Detroit Red Wings Clips February 24, 2016

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips February 24, 2016 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Wings' Mrazek missed chance at assist, but not many pucks PAGE 3 Sharp: Red Wings remain far from Stanley Cup contention PAGE 5 Wings legend Lidstrom immersed in memories in JLA return PAGE 7 Red Wings juggle line before, during Tuesday's win PAGE 9 Red Wings activate Kronwall, send Kindl to minors PAGE 10 Wojo: Wings desperately seeking goals, via trade or not PAGE 13 Shootout shuffle brings win for Red Wings PAGE 15 Red Wings alumni eager to rekindle rivalry with Avs PAGE 17 Lidstrom gets kick out of visiting Red Wings PAGE 19 Report: Charges against former Red Wing Aaron Ward dismissed PAGE 20 Wings activate Kronwall after 15-game absence PAGE 22 Red Wings postgame: Riley Sheahan scores in regulation and shootout to spark 2-1 win PAGE 23 Red Wings grind out shootout win over Columbus PAGE 25 Second-period analysis: Red Wings tie Columbus 1-1 on Riley Sheahan's short-handed goal PAGE 26 First-period analysis: Red Wings trail Columbus 1-0 after getting four shots on goal PAGE 27 Red Wings' 24-season playoff streak 'something special,' says Nicklas Lidstrom PAGE 30 Recap: Red Wings-Blue Jackets scoring summary, stats, video highlights and more PAGE 32 Red Wings Gameday: Offense was strong at home before disappearing on four-game road trip PAGE 34 Red Wings' lineup: Gustav Nyquist to play with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg PAGE 36 NHL trade rumors: Red Wings' Jimmy Howard would be among riskiest acquisitions PAGE 38 Mike Knuble's memorable Red Wings debut - the 1997 brawl vs. Avalanche PAGE 40 5 things to WATCH: Red Wings' third outdoor game, second line dilemma and looming trade deadline PAGE 42 Griffins start fast, shut out Chicago behind Jared Coreau

2 Wings' Mrazek missed chance at assist, but not many pucks George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 1:15 a.m. EST February 24, 2016 Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek admitted he was mad. Really mad. He made a save on a 3-on-2 with about 3 minutes left in overtime. And he kept moving forward and dropped the puck on the ice. He saw Pavel Datsyuk alone at the blue line and intended to pass the puck up for what would have been a breakaway. But the referee blew the whistle. That play didn t end up costing the Wings, though. They went on to beat the Blue Jackets, 2-1, in a shoot-out on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. Mrazek learned something new, though. Wings coach Jeff Blashill said by rule Mrazek isn t allowed to skate with the puck. I didn t know, Mrazek said. I was so mad, honestly. I saw Pav skating by the blue line. And I don t think I skated with it that long. One, two steps and he blow the whistle. One or two steps too many, as it turned out. Mrazek went back to argue and was immediately told the rule. Mrazek finished with 28 saves, including 13 in the third period and five in overtime. He also didn t allow a goal in the shoot-out. They were coming hard in the third period, Mrazek said. They had some good looks. I was glad they didn t go in. Wings coach Jeff Blashill said he d look into the rule. As for Mrazek s performance, Blashill said it builds off the 25-save performance he had in Ottawa on Saturday. Petr has got the ability to not get too rattled ever, Blashill said. He seems to be able to stay with himself. But like anybody when you re feeling it, you re feeling it. He let the one (in) early that he d like to have back. But then after that I thought he played really, really well. We gave up too many odd-number rushes tonight and I thought he played real well. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Sharp: Red Wings remain far from Stanley Cup contention Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press Columnist 5:17 a.m. EST February 24, 2016 Honoring the past again does not make the present any easier for the Red Wings. Nicklas Lidstrom got another commemorative night Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena, saluting his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He still looks like he could provide quality minutes even at 45. There were the requisite scoreboard videos rekindling fond memories. But it only served as another reminder of how far the Wings remain from serious Stanley Cup contention. We ll never see another Lidstrom. But how much longer before we see the next great young impact player? Is it 19-yearold Dylan Larkin? The way the league is now, general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday, you can t trade for that kind of impact. You can t sign it through free agency. You have to hope that you get enough spins at the wheel to draft enough talent that you hope can develop into that type of player. Wings sting Blue Jackets in shoot-out Unlike the previous two trade deadlines, Holland doesn t need additional depth due to injuries. If he makes a deal before Monday s 3 p.m. deadline, it likely would be a major move that would raise eyebrows and acknowledge that the Wings are pushing in their chips for a long playoff run. But acquiring such a piece would mean mortgaging some of the premier young prospects Holland confidently believes could grow into impact players. So don t expect much if anything from the Wings at the deadline. The greatest fear in today s salary-cap NHL is surrendering a future star for a veteran rental who could make the difference in a tough playoff series. That emphasizes the proper long-range evaluation of young talent. A miscalculation there could prove just as costly. But that process requires patience. Telling fans who have waited seven seasons since their most recent Cup six seasons since this organization s most recent playoff run beyond the second round to wait a little longer for talent to properly blossom means trusting Holland s judgment. And let s face it. Blindly believing in him now isn t as automatic as it was previously. It s not that we haven t tried in making what we thought were the right moves, Holland said. We thought we were very close at this same time last year and made a couple moves for depth. Our record this season is 10 points worse after 60 games than it was 3

4 at that same time a year ago. But I still think we re in a better position with the way some of our young guys have stepped up. The Wings outlasted Columbus, 2-1, in a shoot-out win Tuesday their third straight overtime game. The critical two points moved them back into a divisional second place logjam with Tampa Bay and Boston. The defense tightened in the recent games, but the offense dried up. It s what happens with younger teams. You never know which team shows up on any given evening. But it s the only way they can learn. It s the only way they can grow. Holland s comfortable with that. But his bad contracts haunt the Wings. They don t have much working room under the salary cap at the trading deadline. It doesn t help having a struggling backup goalie (Jimmy Howard) counting $5.3 million against the cap. Or a chronically concussed forward in Johan Franzen who can t stay on the ice with a nearly $4-million cap hit for another four seasons. Holland never has shied away from making trades, but this season probably would be limited to a dollar-in, dollar-out situation, making it unlikely the Wings will pull the trigger on anything significant. So the Wings will go as far as their kids take them. I m really impressed with his maturity, Lidstrom said of Larkin. That s always something you want to see in a very young player. He doesn t seem fazed by everything. He certainly looks like he could be something special. It s always hard saying good-bye to those few special players like Lidstrom, because you re never sure when or if the next special player comes around. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

5 Wings legend Lidstrom immersed in memories in JLA return George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 11:10 p.m. EST February 23, 2016 Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nick Lidstrom received a standing ovation as he participated in a ceremonial puck drop with Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg and Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings compiled a video package of Lidstrom highlights before the ceremonial puck drop as a way of honoring Lidstrom for entering the Hockey Hall of Fame in November. Lidstrom said he misses interacting with teammates. I miss the camaraderie in the locker room, being with your teammates, the guys you have a special bond with, Lidstrom said. I also miss the game situations the game s on the line, you re up a goal or down a goal when it really matters. I miss those moments, too, when you have to compete. I miss that part. Asked if anyone had offered him a chance to return to action, Lidstrom said: No, no one asked me about coming back. I think they were smart enough (not) to ask me because the answer would have been no. Lidstrom, 45, helped the Wings win four Stanley Cup titles over 20 NHL seasons. He also won seven Norris trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy and became the first bornand-bred European to captain a team to the Cup. He and his family moved back to their native Sweden shortly after he retired in He said he s most proud of the championships. Winning Stanley Cups you set up a goal in September in training camp and you reach that goal the following year in June, he said. Those are some of the great memories that I cherish, but also being able to play for a lot of years, not missing many games, and being part of such a great organization, too. Being a part of the Red Wings throughout my whole career here, that s something I cherish as well. He also cherished the fans. They meant a lot, he said. It meant a lot playing for such a great organization, but for the fans as well. Pretty much always playing in front of a sold-out crowd here at the Joe, the fans demanded a lot, but I think that helped us set the standard for our team. They wanted us to succeed, they wanted us to have a good team, they wanted us to play well, and I think that helped the team. Lidstrom doesn t spend much time thinking about whether he or Bobby Orr was the greatest defenseman of all time. That s a debate for someone else. I never had a chance to watch Orr play live, he said. I watched some tapes and videos. I ll let other people compare all the defensemen. 5

6 Wings coach Jeff Blashill also didn t see Orr play, but he said Lidstrom was the best defenseman he has ever seen. There s D-men in the league right now that are real flashy and might be real good offensively, but I think the best winners for defensemen are efficient defensemen, guys that produce tons of offense without giving much up, and he was the best I ve ever seen at that, Blashill said. He was as efficient of a player as has probably ever been in the league. He created tons of offense through his ability to walk the blue line and find an opening and shoot the slap shot and be shot-ready, but he was extremely good defensively and in breaking the puck out and transitioning. I believe he s got to be right up there with anybody.... I feel extremely grateful I had the chance to be on the bench and had a chance to coach him the year I was here as an assistant. For Lidstrom, Tuesday also was a chance to take in another night at Joe Louis Arena. With a new arena being built for the Wings, this was one of the last times to be at the rink he called home for two decades. He said the Cup wins at the Joe are among his favorite memories. Winning at home, seeing the fans, Lidstrom said. Seeing how crazy it was in the locker room. Those type of moments are special. But just (how) the fans get into the games when we re playing well, when we re winning. You can feel the team s got momentum going. The fans really help you take that next step. It s a special building to play in. You play in some of the newer arenas and some of them look the same, but this has a special feel to it, being an older arena. It s been a special place to play in. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

7 Red Wings juggle line before, during Tuesday's win George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 2:15 a.m. EST February 24, 2016 The Detroit Red Wings are searching for more goal scoring, so they re shaking up their lines again. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, who have played well since being reunited, are now skating with Gustav Nyquist. Justin Abdelkader moved off of their line to play with Tomas Tatar and Dylan Larkin. But during Tuesday's 2-1 shoot-out win over the Blue Jackets, Wings juggled their lines after the first two periods, looking to get more offense. We were actually kind of rolling three groups of four, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. Juggling guys through that. So, we ll look at it tomorrow and I ll watch the game again and decide what s the best line combinations that we can have. Blashill said the lines are a work in progress. I d love to leave the lines the same the rest of the year but we gotta find combos that are going to work at a high level. Blashill said Nyquist and Tatar are capable of contributing more offense. So we want to see if there s other combinations where we can keep Pavel and Z at the level their playing but get a little more from other people, Blashill said. We re trying to get that little 2% better. So you want to be able to score a little more without losing your defensive integrity. I thought, coming out of Pittsburgh, we weren t good enough defensively. I thought, the last two games, we did a really good job overall defensively, and we want to maintain that defense but still get a little more offense. So there s a lot that went into the lines, and we ll see how they go. Blashill said it s an ongoing struggle because the NHL is so tight. It becomes a play here and a play there within the game, he said. Tatar has not recorded a point in his last eight games. Tatar has 16 goals in 59 games after scoring 29 in 82 games last season. Nyquist enters the game without a goal in his last 10 games and just two goals over his last 27. Nyquist has 14 goals in 60 games, after scoring 27 in 82 games last season. I just think it s an ongoing balance of being real good defensively and getting a little more offense, Blashill said. It s not an easy thing, and we ll keep grinding, trying to find ways to get as many points as we can, whichever way we can do it. When you make changes, it can invigorate guys.... Hopefully, this invigorates our guys. 7

8 Notes: Defenseman Niklas Kronwall returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing the previous 15 games after having a knee scope. The Wings sent defenseman Jakub Kindl to Grand Rapids (AHL) to make room for Kronwall. Blashill said defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (lower body) is getting closer to a return. It s possible he could be ready to play in the outdoor game Saturday in Denver. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

9 Red Wings activate Kronwall, send Kindl to minors George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 9:19 p.m. EST February 23, 2016 Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who missed the past 15 games recovering from a knee scope in January, will return to action tonight. The Wings sent defenseman Jakub Kindl to Grand Rapids (AHL) this morning to make room for Kronwall's return from long-term injured reserve. Kindl, 29, has two goals and four assists for six points in 25 games for the Wings. Kronwall, 35, has been a career-worst minus-10 in 45 games, while chipping in three goals and 14 assists for 17 points. His return is coming on the same night the Wings plan to honor fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom. Obviously, it was a huge honor just to play with him, and it s nice to have him back in town again, Kronwall said. Kronwall said conditioning and timing are two things that will be a test tonight, considering how much time he has missed. He s a huge piece of our team, Wings forward Luke Glendening said. I don t know if words can describe it, in terms of how much he means to this team. He s not going to be a savior. But his leadership qualities, the presence he brings on the ice, is huge. Kronwall was paired with Alexey Marchenko in today's morning skate. It s great to be with him, said Marchenko. Defensively and... offensively, he will help the team a lot. He s our leader. He s going to improve our team a lot. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

10 Wojo: Wings desperately seeking goals, via trade or not Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News 4:27 a.m. EST February 24, 2016 Detroit The Red Wings sit where they often sit, in a scrap for a playoff spot, in that neutral zone between powerhouse and rebuilder. They re still searching for something, or someone, to push them higher, and quickly now, the hunt will turn more urgent. The goal is to find more goals, wherever and by whomever. And bluntly, the hunt starts in the Wings own dressing room. It s not as simple anymore as spinning the Trade Wheel of Fortune, and GM Ken Holland probably won t have the pieces, or salary-cap space, to make a splash by Monday s deadline. Scorers are scarce on the market these days, which leads to the classic conundrum. Do you surrender another chunk of the future for a short-term grab, or do you count on the guys you ve kept for exactly this situation, players such as Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist and Riley Sheahan? I m always a go-for-it advocate because in the Stanley Cup playoffs, literally anything can happen. But this is one season when the all-in approach might not fit. The Wings edged Columbus 2-1 in a shootout Tuesday night and it was as arduous as usual. Goalie Petr Mrazek was back to his stellar self, while Sheahan scored in regulation (his eighth) and the shootout to lift the Wings, who snapped a four-game losing streak (they did get points in the last two). Holland must explore all options, just as Jeff Blashill did by juggling the lines, but it s hard to imagine one move turning the Wings into instant championship threats. Winnipeg s Andrew Ladd and Carolina s Eric Staal are intriguing possibilities, for the right price. But they re rentals as pending free-agents, as is Calgary s Jiri Hudler, a former Wing. They would help but probably wouldn t provide a major impact, or more important, a long-term impact. Wish list The Wings desperately want to reach the playoffs for the 25th consecutive time and they re in decent shape to do so, with the sixth-best record in the East entering Tuesday night. They desperately want to advance beyond the first round for the second time in five years. But don t forget this: They also want to be reloaded in time for the season, when their fancy new arena opens. That means developing a core is as vital as adding a short-term scorer. The Wings are deeper than they ve been in years so a trade isn t impossible, but a leap for Ladd or someone similar would be a risk. We ve gone for it before, but do you just keep going for it and say I m not gonna worry about the future? Holland said Tuesday. Or do you say, at some point, you gotta worry 10

11 about the future? You have the potential to bring somebody from outside, but we ve got guys in that locker room who have scored before. Do you just shelve those people? This is precisely the juncture the Wings always knew was coming, and have braced for it. Pavel Datsyuk is 37 and playing well again after ankle surgery. Henrik Zetterberg is 35 and still a tireless leader. Niklas Kronwall returned from injury and looked solid, but at 35 has shown the wear. In two years, that core might not be gone, but it won t be formidable. The new core likely will include Dylan Larkin, Mrazek and, well, who? That s the question for younger guys such as Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader. When Nyquist scored 27 goals last season, he was the type of prize Holland wouldn t trade away. Same with Tatar, who scored 29. They re skilled pieces every team needs, as long as they continue to develop. Nyquist, 26, has 14 goals this season and is scoreless in the past 11 games. Tatar, 25, has 16 goals and is scoreless in eight. Blashill displayed appropriate urgency by moving Nyquist to a line with Datsyuk and Zetterberg, and bumping Tatar to Larkin s line with Abdelkader. And then he had to juggle even more. This game was an encapsulation of the Wings season so far, with promising moments surrounded by a lot of scoreless minutes. I think we re playing pretty good defensively, but maybe play more simple, not squeeze our sticks too tight, Tatar said before the game. I think we have big talent in our locker room so it shouldn t be a problem to score goals. Last year I played with more confidence, that s for sure. Slim prospects It is a bit of a puzzle, especially after Holland picked up two veterans in the offseason center Brad Richards (who has only six goals) and defenseman Mike Green. And oh by the way, the Wings added a 19-year-old star in Larkin, who leads the team with 19 goals. But there s a reason Larkin was the only Wing on the All-Star team. A year ago, the Wings were 10th in scoring, boosted by a productive power-play that ranked second. Now they re 21st in scoring and 20th on the power play. Holland has gone for it at the deadline before, but not in a big way in a while. Last spring, he dealt draft picks and youngsters for veterans Marek Zidlicky and Erik Cole. Zidlicky is gone and Cole got injured. The year before, he traded a third-round pick and two players for David Legwand, who had minimal impact. Most guys that are gonna be traded aren t scorers, they re depth players, bottom-six forwards, Holland said. When you do a deal, you gotta know the people you re bringing in are significantly better than the people you got. I really believe we re a deeper team this year. We ve had a number of people that haven t quite produced the offense, and I don t know why. But I ve also been at this long enough to know, we need to support those people and believe in them. 11

12 That sounds like a pep talk for the Wings struggling forwards, and it also sounds like Holland doesn t think significant upgrades will be available. That doesn t mean he can stop looking, but with the Wings bumping at the cap limit, a trade would require giving up someone on the roster, not just minor-leaguers and draft picks. When Holland made bold moves in the past, they weren t always the right ones, but they always came with a win-now purpose. There s a slightly different reality now, and a pause for prudence. The Wings have aging stars and young stars, and a bunch of players in the middle who still must reveal what they really are. Detroit News LOADED:

13 Shootout shuffle brings win for Red Wings Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 1:42 a.m. EST February 24, 2016 Detroit Shootouts haven t been all that kind to the Red Wings this season. But using a bit of a different lineup and a hunch, the Red Wings won the shootout and won the game, 2-1, Tuesday over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Riley Sheahan (who scored a short-handed goal in regulation) and Andreas Athanasiou scored shootout goals, as the Red Wings outscored Columbus 2-0 in the extra session. The Red Wings are 2-5 in the shootout this season. Coach Jeff Blashill started with Pavel Datsyuk in the shootout, then went with the two young players, hoping to find shootout goals. A bit of a hunch, Blashill said of his decision to go with Sheahan and Athanasiou. I wasn t sure what I was going to do, said Athanasiou, who didn t decide on his ultimate forehand-backhand-forehand move until he got to the hashmarks. I went with what works. It was a lot of fun. It was a big win for the Red Wings ( ), who ended a four-game winless streak (0-2-2) and earned a crucial two points with so many teams near them in the Eastern Conference standings winning Tuesday. It was big, Blashill said. We got the (single) points the last two games but we needed two points at home, needed to find a way, and we found a way. Petr Mrazek stopped 30 shots for the victory, while Columbus goalie Curtis McElhinney stopped 25 Red Wings shots. Mrazek almost made a sensational play in overtime when he stopped Brandon Dubinsky on a shot in the slot, and saw Pavel Datsyuk open for a breakaway. Mrazek made a stride or two out of the crease with the puck, which is illegal, and the play was whistled dead immediately. I was mad, said Mrazek, who was briefly irate. He just told me I can t skate with the puck. The Red Wings, too, had their overtime opportunities after not generating many in the third period. Athanasiou made a brilliant individual rush with just under two minutes left but was stopped by McElhinney, probably the Red Wings best chance. Columbus had the better of the opportunities late in the third period. With just under five minutes to go, Mrazek stopped Cam Atkinson on a 2-on-1 rush, then turned aside a rebound attempt, keeping the score

14 They were coming hard in the third period, Mrazek said. They had some good looks. Boone Jenner had the lone goal for the Blue Jackets ( ), a team that began the season terribly, but has found success of late. They did a real good job, they re playing good hockey, Blashill said. It was a muddy track out there and the puck was bouncing around and there wasn t a lot of clean things going on. We had moments of good, and moments of not so good, but it was a good two points. I don t think we had as many (offensive) chances as we need to have, and we didn t get inside of the ice well enough. We didn t have enough quality for sure, so we have to build on that. Sheahan's short-handed goal made the Wings the last team to score one this season. Their latest short-handed goal had come in the penultimate game of last year's regular season. Alexey Marchenko made the key play, stripping Dubinsky of the puck near the blue line. Marchenko flipped the puck down the ice to Sheahan, who was behind the Columbus defense. Sheahan cut through the slot and beat goalie Curtis McElhinney stick side for his ninth goal. Sheahan's goal ended a 17-game drought without a point for him, and was Sheahan s first career short-handed goal. You want to be a scorer and contribute on the shore sheet,, especially when you put up OK numbers in the past, Sheahan said. You can t let it get to you. It s a long grind and if it gets you mentally, it get you down. Definitely it felt good. You d like to get on the score sheet as much as you can but at the same time you have to do the little things right. Detroit News LOADED:

15 Red Wings alumni eager to rekindle rivalry with Avs Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 8:44 p.m. EST February 23, 2016 Detroit As he walked on skates in his playing equipment toward the ice at Joe Louis Arena, where some of the retired Red Wings practiced for the outdoor alumni game against the Avalanche on Friday, Igor Larionov balked at a question about the great old rivalry between the franchises. We re not looking back, we re looking forward, said Larionov, only partially in jest, about the upcoming game against the old foes. So, we re looking for Friday. It should be a good night for everybody. The retired Wings clearly feel they had work to do on the ice Thursday, when about a dozen gathered for a workout. The fact of the matter is, they want to win their game, and they think it might be a bit more competitive than some alumni games. Minutes later, Joe Kocur and Kris Draper knocked Larionov into the boards and held him there, fencing him in with their sticks. It was a fairly loud thud on the boards, but all three smiled and laughed. Also among those skating were Kirk Maltby, Chris Chelios and Dino Ciccarelli, all just part of the roster of former Red Wings who will appear in the game. Mickey Redmond, who is not on the roster, also practiced and, with a high, hard shot, he nearly knocked the mask off the face of one of the practice netminders, goaltending coach A.J. Walczak, who was little worse for wear. I thought the Toronto game, the last 10 minutes, was a heck of a pace for alumni guys getting up and down the ice, Draper said of the game he played for the Wings alumni against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 31, 2013, in front of 33,000 people at Comerica Park. I ve got to figure this is going to be a competitive hockey game. I watched some of the Minnesota-Chicago one (last week), and I don t think our game is going to be played like that. I think there s going to be more to it. Draper knows their former bitter rivals are preparing. Obviously, you know that Patrick Roy has been doing pregame skates with his team; Roy and (Joe) Sakic skated here, he said. We ve been skating at The Joe for four weeks now. I think it s going to be a good game. The guys clearly had a lot of fun, together again on the ice. 15

16 It seems to get more competitive as the game wears on, especially if it s close, Chelios said of alumni games. That s what happened with Toronto and us, a few years back. I m sure guys are looking forward to it. Playing in front of 40,000 people, a lot of guys have never done that. Detroit News LOADED:

17 Lidstrom gets kick out of visiting Red Wings Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 8:11 p.m. EST February 23, 2016 Detroit Don t think for a second that Nicklas Lidstrom doesn t miss hockey. The Hall of Fame defenseman was back in town Tuesday to be honored for his inclusion into the Hall of Fame earlier this season. Just being around Joe Louis Arena, being around some of his former teammates, he remembered how special it was to put on the Red Wings sweater. For me, I miss the camaraderie, the locker room, and being with your teammates, the guys you have a special bond with, said Lidstrom, who was honored with a video montage of his brilliant career. But I also miss the game, situations where the game is on the line, and you re up or down a goal, and that really matters. I miss those moments. I miss that part. Lidstrom returns to Detroit sporadically during the course of the year, but being back in town for an event such as this was something he won t soon forget. Getting the chance to be back on the ice and look into the stands, I m looking forward to the game, Lidstrom said. This will likely be one of Lidstrom s final appearances at Joe Louis Arena, an arena he will never forget. It s a special building to play in, Lidstrom said. You play in some of the newer arenas and they re or less the same. This has a special feel to it. It s been a special place to play in. Just how the fans get into the game, when we re playing well or when we re winning, you feel the team has some momentum going, and the fans really help you take the next step. Lidstrom mingled with the Red Wings during and after the morning skate. Though it was tempting to get on the ice, the strong urge left a long time ago. It was harder my first year, Lidstrom said. Being retired now, it s been a few years, and you still cherish the game and watching the games, but not to the point of my first year. Lidstrom watches the Red Wings and feels thay are a fast, talented team capable of winning in a parity-driven league. They have a very good team, a fast team, but the league is so close now, Lidstrom said. When you look at the standings, and you lose a couple of games, you drop and when you win a couple of games you go up (the standings), it makes it real exciting. 17

18 It s almost like playoff hockey right now, with 20 games left to play, every game matters and every point matters. Lidstrom is looking forward to Friday s alumni game against Colorado and no, he doesn t expect anything similar to the brawls during the apex of the rivalry. I don t think anything like that is going to happen, he said with a smile. But I m sure both teams will have a laugh about what happened and talk about the rivalry and how good both teams were. We really had some great teams. Detroit News LOADED:

19 Report: Charges against former Red Wing Aaron Ward dismissed The Detroit News 12:46 p.m. EST February 23, 2016 Charges against former Detroit Red Wing and Michigan Wolverine defenseman Aaron Ward from an alleged domestic assault in October were dismissed Friday by the Wake County District Attorney s Office. Ward, 43, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2015, in Cary, N.C., and charged with two misdemeanors: assault on a female and interfering with emergency communications. According to court records, TSN reported that Wake County first assistant district attorney Howard J. Cummings wrote after review of this case and discussions with the victim, it appears that further prosecution is not warranted. Ward took to Twitter after the charges were dropped, stating I am humbled by my experience the last few months. I want to thank everyone who has supported and prayed for my family. I am deeply humbled by my experience the last few months. I want to thank everyone who has supported and prayed for my family. Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) February 23, 2016 In his three-year career at Michigan, Ward had 20 goals and 31 assists in 118 games. He also helped the Wolverines reach the NCAA quarterfinals in the season before making back-to-back NCAA Frozen Four appearances the next two years. Ward was traded from the Jets to the Red Wings in 1993, where he spent seven seasons and won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in He had 16 goals and 27 assists in 276 games with Detroit. He also won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 and played for the Rangers, Bruins and Ducks before retiring in 2010 and becoming a studio analyst for TSN in Detroit News LOADED:

20 Wings activate Kronwall after 15-game absence Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 8:36 p.m. EST February 23, 2016 Detroit It s only fitting, isn t it, that Niklas Kronwall returns to the lineup the evening the Red Wings honor his good friend and Hall of Fame teammate Nicklas Lidstrom? Kronwall, who ll play Tuesday night against Columbus, said it s a nice coincidence. It was a huge honor to just play with him, said Kronwall, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Jan. 19 and has missed the last 15 games. It s nice to have him back in town again. Kronwall will be paired with Alexey Marchenko on defense, with Xavier Ouellet becoming a healthy scratch. Kronwall, 35, has three goals and 14 assists in 45 games this season. He will have to gain conditioning and timing in the days ahead. Those are the two things, it doesn t matter how much you skate on your own, once the game gets going, it s all game-type situations and it s hard to get back and it s hard assimilate that in practice, Kronwall said. Just being around the locker room, back on the ice and preparing for games, is something Kronwall missed dearly. Skate with the guys and really, just coming down here every day playing games, that s why we play this game, Kronwall said. Expect Kronwall to be brought along slowly the first few games. The biggest thing is to keep your expectations in check, coach Jeff Blashill said. He was playing really well when he had the surgery. But we can t expect him to hop on the ice today and be quite as good as he was where he left off because of the time off. That s the reality of it. There s rust, whether it s physical or mental. Line adjustments Blashill shuffled the top two lines, with Gustav Nyquist joining Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk while Tomas Tatar skated with Dylan Larkin and Justin Abdelkader. Both Tatar and Nyquist are slumping offensively. Blashill thinks these changes could jumpstart both, while creating balance among the four lines. Nyquist and Tats have certainly proven to have more offense in them, so we want to see if there s other combinations so we can keep Pavel and Z playing at the level they re playing at, and getting a little more from other people, Blashill said. You want to be able to score a little more without losing your defensive integrity. The last two games we did a good job defensively. We want to maintain that defense and still get a little more offense. 20

21 Kindl gone With Kronwall being activated, defenseman Jakub Kindl was reassigned to Grand Rapids. Kindl was also placed on waivers in an attempt to clear salary cap space before Monday s trade deadline. He can be claimed up to noon Wednesday. But chances are slim Kindl will be picked up by another team, given he cleared waivers in January. Ice chips Goaltender Petr Mrazek returned to the starting lineup against the Blue Jackets. Jonathan Ericsson (lower body) skated Tuesday morning but was to miss his fifth consecutive game. Blashill said Ericsson is getting close to rejoining the lineup. Tomas Jurco was a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game. Detroit News LOADED:

22 Red Wings postgame: Riley Sheahan scores in regulation and shootout to spark 2-1 win Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on February 23, 2016 at 11:30 PM, updated February 23, 2016 at 11:50 PM DETROIT If you missed the Detroit Red Wings' 2-1 shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, we've got you covered. Here's a quick snapshot: THREE STARS 1. Riley Sheahan The Red Wings forward snapped an 17-game goal drought by tying the score in the second period before connecting again in the shootout. 2. Petr Mrazek Detroit's goaltender had his second straight strong performance after allowing five goals in back-to-back games. He stopped 28 shots in regulation and overtime before keeping the Blue Jackets off the board in the shootout. 3. Boone Jenner The Columbus forward scored his team's only goal, giving him five in the last five games. BY THE NUMBERS 1 Short-handed goals by the Red Wings this season after Sheahan scored on a breakaway in the second period. 3 Shots blocked by Red Wings defenseman Alexey Marchenko to lead the team. 4 Number of players who have scored for the Red Wings in shootouts after Sheahan and Andreas Athanasiou connected. Before facing Columbus, Brad Richards and Pavel Datsyuk were the only Red Wings to score in a shootout this season. 5 Hits delivered by Detroit's Darren Helm, who led both teams in that department. 6 Shots on goal by Sheahan, the most on either team. Michigan Live LOADED:

23 Red Wings grind out shootout win over Columbus Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on February 23, 2016 at 10:16 PM, updated February 23, 2016 at 11:52 PM DETROIT It wasn't easy, even against a last-place team playing its second game in two nights and a goaltender making his first start since Jan. 2. Then again, few games are easy these days. But the Detroit Red Wings grinded out a 2-1 shootout victory Tuesday over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Joe Louis Arena. New shooters Riley Sheahan and Andreas Athanasiou scored in the shootout against Curtis McElhinney for the Red Wings ( ), who snapped a four-game winless streak and improved to in their past six home games. "It's huge," Sheahan said. "Those first eight spots in our conference are so close, so we need to pull out wins like this. We had a little rough patch there on the road and to get back home and play in front of our own fans and have some success is good for us." After Pavel Datsyuk was denied on the first shootout attempt, Sheahan scored. Athanasiou then clinched the win. "It's kind of my go-to, forehand, backhand, back to forehand," Athanasiou said. "I tried to pull it off as quick as possible and get the goalie to bite. "I think I thought of it when I got to the hash marks. I wasn't sure what I was going to do and at the last minute I just went to what I know works." Petr Mrazek made 30 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped both of the Blue Jackets' shootout tries. "It builds off the last game in Ottawa (3-2 shootout loss Saturday), where I thought he was good as well," coach Jeff Blashill said. "Petr's got the ability, I think, to not get too rattled ever. He seems to be able to stay with himself. Like anybody, I think when you're feeling it you're feeling it. He let the one early that he'd like to have back but after that I thought he played really well. We gave up too many odd-man rushes tonight and I thought he played real well." Both teams had excellent chances to end it in overtime. Athanasiou was especially dangerous, making things happen with his speed. The Blue Jackets several good opportunities to extend their one-goal lead in the second period, with odd-man rushes and open nets. But they couldn't convert. Sheahan tied it at 1-1 with the only goal of the period. He scored his team's first shorthanded tally of the season, on a breakaway, at 13:19. 23

24 "I thought he had good jump," Blashill said. "The one thing with Riley is they're hard to get to the inside. They're a heavy, strong team and he's a heavy, heavy player." Sheahan's eighth goal of the season ended his 17-game points drought, dating back to his game-winning goal at Anaheim on Jan. 10. Alexey Marchenko set him up with an outlet pass after breaking up a play in his own zone. "Marchy made a great play there at the line," Sheahan said. "He does a great job of breaking up plays like that. He just put it into space and I had a step on the guy and saw the lane and got a fortunate bounce. Their player (Brandon Saad) slashed me at the last second and I kind of fanned on it actually, but luckily it went in." It snapped Detroit's scoreless streak at 122:26, dating back to the second period of Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss at Ottawa. The Red Wings registered just four shots during a dreadfully dull first period. Columbus, which had six shots, scored the only goal. Boone Jenner raced down the ice, fighting off Marchenko's attempt to stop him, and fired a shot that beat Mrazek short side, under his right arm. Mrazek didn't let the bad goal affect him, however, as he shut the door the rest of the way in the first of three meetings this season between these teams. "It's always nice to get two points," Mrazek said. "The standings are close and every point that you have it's important." Defenseman Niklas Kronwall returned after missing 15 games following arthroscopic knee surgery on Jan. 18. He was paired with Marchenko. "It was huge," Kronwall said. "From here on in, it's going to be like this, tight games. Obviously, we got to tighten up a lot more defensively. It was a little bit too much open, too many scoring chances against, but Petr played great, as always, and gave us a chance." Michigan Live LOADED:

25 Second-period analysis: Red Wings tie Columbus 1-1 on Riley Sheahan's shorthanded goal Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on February 23, 2016 at 9:17 PM, updated February 23, 2016 at 10:49 PM DETROIT First, the Red Wings suffered their first shutout loss of the season Sunday in New York. Now, they've got their first short-handed goal of the season after Riley Sheahan scored to tie the game in the second period. What's next? Jimmy Howard winning his first game in almost three months this weekend in Colorado? We'll have to wait and see what happens Saturday in The Mile High State but the Red Wings have the short-handed monkey off their back after Sheahan scored on a breakaway with 6:01 left in the second. Both teams had one power play in the period. The Blue Jackets are 0-for-3 with a manpower advantage. The Red Wings are 0-1. Detroit outshot the Blue Jackets 11-5 in the period and has a advantage for the game. Michigan Live LOADED:

26 First-period analysis: Red Wings trail Columbus 1-0 after getting four shots on goal Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on February 23, 2016 at 8:21 PM, updated February 23, 2016 at 9:42 PM DETROIT Returning to home ice didn't do much for the Detroit Red Wings' offense Tuesday. Not in the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, anyway. After a four-game road trip that saw them score just six goals, the Red Wings managed only four shots on goal against the Blue Jackets. Columbus had six. It didn't help that the Red Wings had the only two penalties of the period. Darren Helm went off for delay of game at 5:28 and Justin Abdelkader was whistled for interference at 14:22. The Blue Jackets scored the only goal of the period with 1:42 left, when Boone Jenner put the puck under Petr Mrazek's blocker. The Red Wings were credited with one scoring chance to five for Columbus, which had an 8-5 edge in faceoff wins and 10-8 in hits. Michigan Live LOADED:

27 Red Wings' 24-season playoff streak 'something special,' says Nicklas Lidstrom Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on February 23, 2016 at 8:07 PM, updated February 23, 2016 at 8:38 PM DETROIT The Detroit Red Wings haven't gone past the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2009, when they lost in the championship round to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But that doesn't mean their 24-season playoff streak isn't a special thing, according to one of the greatest players in the Red Wings' storied history. The streak is one of the things that makes the Red Wings' unique. "First of all, it's a special organization to be part of," legendary defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said before Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. "Being one of the Original Six teams and just the history of the team, looking around in the locker room or up in the hallways around here, you see a lot of the faces that played here in the '30s and '40s and '50s. There's a lot of history here. "The run that we've had for over 20 years now has been something special, too. The team take a lot of pride in being in the playoffs and I think the fans almost demand to be there. So as a team, as an organization, we set the bar high every year and I think that shows what kind of team we've been for a long time." The playoff streak was one of the things Lidstrom reflected back on before the Red Wings honored him for his induction into the Hall of Fame last November. The Red Wings never missed the playoffs during Lidstrom's brilliant 20-year career. The streak began the year before he joined the Red Wings in and is still alive almost four years after he retired following Detroit's first-round exit in During Lidstrom's run in Detroit, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup four times, including 2008 when Lidstrom became the first European-born player to captain an NHL champion. It's the four Stanley Cups that Lidstrom is most proud of when looking back on his career. "I always think about the championships, winning Stanley Cups," Lidstrom said. "You set up a goal in September, in training camp, and you reach that goal the following year in June. Those are some of the good memories I cherish. "But also being able to play for a lot of years, not missing many games and being part of such a great organization, being part of the Red Wings throughout my whole career, that's something I cherish as well." Lidstrom's individual accomplishments include winning the Norris Trophy seven times as the NHL's best defenseman second only to Bobby Orr's eight being named playoff MVP in 2002, being a 10-time first-team All-Star and playing in 11 All-Star Games. 27

28 Now that he's retired, Lidstrom thinks about those accomplishments more often. Nicklas Lidstrom reflects back on his induction into the Hall of Fame The Red Wings legend and former teammate Sergei Fedorov were enshrined in November. "Probably more now than when I was playing, because when you were playing you're always thinking about the next game, the next season, always focusing on what's ahead," he said. "Now you can look back and enjoy it in a different way. "You can enjoy winning the first Norris Trophy, you can enjoy some of the accomplishments I did as an individual. But what it really comes down to, you're thinking of when you won with the team, winning as a team, winning with the guys you battled with for 80-some games and the playoffs." Although he now lives in his native Sweden full time, Lidstrom still keeps tabs on the Red Wings. He likes what he's seen from rookie Dylan Larkin, who leads the Red Wings with 19 goals and a plus-21 rating, is second in points with 39 and this year became the first Red Wings' rookie to play in an All-Star Game since Steve Yzerman in Larkin was 19 when he played in the All-Star Game. Yzerman was 18. "I didn't see Stevie when he was that age but I've heard how good he was at that age and I've heard the comparisons, too," Lidstrom said. "When I came, Stevie was an established captain here. He was mid-20s. But Larkin has got a bright future in front of him. It's going to be fun to watch him in years to come. "I think Larkin is sticking out, the season he's had so far and how well he's played, being a rookie, being a 19-year-old in the league and playing so well. And continuing to play so well, too, throughout. We're 60 games into the season and he's still playing well. "As a rookie, you can play real well in the first half and then you kind of hit the grind of an NHL season. But he's just been plugging along and playing well so I'm just looking forward to watching him live tonight." Lidstrom was asked about his place among the greatest defensemen in NHL history and he said that was for others to decide. But Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, who was an assistant coach in Detroit for one year while Lidstrom was still playing, called Lidstrom the best he's ever seen. "I didn't see Bobby Orr play but for me the best defenseman I've ever seen" is Lidstrom, Blashill said. "I say that because some defensemen, and there's D-men in the league right now that are real flashy and might be real good offensively, but I think the best winners for defensemen are efficient defensemen, guys that produce tons of offense without giving much up and he was the best I've ever seen at that. "He was as efficient of a player as has probably ever been in the league. He created tons of offense through his ability to walk the blue line and find opening and shoot the slap shot and be shot ready but he was extremely good defensively and in breaking the puck out and transitioning. I believe he's got to be right up there with anybody. 28

29 "It probably took a while for people to realize how good he was in the league. He ended up getting the recognition he deserved but he probably could have won more Norrises had he been recognized earlier. I feel extremely grateful I had the chance to be on the bench and had a chance to coach him the year I was here as an assistant." Michigan Live LOADED: