Detroit Red Wings Clips October 31, 2014

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips October 31, 2014 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Red Wings scare, surprise at Halloween costume ball PAGE 3 Red Wings' next foe: Kings are 'heavy down low' PAGE 4 Detroit News readers share their Gordie Howe memories PAGE 7 Owen, 6, gets to be a Red Wing for a day PAGE 8 Wings disallowed goal more evidence for expanded replay PAGE 10 Red Wings will need more than luck vs. Kings this time PAGE 12 Red Wings ready for Stanley Cup champion Kings and their batch of big, fast, aggressive forwards PAGE 14 Coaches challenge system? Expanded video review? Red Wings say do whatever to get the call right PAGE 16 Detroit Red Wings and Make-A-Wish Foundation make dream come true for 6-year-old boy PAGE 18 Red Wings' Stephen Weiss won't play for Grand Rapids Friday, instead headed back to Detroit PAGE 19 Red Wings' Mike Babcock hopes to keep Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Abdelkader together all season PAGE 21 RED WINGS: LA's top line worries Red Wings PAGE 23 Red Wings' goalie Howard grants wish to special boy PAGE 25 Notes: Kings still tough; Franzen hopes to return Sunday PAGE 27 Replay talk revisited with Kings coming to The Joe

2 Red Wings scare, surprise at Halloween costume ball Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 12:48 a.m. EDT October 31, 2014 Johan Franzen scared the daylights out of everyone, before and after teammates figured out it was him. That's what a little time with his wife's makeup artist can do for a man. The Detroit Red Wings have to play this Halloween - they're hosting the fearsome Los Angeles Kings - so they held their annual costume ball last Sunday. Franzen and his wife, Cecilia, went as skeletons. Several of the younger guys went as Gumby, because that's what last-minute planners find at stores. Tomas Tatar went as Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner. Tomas Jurco went as pin-stripe suited mobster with an exaggerated face mask. Henrik Zetterberg went as Gustav Nyquist. Andrej Nestrasil went as Jackie Moon from the movie Semi-Pro. "I had to get a big, huge wig," Nestrasil said. "I had nice, tight shorts, high socks. It was pretty good." Team Halloween party:). Hugh Hefner and his bunny. #sundayfunday #team #fun #Halloween A Halloween holiday party has been tradition for years, uniting Swedes and Slovaks, Canadians and Czechs. Most of the Europeans didn't know about the holiday until they arrived in the United States, but they've quickly embraced it. Others, like American Jimmy Howard, entertain teammates with tales of his infamous Dracula costume, worn as a young child for about 10 minutes. "My dad did such a good job with the paint that I took one look in the mirror and started to cry," Howard said. "I made him take it off." Now a father of young boys himself, Howard is embracing his kids' choices. "James is going as Olaf and Henry is going as Nemo. I can't wait to see them dressed up." Olaf of course is from Disney's 'Frozen.' Howard said his oldest is "a huge Frozen fan. He knows the chorus." Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Red Wings' next foe: Kings are 'heavy down low' Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 4:17 p.m. EDT October 30, 2014 Big and heavy are some of the adjectives offered up when the Detroit Red Wings are asked about the Los Angeles Kings. Also, gifted. The defending Stanley Cup champions come to Joe Louis Arena on Friday night for their only visit of the season. The Red Wings beat them twice last season, in regulation in Los Angeles and in a shoot-out at home that was controversial because the Wings were credited for a goal that shouldn't have counted as the puck hit the protective mesh above the end boards before going into the net. After a good, 40-minute practice Thursday, Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard was asked about last season's success. His response? Laughter. "We were gift-wrapped one, and I don't really remember what happened in the other one." Niklas Kronwall scorer of the controversial goal said the Kings "are a lot like Boston in a lot of ways. They just do things the same way, line after line. Pretty simple game, a heavy game. They're heavy down low, they cycle well. And they've got a good defense." The Kings, who play tonight at Pittsburgh, are after nine games, with a plus-nine goal differential. Without doubt, the biggest impression the Kings left on everyone last year was how they went from being down 3-0 in the first round to the Sharks to bulldozing the Rangers in five games in the Stanley Cup finals. That was done on the strength of goaltender Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty and center Anze Kopitar, the pillars of their team. Those three, coach Mike Babcock said, "are franchise players at the three most important positions. They've got good depth, they've got a good thing going. Quick really plays the puck well and then they've got a real good back end. They have a solid guy, big body, on each pair and they also have really good puck movers. That sets up the forwards to be on top of you, because they're coming with so much speed and then they try to wear you out in your own zone." INJURY UPDATES: Johan Franzen (groin) said he'll be ready to play Sunday at Buffalo. Stephen Weiss, who left Wednesday's game in Grand Rapids with a sore groin, is to be evaluated over the coming days. He'll probably end up on injured reserve, as that would clear the room to activate Franzen. Friday: Kings Matchup: Los Angeles (6-1-2 entering Thursday) at Red Wings (5-2-2). Face-off: 7:30, Joe Louis Arena. TV/radio: FSD; WXYT-FM (97.1), WXYT-AM (1270). Detroit Free Press LOADED:

4 Detroit News readers share their Gordie Howe memories Staff The Detroit News 6:56 p.m. EDT October 30, 2014 Red Wings legend Gordie Howe suffered a stroke Sunday in Texas. The Detroit News asked readers to send get-well wishes and share some of their favorite stories about Howe. Below are a selection of those stories: "I can always remember standing at the front door at Olympia shaking hands with the greatest hockey player of all time. He treated fans like a friend. You don't see that enough anymore." Michael N. Jaskolski "It was 1972 and I, expecting my son, was at Olympia Stadium for a game when I saw Mr. Howe standing by the rink. I stopped to say hi, and he said, 'Do you have a little hockey player in there?' We laughed and he gave me his autograph, which I have given to my son. Such a wonderful gentleman he is." Alida Bywater "I sent away for your hockey book when I was 9 or 10 years old. I'm 63 now, and still remember watching the mailbox every day till it arrived. Thank you from all the old kids of Canada. Get well soon, Gordie." Daniel LaPierre "I belonged to a senior hockey league he owned. One time he was at the rink in Berkley and skated with the players. Great experience. My wife was on the bench looking down. He scooped up snow from the boards with his stick and dumped it in the back of her jacket. He is a great guy.... Please get well; the world needs people like you." William Glass "I had the pleasure of meeting him twice.... The second time was in 2009 at Hank Graff Chevrolet in Bay City. "I said to him: 'I heard a story where the Plexiglas at Olympia Stadium was broken and instead of going to the bench to hear the coach's instructions, you were helping the maintenance crew. Did this really happen?' He reflected for a moment and said, 'Yes, and Coach Adams sure gave me hell, but I figured the faster the glass was fixed the quicker the game could be resumed.'" Robert Eugene Mastroianni "Thank you, Gordie. You introduced a Texas boy to hockey. One game and I bought season tickets and became a fan. All the best and prayers for you." Joe Pulido "I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Howe a couple of times in Traverse City, where I lived. When he was in town, he would come into Meijer, where I worked at the time. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Always very friendly. Get well soon." Leslye Baldwin O'brien "One of my fondest memories as a child was when I was about eight years old, late 50's. I was standing by the carpet where they came out of the locker room at the old red barn. There were no ropes or anything, Teddy was ahead of him. Gordie slapped me 4

5 lightly in the rear with his stick, I looked up and it was big ol' Gordie Howe. He scraped the snow on the ice with his stick and dumped it on us over the glass during warmups. Thanks for all the great memories. Praying for the best." Donald Hunter "Saw Gordie and Colleen at Westland Mall back in the 90's for a book signing. My thengirlfriend's 3-year-old daughter was with me. She asked me who they were. I said Mr. and Mrs. Hockey. She turned to them and yelled, "Hi, Mr. and Mrs Hockey!" They turned and smiled and waved back. Very genuine people. Get well, Gordie." Mike Dehn "I remember as a kid lining up at a local department store for an autograph from Gordie. My mother was there with me, and she stood at the front the whole time, right beside Gordie, and they talked and laughed the entire time I waited." Paul Gunn "Mr. Howe came to the little town of Schreiber, Ontario, about 50 years ago and presented me with a small trophy when I was in minor hockey. I still have the trophy and the memories. Get well, sir." Ted Winters "My husband and I were at the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids during Ford's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. While the former president was speaking I turned, and the man standing next to me was Gordie Howe. I asked him if I could shake his hand and told him that I watched him play hockey when I was a girl at the old Olympia Stadium. The two little boys standing in front of us turned and said, 'You play hockey?' I told them that he did and he was better than Wayne Gretzky. I shall never forget that night." Jacquelyn Dilay Donehoo "Sports Illustrated sent me to Texas to photograph Gordie and Bobby Hull in the early 70s. I shot both players during the game. After the game I arranged to meet Gordie outside the arena and I would follow him in my rental auto to his home where I would photograph he and his family. "When we met I had a large, needless to say, heavy camera bag. Four Nikon motor drives, three wide angle lenses, an millimeter zoom, a fixed 200 mm and a huge 300 mm 2.8 Topcor lens on a monopod. To top it off, two bricks of Ektachrome (film), two light meters and two flashes. In another bag were Norman flash units, three heads and light stands, plus all the attendant cords and rolls of gaffers tape. "I tell you this not to impress you how hard photographers work. I mention it because Gordie insisted on carrying everything to his car while I walked a few blocks to the parking lot. He picked up the two bags as if they were toys, smiled and said, "I'll see you soon." "As I walked to my car, my wife asked, 'Can you believe what just happened?' I'd always been a Ranger fan. That day I became a Gordie fan. God bless you Gordie, God bless you." Mel Digiacomo "Mr. Hockey, you pulled my winter hat off at the Detroit Skating Club when I was about 10 years old. You wanted to know if I was leading a cheer in the locker room about you being a dirty player. I said, "No sir!" What I didn't get to say that, along with my dad, Ike Lampi, you were my hockey idol." Laure Lampi 5

6 "I remember being down at Olympia back in the days when the players walked right by you to go on the ice. My mom had her camera at the ready and Gordie and Alex Delvecchio were heading out on to the ice, and much to their chagrin mom took the pictures with the flash going off in their eyes as they headed onto the ice. Great pictures though! You're in our thoughts and prayers." Sandra Schimmel Fitzgerald "I met Gordie around The Red Wings old-timers were playing a game in Southfield, and me and my mom went with my Uncle Cal and Aunt Betty Roe, and I got him to sign a autograph hockey stick. Such wonderful memories." Gary VanDecar "Met Mr. Howe when I was 15 or so at Jackson Optimist Ice Arena that my aunt and uncle run. He showed up for the Jackson vs. Red Wings old-timers game and played a few shifts. My cousin and I were so excited that we waited outside and as he and Mrs. Howe were walking up they both said 'Hi' to each of us before walking in. He was the first celebrity I had ever met, and it was such a great experience! "We waited in line and my parents bought me the 'And Howe' book they were selling, and they both signed it for me. Then I watched my uncle skate and throw some Gordie elbows out there for a few shifts. Over 15 years ago that happened and I'll still never forget it. Great memories!" Chad Jurmu "I remember when the Legends of Hockey came to Anchorage they used our 1921 fire truck for pictures. I let Gordie drive it, best day for me. He even took a picture with me and autographed it for me. Hangs over my desk in the fire station." Michael R. Sweet "I remember meeting you... in Houston when you played for Houston back in the mid- 70s. You were my mom's favorite player. She passed away a few months after she saw you play. I made her day when I told her I met you. I was about 10 years old." Jackie Knight "You would come and visit my neighbor next door in Detroit, Brad Brown. I remember peeking in the living room window to see you. I don't think you ever caught me, either. I was too embarrassed to ask for an autograph as I was small. Wish I had asked now. Barbara Maxwell Detroit News LOADED:

7 Owen, 6, gets to be a Red Wing for a day Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 6:55 p.m. EDT October 30, 2014 Detroit They were just coming off a victory, but what made the Red Wings feel good Thursday was the smile plastered all over the face of Owen Provencher. Anyone in the room couldn't help but feel a little better. A 6-year-old from Sacramento, Calif., Provencher took part in practice, was chatted up by every player and even had reporters spellbound by his every word sitting at Jimmy Howard's stall. It was Provencher's day and it was well deserved. As part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Provencher and his parents were flown in to be guests of the Red Wings. "It's really cool," said Owen, decked out in his Red Wings practice gear and planning on getting his haircut just like his favorite player, Howard, later in the afternoon. Provencher has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that can affect the lungs. His family estimates he takes more than 25 pills a day. But for one day, all that was a million miles away. Provencher took part in some three-on-three drills, watched some practice, and was at the side of Howard, who happens to be a family friend. Being at Joe Louis Arena was a thrill, considering Owen loves the Red Wings. "I watch them a lot," Owen said. Heidi Provencher, Owen's mother, babysat Howard back in Ogdensburg, N.Y. Provecher's mother was Howard's sixth-grade teacher. "I've known Owen for quite some time," Howard said. "Owen's a great kid. I've known his family pretty much all my life. There's a lot of history there. "For us to be able to make a wish come true for him, it's real special." Quite a few Red Wings players came by and talked with Owen, offering a smile or a pat on the back. Coach Mike Babcock noted how the afternoon was enjoyable on either side of the equation. "When you're blessed and get to play a game like we do to make a living, you get to give back," Babcock said. "He was out there with the goalies first. Then he was on with the guys for a scrimmage. I assume it was enjoyable for him. "It energizes our team to have him out there." Detroit News LOADED:

8 Wings disallowed goal more evidence for expanded replay Chris McCosky, The Detroit News 5:25 p.m. EDT October 30, 2014 Detroit A disputed non-call on a play where Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was interfered with on a pivotal goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals wasn't enough to get the NHL to expand video review last spring. So it's doubtful that a blown goalie interference call on Luke Glendening in the ninth game of the season will ignite a call to action. What it does for sure, though, is keep the debate on the front burner and the dialogue hot. "I think the league just wants to get it right," coach Mike Babcock said after practice Thursday. "I'm not in charge of this stuff and I don't know how to do it. But I just know, get it right. Everybody is happy when you are right." The Wings have been on the bad end of two goalie interference calls this year. Pavel Datsyuk had a goal disallowed on Oct. 21 when it was ruled that Justin Abdelkader interfered with Canadiens goalie Carey Price. A case could have been made that Price initiated the contact. The blown call Wednesday in Washington was far more egregious. Goalie Braden Holtby clearly tripped and fell on his own accord before Drew Miller fired the puck in the net. But the referee farthest away from and trailing the play, Ghislain Hebert, ruled that Glendening tripped him. The goal was nullified and Glendening sent to the penalty box. "I imagine the way it happened is, you see the goalie laying there and the shot goes into the net and you go, 'I can't give him a goal, he tripped the guy,'" Babcock said. "You call a penalty. It just happens naturally because you think that's what must've happened, because you don't think a goalie is going to fall down. "Well, in the end you got it wrong." The answer to the problem, of course, is to expand video replay to include goalie interference calls that nullify goals, or give coaches the right to challenge. It has been discussed at league meetings for several years, with Wings general manager Ken Holland being a leading proponent, but it has always failed to get a consensus because of the fear of adding to the length of the games and because it could further decrease scoring. "The way I look at it," Babcock said, "when you are done complaining and whining about (the call), by the time that's all done, they could've got it right. It takes two seconds to get it right. The referee never wants to get it wrong. He doesn't want to watch the replays for three weeks of him getting it wrong. He'd rather have it right." 8

9 Former referee Kerry Fraser, who now works for TSN in Canada, agreed the call was missed and said there was a way the referees could have adjusted the call on the ice within the current video replay rules. The video review rules were expanded before the season Rule 38.4 (viii) to allow reviews to "assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals," to ensure, as Fraser said, they are good hockey goals. One of the reasons this clause was added to prevent situations like what happened late last season when the Wings were allowed a goal against the Kings after the puck had been deflected off the netting and back onto the ice. Fraser said the referees could have used that clause Wednesday night. "This would also include situations whereby the referee stops play or is in the process of stopping the play because he has lost sight of the puck and it is subsequently determined by video review that the puck crosses (or has crossed) the goal line and enters the net as the culmination of a continuous play where the result was unaffected by the whistle," Fraser wrote. "In other words, the timing of the whistle was irrelevant to the puck entering the net at the end of a continuous play. "One or three of the other officials on the ice should have observed this play accurately and informed referee Hebert of the error of his decision to justly negate a penalty call and perhaps allow video review to get involved. If that had been the case, the timing of the whistle was irrelevant to the puck entering the net as a result of the continuous play executed by Drew Miller and the right and just decision could be rendered on this good hockey goal." Of course, as Fraser also said, the blown call could have been avoided if the coaches had the ability to challenge calls such as these, like managers and coaches do in baseball and football. A challenge system was on the table during the league meetings last spring and did not get a consensus because of the potential of misuse by coaches and the possibility of undermining the referees. "You really have to limit replay to things that are clear, crystal clear, black and white," Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL Network last spring. "And when you start getting into the judgment calls that the officials make, that really isn't susceptible to video replay the way, you know, whether or not the puck crossed the line and you have a goal." As for goalie interference calls specifically, the league was fearful of dragging the pace of the games down and further curtailing scoring which is ironic since the two questionable calls against the Wings cost them goals. "There were just too many situations that were brought up that would potentially slow the game down," NHL vice president Kris King said last spring. "If we rule on goalieinterference plays, we are going to take more goals down than we are going to put up in a game where we want more scoring chances. "Once we played devil's advocate with a lot of their questions, they just didn't feel that now is the right time to implement a coach's challenge." The topics of expanded video review and a coach's challenge system will most likely be discussed again next spring. 9

10 Red Wings will need more than luck vs. Kings this time By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 9:04 p.m. EDT October 30, 2014 Detroit Brendan Smith remembers well the Red Wings' 3-2 overtime victory over Los Angeles last season at Joe Louis Arena. That was the game, you remember, when Niklas Kronwall's goal deflected off the mesh and off Kings goalie Jonathan Quick's back, and into the net, forcing overtime. "We did get a lucky one," said Smith, who added Quick and Kings defenseman Drew Doughty were irate. "Doughty and everyone was yelling it went off the mesh. I remember it pretty clear. I remember that one more than a lot of the disallowed goals we've had." Said Jimmy Howard: "We had one gift-wrapped." The Red Wings realize they can't count on another one like that Friday playing against the Kings, who've won two of the last three Stanley Cups, including last season. At (14 points), it's not like the Kings have slowed down this season. They essentially brought back the entire roster from last season, and that roster is as deep as it's ever been. "They're good, they win," coach Mike Babcock said. "It's a program built with size, speed and skill, and they've made moves over time to set themselves up for success." Doughty, Quick and forward Anze Kopitar are franchise players in Babcock's estimation, and when complemented with players such as forward Jeff Carter (five goals, 12 points), it's a lineup that can beat you in a variety of ways. Plus, the Kings have the confidence and knowledge of having won two Stanley Cups, and winning seventh games of series all three during the Western Conference playoffs, all on the road. "When it comes down to important games, they've obviously done a real good job," Jonathan Ericsson said. "They know their potential. When tough times come, they really rely on each other and know what they can do, and they've been really successful that way. "They have a real good mix of players who know their roles. Everybody is on the same page." Carter's line centering Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson has combined for 17 goals and 17 assists this season. "I know him (Carter) real good from having him at the Olympics," said Babcock, of the Canadian team member. "He can play with and without the puck and he's got a bomb of a shot. He scores for fun." Back together 10

11 Thursday's lines at practice resembled how the Red Wings ended up the night before in Washington. Pavel Datsyuk was centering Justin Abdelkader and Henrik Zetterberg, while Riley Sheahan was between Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist. Babcock would like to have Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the same line. "That's what we'd like," Babcock said. "(Datsyuk) was hurt (in the preseason) so we tried to get Pav skating by playing him in the middle. We like Pav in the middle and Z to play on the wall with him." "With those guys, you just try to skate and be hard on the forecheck for them, be around the net," said Abdelkader, who tries to pattern his game the way Tomas Holmstrom did playing with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. "Find my areas I need to go. Those guys are so offensively gifted, teams will give them so much respect." Ice chips Johan Franzen (groin) completed Thursday's practice and is on schedule to play Sunday in Buffalo. Stephen Weiss (groin) was recalled from his conditioning assignment in Grand Rapids. The Red Wings hosted Owen Provencher, a 6-year-old from Sacramento, and part of the Make A Wish Foundation. Provencher skated with the Red Wings, played goalie and did interviews after practice. This was a special opportunity for Jimmy Howard, who knew the Provencher family going back to his youth, and has known Owen for some time. "Owen is a great kid, and for us to make a wish come true for him, it's real special," Howard said. Kings at Red Wings Faceoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit TV/radio: Fox Sports Detroit/97.1 Outlook: The Kings are on a five-game road trip, and their third game in four nights. The line of RW Tyler Toffoli, C Jeff Carter and LW Tanner Pearson have combined for 17 of the team's 23 goals. G Jonathan Quick is off to a fine start (5-1-2, 1.78 GAA,.950 SVS). Detroit News LOADED:

12 Red Wings ready for Stanley Cup champion Kings and their batch of big, fast, aggressive forwards Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on October 30, 2014 at 11:30 PM, updated October 31, 2014 at 1:34 AM DETROIT - The Los Angeles Kings have a batch of big, fast forwards that forecheck hard and wear down defenses. It's always tests Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock's seven-second rule. "That's where we make plays and get out (of their own zone) in seven seconds," Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith said. "That means we're putting wear and tear on them. It's a lot of momentum and that's what a team like that does when they get rolling -- they put a little more miles on you, then it's difficult to beat them." The Red Wings (5-2-2) have had more success than most against the Kings, who've won two Stanley Cups in the past three seasons (2011, 2013). Detroit is 7-2 in its past nine against Los Angeles and is (W-L-T) at home vs. the Kings since the season. They hope to continue that trend Friday, when the Kings (6-2-2) visit Joe Louis Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit). "I think why we've been successful is because we've been able to break out fast," Smith said. "It's definitely challenging on the D side, and if they get rolling around they're obviously putting some wear and tear on us." Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said the Kings are hard to play against. "I think L.A. is a perfect example of a playoff team," Ericsson said. "You have to be gritty, everything has to be hard all the time because playoffs are so different than the regular season. Everyone is chipping in and playing as a unit." Said Babcock: "(Goaltender Jonathan) Quick really plays the puck well and their back end are really good puck-movers. That sets up the forwards to be on top of you so they can come with so much speed." The Kings are led up front by Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams and Mike Richards. Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik are injured. The Red Wings won both meetings last season, though goaltender Jimmy Howard chuckled about his team's 3-2 shootout win at Joe Louis Arena on Jan. 18, saying "we were gift-wrapped one." Niklas Kronwall tied it with 26.1 seconds remaining in the third period, a goal that shouldn't have counted, since the puck hit the protective netting high above the glass before bouncing off Quick's back and into the net. Babcock said the Kings built their program with "size and speed and skill." 12

13 "When you look at their three best players, and maybe (Jeff) Carter would say something different, but (Anze) Kopitar, (Drew) Doughty and Quick they're all franchise players at the three more important positions," Babcock said. "They've supplemented around it. They bring up kids that are ready that are good players. They've got good depth, a good thing going." Michigan Live LOADED:

14 Coaches challenge system? Expanded video review? Red Wings say do whatever to get the call right Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on October 30, 2014 at 7:03 PM, updated October 30, 2014 at 11:34 PM DETROIT - The NHL has considered adopting a coach's challenge system or at least expanding video review. More calls like the one that cost the Detroit Red Wings a goal in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals might expedite the implementation process. An apparent goal by Drew Miller at 6:22 of the first period was waved off because of a phantom goaltender interference penalty on Luke Glendening. Replays showed that Glendening made no contact with Braden Holtby, who stumbled on his own. If officials were allowed to review the play, they would have clearly seen this. "When you're done complaining and whining about it, they can have it right; it takes two seconds to get it right," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "The referee never wants to get it wrong. He doesn't want to watch the replay for three weeks of him getting it wrong either. "I imagine the way it happened -- you see the goalie laying there and you see the shot go in the net - (the referee) says, 'I can't give him a goal, he tripped a guy,' so you call a penalty because that's what happens naturally," Babcock said. Whether a situation like that would even be reviewable must be determined. When NHL general managers discussed coaches challenges and expanded review during the Stanley Cup finals in June, they could not settle on which plays could be challenged. They seemed to agree that goaltender interference would not be subject to review because there is much room for interpretation. Wednesday's case, however, was clear. "I was shocked (at the call)," Glendening said. "That's part of the game. There's going to be mistakes made. He thought he saw what he saw and from his angle it might have looked like that." Defenseman Brendan Smith likes the NFL's system of two coach's challenges per game and how that league automatically reviews all scoring plays. "It doesn't matter how it works, as long as a disallowed goal is a disallowed goal," Smith said. "I guess the biggest word is consistent. If you have the video of a challenge you can look at it in slow-motion and see did he actually impede the goalie or did the goalie flop. You just want to be accurate." The Red Wings felt they were burned on a couple of other occasions this season. No penalty was called when Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf tripped Niklas Kronwall in the final minute, leading to the winning goal on Oct. 11. An apparent goal by Pavel Datsyuk on 14

15 Oct. 21 at Montreal was disallowed because the referee determined that Justin Abdelkader was in the crease and impeded Carey Price. "I think we need a few more breaks coming our way," Smith said. "I would like to see a stat of who gets the most disallowed goals; we have to be up there." It works both ways. The Red Wings got a huge break last season when Kronwall's tying goal in the final minute against the Los Angeles Kings was upheld because officials didn't see the puck hit the protective netting. The Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout. "By the time we got all this screwing around with we could have got it right," Babcock said. "I'm not in charge of this stuff and I don't know how to do it, but I'm sure the league wants to get it right." Franzen eyes Sunday return Johan Franzen (pulled groin) practiced for the third day in a row Thursday. He said he's not playing Friday against the Kings but should be ready to play Sunday at Buffalo. "Just went as hard as I could," Franzen said. "Felt good. Not great, but good." The Red Wings need to clear a roster spot before activating Franzen. They could place Stephen Weiss on short-term injured reserve after he experienced groin issues in Wednesday's game with the Grand Rapids Griffins during his conditioning stint. Michigan Live LOADED:

16 Detroit Red Wings and Make-A-Wish Foundation make dream come true for 6- year-old boy Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on October 30, 2014 at 4:05 PM, updated October 30, 2014 at 11:49 PM DETROIT - Owen Provencher traveled from Sacramento, Calif., to skate with the Detroit Red Wings Thursday, taking part in some three-on-three drills, shooting the puck around with players, watching practice from the bench and doing a media interview in the dressing room. He shoots right, so coach Mike Babcock wondered if he could play the point on the power play. Maybe in the future. On this day the 6-year-old was just thrilled to have his dream come true thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Owen has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs. His daily routine consists of breathing treatments and numerous medications. "He takes over 25 pills a day," his mother, Heidi Provencher, said. "It's a progressive disease. He's had several hard curveballs thrown at him. The fact that he is doing so well, we're very, very thankful." Provencher baby-sat Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard back in the day in Ogdensburg, N.Y. Her mother, Nancy Rudiger, was Howard's sixth grade teacher. "He was a great kid, very sweet and humble," Provencher said of Howard. "I've known Owen for quite some time; I've known his family pretty much all my life," Howard said. "Owen's a great kid. For us to be able to make a wish come true for him, it's really special." Owen was 18 months old when his parents took him to his first NHL game in San Jose, against the Red Wings. "We sat him on our lap, he was into it, he watched the whole game, didn't take his eyes off the puck up and down," Provencher said. "And afterwards going down to meet Jimmy was a like out of this world for him." Owen's dream comes true Six-year-old Owen Provencher skated with the Red Wings at practice Thursday. That's when he decided he wanted to play hockey. Provencher said it's "meant the world" for her son to be able to come to Joe Louis Arena. They will attend Friday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. "I'm so grateful to the Red Wings organization -- the players, the coaches, everybody's made him feel so welcome, been so friendly," Provencher said. 16

17 Provencher discovered she was a carrier of cystic fibrosis when he was pregnant. "We have no family history of cystic fibrosis," she said. "The genetic counselor told me, 'I wouldn't worry about it. You have like a 1 in 3,000 chance of your husband being a carrier.' "When they tested my husband (Gary) he came back positive. We were a little blown away, so we decided not to test Owen any further. We just waited until he was born and tested him at birth and at two weeks old we found out he had CF." The treatment is quite extensive. "He started digestive enzymes at two weeks old as well as chest physiotherapy, which we beat on his chest with a little thumper," Provencher said. "And at six weeks old he was one of the first five kids in the country to get a wrap, which is like a mechanical breathing device. We used to read to him during that and he would watch his singing animals. Because of it he's always been comfortable with his therapy." The therapy includes taking a salt water solution to loosen up the mucus in the lungs and pulmozine, which Provencher said, "acts like scissors because what happens in your lungs is that the mucus gets very thick in your body so it's very hard to remove." They push Owen and he pushes himself hard. "When he took a break from hockey for a little while we noticed it slowed him down and he had a hard time with a lot of things," Provencher said. "I think the hockey just helps keep everything moving for him." Babcock said having Owen on the ice was energizing for the team. "He was out there with Jimmy B (goaltending coach Bedard) and the goalies first," Babcock said. "Then he was on with the guys for a little scrimmage, so I assume it was enjoyable for him. The more of that stuff we can do the more we will. "When you're blessed and get to play a game like we do, you get to give back." Michigan Live LOADED:

18 Red Wings' Stephen Weiss won't play for Grand Rapids Friday, instead headed back to Detroit Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on October 30, 2014 at 11:36 AM, updated October 30, 2014 at 12:09 PM Stephen Weiss' conditioning stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins lasted less than one game - at least for now. The Detroit Red Wings forward, who has played only one game this season after missing most of last year with a sports hernia, had to leave Grand Rapids' 2-1 loss to Rockford Wednesday after the second period because of a sore groin. He was scheduled to play for the Griffins again Friday before rejoining the Red Wings but instead is headed back to Detroit, where he'll be reevaluated. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Weiss' groin was too sore to play Friday, when the Griffins host Chicago. Weiss didn't play after Dec. 10 last season, his first with the Red Wings, because of the sports hernia. He underwent surgery and made his only appearance this season Oct. 18 in a 1-0 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Michigan Live LOADED:

19 Red Wings' Mike Babcock hopes to keep Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Abdelkader together all season Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on October 30, 2014 at 6:02 AM, updated October 30, 2014 at 9:07 AM WASHINGTON - Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg together again, with Justin Abdelkader as their wingman. That's the combination Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock turned to when his team needed a boost in the third period of Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center. That's also the combination Babcock hopes to use regularly this season. "That's what we'd like to get to," Babcock said. "(Datsyuk) was hurt, so we tried to get Pav skating by playing him in the middle. Obviously we like Pav to play in the middle and Z to play on the wall with him. If we ever get the Mule (Johan Franzen) back, we'd have lines that way. When we don't have the Mule we're not quite as deep so we try to spread it out a little bit more. "Part of it is to get Pav going, too. When you play in the middle you got to play harder and longer so we need him playing in the middle for us." That line teamed up for three unanswered goals in the third period. Justin Abdelkader scored the tying (4:04) and winning goals (10:34) and Datsyuk added an insurance marker (19:06). Zetterberg had two assists. "With those two guys, you just try to skate and be hard on the forecheck for them, be hard around the net, find my areas I need to go to, similar to what (Tomas Holmstrom) had to do when he played with those guys," Abdelkader said. "Those guys are so offensively gifted and skilled, teams give them so much respect. You kind of saw that on the third goal, the D backed in and Pav just created when most guys in the league, when it's a one-on-two, you aren't thinking about much offense. But he's got eyes in the back of his head. He makes great plays." Less than seven minutes after Abdelkader stole the puck from Andre Burakovsky in the slot and quickly fired it past Braden Holtby to tie the game, Datsyuk made a terrific drop pass to Abdelkader, who blasted in a shot that proved to be the game-winner. "Z had a great stick there, knocked it down," Abdelkader said. "Pav got the puck there, even though Pav goes one-on-two, he backs their D, the respect they have to give him. I kind of came in late, he made a great play and I was able to step into that one and get a good shot on net." Abdelkader, who assisted on Gustav Nyquist's second-period goal, is tied with Nyquist for the team lead with five goals. 19

20 "He's working hard out there," goaltender Jimmy Howard said. "He's getting in areas where he can put the puck in the net. He stays after practice late, works on his shot, works on his hands. Year after year it's getting better." Justin Abdelkader's big night Justin Abdelkader scored twice in the third period and had an assist earlier for the Red Wings. Abdelkader believes he has untapped offensive potential. Babcock likened him to Washington's Jason Chimera in that sense. "In the first few years in the league you move around (from lines) because the league is going so fast you're not up to speed yet," Babcock said. "That's what happened to all these kids. We even go so far as to say they have no hockey sense. Well, they have tons of hockey sense; just the league is going so fast you're not ready for it. That's how good the league is and how hard it is. "Abby is now become the player probably he was in college (Michigan State). It takes a while to catch up. That doesn't happen overnight." Abdelkader does a lot of the dirty work - battling in front of the net and in the corners, providing a physical presence - that doesn't show up on the score sheet. "For me it's not always going to be goals, points and assists," Abdelkader said. "I always have to play the game I'm capable of playing. It's always a bonus when you can find ways to put pucks in the net and help out offensively. I know what my game and I know how it's simple. "It's nice to help out offensively. I'm 27 years old. I've been in the league for some years now. I'm comfortable with my role and I know how to play night in and night out. "I had a good summer of training. I came into this season just wanting to have a real good year." It looks like he's on his way. Michigan Live LOADED:

21 RED WINGS: LA's top line worries Red Wings By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily Posted: 10/30/14, 5:09 PM EDT DETROIT >> One of the biggest concerns the Detroit Red Wings have in facing the defending Stanley Cup champ Los Angeles Kings on Friday is the play of That 70s Line. Heading into play Thursday, that line, made up of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, has combined for 17 goals and 17 assists. He s a real good player, Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Carter. I know him real good from just having him at the Olympics. He can play with and without the puck. He s got a bomb of a shot. He scores for fun. Carter entered play Thursday second on the team with 12 points (five goals, seven assists). Toffoli is first with five goals and eight assists, while Pearson has seven goals and two assists for the Kings. I didn t know who Toffoli was to tell you the truth, I didn t know him that good, but every time I see him he s shooting it, Babcock said. And Pearson seems to be a real good player. Those are guys I don t know real good. I ll get to know them better. They re real good players, but there s a whole bunch of other guys on that team that are real good players. Drew Doughty is a distant fourth in points with five. The Kings have won the Stanley Cup twice in the last three seasons. The way they ve been doing it is impressive, Jonathan Ericsson said. I think L.A. is a perfect example of a playoff team. You have to be gritty. You have to be hard to play against all the time. They find a way to divide the roles up with those players really well. Everyone is chipping in and playing as a unit so all the credit to them. When playoff time comes around it s easier to turn it on, Ericsson added. It s hard for 82 games during the regular season to play that hard. When playoffs come you hit your high of that season so it s easier to do. Babcock and Brendan Smith on the phantom goalie interference call on Luke Glendening that led to a Washington power play and a disallowed goal for the Wings on Wednesday. I imagine the way it happened, you see the goalie laying there and you see the shot go in the net, Babcock said. He says, I can t give him a goal he tripped a guy, so you call a penalty because that s what happens naturally. You don t think a goalie is going to fall down. In the end he got it wrong. 21

22 Glendening wasn t even close to Caps goalie Braden Holtby when he was called for the penalty. I like that idea of an extended replay or like football, a flag or challenge, Smith said. I think we need a few more breaks coming our way. We just can t say the one against Washington is the only one, there have been several of them. I would like to see a stat of who gets the most disallowed goals. We have to be up there. Stephen Weiss is back in Detroit after his brief conditioning stint in Grand Rapids after he suffered another issue with his groin in the Griffins game on Wednesday. Wings general manager Ken Holland said that Weiss won t play on Friday in Grand Rapids as he was expected before joining Detroit on Saturday for its three-game road trip. Johan Franzen (groin) continued to skate and hopes to return to the lineup Sunday in Buffalo. Macomb Daily LOADED:

23 Red Wings' goalie Howard grants wish to special boy DANA WAKIJI FOX Sports Detroit OCT 30, :55p ET DETROIT -- The Red Wings love giving back, especially when it involves children. But for goaltender Jimmy Howard, 6-year-old Owen Provencher is a special case. On Thursday, Owen was wearing his own Red Wings gear and skated with the team before and during part of practice as part of his wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Owen has cystic fibrosis, which they discovered when he was just two weeks old. "When I was pregnant I got a blood test that said I was a carrier," said Heidi Provencher, Owen's mom. "We have no family history of cystic fibrosis. The genetic counselor told me, 'I wouldn't worry about it. You have like a one in 3,000 chance of your husband being a carrier. Don't even worry about it.' So when they tested my husband he came back positive. We were like, a little blown away, so we decided not to test Owen any further. "We just waited until he was born and tested him at birth and at 2 weeks old we found out he had CF. He started digestive enzymes at 2 weeks old as well as chest physiotherapy which we beat on his chest with a little thumper. And at 6 weeks old he was one of the first five kids in the country to get a wrap, which is like a mechanical breathing device, and we used to read to him during that and he would watch his singing animals that are so crazy. Because of it he's always been comfortable with his therapy." The Provencher family came from Sacramento, Calif., to Detroit and will be guests of the Red Wings for their game Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. So what's the connection between Owen and Howard? "I've known his family pretty much all my life," Howard said. "His mom babysat me, his grandmother was my sixth-grade teacher so there's a lot of history there." FOX SPORTS DAILY NHL TEAM EDITION NHL News To Your Inbox! CHOOSE YOUR TEAM(S) *By clicking "SUBSCRIBE", you have read and agreed to the Fox Sports Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. SUBSCRIBE 23

24 Nancy Rudiger is Heidi Provencher's mom and she was Howard's sixth-grade teacher in Ogdensburg, New York. Heidi babysat for Howard and his sister when Howard was in grade school. "He was a great kid, very sweet and humble," Provencher said. Now that sweet and humble kid is the Wings' starting goaltender and he has two boys of his own. "It's a lot of fun," Howard said. "Owen's a great kid. For us to be able to make a wish come true for him, it's really special." Heidi Provencher said when Owen was just 18 months old, they took him to his first Red Wings game when the Wings visited the San Jose Sharks. "We sat him on our lap, he was into it, he watched the whole game, didn't take his eyes off the puck up and down and afterwards going down to meet Jimmy was like out of this world for him," Heidi Provencher said. "He's always dreamed of going to The Joe because we always go to the Shark Tank and they're not kind to Red Wings fans." The Wings themselves were overjoyed to extend every kindness to Owen. "It's great to have him down here," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "It energizes our team. He was out there with (goaltending coach) Jimmy B(edard) and the goalies first. Then he was on with the guys for a little scrimmage so I assume it was enjoyable for him. The more of that stuff we can do, the more we will. It's a good thing." Back home in California, Owen plays hockey, which Heidi says has helped him fight his disease. "We push him and he pushes himself pretty hard," Heidi Provencher said. "He did take a break from hockey for a little while, we did notice that slowed him down and did have a hard time with a lot of things when he was out of hockey. I think the hockey just helps keep everything moving for him. "The fact that he is doing so well, we're fully grateful and we're very, very thankful. Because he works hard to stay healthy. He takes digestive enzymes, he takes over 25 pills a day. He works really hard." Owen, who even held his first press conference in the Wings' dressing room, said he enjoyed shooting and scoring against Howard during practice. "That was really cool," Owen said. Owen presented Howard with a special gift of See's Candies and then planned to meet up with him later so they could get haircuts together. Heidi Provencher knows it's a couple of days her son will never forget. "It's so hard for me to put into words, it's meant the world," Heidi Provencher said. "I'm so grateful to the Red Wings organization. The players, the coaches, everybody's incorporated him, made him feel so welcome, been so friendly. It's amazing. "I can't even imagine what it's going to be like going back after this. Amazing memories." 24

25 Notes: Kings still tough; Franzen hopes to return Sunday DANA WAKIJI FOX Sports Detroit OCT 30, :40p ET Rick Osentoski Jonathan Quick is with a 1.78 goals-against average and.950 save percentage. Rather than hoping for dumb luck like they had the last time they played the L.A. Kings at home, the Detroit Red Wings know they'll need to be better to beat them. The Kings are near the top of the league with a record in their first nine games. "They're good," goaltender Jimmy Howard said. "They're so deep, they're good at every single position. Seems like they're scoring quite a few goals these days so they're a dangerous team. They're a team that likes to get in on the forecheck and bang away, just use their physical size." Instead of the usual suspects, it's Tyler Toffoli who leads the Kings in scoring with five goals and eight assists. Toffoli's line mate Jeff Carter has five goals and seven assists. "He's a real good player," coach Mike Babcock said of Carter. "I know him real good, just had him at the Olympics. He can play with and without the puck. He's got a bomb of a shot. He scores for fun. I didn't know who (Tyler) Toffoli was to tell you the truth, I didn't know him that good, but every time I see him he's shooting it. And (Tanner) Pearson seems to be a real good player. Those are guys I don't know real good. I'll get to know them better. They're real good players, but there's a whole bunch of other guys on that team that are real good players." Among those good players is goaltender Jonathan Quick, who is with a 1.78 goals-against average and.950 save percentage. "I think just getting traffic in front of him," Gustav Nyquist said of beating Quick. "It's hard for any goalie if you don't see the puck. I think that's the biggest thing. Obviously they're athletic and quick laterally so getting guys in front will help." The Kings are also a bigger team, which presents its own challenges. "You look at a lot of those teams that can get in on the forecheck that are big and strong and fast, Anaheim is another team that can do that," defenseman Brendan Smith said. "It's definitely challenging on the D side, and if they get rolling around they're obviously putting some wear and tear on us. It's definitely difficult, but I think why we've been successful is because we've been able to break out fast and not sustain all of that defensive zone." FRANZEN SHOOTS FOR SUNDAY 25