February 2011
Zetterberg Records his Career-Best 50th and 51st Assists of the Season
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, February 28, 2011
Henrik Zetterberg assisted on two power-play goals as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Los Angeles Kings 7-1 tonight at the Staples Center.
Z’s 1st assist of the game came on a goal by future Hall-of-Famer Nicklas Lidstrom, with the man-advantage 18:48 into the 1st period. The assist was Zetterberg’s 50th of the season, a new career-high.
Hank added his second assist of the game, again on the power-play, on a goal by Pavel Datsyuk, with just 42 seconds remaining in the 2nd period. His 51st assist of the year ties Zetterberg for with Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning for 2nd place amongst league assist leaders.
Zetterberg is the first Red Wing to record 50 assists in a season since Datsyuk had 65 in 2008-09. Z is now on pace for 66 assists this year.
Here are all of the 60-plus assist seasons in franchise history:
Pavel Datsyuk 65 2008-09
Pavel Datsyuk 66 2007-08
Nicklas Lidstrom 60 2007-08
Pavel Datsyuk 60 2006-07
Nicklas Lidstrom 64 2005-06
Steve Yzerman 63 1996-97
Sergei Fedorov 68 1995-96
Paul Coffey 60 1995-96
Sergei Fedorov 64 1993-94
Paul Coffey 63 1993-94
Steve Yzerman 79 1992-93
Steve Yzerman 65 1989-90
Steve Yzerman 90 1988-89
Adam Oates 62 1988-89
Marcel Dionne 74 1974-75
Zetterberg's transition from goal-scorer to playmaker.
"We got good chemistry. Me and Mule (Franzen) complement each other in the corners. Z's playmaking, and just his overall game, it's been beneficial to me."
-Todd Bertuzzi, on playing on a line with Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg. February 19, 2011.
Henrik Zetterberg 10 Best Goals Of Career ...
Zetterberg Breaks 11 Game Goal-less Streak,
Moves Up Leaders Lists
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, February 12, 2011
Henrik Zetterberg scored his first goal in 12 games with his 2nd period power-play goal in the Detroit Red Wings 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins last night. With that tally, Zetterberg passed Calle Johansson for 19th place on the all-time Swedish NHL scoring list with 535 points in 561 career games.
Calle Johansson played 1109 career games in 17 seasons in the NHL, including 15 years with the Washington Capitals (1988-2003). He recorded 119 goals and 416 assists in his career. His best season was 1992-93 when he scored 14 goals and had 43 assists. Johansson scored at least 40-points four times. He helped Washington reach the semi-finals in 1990 and the final in 1998. In 1999-00 Johansson led all NHL defenceman with 2,389 shifts.
Zetterberg’s goal was scored on the power-play 16:14 into the 2nd period, when he took a pass from fellow Swede Tomas Holmstom behind the Bruins net, and then stepped out in front of goalie Tuuka Rask (#40) and lifted a wrister into the far-side top corner, to give Detroit a 4-1 lead.
Henrik also had two assists in the game on early goals by Todd Bertuzzi and Jiri Hudler. The assist on Bertuzzi’s 1st period tally, moved Henrik into 11th place on the Red Wings All-time career assists leaders list, passing Leonard “Red” Kelly with 311th assists in 461 career games.
Hall-of-Famer Red Kelly played 1316 career games in 21 seasons in the NHL(1947-67), including 13 years with Detroit (47-60). He recorded 281 goals and 542 assists in his career. His best season was 1960-61 with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he scored 20 goals and had 50 assists. Kelly was an All-Star for eight consecutive seasons with the Red Wings, six times on the First Team, and won the Lady Byng Trophy three times. In 1954 he was chosen as the first recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the outstanding defenseman in the league. In 1956 he was named team captain, a job he held until the end of 1957-58 season.
The three points last night also move Zetterberg into the seventh spot amongst NHL scorers this season with 17 goals and 43 assists (3rd in the league) for 60 points in 55 games.
Wings' Slow Starts Baffle Henrik Zetterberg
By George Sipple, Free Press, February 10, 2011
Henrik Zetterberg was at a loss to explain why the Red Wings continue to be outworked in the first period of games.
The latest example was Wednesday night, when the Predators scored 3 minutes into the game and led, 2-0, after 20 minutes. The Predators extended their lead to 4-0 in the second period and beat the Wings, 4-1, at Joe Louis Arena.
"We've gotta find a way to find that excitement," Zetterberg said. "Usually, we get started in the second and third. We just gotta go out and play from the start. It will help us and make it a lot easier if we're not playing catch-up hockey all the time."
The Wings are 6-13-3 when they trail after the first period. They have been outscored, 57-48, in the first period this season. They've outscored opponents, 63-54, in the second, 56-43, in the third.
"We're not doing the little things right," Zetterberg said. "Instead of making the easy pass ... maybe we're trying to do something too difficult and not winning hockey games."
Zetterberg said it was embarrassing the way they've played lately, and said they needed to "trust each other" and stop trying to do another teammate's job.
What, specifically, was Zetterberg embarrassed about?
"The way we're playing overall," he said. "We should be able to play better hockey, especially at home. We've been talking about it. The last game, against the Rangers, I thought we played OK. But we can play a lot better."
Henrik Zetterberg Teams Up with Dr. Aubrey Green to Launch the “Chi-Mat”.
By Mulberrystmedia, Feb 09, 2011
Dr. Aubrey Green, the founder of Dr. Green’s Health & Wellness, is a chiropractor and leader in sports therapy. Dr. Green has teamed up with NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup Champion Henrik Zetterberg to endorse the Chi-Mat, a product designed to relax and refresh the body. It also helps to relieve back pain.
Dr. Green’s Health & Wellness is committed to providing non-medicinal and natural health care products that can be easily utilized by everyone from a high performing athlete to individual with a desk job. The Chi-Mat, an easy-to-use-at-home product, was designed to help relieve conditions such as back pain, sciatica, neck pain, muscular tension, general stiffness, muscle cramps, poor circulation and overall stress. It utilizes the concept of acupuncture and acupressure to promote blood circulation and enhance energy.
The Chi-Mat is available for sale through Dr. Green’s Health & Wellness’ newly branded website www.yourdrgreens.com for the retail price of $59.99.
“Dr. Green and I worked on developing this product together. I’m very proud to support Dr. Green’s Health & Wellness” said Henrik Zetterberg. “I use the Chi-Mat everyday to ensure I’m performing at the highest level”.
View Henrik Zetterberg’s Endorsement Video Here.
By Matt Saler, Onthewingsblog.com, February 8, 2011
When (Justin) Abdelkader caught (Sean) Avery in the face (with a high stick) and the Wings were hit with a 5-on-3 penalty kill for :44, Babcock’s choice of forward to work with Lidstrom and Kronwall was Henrik Zetterberg.
Now, that’s no surprise to those of us who follow the Wings. But I’ve seen enough chatter this year that the Eurotwins, especially Datsyuk, no longer possess the defensive chops they once had and the most common reason cited for that stance is their penalty kill time.
That it’s down is indisputable. But if the stat geeks would look deeper at the reasoning, something not quantifiable by a number, they’d get a better picture.
1) The Wings have guys like Eaves, Miller and Helm to kill off penalties and take the heat off the top guns having to play in all situations. This time spent on the bench for the Zetterbergs and Datsyuks will, in theory, pay dividends come playoff time.
And 2): The Wings still break out the big guns when the situation warrants it. Last night’s late 5-on-3 is such a situation. Babcock was not going to entrust that responsibility to the younger PKers, however qualified they are to kill penalties. He trusts Zetterberg and Datsyuk to take care of business when the stakes are highest.
Fresher Henrik Zetterberg gets three assists against Senators
By Ted Kulfan, Detroit News, February 3rd, 2011
He's not as worn down as last season. Just the way Henrik Zetterberg is looking on the ice, the way he's sounding, this season isn't the chore that last season was.
Zetterberg, who had three assists in Wednesday's 7-5 victory over Ottawa, is leading the Red Wings in scoring this season and had an 11-game point streak as the Wings were pummeled with injuries.
Zetterberg has, without doubt, been one of the Wings' best players.
"He took upon himself to step up," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's always a determined guy."Zetterberg was slowed by a shoulder injury last season and appeared to be slowed by the short offseason and the crammed schedule because of the Olympics.
No team likes to be eliminated early in the playoffs. But one of the byproducts is a longer offseason, more time to rejuvenate, and that seems to have benefitted Zetterberg.
Although hindered by a sore back around Christmas, Zetterberg hasn't missed any time and has maintained a steady pace.
"You always want to feel a little better than you are, but I'm feeling good," Zetterberg said. "It was huge to get away for a few days (during the All-Star break) and refocus. I'm excited to be back and finish the regular season."Zetterberg feels the offseason rest didn't help just him, but the entire team.
"There's more pop in the legs," Zetterberg said.
Zetterberg Sets Up Three of Franzen’s Five Goals against Ottawa to Reach the 40 Assist Mark in Just 50 Games.
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, February 2nd, 2011
Henrik Zetterberg recorded his 38th, 39th, and 40th assists of the season while setting up three of fellow Swede Johan Franzen’s five goals, in a 7-5 victory over the Senators tonight in Ottawa.
Z made a beautiful backhand pass between the legs of defenseman Filip Kuba to Franzen for his second goal in 48 seconds at 7:40 of the 1st period to give Detroit a 2-1 lead.
"When he got those two quick, we were talking on the bench that this might be his night," linemate Henrik Zetterberg said. "He's a streaky goal scorer, and when you get two that fast, he usually has a good night."
Just 30 seconds into the 3rd period, Henrik sent a pass through the neutral zone to Franzen, who fired a shot over goalie Brian Elliot for the hat trick, breaking a 4-4 tie. On the play, Red Wings defenseman also collected an assist, for his 500th career point.
With the Wings leading 6-5 with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game, and the Senators net-minder pulled, Zetterberg stole the puck at center ice and then forfeited a chance at an empty-net tally, leaving a nice drop-pass just inside the blue-line for Johan to pick up and back-hand into the vacated net for his 5th goal of the game.
"Guys were setting me up all night. Hank (Zetterberg) and Bert (Bertuzzi) didn't want to shoot it themselves, they were just trying to set me up," said Franzen
It’s true. Zetterberg’s unselfishness broke his streak of 87 consecutive games with two or more shots on goal, dating back to January 2nd, 2010 against San Jose, when he was held shot-less.
"As long as you're on the winning side, it makes it a lot easier. When Mule (Johan Franzen) gets five, it doesn't happen too often, so it's cool to be a part of it," said Zetterberg after the game.
Z’s three assists tonight not only give him 40 for the 5th time in 8 seasons, it leaves him just 9 shy of his career high, set in 2007-08 Hank is currently With 32 games remaining, Zetterberg is on pace for 66 assists. He is currently tied with Daniel Sedin for 3rd in the league in assists.
Zetterberg has 10 assists and 12 points in 8 career games against Ottawa.
