May 2010
By Bob Wojnowski, Detnews.com, May 29th, 2010
1. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers first baseman.
2. Justin Verlander, Tigers starter.
3. Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings center.
4. Calvin Johnson, Lions receiver.
5. Henrik Zetterberg, Wings center. Sometimes a shade below Datsyuk and sometimes a shade above, he's not as flashy but just as valuable. Another quiet performer, and another reason the Wings will remain contenders during a transition period.
6. Matthew Stafford, Lions quarterback.
7. Nicklas Lidstrom, Wings defenseman.
8. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers outfielder.
9. Joel Zumaya, Tigers reliever.
10. Rodney Stuckey, Pistons guard.
Grading the Detroit Red Wings:
The Hockey Writers.com, May 27th, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg
The other half of Detroit’s two headed monster (Pavel Datsyuk), the Red Wings Mr. Everything was hampered by injuries both early in the season and prior to the Olympics which caused him to miss 8 games. Big Z still managed to clock in at a near point a game pace (70 points in 74 games), and as usual, was at his best when the Wings needed him most. Post Olympics, Zetterberg had 22 points in 21 games, including back to back game winning goals vs. Vancouver and Pittsburgh. In the post season, Zetterberg continually found ways to be the Wings most consistent offensive weapon, tallying 15 points in 12 games. One could easily make the case that the Wings rely on Zetterberg more than any other forward, and a healthy Z might be exactly what the Wings need to reclaim their division title from the Blackhawks next season.
Grade: Regular Season:B+/ Playoffs: A+
By the Numbers: Henrik Zetterberg
By Bill Roose, DetroitRedWings.com, May 19th, 2010
Detroit Red Wings on-ice accomplishments in the 2009-10 season: Henrik Zetterberg.
5 A single game career-high in points. Zetterberg tallied three goals and two assists in the Wings’ 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 14.
93 The difference in the number of shots on goal from the team-leader and the No. 2 guy in the category. Zetterberg’s 309 shots was tops with Todd Bertuzzi (216) finishing second. It was also the third straight year that Zetterberg finished with 300-plus SOG.
200 Career goal scored on March 3. Zetterberg’s second-period goal tied the game – eventually won by the Canucks, 6-2 – at 2-2.
2 Number of hat tricks in the regular-season. Zetterberg scored three goals in a pair of Wings’ 7-4 win against the Anaheim Ducks (Nov. 14) and the Phoenix Coyotes (April 16).
500 Career game played on March 30 against the Edmonton Oilers. Zetterberg assisted on Andreas Lilja’s first-period goal in the Wings’ 5-4 win at Joe Louis Arena.
8 The number of games missed due to a shoulder injury. Zetterberg suffered the injury on Dec. 17 when Tampa Bay’s Mattias Ohlund delivered an open-ice check in the first period of the Wings’ 3-0 win.
After Being Eliminated in Round Two, Zetterberg Still Amongst Playoff Leaders
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, May 13th, 2010
The Detroit Red Wings didn’t play their best hockey, and they were eliminated from the playoffs by the Western Conferences top team, the San Jose Sharks, in five games. But, Henrik Zetterberg did play some of his best hockey, as he usually does this time of year, and after two rounds he is still amongst the league leaders in playoff scoring.
Hank is currently tied for 6th amongst points leaders with 15 total in 12 games played. He is tied for 4th in goals scored with 7 tallies. Z is 1st overall in plus/minus with a +11. San Jose’s Joe Pavelski is the next closest player still alive in the playoffs. He is +7.
Had the Red Wings managed to stay alive and advance to the Western Conference Finals, Zetterberg would have continued to be a Conn Smythe candidate based on his current pace and his history of stepping up his game in the post-season.
Since the lockout, Henrik leads the NHL with 43 goals, 86 points, and +39 in 81 playoff games.
Zetterberg Declined Invitation to Play for Sweden in World Championships
By Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, May 10th, 2010
The players said there are enormous benefits to the extra weeks (off, due to being eliminated from playoffs early.)
"We will have a few more weeks to rest up and, the most important thing: We will have an extra few more weeks of off-ice workout," Henrik Zetterberg said.
For those reasons, Zetterberg said, it was easy for him to call the Swedish national team, Sunday, to tell them he would not play in the world championships.
"I said, I needed this break and we'll take care of the body for a few weeks, here, and go back at it, again," he said.
Lidstrom Weighs Whether He'll Return Next Season
By Brian Compton, NHL.com, May 9th, 2010
You could almost see Henrik Zetterberg cringe when the subject was brought up. It was simply too painful to even contemplate.
"I really don't want to think about that," Zetterberg said. "He hasn't made a decision yet. For now, he's still a part of the team. I'm hoping he will be here next year."
Zetterberg was referring to fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday and whose contract expired when the Detroit Red Wings suffered a season-ending, 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 5 of this Western Conference Semifinal at HP Pavilion.
Will Nicklas Lidstrom Return to Wings?
By Helene St. James, Free Press, May 9th, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg said he and his teammates would resort to praying if necessary. That’s how determined they are to have Nicklas Lidstrom keep playing with them.
Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Sharks at HP Pavilion was Lidstrom’s 247th career playoff game, tying him with Patrick Roy for second-most in NHL history, trailing only former teammate Chris Chelios’ 266.
Was it Lidstrom’s last game? His contract is expiring, and unlike in previous years, Lidstrom hasn’t wanted to negotiate an extension during the season.
Zetterberg is eager to sway his countryman and captain.
“We will try to convince him to stay,” he said. “But it’s up to him and his family and he’ll make that decision. Nothing more for us than to pray and wait and see.”
Asked if it wasn’t unusual for Swedes, not exactly known as the world’s most religious people, to pray, Zetterberg smiled.
“For this one,” he said, “we do.”
Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg Matches Selke Trophy Finalist Pavel Datsyuk's Grittiness
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, May 08, 2010
Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg has been a finalist for the Selke Trophy only once, in 2008, the year teammate Pavel Datsyuk won the first of his two awards given to the league’s top defensive forward.
And while Datsyuk might win the award for a third consecutive season, Zetterberg can be just as difficult to play against.
Zetterberg is the player Red Wings coach Mike Babcock uses to match up against top scorers such as San Jose’s Joe Thornton and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.
Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said there aren’t many players stronger on the puck than Zetterberg, whether it’s offensively or defensively.
“He doesn’t quit on plays -- he just stays with the guy that has the puck. And when he has the puck, it’s hard to knock it off him,” Lidstrom said. “He is the kind of player that can frustrate you with the way he’s playing and with his work ethic.”
Wings' Henrik Zetterberg 'Brings it' on 'D' vs. Tough Line
By Chris McCosky, Detroit News, May 7th, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg's line was in the headlines today because it put on an offensive clinic in the Red Wings' 7-1 staying-alive victory in Game 4 on Thursday.
Johan Franzen scored four goals and had six points. Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and a playoff-best four assists. Zetterberg chipped in two assists. But as impressive as that was, it was only half the story.
That line, for the most part, was matched against the Sharks' top line of Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Dany Heatley, a line that wound up with five shots on goal and a combined minus-6.
"You have to credit Hank for that," Bertuzzi said. "He brings it both ways every game. The way he's committed to the defensive end can frustrate you; I know from having played against him in the past. It's tough. If he was ever given the green light to be an offensive player, he'd have 120 points a year."
Zetterberg, though, wasn't going to dwell on Game 4 for long. His only thought afterward was finding a way to win Game 5 on Saturday in San Jose.
"We had a good outcome today," he said. "Mule got it going today and Bert is doing a great job being strong in front of the net and making plays. Tonight was good but we've got to keep going."
Zetterberg, echoed what most of the Wings said afterward, any momentum they have from Game 4 will have to be regenerated Saturday.
"We will do our best to do that, but it's a brand new game in San Jose," he said. "They've played real well in their own building. We have to go in there and find a way to win."
100th Greatest All-time NHL Playoff Scorer: Henrik Zetterberg
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, May 6th, 2010
Fellow Swede and linemate Johan Franzen was the star of the night, with four goals and two assists, as the Detroit Red Wings desimated the San Jose Sharks 7-1, avoiding the sweep and staving-off elimination tonight at the Joe Louis Arena.
Going unnoticed was the fact that Henrik Zetterberg continued his phenominal post-season play, assisting on two of the six Wings goals that he was on the ice for. He was a +3.
Z recorded his first helper on Todd Bertuzzi’s power-play goal at 5:40 of the 1st period to give Detroit a huge 1-0 lead. With that assist, Hank become just the 100th player in NHL history to collect 90 career playoff points (46 goals and 44 assists).
Zetterberg got his second assist of the night on Franzen’s first goal of the game, just over two minutes after Bertuzzi’s tally.
With the two points tonight, Henrik now has 7 goals (4th in the playoffs), 8 assists (tied for 4th in the playoffs), 15 points (tied for 3rd in playoffs), and +10 (1st) in 11 post-season games this year.
If the Red Wings are somehow able to win the next three games, and Zetterberg continues this pace, he will remain a Conn Smythe candidate once again.
Henrik Zetterberg Interview on Mlive.com May 5th, 2010
Zetterberg Says Wings Have to Play a Game at a Time By Brian Hedger, NHL.com, May 5th, 2010 The Detroit Red Wings were team that nobody wanted to face despite their fifth-place finish in the Western Conference. They not only qualified for the playoffs for the 19th consecutive season, but the Wings laid waste to the League after the Olympic break. After getting key contributors like Johan Franzen and Niklas Kronwall back from lengthy injuries, the Wings looked like serious Cup contenders behind burgeoning rookie goalie Jimmy Howard, a Calder Trophy finalist. Q: What about your goal in the first period that was disallowed, what are your thoughts on that? Was it a kick in? Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg says Disallowed Goal Should've Counted vs. Sharks By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, May 04, 2010 Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg felt his apparent goal at 9:47 of the first period should not have been disallowed after a lengthy video review. Hank Passes Lindsay on Red Wings All-time Playoff Scoring Leaders List with Two Points 
Tuesday night's 4-3 overtime loss at Joe Louis Arena to the No. 1-seeded San Jose Sharks, in a game they led 3-1 heading into the third period, put the Wings down 3-0 in the series. It also set Hockeytown on its collective ear. Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg did his part with a goal and an assist while logging 30 shifts and 24:53 of ice time, and also had a first-period goal waived off because a replay determined that he kicked it. After the game, Zetterberg talked with reporters about that non-goal and how the Wings must respond.
Zetterberg: No. My skate did not leave the ice. So I did not have a kicking motion. It was a battle with their D, and I just tried to stop to be in position to play with the stick -- but he kind of pushed me and of course you're a little off-balance, so it's tough to be completely still with the skates, but I wasn't kicking it."
Q: Going out for intermission after the third period, even though it's tied, did you still feel good about yourselves?
Zetterberg: Yeah, we had a lot of confidence in the group going out. We felt we were playing good. Just had to keep going, playing with patience and keep throwing pucks at the other net.
Q: Was it more them charging or you guys laying back in that third period?
Zetterberg: It's always when you have a lead; automatically the other team kind of has to charge a little bit. I think without knowing it you back off a little bit and you just have to keep going and keep playing. We had some good chances today. Could have gotten that fourth (goal), but we didn't.
Q: You guys have fought all kinds of adversity through the course of the 19 straight playoff appearances, this being the toughest one. How do rebound from here?
Zetterberg: You've just gotta win one game. Win the fourth one and go back to San Jose and start a new game there. Have to refocus and win one game.
Q: How down is the team right now, down 3-0?
Zetterberg: It's not the situation we wanted to be in, but ... we're just going to keep playing and thinking good things. You know win one game, then win two games and we're right in the mix.
Q: What happened on your penalty shot that Nabokov saved?
Zetterberg: He made a good save. Looking at the replay, I wish I had put it a little more to the side but that's easy to say afterwards.
Q: Did you guys say anything to Jimmy Howard going into overtime to kind of help pick his spirits up?
Zetterberg: Going into overtime we just wanted to win and play solid hockey. Everyone (has) to do their part and in overtime you're going to have chances against you and you're going to have chances for yourself. You've just got to make sure when you have them, put them away and play good defense.
Officials at the NHL office in Toronto ruled that Zetterberg directed the puck into the net with his left skate, on a pass from Valtteri Filppula.
"My skate did not leave the ice, so I did not have a kicking motion,'' Zetterberg said. "It was a battle with their D and I just tried to stop to be in position to play it with the stick, but he kind of pushed me and of course you're a little off-balance and it's tough to be completely still with your skates. But I wasn't kicking.''
Sharks goaltender Evgebi Nabokov didn't agree.
"I turned my head and I saw his skate go like that (making a kicking motion),'' Nabokov said. "I didn't see the puck, but I saw it was a kicking motion."
Zetterberg stopped on penalty shot
Nabokov made a great glove save on Zetterberg's penalty shot with 3:32 remaining in the first period.
"I deked him, I went to the backhand. I thought I had an open net but he made a good save,'' Zetterberg said. "Looking at the replay, I wish I would have put it a little bit more to the side, but it's easy to say afterwards.''
The shot was awarded because Logan Couture, it was ruled, closed his hand on the puck while it was in the crease.
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, May 4th, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg had a goal dissallowed (kicked in) and later missed on a penalty-shot, but still got an assist, scored a goal, and was a +2 (plus/minus) in a crucial game three tonight in Detroit. Unfortunately, despite Z’s best effort so far in this series, the Red Wings blew a 3-1 third period lead and lost in overtime, giving the San Jose Sharks a three-games-to-none lead.
Hank helped set up Dan Cleary’s goal late in the 1st period to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. However, rookie net-minder Jimmy Howard gave up a soft goal under his pads just a minute and 19 seconds later.
Zetterberg scored his own goal, and this time it counted, just 1:42 into the 2nd period, on a bad angle shot from near the goal line that deflected off of defenseman Douglas Murray and past goalie Evgeni Nabokov. The tally put the Wings up 3-1, a lead that held into the 3rd period when San Jose scored two goals to send it to overtime.
With the goal and assist tonight, Z now has 7 goals (3rd in the playoffs), 6 assists, 13 points (tied for 3rd in playoffs), and +7 (tied for 4th) in 10 post-season games this year.
He also has passed legendary Hall-of-Famer Ted Lindsay for 6th place on the Red Wings All-time Playoff Scoring Leaders list with 89 points(46 goals and 43 assists) in 95 career games.
Zetterberg Point-less in Two Games versus Sharks
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, May 3, 2010
After earning six goals, five assists, and leading the team with eleven points in the seven game 1st round series against Phoenix, Henrik Zetterberg has been held off the scoresheet as the Detroit Red Wings dropped the first two games of the 2nd round in San Jose.
The Sharks seem to be determined to focus on Zetterberg’s line defensively. Pavel Datsyuk’s line with Johan Franzen hasn’t gotten the same attention and has been able to score goals so far in the series.
Zetterberg may also be slowed by a leg injury. He was limping after the game with an ice bag on his right calf. He said he was fine, however. He does seem to be missing that “extra gear” that he was able to take it to against the Coyotes.
Henrik has 87 points in 94 playoff games for .925 points-per-game in his career. He now has just 5 points in 8 post-season matches against San Jose, for only .625 points-per-game.
Zetterberg, who takes many of the crucial faceoffs on the power play and the penalty kill, was four for 15, and he is now 12 for 33 in the series. Home ice advantage IS an actual advantage when it comes to faceoffs.
For the most part, Hank has done a solid job shutting down the Sharks top players, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Danny Heatley, while playing 5-on-5.
