seven of the 35 road games he has played this season.

Though his output is balanced no matter where he plays, he has been held without a point in twice as many games (14) at home than he has on the road. He has 16 goals and 23 assists at Joe Louis Arena; 22 goals and 20 assists away from Detroit.

Though Zetterberg said he doesn't approach home or road games any differently, opposing teams' game plans might be behind why he doesn't score as much at the Joe.

"Maybe the teams you play on the road play differently against you -- play a little bit more offensively," he said. "They come to our building, they play a little bit more defensively."

Zetterberg credited his teammates for setting up both of his goals against the Blackhawks. In the first period, about 3 1/2 minutes in, he picked up a rebound off the boards on what he said was a pass from Nicklas Lidstrom.

"If he wants to shoot, he hits the net," Zetterberg said. "So, I think it was a pass to me, and I just one-timed on the backhand and it went in."

His second goal, on a wraparound almost four minutes later, gave the Wings a 3-0 lead. He again gave credit to a teammate, this time Johan Franzen, whose nickname is "Mule."

"Mule made a good play," Zetterberg said. "On the red line he kind of stalled the 'D' so they didn't have a lot of speed when I came. I tried to go around the net and it worked."