October 2010
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 23rd, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg loves to play against the Anaheim Ducks. Tonight in Detroit, he had two goals on seven shots, added two assists, and was a +3, as the Wings came from behind to win 5-4. He was named “1st Star of the Game”. It is one of the top twenty games of his career.
Late in the second period, with the Wings trailing 3-2, Zetterberg assisted on Tomas Holmstrom’s tip-in off of a shot by defenseman Brad Stuart from the blueline.
Then, in the third period, Henrik tipped in a Stuart point shot himself, deflecting the puck from the slot and between the legs of Ducks’ defenseman Toni Lydman and past McElhinnney, tying the game at 4-4.
Down by a goal once again, Detroit controlled the puck in Anaheim’s end for the last minute of play. Zetterberg pick up his second assist and fourth point of the game when linemate Pavel Datsyuk picked up a loose puck and wristed into the top corner with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Red Wings the big win.
Z’s four point game gives him 18 points in the last 9 games against the Ducks, including his best game ever on November 14th 2009, in which he had a hat trick and two assists for a career-high five point game. Hank now has 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 26 career games against Anaheim. More on Z’s Four-point Night Datsyuk easily could have had a few assists with the way he set up teammates.
Wings' Henrik Zetterberg Scores First Goal of Season
By Ted Kulfan, Detroit News, October 22, 2010
Scoring droughts get magnified early in the season. Don't score in five or eight games in the middle of the season, and maybe it can get lost in the speed of the season.
Don't score in the season's first five games, like Henrik Zetterberg, and some fans begin to worry.
Zetterberg didn't. And when he opened the Wings' scoring Thursday in their 4-2 victory over Calgary, it probably calmed some fans nerves, if not his own.
"It was good to get it out of the way and hopefully we'll see more coming," said Zetterberg, who added his fifth assist.
Zetterberg had opportunities during the drought, but simply didn't convert several quality scoring chances.
He made no mistake on the one Thursday, one-timing a two-on-one rush with linemate Pavel Datsyuk.
"You've just got to hope for it, you've got to keep going," Zetterberg said. "I've had good chances during the year but the puck hasn't gone in. So you've just got to keep shooting and it makes it easier when you get a pass like that."
Zetterberg Scores 1st Goal of Season and Adds an Assist
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 21st, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg ended his five-game goalless streak to start the season and also added an assist, as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2 tonight at the Joe Louis Arena.
Z got his 1st goal of the season with the score 1-0 in favor of the Flames. Tomas Holmstrom took a pass from Pavel Datsyuk and carried it into the offensive zone along the rightwing boards. He sent a pass just inside the blueline back to Datsyuk, creating a 2-on-1 for Datsyuk and Zetterberg on Calgary defenseman Ian White. Datysuk slipped a great backhand pass between the legs of White to Zetterberg, who was alone in the leftwing faceoff circle. Hank banged a one-timer off the inside of the post and into the empty net behind goalie Mikka Kiprusoff's stick side.
Z's first tally in six games tied the game at one-a-piece with just 2:30 remaining in the first period. He later assisted on Captain Nicklas Lidstrom's second-period power-play goal, giving Zetterberg five assists in six games. Henrik was named "2nd Star of the Game".
Babcock Already Tinkering with Line Combinations
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 18, 2010
It’s only been five games, but the Red Wing’s lackluster power-play in the Phoenix game has caused coach Mike Babcock to start shuffling lines, at least on the power-play.
The buzz is that the Wing’s top line of Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Holmstrom isn’t producing. I say they are fine. They are getting chances. Chemistry needs a little time. This line has shown magic in the past, why not give it a chance?
The new combinations would knock Z down to the second unit with less PP ice time and less talented linemates, a circumstance Hank should be getting used to from the past few seasons of not being on the top line despite arguably being the Wing’s best goal scorer.
Lately, Zetterberg has been the set-up man, assisting on the OT game-winner by Niklas Kronwall the other night in Phoenix. He has also been assisting on Datsyuk’s tally’s this season. Hank has four assists in five games.
Maybe Bobcock’s thinking is that, on the power-play, with big Bertuzzi in front of the net, Z can connect with Hudler and get him involved in the offence. I hope it works. I just fear seeing Zetterberg forced into a situation where he has another “down year”.
By J.J. from Kansas, Wingingitinmotown.com, October 17, 2010
The Goals
2nd Period 7:03 - Detroit Goal: Pavel Datsyuk (wrist shot) from Patrick Eaves and Henrik Zetterberg
This play starts with the Coyotes bringing the puck up ice through the neutral zone. Good pressure by Zetterberg forces the Coyotes to dump it deep. Doug Janik is the first man on the puck and absorbs a hit from two Coyotes' players, kicking the puck further along the boards to Zetterberg. Henrik responds to the third forechecker in by throwing the puck up the middle. Eaves taps the puck to set it on a tee for Datsyuk, who collects the puck in stride to skate in 1-on-2 against the Coyotes' defensemen. Datsyuk skates into the zone and releases a wrister which is deflected off the glass behind the net and lands just inside the trapezoid. Following up on his shot, Datsyuk prevents Ed Jovanoski from getting his stick down on the puck and tries to feed Eaves, who is skating toward the net. The puck deflects off Lee Stempniak's skate blade and past Bryzgalov. Janik will pick up a half-assist for his great decision-making behind the Detroit net which led to the breakout in the first place.
Overtime 4:42 - Detroit Goal (PP): Niklas Kronwall (slap shot) from Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom
The Wings are on their eight power play of the night here thanks to Tomas Holmstrom's work in his office drawing a penalty by Aucoin. Zetterberg loses the offensive-zone faceoff and the Coyotes clear the puck. Howard comes out to get the puck up to Lidstrom, who passes to Zetterberg to enter the zone. Zetterberg is squeezed off high and finds Cleary cross-ice. Cleary receives the puck and finds no easy route to the net, so he dishes to Kronwall high and goes to the front of the net. Kronwall gets the puck to Lidstrom, who freezes the defense with a windup for a slap shot before passing to Henrik Zetterberg on the side. After Lidstrom's pass, the Wings' captain immediately skates to the net and Kronwall follows him into the open space lower in the ice created by Lidstrom's maneuver. Zetterberg finds Kronwall and passes to him for a top shelf one timer past a screened Bryzgalov for the game-winner.
Red Wings Still Looking for Top Line to Click
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, October 16th, 2010
Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock stacked his top line this season by reuniting Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, expecting the move to spark both stars and create at least one dominant combination.
While four games is a small sample size, the line, which includes Tomas Holmstrom, has not yet clicked. The trio had combined for two goals and three assists heading into Saturday night's game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena.
Zetterberg had no goals and two assists and Holmstrom had no points.
Babcock, however, thinks they're too good to be held in check for long.
"Obviously, not generated what we expect," Babcock said before the game. "I think in the short-term it's always easy to examine that. One thing I know about those guys, they're proud guys, they'll get themselves going.
"We need their unit on the power play to have more motion and be more dangerous and we need them to be more dangerous five-on-five."
Zetterberg, coming off a disappointing 23-goal, 70-point season, was hoping for a faster start after losing some weight in the summer in an effort to gain quickness. He said he's a little frustrated.
"Especially when you have a lot of chances, you want to make something better out of it," Zetterberg said. "But you got to keep going and it will come."
Zetterberg said the chemistry is there, after having played with Datsyuk and Holmstrom so often in the past.
"But, point-wise, just for me, I want to have a little bit more," Zetterberg said. "I think I had the chances to score a few goals. But that's the way it is. Sometimes, the puck will go in; sometimes, it won't. Just got to keep going, keep shooting the puck and it will turn around.
"We know we're doing good things. We just got to score some more goals."
Holmstrom has a recent history of strong starts. He had eight goals and two assists in his first 13 games last season en route to a big rebound year (25 goals, 45 points in 68 games). He had six goals in his first six games the previous season. And in 2007-08, he had eight goals and six assists in his first 12 games.
"We haven't really played that good, so we just got to pick it up," Holmstrom said. "We've been maybe trying to make it too fancy and coughing up pucks.
"What can you do? Maybe try to play a little simpler, north and south, and get more pucks to the net."
This line also plays together on the power play, which is hampered by point man Brian Rafalski's injury, which will idle him another three weeks or so.
"We got to get pucks to the net and move the puck around," Holmstrom said. "Looks like we're a little predictable and slow with the puck movement."
Reunited Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg poised to deliver for Red Wings
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, October 7th, 2010
Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are too talented to produce only 70 points a piece and rank 26th in the NHL in scoring like they did last season for the Detroit Red Wings.
It didn’t help that many of the team’s supporting players -- Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Dan Cleary, Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall -- were injured or playing hurt much of the season.
Or that the club lost a significant chunk of offense the previous summer with the departures of Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler.
Nonetheless, Datsyuk and Zetterberg didn’t play nearly as well as they are capable.
The Red Wings need their superstars to return to their dominant form. It will be difficult to compete for the Stanley Cup if their best players aren’t among the league’s best.
“Both mine and Pav’s goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but to do that we have to produce on offense and defense,” Zetterberg said. “We get a lot of ice time -- power play and five-on-five -- so we should be up there in scoring. But if we end up top five or top 15, I don’t think that’s anything we care about.”
Datsyuk has won the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward the past three seasons, and Zetterberg also has maintained his strong defensive play.
Zetterberg is lighter and quicker and should be more productive than last two seasons.
The team is healthier and deeper. Players are as fresh as they have been in some time due to a longer offseason. They are highly motivated after being bounced in the second round of the playoffs by San Jose.
Most importantly, Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be playing on the same line, a luxury coach Mike Babcock could not afford last season when the team was so banged up it had to split up the stars to ice two viable scoring lines.
Zetterberg, who admits he was mentally fatigued at times last season, lost eight-to-10 pounds over the summer and regained some of the quickness he sacrificed by adding more muscle in previous years.
“Last year, they were stars. This year, they have a chance to be superstars again,” Babcock said. “We believe playing them together will help their confidence and help each other.
“When you’re feeling real good about yourself and you play with someone else, you make them better.”
They are in the prime of their careers. Datsyuk is 32 and Zetterberg turns 30 on Saturday.
They are excited to be reunited, along with Holmstrom, the longtime net-front specialist and puck-retrieving wizard.
“I know how (Datsyuk) thinks out there, and he knows how I’m thinking,” Zetterberg said. “And Homer is doing his thing, creating space.”
The last time they spent significant time on the same line was 2007-08, when Datsyuk was fourth in the league with 97 points, Zetterberg posted career highs of 43 goals and 92 points, and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.
“It’s helped us before, I see no reason it not help us this time,” Datsyuk said. “I’m happy that we, for first time, actually played whole training camp together. It’s nice, but we need lots of work, nothing comes easy. Now, there’s going to be lots of attention on us.”
There also is more pressure on opponents when both are on the ice at the same time.
New Red Wings forward Mike Modano knows that, having spent the past several seasons in Dallas trying to defend them. He is delighted to be on the same side.
“They do things fast and up-tempo, a lot of give-and-go, and they both have the ability to hold onto (the puck) very long, move it well, pass well,” Modano said. “They do a lot of similar things. It causes some headaches. Playing against them, you didn’t know how to defend them. You had to pick one guy or two. It left everybody else available.
“They’re smart and they move well with the puck. That’s kind of a key. Some people lose a little bit of their speed when they get the puck. They do things with it — skating, getting shifty, losing checks, getting separation from guys.”
Circumstances change. Babcock will go through dozens of line combinations during the season. Perhaps Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be split up again.
Whatever the case, the Red Wings need more production from these elite players.
And they are poised to deliver.
ZETTERBERGFAN'S 2010-11 SEASON PREDICTIONS
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 4th, 2010
Last season just wasn’t Henrik Zetterberg’s year. After missing virtually the entire preseason with a groin injury suffered during training camp, he went on to score just 23 goals, while filling a second line role with mix-and-match line-mates.
Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock announced early this off-season that he intended to reunite Zetterberg with his old linemate Pavel Datsyuk on the top line. The “Eurotwins” have produced magic in past seasons, prior to the infamous free-agent signing of Marian Hossa in 2008. The last season Zetterberg and Datsyuk were paired regularly, Detroit won the Stanley Cup and Henrik had a career-high 43 goals, 49 assists, and +30 (plus/minus).
The reformed #1 line worked well this exhibition season as well. Zetterberg and Datsyuk played in just four preseason games this year (including all three wins), but Zetterberg still lead the team with three goals and six points. He looks healthy and rejuvenated after a longer off-season, since being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks. And everyone has higher expectations of Zetterberg going into the regular season.
Hank missed eight games last season with a slightly separated shoulder which he incurred on an open-ice hit from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matthias Ohlund. Zetterberg has never had a season in which he didn’t miss a couple of games due to injury. However, chronic back spasms and wrist tendonitis have not been a problem for a couple of seasons.
I expect Zetterberg to play at least 75 games again this year, missing maybe a few games with minor ailments. With that many games played and being back on the top line with pavel, Henrik should be able to get back up close to his numbers from a few years ago, in which he scored a 43 goals. Don’t be surprised if he once again leads Detroit in scoring with about 40 goals. If he can get a career-high 44 tallies this season, Zetterberg will reach the 250 career goals mark.
Z could very well match his career-high 49 assists from 2007-08, He recorded 47 last season with mainly linemates Todd Bertuzzi and Dan Cleary. I would say it’s more likely that he will get between 48 and 50 helpers this year.
I was not very accurate with last years predictions, but I am going to put myself out there again this time around and say Hank racks up about 42 goals and 50 assists, once again falling a little short of a 100 point season, but tying his career-high of 92. If Zetterberg gets just 31 assists this season he will have 300 for his career. He should finish closer to 320.
Henrik needs 71 points this season to pass John Ogrodnick (546) for 11th on Detroit’s all-time scoring list. Z will likely end up 10th on the franchise Goal-scoring leaders list by the end of this season. He needs to pass teammate Tomas Holmstrom (currently 214) and Nick Libbett (217).
