Passes
Larionov on Wings All-time Scoring List
By
Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, March 20th,
2009
It’s
been a long time since Henrik Zetterberg had a big night. Tonight,
he what could be considered a breakout game for this season, with a
career-high four assists and a (plus/minus) +3, in the Detroit Red
Wings 6-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Head
Coach Mike Babcock agreed that it was a huge game, having this to
say, "I was really happy for Z tonight. Don't get me wrong, I think
he had six in the last five games. But he hadn't had a real big
night here, and it's good for him. I think that's important for him.
It's so important that your best players are feeling good about
themselves."
Zetterberg’s
first assist of the evening came on defenseman Brian Rafalski’s even
strength goal 13:40 into the first period. From behind Atlanta’s net,
Zetterberg centered a pass to Johan Franzen in the slot. Franzen
dropped the pass back to Rafalski who fired it past Thrashers
netminder Kari Lehtonen.
Henrik’s
second assist came on Detroit’s fourth goal of the game
on the power-play at 7:55 of the third. Zetterberg carried the puck
on the right wing and sent a pass across the slot to Niklas Lidstrom
who stopped and fired a shot on net. Franzen moved to the front of
the crease, and pushed the loose puck over the goal-line. The goal
by Franzen made it 4-0 but ended up being the eventual game-winner.
The assist on the play was Zetterberg’s 397th
career-point tying him with Hall-of-famer Igor Larionov
for 19th place on the Red Wing’s All-time scoring leaders list.
Zetterberg
would surpass Larionov on that list with his third assist of the
game just a few minutes later. Hank brought the puck past the blue
line and left it for trailing line-mate Marian Hossa, who picked it
up a wristed a quick shot by Lehtonen, making it a 5-1 game.
With
just 3:39 left in the game, Zetterberg recorded his career-best
fourth assist in one game when he moved towards the crease with the
puck then made a smart play, dishing it to Dan Cleary, who was alone
between the face-off circles. Cleary blasted it into the net, giving
Detroit a 6-2 lead.
With the
four points tonight, Henrik has 10 points (4 goals and six assists)
in a seven games points scoring streak. He now has 29 goals and 38
assists for 67 total points in 67 games played this season.
Zetterberg is on pace for 33 goals and 44 assists this year.
His next
goal will give Zetterberg at least 30 goals in the past four
seasons. His next point will be his 400th career point.
Zetterberg Lays Out
Phaneuf (VIDEO LINK)
By Matt Saler, Fanhouse.com, March 12th,
2009
Buried in Detroit's
wild, exciting, disappointing, dominant, pathetic, frustrating and
strange shootout loss to Calgary Thursday night was
an unequivocal bright spot for Red Wings fans: Henrik Zetterberg's thundering center ice
shoulder check on the Flames' Dion Phaneuf.
Zetterberg, not known
for physical play, was no doubt looking to exact some revenge for
Phaneuf's earlier hit on linemate Dan Cleary. Cleary had to leave the game for half a period
with an ankle injury as a result of yet another example of the kind
of numbskull play Phaneuf has made his trademark. Whether it was
revenge or not, it was good stuff in a game full of things for Wings
fans to be depressed about.
