Detroit Red Wings Clips March 27, 2015

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips March 27, 2015 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 San Jose 6, Detroit 4: Why the Red Wings lost PAGE 3 Howard pulled in Red Wings' 6-4 loss to Sharks PAGE 5 Goals hard to come by, but Wings' Nyquist keeps at it PAGE 7 Arena builder seeks to raze hotel, create bigger public park PAGE 10 Mrazek will start Saturday after Howard pulled Thursday PAGE 11 Krupa: Wings' outlook murky as losses mount PAGE 14 Wings' goalie woes persist in 6-4 loss to Sharks PAGE 16 Plan for Red Wings arena neighborhood on hold PAGE 18 Howard gets nod tonight; 'he has to be better' PAGE 20 Jimmy Howard's struggles prompt Red Wings to turn to Petr Mrazek for next game -- and maybe more PAGE 22 Sharks 6, Red Wings 4: Jimmy Howard's struggles continue, defensive mistakes costly PAGE 24 Second-period analysis: Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 PAGE 25 First-period analysis: Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 PAGE 27 Red Wings coach Mike Babcock gives Jimmy Howard vote of confidence by starting him after rough outing PAGE 29 Detroit officials question $650 million Red Wings arena plan PAGE 32 Red Wings' lineup vs. Sharks: Niklas Kronwall returns, but Pavel Datsyuk not ready to play PAGE 34 Mike Babcock hands No. 1 job to Petr Mrazek... for now PAGE 36 Howard shaky again as Sharks sink Red Wings PAGE 38 Howard benched as Wings fall to Sharks, 6-4 PAGE 40 NHL ships nets which have room for cameras inside posts

2 San Jose 6, Detroit 4: Why the Red Wings lost By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 11:39 p.m. EDT March 26, SMG ads-bv1-08 AT JOE LOUIS ARENA First period: A turnover by Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson led to the Sharks scoring on their first shot of the game. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored his eighth goal of the season on a fluttering shot 19 seconds into the game. Sharks forward Joe Thornton slashed Henrik Zetterberg 3:41 into the game. The Sharks took a 2-0 lead on a goal by Matt Nieto at 9:14. Nieto's wrist shot went in off the post and behind Howard. That gave the Sharks two goals on their first five shots. The Wings answered at 10:04 on a goal credited to Tomas Jurco. The puck slipped in during a huge scramble. The Wings scored goals 1:40 apart to tie the game at 2. Defenseman Danny DeKeyser assisted on both goals, giving him 25 assists for the season. Following a San Jose turnover, Tomas Tatar scored his team-leading 27th goal on a deflection at 11:44. The Sharks took a 3-2 lead on their ninth shot of the game. Chris Tierney's shot went in off the skate of Wings forward Joakim Andersson at 16:02. The Wings ended the period on the power play, after Joe Pavelski went off for holding at 17:56. Teemu Pulkkinen hit a post during the power play. Second period: Petr Mrazek replaced Jimmy Howard in net for the start of the period. Mrazek stopped all seven shots he faced in the period. Riley Sheahan had a good scoring chance midway through the period for the Wings Third period: The Sharks scored 31 seconds into the period. Following a turnover by Gustav Nyquist, Logan Couture fired a puck in off the far post. It was Couture's 24th goal of the season. Stephen Weiss cut the deficit to 4-3 at 3:39 of the third period for the Wings. Weiss knocked in a rebound. But Patrick Marleau answered at 4:56 to give the Sharks a 5-3 lead. The Sharks took advantage of an ill-timed line change and Marleau's shot went under the right arm of Mrazek. The Wings scored another goal after a scramble in front of the net. Zetterberg was initially credited with the goal at 7:27, after a shot by Jonathan Ericsson. The goal was later changed and awarded to Justin Abdelkader. Marleau added his second goal of the game, an empty-netter with 1:17 left in the game. Three stars: 1. Marleau (two goals, one assist), Sharks. 2. Couture (goal, assist), Sharks. 3. Tierney (goal, assist), Sharks. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Howard pulled in Red Wings' 6-4 loss to Sharks By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 11:21 p.m. EDT March 26, 2015 Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Thursday morning that Jimmy Howard was starting against the Sharks because "he's our starting goalie until he's not our starting goalie." Howard, who turned 31 on Thursday, was no longer in goal for the Wings by the start of the second period. The Sharks had scored three goals on their first nine shots and Howard was replaced in net by Petr Mrazek, who allowed two goals on 19 shots. Howard finished with seven saves on 10 shots and has allowed eight goals on the last 32 shots he's faced. The Wings went on to lose, 6-4, against the Sharks at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings were looking for Howard to bounce back after he allowed five goals in an overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night. Babcock said that Mrazek would start Saturday when the Wings host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Howard's teammates didn't give him a lot of support in the first period. The Wings had 12 giveaways. Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar each had four. "What we did was chased it all night long," said Wings coach Mike Babcock. "And obviously the puck went in our night and we played catch up. What catch up hockey leads to is turnovers. Try to make the perfect play all the time because you think every shift is an emergency instead of taking what's given. You get impatient just because you're chasing the game." A turnover by Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson led to the Sharks scoring on their first shot of the game. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored his eighth goal of the season on a fluttering shot 19 seconds into the game. The Sharks took a 2-0 lead on a goal by Matt Nieto at 9:14. Nieto's wrist shot went in off the post and behind Howard. That gave the Sharks two goals on their first five shots. Tomas Jurco and Tomas Tatar answered with goals 1:40 apart. Defenseman Danny DeKeyser assisted in both goals for the Wings. Jurco was credited with a goal following a huge scramble in front of the Sharks net at 10:04. Following a San Jose turnover, Tatar scored his team-leading 27th goal on a deflection at 11:44. The Sharks took a 3-2 lead, on their ninth shot of the game, at 16:02 of the first period. Chris Tierney's shot went in off the skate of Wings forward Joakim Andersson. 3

4 The Wings ended the period on the power play, after Joe Pavelski went off for holding at 17:56. Teemu Pulkkinen hit a post during the power play. The Sharks capitalized on a turnover by Gustav Nyquist in the first minute of the third period to take a 4-2 lead. Logan Couture's shot hit the far post 31 seconds into the period. It was Couture's 24th goal of the season. The teams later combined for three goals in a span of 3:48 in the third period. Stephen Weiss cut the deficit to 4-3 at 3:39 of the third period for the Wings. Weiss knocked in a rebound for his first goal since Feb. 11. But Patrick Marleau answered at 4:56 to give the Sharks a 5-3 lead. The Sharks took advantage of an ill-timed line change and Marleau's shot went under the right arm of Mrazek. The Wings scored another goal after a scramble in front of the net. Justin Abdelkader was credited with the goal at 7:27, after a shot by Jonathan Ericsson. Marleau added his second goal of the game, an empty-netter with 1:17 left. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

5 Goals hard to come by, but Wings' Nyquist keeps at it By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 2:54 p.m. EDT March 26, 2015 Gustav Nyquist had two goals over his past 21 games before scoring at 13:39 in the third period in the Detroit Red Wings' Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Nyquist tapped a puck into the net out of midair during a power play for his 23rd goal of the season. "Obviously I want to score goals," Nyquist said. "Haven't done it in a while. Every time you get that puck in, if you haven't scored in a while, it's a great feeling. At the same time, it's more important to win the game and we didn't." Nyquist said the goal he scored Tuesday wasn't the prettiest, but the key to getting any out of any tough stretch is to keep battling. "That's where goals are going to be scored now down the stretch here, in front of the net," he said. "You've gotta get in there." When things are going good for Nyquist, he said he feels like "you're shooting more and even quicker." "You get the puck and you feel like you've got a good shot and you see it go in sometimes," Nyquist said. "When you go on a streak like this and you don't score for a little bit maybe you think about 'should I take the shot here?' You grip your stick a little harder and then it's too late and you don't score. Just don't think too much about it and go out there and create chances and shoot the puck as much as possible. One will trickle in or deflect off someone somehow and will go in." Red Wings stick with Jimmy Howard in net (for now) Entering tonight's game against the Sharks, Tomas Tatar leads the Wings with 26 goals. Nyquist and Pavel Datsyuk were tied for second with 23 goals apiece. Datsyuk skated earlier today, but remained out with a lower-body injury. He will miss his fifth consecutive game tonight and said he hoped to play Saturday when the Wings host Tampa Bay. "No, not today," Datsyuk said of playing today. "Hard to say when, but it's not today for sure." Lesson for Larkin? Michigan forward Dylan Larkin will decide soon whether to return for his sophomore year or turn pro. Larkin, from Waterford, was the drafted 15th overall by the Wings in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He scored 15 goals with 32 assists for 47 points in 35 games this season. Nyquist, a fourth-round pick by the Wings in 2008, could have turned pro after leading NCAA Division I college hockey in scoring with 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) as a sophomore for Maine in He decided to come back for his junior year and finished with 18 goals and 33 assists for 51 points. 5

6 "I thought we had a great team," Nyquist said of why he returned for an extra year. "I just felt like I wasn't ready. I felt I could take a year and get stronger. You can spend more time in the gym and become a better player." Detroit Free Press LOADED:

7 Arena builder seeks to raze hotel, create bigger public park By Joe Guillen, Detroit Free Press 12:10 a.m. EDT March 27, 2015 The developer of the planned Red Wings arena presented several changes today for the ambitious project, including the demolition of a boarded-up historic hotel to make room for a better loading dock and the renovation of another historic hotel to provide up to 100 residential units. Consultants for the developer, Olympia Development of Michigan, an Ilitch Holdings company, also said a public park next to the arena will be bigger than originally planned. The changes were described to the Detroit City Council as part of Olympia's request to rezone about 12 acres of land in the Cass Corridor area to make way for the 20,000- seat arena and new parking deck. The council was set to vote on the rezoning request late last year, but Olympia pulled the request when council members raised concerns about preservation of the historic hotels, affordable housing available on the site and the number of spaces in the new parking deck. The updated plan was presented today to the council's planning and economic development committee. The committee could vote next week to send the rezoning request to the full council. The land must be rezoned for Olympia to build the $450 million arena and surrounding facilities. "There are a number of questions that need to be answered, drawings that need to be updated," Councilman Scott Benson said. The original plan Olympia submitted to council did not address its plan for the Hotel Park Avenue, also known as the Harbor Lights building. Today, Olympia consultant Richard Heapes confirmed what city officials told the Free Press in January: The Park Avenue would be torn down but the historic Eddystone Hotel next door would be preserved. "It is our long-term desire to demolish the Harbor Lights," Heapes said. A staff member for the council pointed out that the Park Avenue has a special designation and the Detroit Historic District Commission would need to consider plans for demolition. If the commission rejects the demolition request, Olymipa would have to appeal to the courts. Olympia could work around the Historic District Commission by seeking an exemption from the city for demolishing dangerous buildings. A press release from Olympia said the commission's approval for demolition of the Park Avenue and renovating the Eddystone would be sought. While the plans call for razing one historic building, Olympia wants to renovate the Eddystone with residential units. Heapes said 20% of the units would be set aside for affordable housing. 7

8 There is a trade-off for the added residential spaces at the Eddystone. Olympia is scrapping plans for residential units at one of the adjacent new buildings to the arena. That will be office space under the revised plans. Council members raised several concerns during the meeting, but they also expressed optimism toward the new plans. Councilman Gabe Leland said he has concerns about how many residential units are being offered. "If we don't maximize the potential for new housing, I don't think we will achieve our goal," he said. Leland said the council still does not have written commitments from Olympia to match the presentation made today. The Eddystone Hotel, for example, is outside of the land to be rezoned. Leland said it's possible the council could approve the rezoning request with its own set of conditions to hold Olympia accountable for following through on the new plans. "That's what we're checking into, to see if we're able to move forward with some of those issues not necessarily etched in stone," Leland said. "To go back and to start all over I think would take a lot of time." Councilwoman Raquel Castaneda-Lopez questioned how increased traffic along Cass Avenue into the new parking deck would affect plans for Cass to be a major bike thoroughfare. She said it's important for the council to get answers to their questions and not rush to vote. Castaneda-Lopez also praised additions to the public spaces surrounding the area, but she questioned why about 800 spaces of the 1,100 in the new parking deck would be reserved on game nights for suite holders. About 120 spaces would be for players, their families and team owners. A handful of Detroit area spoke at today's council meeting about the new arena plans. Some lamented the plans to tear down the historic Hotel Park Avenue. Emilie Evans, a Detroit preservation specialist for the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, said the Park Avenue and the Eddystone have stood together for more than 100 years. "The history of the Park Avenue Hotel and the importance that that site provides for authentic urban context...is being erased because of an inconvenience for semi trucks that might need to back into a loading dock," Evans said. Nicholas Miller, 28, who owns a home in Midtown, agreed the hotel should be preserved. He also questioned plans for the public park next to the arena. "The planned piazza, it looked very corporate," Miller said. "I think in the U.S. we only associate spaces as public if they're surrounded by public streets. This is going to be surrounded by private buildings and I think any notion that it's going to be a public space is kind of laughable." 8

9 Heapes, the Olympia consultant, said the park will have wi-fi access, public seating, and an area where food trucks could park. He said part of the park will be made possible with the demolition of the Park Avenue. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

10 Mrazek will start Saturday after Howard pulled Thursday By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 12:29 a.m. EDT March 27, 2015 Red Wings coach Mike Babcock didn't need a day to think about who should start in goal on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Babcock said after a 6-4 loss on Thursday night to the Sharks that Petr Mrazek would get the next start for the Wings. Jimmy Howard started for the Wings against the Sharks and allowed three goals on the first nine shots he faced, although turnovers by teammates didn't help. When healthy, who should start for the Red Wings? Howard was coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes and has now allowed eight goals over the last 32 shots he's faced. When turnovers were brought up as one of the problems for the Wings, Babcock said: "We're giving up too many goals. Let's not worry about the turnovers at this point." Without being asked about who should start the next game, Babcock said: "Pete Mrazek's gotta get himself ready to go. Get Pete an opportunity here because we need that area fixed." Babcock said once they get some confidence in that area the rest of the team can settle down. He plans to sit down and talk to Howard today. Babcock said Howard was given an opportunity to bounce back and he didn't do that. He didn't like everything about Mrazek's performance Thursday night over the final two periods specifically the goal by Patrick Marleau. Mrazek finished with 17 saves in 38:59. The shot by Marleau at 4:56 of the third beat Mrazek under his right arm to give the Sharks a 5-3 lead. "Was that the fifth goal?" Babcock said. "When you've given up as many as we have, it's hard to remember." Asked if the Wings had a No.1 goalie, Babcock answered: "I'm starting Petr Mrazek next game." Notes: Pavel Datsyuk missed his fifth consecutive game with a lower body injury on Thursday. Datsyuk said he hopes to play Saturday..Niklas Kronwall returned after missing Tuesday's game with a lower body injury. Kronwall was minus-2 in 22:08 with one assist. With Kronwall back in the lineup, Jakub Kindl, who had a goal and an assist on Tuesday, was a healthy scratch..stephen Weiss played in place of Erik Cole (upper body injury) and scored a goal in 10:11. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

11 Krupa: Wings' outlook murky as losses mount Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 4:32 a.m. EDT March 27, 2015 Detroit It was the worst possible start for a team and a goaltender struggling to rediscover their elusive, best performances. Before 19 seconds elapsed, defenseman Jonathan Ericsson coughed up the puck in a corner, to Jimmy Howard's right and slightly behind him. Two touches of the puck later by the Sharks and floater of a shot, chest-high, emerged from a group of bodies at least partially screening Howard, and it was behind him. By the time the first period was over, 19:41 late, on the game clock, a whole new dynamic was established in the Red Wings' net. With nine games left in the regular season, it now appears to be less about Howard "finding his game," than the Wings playing with whichever goalie, Howard or Petr Mrazek, is better. The way both have been inconsistent in recent weeks, and again on Thursday against the Sharks, it might take some time to figure that out. At this point, Mike Babcock probably would prefer that one of them simply seize the job and put the discussion and emerging controversy to rest. But Babcock knows the team has other problems, too. Clubs that give up 11 goals in two home games tend to have enough difficulty to spread around, and the Red Wings certainly do. "We had 'D' that didn't box out and wasn't ready to go from the start," Babcock said of the corps of defensemen. But he wants fewer pucks going in, and if that means juggling goalies or declaring Mrazek his number one, Babcock seems intent on getting the job done. "We'll come in here tomorrow, and we'll get it fixed. Net fix needed "The outcome is: We can't keep it out of our net. So, until we get that fixed, nothing else. We're going to get that fixed tomorrow. "You guys have a good night." And, with that, he was off, behind the curtains, apparently in search of some of his problems in the showers and workout room. The captain was matter of fact. "It's been two games, right now, where we're not playing good defense," Henrik Zetterberg said. "It's tough to win games when we have to score five or six goals. "But we're doing this to ourselves. 11

12 "We've got to play with more patience," he said. "We're giving the other teams too many easy chances, odd man rushes and we can't win like that. "We're not helping out goalies. We're not boxing out in front of them. We're not having our sticks tipping pucks. "This is not on Howie and Petr. This is on all the guys. "We have to play better." The Senators lost Friday. Their wunderkind of a goalie, Andrew "The Hamburglar" Hammond, was pulled in a 5-1 rout by the Rangers The Bruins managed one point in an overtime loss to the Ducks. So, despite a second night of catastrophe, the Wings lead over their pursuers remained at five points. But it does not feel that way. Somehow, this feels worse than the desperate struggles to make the playoffs the last two seasons. They are, in the words of their coach, "not like the Red Wings." Snowball effect The avalanche of goals against them is playing havoc with their hopes to clinch a playoff spot, and destroying their confidence in entering the postseason playing all of their systems well. Since a six-game road trip and a return game at home, Feb. 18 to March 4, when they went 5-1-1, they are They hoped to get it jump-started Thursday against the Sharks. But, from the start, Howard looked uncomfortable. And that was not good, because Howard was standing in a goal crease at Joe Louis Arena, where he makes his living. When his mates made his life even more difficult in the first period against the Sharks, Howard looked even worse. Ericsson's turnover was the first of seven giveaways in the first period, alone, and one of 12 for the game. After letting in three of 10 shots, Howard, the Red Wings' All-Star goalie of two-and-ahalf months ago was on the bench for the last two periods. "I agree with you," Babcock said when it was asserted Howard looked uneasy. "It's one of those things. "Obviously, it didn't go the way he wanted. "He's a proud guy. We gave him the opportunity to bounce back. He didn't do that." And then, Mrazek made clear that he is still having a bit of trouble attending to his angles when a couple shots went in that should not. The 23-year-old will likely see that on the video. 12

13 "I didn't like the second goal that went in on him," Babcock said of a goal by Logan Couture that went under Mrazek's blocker arm, next to his ribs, and in. "They can't chicken wing it. Couture's shot is a great shot. That can't happen to you." The Wings are likely to see quite a bit of video and drawing on the white boards, Friday, before practice. "In the last two games, we've given up a lot of goals and that's not Red Wing-like," Babcock said of the goalie change. "But as a group of coaches and as a group of players, we've just got to bunker in here tomorrow and have a good conversation and have a good practice and get ready to play. "We're going to get regrouped tomorrow, and I guarantee we'll be back and ready to go." And they will go in front of Mrazek, at least for now. Detroit News LOADED:

14 Wings' goalie woes persist in 6-4 loss to Sharks Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 4:25 a.m. EDT March 27, 2015 Detroit If there wasn't a goalie controversy surrounding the Red Wings, there likely is now. Jimmy Howard was pulled after one period, Petr Mrazek replaced him, but maybe the more concerning matter is the Red Wings keep losing. They're allowing too many goals, there's too many turnovers, and the results have been mostly the same, like Thursday's 6-4 loss to San Jose. With Boston losing in overtime and Ottawa losing in regulation time, the Red Wings lead both teams by five points (90-85). The Red Wings play both teams next week at Joe Louis Arena. But until then, the Red Wings will have to stabilize their goaltending and play better in front of him. "We just haven't been good enough and executing well enough for the past couple of weeks," said Danny DeKeyser as the Red Wings dropped to in their last 11 games. "That's something that has to change if we want to make the playoffs. "Teams below us are closing in and they've been for a while now. We have to figure it out pretty quick." The goaltending continues to be a primary issue. Howard allowed three goals on 10 shots and was replaced to start the second period by Mrazek, who stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced. Mrazek will start Saturday against Tampa Bay, said coach Mike Babcock, who gave Howard an opportunity to rebound from Tuesday's subpar performance but the goalie fell deeper into a slump. "We have to do a better job in our own net," Babcock said. "Petr Mrazek has to get ready to go and gets an opportunity. We need that area fixed. "We chased the game all night long. The puck went in our net and we played catch-up and catch-up hockey leads to turnovers because you're trying to make the perfect play all the time." Babcock didn't feel Howard looked comfortable. "It's one of those things," Babcock said. "I haven't talked to him. I'll talk to him tomorrow. Obviously it didn't go the way he wanted. He's a proud guy and we gave him an opportunity to bounce back and he didn't do that. We'll give Petr Mrazek an opportunity." Mzarek wasn't sharp, either. The second goal he allowed in the second period came on a long shot by Patrick Marleau that went under his arm. 14

15 "I didn't like the second goal," Babcock said. "Is that the fifth goal? When we're giving up as many as we are, it's hard to remember. "We need him to bunker down and play the way he's capable of playing." Mrazek did make a sparkling glove save on Tomas Hertl which kept the game 5-4 with six minutes left in regulation, but Marleau's second goal of the game, an empty-netter goal with 1:17 left clinched the victory. Tomas Jurco, Tomas Tatar, Stephen Weiss and Justin Abdelkader scored for the Red Wings ( , 90 points). Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Matt Nieto, Chris Tierney and Couture added goals for the Sharks ( , 80 points). But it's not entirely on the goaltending. "We're trying too (hard) instead of taking it easy and making the right plays and wait for the right moment," Zetterberg said. "We're forcing stuff. We're not helping our goalies, like boxing in front of him, getting sticks on pucks. "This isn't on Howie or Petr. It's all of the guys. We have to be better defensively. We'll get our chances offensively and we'll score goals." Detroit News LOADED:

16 Plan for Red Wings arena neighborhood on hold Christine Ferretti and Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News 1:01 p.m. EDT March 26, 2015 Detroit A revamped plan promising more green space and affordable housing opportunities in the district around the new Red Wings arena will remain in a City Council committee for now. The council s Planning and Economic Development subcommittee decided to hold off on recommending the plan to the full council after a much-anticipated presentation and discussion Thursday involving Olympia Development of Michigan. The zoning request is slated to return to the committee next week. There s still a number of questions to be clarified before we move this forward, committee member Scott Benson said in regard to queries about traffic, parking, historic property and housing options. Olympia is seeking a zoning change from the council so construction can begin on the $450 million arena. The multi-purpose venue is expected to open in the summer of The zoning change has been hung up since late last year after several council members wanted modifications to address concerns over parking, traffic and the fate of two historic buildings. Richard Heapes, a consultant for Olympia, said Thursday that the developer is confident in the improvements made in its plan....we are anxious to get this approved through council so that we can get started out there, he said, adding that the time line is getting uncomfortably close. But some members of the council, including Raquel Castaneda-Lopez, who does not sit on the subcommittee, stressed concern over traffic congestion and the need to for affordable housing that appeals to families and older residents as well as the younger population. Among the new components of the plan for the $650 million, 45-block district north of downtown is a commitment from the Ilitch organization to ensure that 20 percent of housing in the five new neighborhoods is affordable. A rendering for one of the new residential buildings was also unveiled: the renovated former Eddystone Hotel with residential units. It s a long-vacant, 13-story building on the edge of the future home ice of the Detroit Red Wings. The other vacant building, the 90-year-old former Park Avenue Hotel, must be demolished, Ilitch officials say. That building, also known as the former Harbor Light, needs to be razed because it is in a high-security zone of the proposed arena. In its place, an underground loading dock should be built to ensure the multipurpose venue can accommodate major concerts and other events. 16

17 Preservationists, resident and neighborhood advisory committee members turned up at Thursday s meeting to react to the revised plan, sharing a mix of praise and criticism. Emilie Evans, a preservation specialist with the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, says she s advocating for both hotels to be spared under the plan. This is a pair of buildings, she told the committee. Now is the time to let the history of the decisions that you make, and that we make collectively, live on in those buildings for another 100 years. Midtown homeowner Nick Miller said demolishing the Park Hotel would be a waste....it should be remembered that a hockey arena will probably only last years and it doesn t make sense to tear down an historic property... for a temporary facility s loading dock, he said. But Jason Gappa, a member of the 12-member Neighborhood Advisory Committee keeping tabs on Olympia, said the group is pleased with changes in the developers plan. The NAC believes that preservation of historic assets, such as Eddystone, is a vital redevelopment strategy and is encouraged that Olympia has found a significant historic property to include in this major phase of development, he said. After the meeting, Castaneda-Lopez sounded unconvinced that Olympia needed 1,100 parking spaces in the garage next to the arena. About 800 spaces would serve to those who rent suites in the arena the most expensive way to watch as well as players and other members affiliated to the team and events at the venue. Castaneda-Lopez said she was concerned that garage and truck traffic that will rely on Cass Avenue will have too much of a negative impact on the neighborhood, especially Cass Tech High School. Olympia is also now proposing an 1,100-space parking structure on site, down from the initial proposal for 1,200 spaces. Castaneda-Lopez had asked Olympia to cut the number of parking spaces around the arena to 600. The zoning request centers on four blocks between Woodward and Cass that includes the arena, two above-ground parking garages and mixed-use space. Those four blocks are just one of five new neighborhoods expected to be created that will cover 45 blocks. Detroit News LOADED:

18 Howard gets nod tonight; 'he has to be better' Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 5:36 p.m. EDT March 26, 2015 Detroit If there was any question about who the Red Wings' starting goalie is, coach Mike Babcock snuffed it after Thursday's morning skate. Jimmy Howard is the undisputed No. 1 goalie, with Petr Mrazek continuing to back him up. Howard caught much of the criticism following Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to Arizona, with fans wanting to see Mrazek in net Thursday against San Jose. But Babcock went back to Howard, who turned 31 Thursday, and gave the goalie a vote of confidence. "He's our starting goalie until he's not our starting goalie," Babcock said. "I've been here a long time and I've had a lot of goalies and we've had a lot of goalies struggle. But your guy normally is your guy, and if he isn't your guy, you find another way to go. "But the bottom line is he played two good games and we couldn't keep it out of our net the last game." Howard comes into Thursday's game with a record, a 2.40 goals-against average and.912 save percentage. Decent enough numbers, although the GAA and save percentage have ballooned in recent weeks -- since Howard returned from a groin injury he suffered Jan. 10 in Washington. Howard is since that time in his last seven starts and his inconsistency was typified by the last two games, stopping 23 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory over powerful St. Louis, then the ugly loss to lowly Arizona. Babcock blamed Howard -- and the players in front of him. "He has to be better, our group has to be better," Babcock said. "We have to find ways to win. We can't give up five goals like we did last game. We gave up two power-play goals and I thought our penalty kill was outstanding. We have to do a better job of keeping the puck out of our net. The Wings have 90 points, sixth in the East. The Sharks have 78 points, 11th in the West. "We have to buckle down. We had an off-day yesterday, we should be fresh. We have a team (San Jose) that's playing for their playoff life, and let's be honest, we're playing for our playoff life. We have to dig in and play well and embrace the opportunity." Babcock hasn't disclosed his goaltending rotation for this weekend, but with back-toback games Saturday (Lightning) and Sunday (at Islanders), it's likely Mrazek will get one of the two. Kronwall in, Datsyuk out 18

19 Niklas Kronwall (lower body) returned to the lineup Thursday but Pavel Datsyuk (lower body) missed his fifth consecutive game. Datsyuk took part in the morning skate but still largely skated on his own and didn't test himself physically. "No, not today," said Datsyuk afterward. "I was shooting for today but it's not working. "Every day is better. I'm more confident and I have more power." Datsyuk isn't surprised these games in the final weeks of the regular season have become so difficult. "There are lots of tough games, everybody is pushing for the playoffs," Datsyuk said. "Every game is closer to the playoffs and it's not easy to win." Kronwall was a late scratch before the Arizona game but participated in Thursday's skate and was cleared to play. "He's a leader," said Babcock of Kronwall. "He does it right every night. You don't replace good players." Babcock realized Kronwall and Datsyuk were missing from the lineup against the Coyotes quickly. "You notice that," Babcock said. "If they've been out a long time you don't notice it anymore, you just find a way to win without them. It's what you do. But in the short-term, it affects you." Ice chips Erik Cole (upper body) will not play, with Stephen Weiss joining the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last five games.... Babcock made an interesting observation about how teams that are winning tend to be more patient. "When you're playing real well, you tend to be more patient," Babcock said. "Goals are going to come. When you're not playing well, you get impatient and you're forcing things. Odd-man rushes are a disease of impatience. "It's not a race. A lot of shifts are and nothing happens in the game. You wait, keep grinding, keeping doing things right." Detroit News LOADED:

20 Jimmy Howard's struggles prompt Red Wings to turn to Petr Mrazek for next game -- and maybe more Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on March 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM, updated March 27, 2015 at 1:48 AM DETROIT - Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard was enjoying an All-Star caliber season right up until the time he was carried off the ice on a stretcher due to a groin injury Jan. 10 in Washington. Since he returned in mid-march he's been inconsistent, with a few good games mixed in with some bad outings. He has struggled badly the past two games and did not look comfortable in the first period Thursday during a 6-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena. Coach Mike Babcock can't put his finger on why his workhorse goaltender is out of sorts, but he's not prepared to let him work his way out of it. The Red Wings, in their past 11 games, need to snap out of this funk. They have not secured a playoff spot and Boston and Ottawa are gaining ground. That's why Babcock is turning to Petr Mrazek for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning - and maybe more. "Pete Mrazek's got to get himself ready to go," Babcock said. "Give Pete an opportunity here because we need that area fixed. It's amazing when you get a little confidence in that area we can all settle down and get playing better. "We scored tons of goals in the last couple of games, but it's like chasing the game. You can't play like that, you got to play right. So we're going to get regrouped tomorrow and I guarantee we'll be ready to play." Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored 19 seconds into the game on a wrist shot from the point, following a turnover by Jonathan Ericsson. Matt Nieto made it 2-0 at 9:14 on a shot that caromed off the goal post and Howard's back. The Red Wings tied it on goals by Tomas Jurco and Tomas Tatar 1:40 apart midway through the period before Chris Tierney scored on a wraparound shot that deflected in off of Joakim Andersson's skate at 16:02. Howard allowed three goals on 10 shots and took a seat after the first period as Mrazek relieved him. Howard has allowed eight goals on 32 shots in a little more than four periods over the past two games. Babcock agreed that Howard looked uncomfortable. "I haven't talked to him, I'll talk to him tomorrow, but obviously it didn't go the way he wanted," Babcock said. "We gave him an opportunity to bounce back (after Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes), he didn't do that. We'll give Pete Mrazek an opportunity here. 20

21 "As a group of coaches and a group of players we just got to bunker in here tomorrow and have a good conversation, have a good practice and get ready to play. Like I said we'll be back ready to go." Babcock said he didn't like the second of two goals Mrazek allowed (on 19 shots), when Patrick Marleau's shot sailed under the goalie's right arm at 4:56 of the third period. It proved to be the game-winner. "Was that the fifth goal? When you've given up as many as we have it's hard to remember," Babcock said. "That can't happen to you. But he'll get the start next game and we need him to bunker down and play the way he's capable of playing. Same goes for everyone else. We had D that didn't box out and weren't ready to go at the start. "We're all in this together. We took our lumps here today and last game. We've given up a lot of goals at home. That's not how we want to play. That's not Red Wing-like. We'll come in here tomorrow and get it fixed." The Red Wings haven't played well without the puck. Turnovers hurt them in this game. "We're not helping our goalies," Henrik Zetterberg said. "We're not boxing out in front of (them). We're having sticks that are tipping pucks. This is not on Howie and Petr, this is on all the guys. We have to play better defense. We will get our chances offensively and we will score goals, but we have to tighten it up." Said defenseman Danny DeKeyser: "I think the D have to be better, getting back the pucks. The forwards have to be better helping out and the goalies need to be better, too. As a whole we need to improve our play, the whole team." Michigan Live LOADED:

22 Sharks 6, Red Wings 4: Jimmy Howard's struggles continue, defensive mistakes costly Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on March 26, 2015 at 10:08 PM, updated March 26, 2015 at 11:36 PM DETROIT -- Jimmy Howard's struggles continued on Thursday. But this wasn't a good night to be a goaltender at Joe Louis Arena. The San Jose Sharks outlasted the Detroit Red Wings 6-4 in a wild, wide-open game. Howard allowed three goals on 10 shots on his 31st birthday and was pulled in favor of Petr Mrazek after the first period. Howard has been inconsistent since returning in mid-february from a groin injury. He has really struggled in his past two outings, allowing eight goals on 32 shots in slightly more than four periods. The Red Wings ( ) are in their past 11 games. Tomas Jurco, Tomas Tatar, Stephen Weiss and Henrik Zetterberg scored for Detroit. The Sharks maintained a 3-2 lead following a scoreless second period. Then the floodgates opened again. The Red Wings twice trimmed the deficit to one goal. Logan Couture gave the Sharks a 4-2 lead 31 seconds into the period when he fired a shot that hit the far post and went in, following a turnover by Gustav Nyquist. Weiss responded for the Red Wings with his eighth goal at 3:39, whacking in a rebound from the slot. Weiss, a healthy scratch the past five games and in seven of the previous eight, was inserted into the lineup due to Erik Cole's injury (upper body, day-to-day). Mrazek then allowed a soft goal to Patrick Marleau at 4:56 -- a clear shot off a rush that sailed under the goalie's right arm. The Red Wings wouldn't go away. Zetterberg scored at 7:27 during a scramble in front. It was just his second goal in 21 games, his 17th of the season. The Red Wings had a power play midway through the period and had some chances, but couldn't net the equalizer. Marleau's empty-net goal with 1:17 to play sealed the outcome. The Sharks struck fast in a wild opening period as Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored just 19 seconds into the game. Jonathan Ericsson gave away the puck deep in his own zone to Melker Karlsson, who passed to Vlasic at the point. Vlasic fired in a wrist shot through traffic. Matt Nieto made it 2-0 at 9:14, when his shot from the net front hit the goal post and went in off Howard's back. The Red Wings responded with a pair of goals 1:40 apart to tie it. 22

23 Jurco's persistence at the net paid off when he knocked the puck in during a scramble at 10:04. He had gone 39 games without a goal. It was his first goal since Nov. 26, his third of the season. Tatar tied it at 11:44 with his team-leading 27th goal, just his third in the past 17 games. The Sharks turned over the puck in their own zone and Tatar, from the slot, tipped in a blast by Danny DeKeyser. The Sharks regained the lead at 16:02 when Chris Tierney's wraparound attempt hit Joakim Andersson's left skate and went through Howard's five hole. Michigan Live LOADED:

24 Second-period analysis: Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 Michael Niziolek By Michael Niziolek on March 26, 2015 at 9:01 PM, updated March 26, 2015 at 9:21 PM DETROIT -- The biggest play of the second period was made before the teams stepped out on the ice. Detroit pulled the trigger on a goalie change with Petr Mrazek stepping in for Jimmy Howard Thursday night down 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena. Despite sitting in the first period, Mrazek looked sharp making seven saves in the period. He had a nice glove save to help the Red Wings kill their first penalty, Marek Zidlick cross-checking (7:50), of the night, and deflected a couple of on-target shots from the Sharks. The Red Wings continued to out-shoot San Jose, and had a third power play opportunity, but came up empty-handed in the period. They had a 12-7 shots on goal advantage in the period, and lead through two. SECOND PERIOD Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (0:00): Red Wings outshot the Sharks 12-7 in the period to take shots on goal advantage into second intermission. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (5:54): Neither team having much success controlling the puck. Most of the action has been between the blue lines the past couple of minutes. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (10:01): Mrazek made a nice glove save to help the Red Wings kill their first penalty. Both teams at full strength midway through the second period. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (12:10): Detroit defender Marek Zidlicky called for crosschecking. Its the Red Wings first penalty of the game. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (12:27): Melker Karlsson made a diving save in the net to prevent a rebound off goalie Antti Niemi from going in. Karlsson's heads up play saved a sure goal. Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek has three saves since coming in the game at the start of the period. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (16:00): The Red Wings are now 0 for 3 on power play opportunities tonight. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (18:57): The Sharks Joe Thornton called for an obvious tripping call, right in front of the official, to give Red Wings power play at 1:03. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (19:59): The Sharks win the opening faceoff of the second period as action is back underway here at Joe Louis Arena. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (20:00): The Red Wings make a goalie change to start the second period with Petr Mrazek in at net. Michigan Live LOADED:

25 First-period analysis: Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 Michael Niziolek By Michael Niziolek on March 26, 2015 at 8:18 PM, updated March 26, 2015 at 8:27 PM DETROIT -- The struggling Detroit Red Wings recovered from a disastrous start, but still went into the first intermission down 3-2 Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena. The San Jose Sharks scored 19 seconds into the game to take an early 1-0 lead. Off the game's opening faceoff, Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson skated behind his own net, and turned it over to Melker Karlsson. Detroit's defense wasn't in position as Karlsson passed it back toward the blue line to Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Vlasic didn't hesitate on his shot attempt that went right past Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. San Jose added to its lead when Matt Nieto scored from right in front of the Red Wings net off a shot that bounced off Howard, and in, at 9:14. The two-goal deficit seemed to wake up the Red Wings' offense up.tomas Jurco and Tomas Tatar scored within two minutes of each other to tie the score 2-2. Jurco snapped a 39-game streak without a goal when scored at 10:04. After he missed on a point blank shot, a scrum in the crease prevented the Sharks from clearing the puck. Jurco kept swatting at the puck, and it eventually went in off goalie Antti Niemi's skate. Danny Dekeyser was credited with an assist on the goal. The Red Wings tied it up 2-2 with deflected goal from Tomas Tatar off Danny Dekeyser's shot from the blue line (11:44). Tatar batted the puck down from midair, so it went between Niemi's legs. But the Sharks regained the lead thanks to a wraparound goal from Tierney with 3:58 to go in the first. Mirco Mueller set the play up with a nice pass off the boards to Tierney. Tommy Wingels also had an assist on the play. The Red Wings had two power play opportunities in the period, but didn't score on either of them. They went into the break with a advantage in shots on goal. FIRST PERIOD Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (2:04): Sharks center Joe Pavelski called for holding to give the Red Wings their second power play of the night. Sharks 3, Red Wings 2 (3:58): Sharks regained the lead thanks to a goal from Chris Tierney. Tierney put a wraparound shot in between Jimmy Howard's legs from behind the net. Mirco Mueller and Tommy Wingels both had assists on the play. 25

26 Red Wings 2, Sharks 2 (8:16): Red Wings tie it up with deflected goal from Tomas Tatar off Danny Dekeyser's shot from the blue line. Tatar batted the puck down from midair, so it went between Niemi's legs. Sharks 2, Red Wings 1 (9:56): After a point blank shot, Tomas Jurco was credited with a goal after a scrum in the crease prevented the Sharks from clearing the puck. Jurco kept swatting at the puck, and it eventually went in off goalie Antti Niemi's skate. Danny Dekeyser was given an assist on the goal. Sharks 2, Red Wings 0 (10:46): Matt Nieto scores from Chris Tierney to add to the Sharks lead. Nieto was set up in front of Jimmy Howard without a defender in arm's length. Tierney sent a short little pass from behind the net, and Nieto had time to bat the puck down in front of him and get a clean shot off. Sharks 1, Red Wings 0 (13:10): Red Wings don't manage much of a threat during the power play. Sharks back up to full strength, and controlling the puck in Detroit's zone. Sharks 1, Red Wings 0 (13:10): Red Wings don't manage much of a threat during the power play. Sharks back up to full strength, and controlling the puck in Detroit's zone. Sharks 1, Red Wings 0 (16:19): Red Wings and Sharks get into after Joe Thornton is called for slashing. Before any punches are thrown, the officials quickly get involved to break things up. Sharks 1, Red Wings 0 (19:41): Not the start the Red Wings wanted. Jonathan Ericsson turns it over behind his own net to Melker Karlsson. Karlsson passes it back toward the blue line to Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Vlasic quickly puts the Sharks up 1-0. Red Wings 0, Sharks 0 (19:59): Action is underway at Joe Louis Arena as the Red Wings win the opening faceoff. Michigan Live LOADED:

27 Red Wings coach Mike Babcock gives Jimmy Howard vote of confidence by starting him after rough outing Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on March 26, 2015 at 1:01 PM, updated March 26, 2015 at 1:03 PM DETROIT - Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard struggled in his previous game, but coach Mike Babcock gave him a big vote of confidence by starting him tonight against the San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena. Babcock made it clear Howard is his No. 1 goalie. "He's our starting goalie until he's not our starting goalie," Babcock said. "I've been here a long time. I've had lots of goalies. We've had lots of goalies struggle. Your guy is normally your guy. If he's not your guy you find another way to go. "The bottom line is he played two good games, couldn't keep it out of our net last game. He gets an opportunity to go again today." Howard, who turned 31 today, allowed five goals on 22 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday. He has had some good games, like Sunday's 2-1 OT win over St. Louis, but he's also been shaky at times since mid-february. Howard is 6-5-3, with a 3.00 goals-against average and.898 save percentage since returning on Feb. 11 from a four-week absence due to a groin injury. "He's got to be better. Our group has to be better," Babcock said. "We have to find ways to win games. You can't give up five goals like we did last game. We gave up two power-play goals and I thought our penalty kill was outstanding. We have to do a better job of keeping the puck out of our net. You can't win in this league giving up goals. We have to buckle down. "We had an off day yesterday, we should be fresh. We're playing a team that's playing for their playoff life and we're playing for our playoff life, let's be honest here. We have to dig in and play well. You have to embrace the opportunity you're given. Here's a good one." Howard is in his career against the Sharks during the regular season. That includes a 20-save performance in a 3-2 victory in the teams' previous meeting, Feb. 26 in San Jose. "I know San Jose plays us very well, they have for a long time," Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith said. "It becomes a grind, it's a good game, it's exciting to play those kinds of games." San Jose is in its past 13 games against the Red Wings, but the Sharks' 10-year playoff streak likely will end this season. They are nine points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with just nine games remaining. That is the second-longest active playoff streak in the NHL, behind the Red Wings' 23- year run. Pittsburgh is next with an eight-year streak. 27