May 2011
Season Recap/Grades: Henrik Zetterberg
By J.J. from Kansas, Wingingitinmotown.com, May 24, 2011
Zetterberg wrapped up his eighth NHL season with career-highs in both games played (80) and assists (56). While not a finalist for any NHL awards this season, the former Conn Smythe winner had a solid season for Detroit, putting up 80 points (including 24 goals) while facing the toughest competition of any Red Wings' forward. He did fall short of the preseason expectations I placed on him, but I'm starting to think I misjudged the entirety of the NHL (considering this year saw only one player break 100 points.)
What he did well: Zetterberg was the Wings' most versatile forward this season. The career-high in assists showed that he could adjust his game to the heavy coverage that Babcock put him out against. His production didn't drop off at all in the games that Datsyuk missed, scoring 25 points in the 26 games without Pavel and 55 points in the 56 games with his partner-in-crime. Leading all Detroit forwards in Behindthenet.ca's Quality of Competition rating (as he has every season since 2007-08), Zetterberg still managed a CSSI-adjusted +43 rating this year for his good defensive play.
What he did not do well: Zetterberg perhaps dished the puck off a bit too much for the Wings. While his assists total was very impressive, his 24 goals was quite a bit off the pace that's come to be expected. For those hoping that his 7.4 shooting percentage last season was abnormally low from his career 11.2% clip, he managed only 7.8% this season. As a center, his -1 rating on the season bothers me a bit more than Lidstrom's -2, as too often he'd pass off his in-zone defensive responsibility to a winger who was not nearly as good at preventing scoring chances. While all-in-all I'd say his defensive game was good, I would also say he had a problem with consistency.
Overall Grade: Game in and game out, Zetterberg brought his best effort every night. Despite some questions that he has lost a step, Z managed to stymie his adversaries while putting up points over the course of nearly a full season. His late-season injury kept him out of the first round of the playoffs, but when he came back, he performed very well, scoring eight points in only seven games against the Sharks.
Overall, I give Zetterberg an A.
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, May 16th, 2011
Their best players, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Lidstrom, were their best players, in the regular season and in the playoffs.
“We had a good chance,” Zetterberg said. “What we have to do now is work harder in the summertime and come back even hungrier next year and make another run at it.”
Henrik Zetterberg (A/A): After two subpar seasons, by his standards, he bounced back strong and led the team with 80 points. He’s the guy they use to match up against top centers such as Joe Thornton, Ryan Getzlaf, Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. He didn’t look like a player coming off a sprained knee in the San Jose series.
Game Seven Loss to San Jose
May 13th, 2011
The San Jose Sharks won Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals 3-2 over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Sharks forward Logan Couture scored an unassisted goal with seconds left in the first period after capitalizing on a rare Henrik Zetterberg miscue.
Zetterberg, however, regained the momentum for Detroit when he scored at the 13:10 minute mark of the second period to cut the San Jose lead to 2-1 after two periods.
VIDEO: Game 7, Elevated Backhander off the rush
Red Wings Waste Great Night from Henrik Zetterberg
By Rob Otto, Mlive.com, May 5th, 2011
When people look back at San Jose's Game 3 win over the Red Wings, a few things are going to pop into their heads.
They'll remember Devin Setoguchi's overtime game-winner that gave him a hat trick.
They'll remember Antti Niemi's 38 saves.
What they may not remember is the best player on the ice that night: Henrik Zetterberg.
He led all Detroit forwards in ice time, was a complete bear coming back to help on defense, and made a couple of the best passes of the entire playoffs.
With just seconds left on the clock at the end of the first period, Zetterberg was alone eying a deflection off the pads of Niemi. It looked like it was going to land on his stick for a quick wrister, bit it drifted further to the left. Zetterberg had to spin to control the puck, and by the time he was facing the net again, one of the Sharks was sliding in front of him to block the shot. So all Zetterberg did was flip a pass through his legs behind him to a cutting Nicklas Lidstrom.
Goal.
Zetterberg made that decision in about two-tenths of a second and turned it into an amazing scoring opportunity.
If that isn't enough, Zetterberg made another breathtaking play with less than two minutes left in the second period.
He carried the puck over the blue line on a power play, moving up to the left circle where he was cut off by a pair of Sharks. Zetterberg spun back toward the boards, where the defenders thought they had stopped his forward push and were ready for him to get the puck to the blue line to set up the offense. Instead, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pavel Datsyuk streaking full speed into the offensive zone.
The two defenders were between Zetterberg and Datsyuk, both with their sticks on the ice. There was no way a pass could get through. And yet, it did. Zetterberg did the impossible by lacing the puck between the two Sharks to hit Datsyuk in stride right on the tape.
Goal.
Two of the most amazing plays you may ever see from the same player in one game, and it was all wasted in a loss.
The Red Wings are down 3-0 in the series to San Jose. Barring a miracle comeback that has happened only three times in the history of the NHL, we have only a handful of days left in the season. We are all feeling pretty low right now, but when things are finished, I hope we can all look back and truly appreciate the night that Henrik Zetterberg had on Wednesday.
Wings to shake things up for Game 3 at Joe Louis Arena
By John Niyo, Detnews.com, May 4th, 2011
Two is better than one. So as the Red Wings try to make something out of nothing tonight against the Sharks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after a pair of 2-1 losses, it'll be a surprise if we're not seeing double.
Thing 1 (Pavel Datsyuk) and Thing 2 (Henrik Zetterberg) were skating apart during Tuesday's practice, separated for the good of others, if not themselves, once again.
(Mike Babcock) took a calculated risk in Games 1 and 2 by keeping Datsyuk and Zetterberg together, partly because that's the way the Red Wings would prefer to play and partly because it seemed like the best way to reacquaint Zetterberg with playoff hockey after he missed the first round (knee).
Zetterberg, though he's hardly 100 percent, managed to play 231/2 minutes and score the lone goal in Game 2. But that matchup with Joe Thornton's line played to a draw.
May 4th
Twice Bitten Wings Must Step Up Their Game Against Sharks
Detnews.com, May 2nd, 2011
"We're gonna go home and take care of business at the Joe and go from there," said Zetterberg. "We weren't really ready the first game, but we played a lot better in this one. We skated harder and competed harder. This is the way we're gonna play."
San Jose has taken a 2-0 series lead, which puts a lot of pressure on Detroit to win both of their home games on Wednesday and Friday. Zetterberg didn't participate in Detroit's first round series, but he's scored one of Detroit's two goals in the second round.
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, May 1st, 2011
As much as the Detroit Red Wings are bolstered by the return of Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, they realize it’s going to take some time before these high-impact forwards return to form.
That was evident in San Jose’s 2-1 overtime victory Friday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Zetterberg had no points and three shots in 19:36.
Zetterberg, back after missing three weeks with a sprained left knee, wasn’t skating like he usually does.
Babcock said he will not split up Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk in today’s Game 2.
"If Z was totally healthy or he’s been back for a while that would be a totally different thing, but I’m not (splitting them) right now because of skating," Babcock said. "You practice and you’re ready, but you got to play a game. He’ll skate way better than he would have yesterday and he’ll skate way better (today)."
