In a sense, the Detroit Red Wings could be considered a team in transition–a very smooth transition.
Anytime a team loses players such as future Hall of Famers Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan, a period of adjustment is inevitable.
But though the Wings may not be rolling through the regular season like they did last season, they continue to be a force. While other teams seem to be constantly rebuilding, the Red Wings just fine-tune their parts.
“They have some young world-class players,” Blackhawks winger Martin Lapointe said. “Between [Henrik] Zetterberg, [Pavel] Datsyuk and [Niklas] Kronwell, they are superstars already.”
Their veterans aren’t too shabby, either, with goaltender Dominik Hasek, new captain Nicklas Lidstrom and the ageless Chris Chelios on hand.
The Hawks will see a lot of the Wings in the final three months of the season. The two teams will meet six times in the Hawks’ last 39 games. By April, the Hawks may be hoping the Wings move to the Eastern Conference.
“I like that,” Hawks coach Denis Savard said of the Detroit-heavy schedule the rest of the way. “Our guys are going to be up for those games and we’re going to have to win our share to make the playoffs.”
The Hawks will get a good look at two of the brightest stars in the league in Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Those two–plus Tomas Holmstrom–have been together for about a month on the same line and combined for five goals and 12 points on Thursday in Phoenix.
Holmstrom had a hat trick, mostly on the kind of goals Savard would like to see from some of his players.
“Two of the three goals were from right in front of the net,” Savard said.
The underrated Holmstrom has made a living scoring 2-foot goals by planting himself in front of the goaltender, taking whatever punishment comes his way and redirecting shots or jumping on rebounds.
“[Holmstrom] is not the typical Swedish player; he’s more of a North American-type player,” Lapointe said. “I’ve never seen him take the puck end to end and score.”
If there has been a weak spot for the Wings this season, it has been the power play, but even that is beginning to turn around. They had three power-play goals in Thursday’s 5-1 victory over Phoenix and are 7-for-23 in their last three games.
Last season, the Red Wings didn’t play a meaningful game among the 82 in the regular season and were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round. This season, they have been in a nip-and-tuck battle with Nashville for the Central Division lead, which could prepare them for the tougher battles the playoffs bring.
“Last year we had it pretty easy and didn’t have a tough time until the playoffs,” Lidstrom said earlier this season. “Hopefully, these bumps will help us down the road this year.”
One-timers
Savard said Martin Havlat will play Saturday. . . . Captain Adrian Aucoin didn’t practice Friday because of a sore groin, but Savard said he will play Saturday. . . . The MRI on Bryan Smolinski’s knee didn’t show any new injury and Smolinski should be in the lineup. Savard said he told Smolinski he has to “play harder and better.” Smolinski has one goal and two points in his last nine games.
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rfoltman@tribune.com
