March 2009

Passes Larionov on Wings All-time Scoring List

By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, March 20^th, 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 397^th career-point tying him with Hall-of-famer Igor Larionov for 19^th 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 400^th 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.