Detroit Red Wings Clips February 6, 2015

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1 Detroit Red Wings Clips February 6, 2015 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Detroit 3, Colorado 0: Why the Red Wings won PAGE 3 Red Wings' Ericsson gladly drops gloves with Avs star PAGE 4 Wings' Babcock says he's a big fan of the Belichick way PAGE 5 Detroit 3, Colorado 0: Mrazek, Red Wings blank Avalanche PAGE 7 St. James: Wings eye trade with window to win closing PAGE 9 Wings players know how to dress for success off the ice PAGE 10 Mrazek, Red Wings blank Avalanche PAGE 12 Kulfan: Maple Leafs still going downhill since firing PAGE 14 Detroit News NHL Power Rankings PAGE 16 Wings feel pinch to pull trigger on deal PAGE 18 Wings make pitch for 2018 world juniors tourney PAGE 19 Wings odds to win Stanley Cup improve to 14-1 PAGE 20 Quick Q&A with Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall PAGE 21 Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson surprised by challenge from smaller Nathan MacKinnon PAGE 22 Red Wings 3, Avalanche 0: Petr Mrazek records third career shutout as Detroit stays hot PAGE 24 Second-period analysis: Red Wings 1, Avalanche 0 PAGE 25 First-period analysis: Red Wings 0, Avalanche 0 PAGE 26 Detroit Red Wings' Ken Holland: Trade only makes sense if it's a significant upgrade PAGE 28 Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Heavy workload continues for goaltender Petr Mrazek PAGE 30 Red Wings lineup vs. Avalanche: No changes as Detroit looks to continue roll on power play, tighten penalty kill PAGE 32 Odds of Detroit Red Wings winning Stanley Cup improve for fourth straight month PAGE 33 Mrazek stops 28 shots as Red Wings beat Avalance 3-0 PAGE 34 Mrazek leads Red Wings over Avalanche PAGE 36 Surging Wings try to stay hot against Avalanche PAGE 38 Gave: Babcock should be 'all in' before Wings commit to major trade PAGE 41 USA TODAY / Detroit interested in hosting 2018 world juniors PAGE 42 Local hockey fans would benefit from world junior tourney in Detroit

2 Detroit 3, Colorado 0: Why the Red Wings won By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1:51 a.m. EST February 6, 2015 At Pepsi Center, Denver In the first period: Nathan MacKinnon challenged Jonathan Ericsson to a fight after being checked into the boards. Ericsson took MacKinnon down, and then both spent 5 minutes each in the penalty box, at 0:44. Gabriel Landeskog put the puck in the net at 6:09 but the goal was waved off because Nick Holden used a hand pass to move the puck after a shot on net from Ryan O'Reilly. Petr Mrazek had made eight saves after 12 minutes. Stephen Weiss went for holding at 12:05. Jarome Iginla fired a slap shot that Mrazek absorbed, that was Colorado's only shot on net during its power play. Brendan Smith went for hooking at 18:34. In the second period: Weiss took two good whacks at the puck while off-balance just to the right of the crease, but Varlamov collapsed on the puck. Mrazek robbed Maxime Talbot with a nifty glove save as the Avs reached 15 shots well short of the game's midpoint. Jan Hejda went for interference at 12:47, giving the Wings their first power play. They scored at 13:25 when Justin Abdelkader's work down low saw Henrik Zetterberg's shot land in the net. Kyle Quincey went for highsticking Landeskog at 15:23, Colorado's third power play. Marc-Andre Cliche went for delay of game at 18:12. In the third period: The Wings began the third period with 12 seconds left on the man advantage. Stefan Elliott send a hard wrist shot at Mrazek from the slot as the Avalanche continued to hold the edge in shots. Varlamov followed suit with two strong saves on Abdelkader. Darren Helm made a nice pass that Tomas Tatar turned into a terrific shot, forcing a glove save from Varlamov. Varlamov was pulled with 3 minutes to go. Darren Helm scored at 17:24 and Luke Glendening at 19:45. Game reaction: Coach Mike Babcock on how the slow start, "We expected that. We've been off for a few days and then in here, it's always tough the first 10 minutes. We couldn't skate, they could. I thought we really took over in the second period, Mrazek was really good off the start. Once we got skating, I thought we controlled a lot of the play. We had a good night from a lot of guys in the last 40 minutes." Special teams report: The power play went 1-for-2 and the penalty kill 3-for-3. Shot report: The Wings had 29 ( ) and the Avs had 28 (12-9-7). Next game: Saturday at the Arizona Coyotes. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Red Wings' Ericsson gladly drops gloves with Avs star By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1:49 a.m. EST February 6, 2015 DENVER -- Nathan MacKinnon left the Detroit Red Wings baffled -- and impressed. Less than a minute into the Wings' 3-0 victory Thursday at Pepsi Center, MacKinnon challenged Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to a fight. MacKinnon took umbrage, apparently, with a check into the boards, enough so he demanded gloves be dropped. "I think I got him a little with his head kind of down on the ice," Ericsson said. "I think he got a little (upset) because he was the one who wanted to go. I don't really fight that much any more, but it was a good tradeoff with MacKinnon." Ericsson said teammate Kyle Quincey told him that "it was his first fight, too. It's not like he went after the smallest guy on our team, either. He did good." At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Ericsson has a good four inches and 25 pounds on MacKinnon, a 19-year-old budding superstar who won the 2014 Calder Trophy for top rookie. MacKinnon got the worse beating, though Ericsson estimated some of his rights hit the side of MacKinnon's helmet. Ericsson was glad it didn't last long. "I've been injured a lot when I've been fighting, so it was nice to not get injured this time. I kind of had that in the back of my mind. It feels really stupid when you get injured for such a thing like that." The move naturally landed both MacKinnon and Ericsson in penalty boxes for 5 minutes, a tradeoff far to the advantage of the Wings as MacKinnon is among Colorado's top offensive players. "I couldn't believe it," Justin Abdelkader said. "I was surprised. I heard the whistle, I looked and saw E and I didn't see who he was fighting at first. Saw it was MacKinnon, so -- good for E. That kind of got the crowd going, both crowds, Red Wings and Avalanche, because it was pretty split there." Abdelkader was not alone in his confusion. "I couldn't understand what exactly happened," coach Mike Babcock said. "I knew E had hit him but I didn't expect MacKinnon to be fighting Big E. It's one of those things, you've got to give the kid credit, stood up for himself." Detroit Free Press LOADED:

4 Wings' Babcock says he's a big fan of the Belichick way Steve Schrader, Detroit Free Press 10:53 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 They're not everybody's cup of tea, but Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is a big fan of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots' way. Especially after listening to Belichick and Tom Brady talk Monday after their victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX he even took notes, reports yahoo.com's Nicholas Cotsonika, who used to cover the Wings for the Free Press. "When I listened to those guys talk, all I thought to myself was, 'I hope the demand and the preparation for excellence here is as good as it is there,' " Babcock said. "I liked to hear what they had to say about the process, about building a team, about putting your work in daily, about the effort, the grind every day. These are things that just resonate with me. "Belichick for me, when I look from the outside in, obviously he's a master of the game and all that, but he's a master of personnel," Babcock said. "He doesn't confuse the player and the person. He makes hard decisions.... "Is it ruthless, or is it right? When you're making the wrong decision because of someone's feelings, it's compromising someone else's feelings, is it not? So when you challenge each and every day, you challenge your kids to go out and do things right, and then when you go to work and you won't make the hard decision, what good's about that?" Detroit Free Press LOADED:

5 Detroit 3, Colorado 0: Mrazek, Red Wings blank Avalanche By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 2:21 a.m. EST February 6, 2015 DENVER -- The Detroit Red Wings powered their way to another victory on the strength of their special teams and their third-string goaltender. They left Pepsi Center Thursday night after beating the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 before a loud and bipartisan crowd, winning for the eighth time in the last nine games. The Wings' power play has been so good of late, it stood at No. 1 in the NHL 25.6% before the game. It needed just one opportunity to convert, with Justin Abdelkader showing why it's worth putting up with the abuse of a being a net-front presence. "Our power play has been good, especially here of late," Abdelkader said. "I think we're really doing a good job of shooting and breaking the penalty killers down and getting pucks back for second and third chances. Even our penalty kill was huge, it had to kill off those three penalties at the start, got us some momentum." Petr Mrazek's strong goaltending prompted Colorado coach Patrick Roy into the desperation move of pulling his goaltender with 3 minutes to go. That led to empty net goals from Darren Helm and Luke Glendening. "Real good special teams," coach Mike Babcock said. "Our penalty kill, the first period we killed two but we didn't do a good job clearing the puck. In the second when we got the penalty, we did a great job there, and then obviously the power play was dangerous." Mrazek finished with 28 saves for his third career NHL shutout, well celebrated after a hectic last few minutes. "Tough two-three last minutes, it's six on five, they were in our zone a lot, but I don't think I had many shots," Mrazek said. "Guys block shots and we score two goals, so it was great. "Great fans out here, I think we have so many fans from the Red Wings, so the atmosphere is great here." That atmosphere was energized early and often in the first period, from Jonathan Ericsson making Nathan MacKinnon regret a rash decision to challenge for a fight to Nick Holden making a hand pass that nullified a goal. While the hatred that boiled between these two clubs from has been barely a a simmer for a decade, MacKinnon and Ericsson got a heated reaction from fans when they fought less than a minute into the game. Ericsson checked MacKinnon into the boards, MacKinnon took offense, and that landed both in the penalty box for 5 minutes, a bigger loss for Colorado than Detroit as MacKinnon is a top offensive threat. "He wanted to go," Ericsson said. "He asked me, like, let's go, let's go." It was Gabriel Landeskog who put the puck behind Mrazek 6 minutes later, but that goal was waved off because Holden used his hand to forward Ryan O'Reilly's shot, a no-no. 5

6 It was, all in all, a period that belonged to the Avalanche, which pounded Mrazek with a dozen shots while the Wings managed to just five, and at one point went about 6 minutes without testing Semyon Varlamov. "They always start fast in this building," Abdelkader said. "They can use the altitude as an advantage. We were trying to keep shifts short for the most part to start, but they came out hitting, physical, they had a good game plan that way, but we got our feet going second half of first period and especially in the second period, started taking the game over." The Wings responded with a much better second period, with Stephen Weiss having an especially good couple of shots early on. Mrazek stayed busy, denying Maxime Talbot with a solid glove save. Henrik Zetterberg had one of the Wing's best chances, racing in with a shot from the right flank. Zetterberg ended up assisting when the Wings scored at 13:25. He sent the puck on net, and Abdelkader did the hard work around the crease to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. Mrazek stood tall to protect it, making 21 saves through 40 minutes. The Wings provided him more help in the third period, at one pointing holding the Avs without a goal for around eight minutes. The Avs were forced to gamble, but the Wings didn't blink. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

7 St. James: Wings eye trade with window to win closing By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 12:44 a.m. EST February 6, 2015 DENVER -- The dilemma is common for shoppers: Is the desired item worth the price? The NHL trade deadline is less than a month away, and the Detroit Red Wings have the good fortune to be firmly on the buyers' side of things, as they've established solid footing among the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. Their 3-0 shutout Thursday at Colorado was the Wings' eighth victory in the last nine games. Head coach Mike Babcock sat down earlier in the week with general manager Ken Holland to talk things over - the two do so on a daily basis, but that meeting lasted a little longer because it fell exactly four weeks before the March 2 deadline. The Wings have a slew of young players - Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Alexey Marchenko, Xavier Ouellet, Petr Mrazek - who have played a role in their success, names that, along with prospects Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin, would be the asking price for anyone the Wings want to land. Asked if he has untouchables among the group, Babcock said yes, but declined to reveal names. He also conceded those names are what this time of year is about. "It's not Christmas, it's trade," he said. "You've got to actually give something to get something." Babcock pointed out its his and Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill's job "to develop players so we create as many assets as we can. Sometimes you end up with too many guys for one spot, and you can make a move to make your team better. The general manager's job is to weigh the current cost versus the current gain versus the future damage. That's the decision." The Wings' decision is weighed by the fact their superstar core of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Kronwall are all in their mid-30s, and as Zetterberg put it, "our window is closing down." Babcock said that "we'd like to do everything we can to help our cause, help them but help our own cause. Those are decisions you make when you go shopping: Can you afford it or can you not?" Any impact player - such as an offensive defenseman or top-six forward - would cost one of the above-mentioned young players, plus a high-end draft pick. The Wings used to freely trade first-round picks to net the high returns that helped generate Stanley Cups, but since the salary cap was instituted in 2005, that philosophy has changed. As for blue-chip prospects Larkin and Mantha, they are also considered off-limits. At the same time, the Wings are in such a good situation right now, and there's no guarantee that should they wait and see what they can acquire this summer via the free market (and it's a slim one), that they'll be this successful again next season. And for every year Zetterberg and company gets older, the window to see them lift another Cup gets that much smaller. 7

8 Zetterberg, who has seen general manager Ken Holland forge many a trade since Zetterberg joined the Wings in 2002, was philosophical. "It's tough to pinpoint what you need," Zetterberg said. "Most of the time when trades are made, there are the ones that you don't think it's going to be that impactful that really works out for you. And I think you've got to be careful, too, to not give up too much. Teams now when they shop players, they ask for a lot in return, and sometimes it's not worth it." It's a shopper's dilemma, and an NHL's team gamble, because gratification - or disappointment - won't be revealed for months. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

9 Wings players know how to dress for success off the ice By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 4:33 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 DENVER -- The Detroit Red Wings are sharp-dressed men, none more so than the Europeans. News broke today that Jets forward Evander Kane was made a healthy scratch for one game for wearing a track suit to a team meeting, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. That violated a dress code pervasive throughout the NHL, where players arrive for morning skates in suits and ties and leave the same way after a game, even if their next stop is a night-time plane ride. Kane's fashion faux-pas caught the eyes and ears of the Wings, especially the younger set. "You don't see Red Wings players do that," defenseman Brendan Smith said. "I think that's something that is nipped right away. It's kind of - people, they demand that, that's what happens. You don't see any of that with our club." Smith said he asked a lot of questions his rookie year because "I didn't really understand a lot of stuff. Maybe I was a burden on some of the older guys, but it worked out where I never found myself missing a game or anything." Brendan Smith talks on the proper way to dress as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Riley Sheahan called it "standard protocol around here to wear your suit whenever you're supposed to." Asked which teammates might take a sartorial pass if there were no such protocols, Sheahan named himself and Kyle Quincey, while "the Europeans are a little more meticulous. I think some guys just don't care. Q maybe. Me maybe." Apparently the Wings' version of Project Runway's Nina Garcia is Daniel Cleary, and their most fashion-forward are the Swedes. "You're going to hear from Dan Cleary," Smith said. "He's going to be like, 'I don't know where you got that from.' That's Dan Cleary. "I think with a lot of the Europeans and a lot of the Swedes, fashion is pretty high upon them. But the fashion police is definitely Dan Cleary." Detroit Free Press LOADED:

10 Mrazek, Red Wings blank Avalanche Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 4:29 a.m. EST February 6, 2015 Denver Petr Mrazek held off the Avalanche long enough for the Red Wings, playing at high altitude for the first time in five days, to get going. And with a fine display of hands by Justin Abdelkader on the power play, off they went. The Wings beat the Avalanche 3-0 on Thursday night in game every bit as passionate as those played so often by these franchises in the 1990s and early 2000s. The affair even featured an improbable fight, just 44 seconds in, which spurred on a crowd that required absolutely no motivation, with fans of both teams trading chants for much of the night. "We'd been off for a few days, and in here, it's always tough for the first 10 minutes. It just seems like you can't skate," said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose team was outstanding, again, on the power play, and improved on the penalty kill. "We couldn't skate, and they could. And then I thought we really took over in the second period. "Mrazek was really good, off the start, and once we got skating, I thought we controlled a lot of the play." The Red Wings added to their woes and the 22-year-old Mrazek's burden by winning only one-third of the face offs in the first period. The Avalanche also attempted 26 shots in the period, with 12 finding the mark, to 10 attempts and five shots on goal for the Wings. Mrazek, who is now 7-1 filling in for both Jimmy Howard and Jonas Gustavsson, was outstanding. "They were in our zone a lot, but I didn't think I had that many shots," Mrazek said. "And we scored those goals. So that was great. "When you have lots of shots in the first and they don't score, are you're going off after 20 zero-zero, that's great for the team. But then, in the second, I thought we started playing really good, and the guys did a good job in front of me." Despite some soft goals in his nine games as a replacement and Babcock saying Mrazek still has some work to do on his skills, the coach said he continued to be impressed with the young goalie. "For sure, tonight's a big night for him," Babcock said. "The guy at the other end (Semyon Varlamov) is a star. He's a heck of a goalie, and it took a goal to beat him 1-0 I mean, I don't count the empty-net goals for a kid, is good for him." Indeed, after the Avalanche coach Patrick Roy pulled Varlamov, down 1-0, with a baffling three minutes remaining in the game, both Darren Helm and Luke Glendening fired into the open net. 10

11 But it was the dominating power play, once again, and Abdelkader's fine effort at close range that truly made the difference. After grabbing a pass at the top of the crease, the former Michigan State standout fired, collected the rebound, adjusted his sights and fired again, beating Varlamov, at 13:25 of the second period. "I think our power play's been good, especially doing a good job of breaking the penalty killers down and getting pucks back and second and third chances," Abdelkader said. He now has 12 goals and 16 assists, for the sixth-most points on the team. Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist assisted on the big goal, as the Wings were devastating with their movement and puck control. "Z. got it to me, and I knew I was going to have some room because the defenseman played pretty high there," Abdelkader said. "I took it to the net. Varlamov, a lot of times he really takes away a lot of the net, but the puck kind of laid down there, and I got the rebound and put the puck in the net. "It's not always the first chance, but sometimes the second and third, especially on good goalies." Jonathan Ericsson, Abdelkader and Babcock all expressed surprise at the fight, that it emerged from not a major hit by Ericsson, and that Nathan MacKinnon, who rarely if ever fights, took on the sizable Wings' defenseman. "I think I got him a little with his head down on the ice, and I think he got a little (angry) with me, because he was the one that wanted to go," said Ericsson, who got kudos after the game from team mates. "I don't really fight that much anymore. But it was a good trade-off with MacKinnon." The fight removed a key Avalanche forward, their leading scorer, for much of the first five minutes of the game. Ericsson also clearly won the fight, landing two hard rights. But he said he thought he mostly hit MacKinnon's helmet. The big defenseman said he also was pleased not to get hurt, as he has suffered injuries in the past, fighting. Babcock and the Wings also were pleased by the penalty kill. Laboring some in recent games, it also is significantly worse on the road entering the game 24th in the NHL (77.2 percent) than at home. But it turned around against the Avalanche. "Even our penalty kill tonight was huge," Abdelkader said. "We killed off three penalties at the start there, and kind of got us some momentum, got us going there. "And that was important, keeping it at zero-zero." Detroit News LOADED:

12 Kulfan: Maple Leafs still going downhill since firing Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 8:22 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 Detroit Certainly it wasn't Randy Carlyle's fault. The way the Toronto Maple Leafs have imploded since Carlyle was fired more than a month ago definitely shows he wasn't the reason behind the collapsing. Actually, they've been way worse since Carlyle left. They've lost 10 consecutive games (one in overtime) and are suddenly in discussion for possibly landing the top overall pick in the entry draft. Interim coach Peter Horachek is a good guy, and has a good reputation for knowing his stuff around the league, but he hasn't come close to straightening out this mess. "I've never seen this before," Horachek told Toronto reporters. "But it doesn't mean it's not a good experience we can learn from. As a group, we're going to learn what kind of resilience we have. We're going to get through this." Interestingly, the Maple Leafs were in the playoff picture when Carlyle was fired. Now, they're destined to miss them for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons. The Sports Networks in Toronto are going crazy with trade speculation, as the Leafs do have players teams would be interested in. Defenseman Cody Franson (whom the Red Wings might have some interest in) and forwards Daniel Winnik and Mike Santorelli would all be rentals. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf and forwards Phil Kessel and David Clarkson are more likely to be shopped aggressively in the summer. "We're going to move people if and when it makes sense," general manager Dave Nonis told TSN last week. World Cup questions The announcement during All-Star weekend that there would be a World Cup in 2016, in early September, was greeted with enthusiasm. But then a few other details were learned. NHL-centric teams representing the U.S., Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic will be joined by a mixed group of Team Europe players, and there will be a Team North America composed of players under 23 years of age. Not everyone was enthused about those other two teams, including Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. "The World Cup should be about countries and the best players should play on the teams," Babcock said. "So the 'Young Guns' thing and the 'International Stars' or whatever that's called, I'm not sure about that." 12

13 Babcock also hopes this doesn't take the place of the Olympics. "If it's in place of the Olympics, I'm not for it, because anybody who's been to the Olympics, the Olympics I believe is the greatest sporting event in the world," said Babcock, who has coached Canada to the last two gold medals. "People that don't care about athletics watch the Olympic Games." The World Cup will run from late August to mid-september, not an optimal time, Boston forward David Krejci said. "You like to do these things at the end of the season," he said. "It's kind of hard if you win it. You feel like you're the best team in the world, but then two days later, you've got to come back to your team and the (NHL) season starts." Coyotes ready to deal The Arizona Coyotes haven't had the season they expected to have, and will be open to dealing nearly anyone on their roster ahead of the March 2 trade deadline. Defenseman Keith Yandle and forward Antoine Vermette are two names that will draw a lot of attention, but there are other Coyotes who could help in lesser roles. Arizona already traded goalie Devin Dubynk to Minnesota for draft picks before the All- Star break. "We're not waiting around to the trade deadline to make the changes that we feel we need to make," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said. "So my attitude is if the deal comes our way sooner rather than later, that's fine. We have to reset and restructure where we're at, how we're going to ultimately be successful here long term, and that's our goal." Detroit News LOADED:

14 Detroit News NHL Power Rankings 8:11 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 Ryan Getzlaf, Frederik Andersen (Records through Wednesday's games) 1. Anaheim ( ): Have interest in Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers and prospects to trade. Last week: Nashville ( ): Will only get stronger with goaltender Pekka Rinne healthy. Last week: St. Louis ( ): Deep team has been on a roll post-all-star break. Last week: 3 4. Detroit ( ): Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist on pace for seasons of more than 30 goals. Last week: New York Rangers ( ): Rick Nash having an MVP-caliber season, carrying team. Last week: 6 6. Montreal ( ): Looking to add another defenseman before trade deadline. Last week: Tampa Bay ( ): Steven Stamkos is an MVP candidate if Lightning continues to roll. Last week: New York Islanders ( ): Not the same team post-all-star break. Doesn't look confident. Last week: Chicago ( ): Up against cap, how will they retain Brandon Saad this summer? Last week: Pittsburgh ( ): With Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup, Penguins will make a move. Last week: Boston ( ): Goaltender Tukka Rask has been team's best player of late. Last week: Winnipeg ( ): What will they do with immature F Evander Kane? Last week: Washington ( ): Defenseman Matt Niskanen has been good, but not spectacular. Last week: Vancouver ( ): Sedin twins have turned back the clock a bit. Last week: Calgary ( ): Give credit to F Jiri Hudler for leading this team. Last week: San Jose ( ): Forward Joe Pavelski remains an underrated star. Last week: Los Angeles ( ): Important road trip hasn't begun very well at all. Last week:

15 18. Florida ( ): Goaltender Roberto Luongo looks comfortable being back with Panthers. Last week: Dallas ( ): Stars could be active at trade deadline. Last week: Colorado ( ): Finally coming around, but it might be too late. Last week: Minnesota ( ): Have talent to make push into playoffs. Last week: Columbus ( ): There will be no late playoff run this season. Last week: Philadelphia ( ): Goaltending has been inconsistent all season. Last week: New Jersey ( ): Devils are playing better, but it's too late. Last week: Ottawa ( ): City was abuzz with Jason Spezza's return to Ottawa last week. Last week: Toronto ( ): Everything that could go wrong is going wrong. Last week: Arizona ( ): Coyotes looked decent during recent long road trip. Last week: Carolina ( ): Looking to unload forward Alex Semin good luck with that. Last week: Edmonton ( ): Entertaining offers for defenseman Jeff Petry Dan's son. Last week: Buffalo ( ): Went into Montreal and came out with unexpected victory. Last week: 30. Detroit News LOADED:

16 Wings feel pinch to pull trigger on deal Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 6:28 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 Denver The Red Wings are playing so well that contemplating the possibility of a significant trade this month to set them up for a deep playoff run is a prevalent desire for fans. After the failure to sign significant free agents, and with the surprisingly strong performance of the team, to date, the pining for a substantive move is understandable. As young potential stars continue to develop in Detroit and Grand Rapids, it appears to afford Ken Holland and Mike Babcock some options, with the advice from professional scouts under the leadership of Mark Howe. But it is easier said than done. The NHL trade deadline is 3 p.m. March 2. And as Henrik Zetterberg, 34, Pavel Datsyuk, 36, and Niklas Kronwall, 34, play on, their time for another run at a Stanley Cup shrinks. Timing is everything, and the risks of both making and standing pat are considerable. Finessing those decisions are the most important task for the Red Wings brass, in the days and months and perhaps seasons ahead. Any decision could be absolutely critical to the future of the franchise. Can they get one more shot in the Stanley Cup final with the three big stars and Cup winners in place, or will it wait for a new generation of leaders? Zetterberg said he realizes time waits for no one. But it also is true the Wings seem to be rounding into shape. "I think, obviously, our window is closing down, we have been in the league for quite some time, now, and we are getting older," said Zetterberg, who has asserted a significant trade this season is unlikely. "In the same way, though, we have a good team. We are at the top of the standings. We are playing well. I think we are still learning and we can still have some improvement. "So, to make a deal just because you make a deal doesn't make sense. If you're going to do something, you've got to improve your team." Mike Babcock said it is a matter of careful consideration, and as is always the case with this coach considerable preparation, in tandem with Jeff Blashill, in Grand Rapids. "What my job is and what Blash's job is, is to develop players so we create as many assets as we can," Babcock said. "Sometimes you end up with too many guys for one spot, and you can make a move to make your team better. 16

17 "The general manager's job is to weigh the current cost, versus the current gain, versus the potential damage." He acknowledged the aging of the top stars, but made clear it is not the only consideration. "It's called trade, so it's not Christmas," Babcock said. "You've got to actually give something to get something. "That's the decision for every team in the league, including (GM) Ken (Holland) and myself. "We'd like to do everything we can to help our cause. In saying all that, those are decisions that you make. "It's like anything, when you go shopping can you afford it or can you not?" Declining to be specific, Babcock said there are young players on the team he considers untouchable, in any deal. Zetterberg said it is all an expected aspect of the game. "You know, we have been through this when me and Pav and Kronner came into the team," he said. "Guys got older, and we found a way to win. "So, I don't think you have to panic too much, if you have something going. "But, if something is out there to improve our team, then they will probably look at it." Gustavsson back Jonas Gustavsson participated in the morning skate, taking a number of shots in net and returning to the Wings after two rehabilitation starts with the Griffins. After not having played since Nov. 5, when he injured his shoulder trying to stop the Rangers' winning goal in overtime, Gustavsson is eager to get back to it. "That's why you want to play hockey, you want to play games and that's what you work for," said Gustavsson, whose 16-5 record,.907 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average were critical to the Red Wings making the playoffs, last season. "It was fun to play those two games and I'm looking forward to next time I'm between the pipes." That chance could come as early as Saturday against the Coyotes. Gustavsson is 1-1 in three games this season, with a.908 percentage and 2.30 average. He said his shoulder is of no concern, especially based on the rehab starts. "I felt good. Shoulder didn't bother me. I'm not thinking about it while I am out there. "Obviously, I am still doing exercises to keep it strong." Detroit News LOADED:

18 Wings make pitch for 2018 world juniors tourney Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 12:17 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 Detroit The Red Wings are interested in hosting the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. Members of the team's front office are in Colorado Springs today talking with USA Hockey about potentially hosting the event. Detroit's new downtown arena is scheduled to open in 2017 and has already booked first- and second-round 2018 men's NCAA basketball tournament games. The Red Wings could likely have interest in hosting the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Entry Draft once the arena is built. USA Hockey will begin the bidding process to host the 2018 tournament soon and name its pick by next fall. In 2011, Buffalo was the last American city to host the world juniors, which drew approximately 327,000 fans. Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and South Florida, according to USA Today, are interested in hosting the 2018 tournament. Montreal and Toronto drew more than 366,000 fans to last month's 2015 world junior tournament. Detroit News LOADED:

19 Wings odds to win Stanley Cup improve to 14-1 Staff The Detroit News 12:55 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 A Las Vegas bookmaker has the Red Wings at 14-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup this season. The Wings ( ) play the Avalanche ( ) at 9 p.m. tonight at the Pepsi Center (FSD/1270, 97.1). Bovada has the Blackhawks and Ducks as co-favorites at 13-2 odds to win the Cup followed by the Blues at The Wings' odds of winning the Eastern Conference are 6-1. Last month, Bovada had placed the Wings' chances at 16-1 to win the Cup less than a month ago. Detroit News LOADED:

20 Quick Q&A with Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 7:35 p.m. EST February 5, 2015 The Red Wings were on the road most of January and will continue to be this month. Even more so. Nine of the 11 games in February are away from Joe Louis Arena. So how does Niklas Kronwall, one of the veterans on the roster, feel about that? And what does Kronwall do to kill time? He shared that and more in a recent chat with The Detroit News Question: First off, a popular question to any hockey player or reporter: What is your favorite city on the road? Kronwall: "I like San Jose. The area around there is nice. The team hotel (Valencia) is awesome, and Sultana Road (by the hotel) is gorgeous. You have a mall real close by and the weather, when we go out to the West Coast, is usually great. "I like the fact you can sit out on the patio after practice and have some lunch. There's just a lot to like about the entire area." Question: With so many road games here, so much time on the road, how do you spend your spare time? Kronwall: "I watch a lot of television. I catch up on a lot of different television shows. I'm trying to get back into reading." Question: So, you're not a big reader? Kronwall: "I used to read a lot more a few years ago but I haven't been reading a bunch of books lately. Like I said, I'm trying to get back into it." Question: Any favorite books? Kronwall: "I really enjoyed the trilogy of books by Stieg Larsson ("Millennium" trilogy). "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was outstanding. Those books, I would highly recommend." Question: Is it tough being on the road? Kronwall: "Yes and no. Of course you miss your family and being at home. But at the same time, we have a great group of guys here and you're never bored. There's always something to do, whether it's going to lunch or dinner, catching a movie. There's always stuff to do." Question: Was it a lot different being on the road in the minor leagues? Kronwall: "Well, there were plenty of bus rides. And you're going to different (caliber of) cities. But again, we had great guys and we always found ways to spend time. Back then, there were a lot of card games, a lot of Hold'Em (poker) games." 20

21 Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson surprised by challenge from smaller Nathan MacKinnon Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on February 06, 2015 at 1:01 AM, updated February 06, 2015 at 1:08 AM DENVER - For his first NHL fight, Nathan MacKinnon picked an opponent who was four inches taller and at least 25 pounds heavier. But the 19-year-old Colorado Avalanche star didn't care. He apparently was mad about a hit the Detroit Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson delivered in the first minute of Thursday's game and challenged the 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman. "He wanted to go. He asked me, 'Let's go, let's go,' " Ericsson said, following his team's 3-0 victory at the Pepsi Center. MacKinnon (6-0, 195) got the worst of the exchange but acquitted himself well considering he's a skilled player - the top overall pick in the 2013 draft - who doesn't figure to fight much during his career. "I think I got him with his head down on the ice and I think he got a little (ticked) off," Ericsson said. "I don't really fight that much anymore, but it was a good trade off with MacKinnon. "(Kyle) Quincey told me it was his first fight, too. It's not like he went after the smallest guy on our team. He did good. I think I mostly hit the side of his helmet, so it wasn't much of an exchange of any serious hits there." MacKinnon wasn't available for comment. Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader said he couldn't believe it. "I was surprised," Abdelkader said. "I heard the whistle. I was at the end of the bench and I looked and saw E. I couldn't see who he was fighting at first and then I saw MacKinnon. "Good for E. He kind of got the crowd going - both crowds, I guess - Red Wings and Avalanche, because it was pretty split there. It was good to see." Said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock: "I couldn't understand what exactly happened. I knew (Ericsson) hit him, but I didn't expect MacKinnon to be fighting Big E. You got to give the kid credit, he stood up for himself." It was Ericsson's ninth career fight, according to hockeyfights.com. "I've been injured a lot when I've been fighting so it was nice to not to get injured this time," Ericsson said. "I kind of had that in the back of my mind. It feels really stupid when you get injured for a thing like that. At the time, I didn't really think it through." Michigan Live LOADED:

22 Red Wings 3, Avalanche 0: Petr Mrazek records third career shutout as Detroit stays hot Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on February 05, 2015 at 11:37 PM, updated February 06, 2015 at 2:40 AM DENVER - Petr Mrazek was razor-sharp following a four-day break, and the Detroit Red Wings' power play continues to provide a lift. Mrazek made 28 saves for his third career shutout as the Red Wings defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 Thursday at the Pepsi Center. Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm (empty net) and Luke Glendening (empty net) scored for Detroit. The Red Wings ( ) have won eight of their past nine games and are since Dec. 23. They remain two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division. Mrazek has been stellar his past two starts, stopping 50 of 51 shots following a rough stretch of four games during which he allowed 16 goals. He has made nine consecutive starts in the absence of Jimmy Howard (groin, possibly back on Wednesday) and improved to All three of his shutouts have come on the road. Colorado coach Patrick Roy is aggressive in pulling his goaltender for the extra skater earlier than what it considered the norm. He summoned Semyon Varlamov to the bench with 3:03 remaining in regulation. The move backfired as Helm scored into an empty net with 2:36 to play to make it 2-0. It was Helm's 10th goal. Glendening added an empty-net goal with 14.8 seconds to play, his seventh of the season. The Red Wings showed some rust in the first period after the long layoff, but got their legs going in the second. Abdelkader opened the scoring with his 12th goal at 13:25 of the second period. He banged in his own rebound past Varlamov from the net front after taking a pass from Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings had the NHL's top-rated power play (25.6 percent) coming into the game. Penalty killing has been Detroit's biggest issue since the start of January, but it was strong on this night as Colorado failed to score on three power-play opportunities. The Red Wings had allowed at least one power-play goal in seven consecutive games. They went 26 for 40 (65 percent) on the penalty kill in 12 games in January and dropped from first to 10th in the league at 82.7 percent. 22

23 Colorado had a good chance to take control in the first period. The Avalanche had the better scoring chances, were more physical, dominated the faceoff circle (14-7) and spent more time in time offensive zone, outshooting Detroit But it was scoreless, due in large part to Mrazek. An apparent goal by Gabriel Landeskog at 6:09 was disallowed after video review determined Nick Holden batted the puck down with his glove, resulting in a hand pass. The action heated up shortly after the opening faceoff as unlikely combatants Jonathan Ericsson and Nathan McKinnon got into a fight, with the big Red Wings defenseman getting the best of the skilled forward. Michigan Live LOADED:

24 Second-period analysis: Red Wings 1, Avalanche 0 Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com By Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com on February 05, 2015 at 10:55 PM, updated February 05, 2015 at 11:04 PM DENVER --The Detroit Red Wings showed more spark in the second period Thursday at the Pepsi Center after a slow start and took a 1-0 lead into the intermission on Justin Abdelkader's 12th goal. The Red Wings' power play, which is leading the NHL, converted on its first chance of the game as Abdelkader banged in his own rebound past Semyon Varlamov from the net front at 13:25 after taking a pass from Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings have killed all three Colorado power play thus far. Detroit outshot Colorado 13-9 in the second period but the Avalanche has a edge in the game. Petr Mrazek has made several big saves for Detroit. Michigan Live LOADED:

25 First-period analysis: Red Wings 0, Avalanche 0 Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com By Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com on February 05, 2015 at 9:49 PM, updated February 05, 2015 at 11:05 PM DENVER --Following a four-day break, the Detroit Red Wings showed a little rust in the first period Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. But they escaped with no damage done during a scoreless period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche had the better scoring chances and spent more time in time offensive zone, outshooting Detroit An apparent goal by Gabriel Landeskog at 6:09 was disallowed after video review determined Nick Holden batted the puck down with his glove, resulting in a hand pass. The action heated up shortly after the opening faceoff as unlikely combatants Jonathan Ericsson and Nathan McKinnon got into a fight, with the big Red Wings defenseman getting the best of the skilled forward. Michigan Live LOADED:

26 Detroit Red Wings' Ken Holland: Trade only makes sense if it's a significant upgrade Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com By Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com on February 05, 2015 at 8:24 PM, updated February 05, 2015 at 8:36 PM DENVER - The Detroit Red Wings are in good position, with depth and no glaring holes. Barring a late-season collapse they should extend their playoff streak to 24 seasons. There is no urgency to make a move by the March 2 trade deadline. But, they're also in a position where the right move could be the difference between a long playoff run and an early exit. The Red Wings are buyers, but they're not going to make a lateral move or one that might result in only a slight upgrade because the price is going to be high. "If we can't upgrade - and I'm not talking a little bit - I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense," general manager Ken Holland said. "There isn't one move I can make that can guarantee any playoff round wins. I have to gauge the cost and the impact they're going to have. The word I'm using is 'upgrade.' "Are there players available at a price you think you can live with?" Their pro scouts are scattered all over North America, eying potential trade candidates. Holland and coach Mike Babcock had a lengthy state-of-the-team meeting Monday, a good portion of it devoted to trade possibilities. The Red Wings would like to upgrade their defense, ideally with a right-handed shooter who can generate offense for a unit that doesn't score a lot. But the Red Wings have flourished on the power play (they ranked first in the NHL before Thursday's game in Colorado), so perhaps it isn't a pressing need. "We were looking for a right-shooting defenseman that could play on the power play and generate points," Holland said. "We made pitches in the summer. Part of that desire was to have him play on the power play. Mike Babcock and the coaches have made adjustments. Niklas Kronwall and Danny DeKeyser have done a good job (as point men on the units). I don't know that we need a right shot D to be on the power play anymore. "Would we like right-lefty combos because it's a little easier to play? Yeah. For the most part I think we defend pretty good." It doesn't sound like Holland will be pursuing a forward. "It's hard to play in our top six, maybe in our top nine if (Johan) Franzen comes back," he said. Another factor the Red Wings must consider is that the window of opportunity to win with their best players is closing. Pavel Datsyuk is 36, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall are both

27 "Our window is closing down," Zetterberg said. "We've been in the league for quite some time now. We're getting older, but in the same way we have a good team. We are (near) the top of the standings. We're still learning, so we have some room for improvement. "To make a deal just to make a deal doesn't make sense. If you're going to do something it's got to improve your team." The Red Wings showed interest in Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers earlier this season but discovered the cost was prohibitive (one of top prospects Anthony Mantha or Dylan Larkin as the centerpiece of the package). Toronto's Cody Franson and Edmonton's Jeff Petry, right-handed shooting defensemen, will be available as rentals. The Red Wings have shown interest in Franson in the past. Petry, who's not as good offensively, might not be much of an upgrade from what they have. Arizona's Keith Yandle, who shoots left, might be the best defenseman available, but the cost figures to be high. "It's not Christmas, it's trade, so you've got to give something to get something," Babcock said. "What my job is and what (Grand Rapids Griffins coach Jeff Blashill's) job is is to develop players so we create as many assets as we can. Sometimes you end up with too many guys for one spot and you can make a move to make your team better." That one spot where they might have trading chips could be defense. They have several promising prospects and probably not enough roster spots to keep all of them in the next couple of seasons. "The general manager's job is to weigh the current cost vs. the current gain vs. the future damage," Babcock said. Said Holland: "We've worked hard to develop some players and they're not far away. Some will be on the team next year. Why trade a second-round pick for a defenseman who'll be the 6-7 D?" It seems unlikely the Red Wings would part with a good young forward on their roster. Why weaken one aspect of your team (offense, which is hard to come by in the playoffs) trying to upgrade another? Michigan Live LOADED:

28 Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Heavy workload continues for goaltender Petr Mrazek Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on February 05, 2015 at 5:05 PM, updated February 05, 2015 at 11:45 PM GAME INFORMATION Who: Detroit Red Wings ( ) at Colorado Avalanche ( ) When: 9 p.m. Where: Pepsi Center TV: Fox Sports Detroit, NBC Sports Network Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1), WXYT-AM (1270) and Red Wings radio network Facebook: Like our Detroit Red Wings Facebook page Twitter: Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage Live coverage: Join the MLive open thread at 8 p.m. ET. GAME NOTES Petr Mrazek will start for the ninth straight game with Jimmy Howard still sidelined by a torn groin. Mrazek is in that span with one no-decision and he's allowed two goals or fewer in six of those games. That said, he had allowed at least four goals in three straight games before backstopping a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders Saturday. For the season, Mrazek is with a 2.66 goals-against average and.907 save percentage. Howard hopes to return Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Mrazek's backup will be Jonas Gustavsson, who is with the Red Wings for the first time since dislocating his shoulder Nov. 5 in New York. Gustavsson made two appearances for the Grand Rapids Griffins in a conditioning stint, going 1-1 with a 2.02 GAA and.937 save percentage. Gustavsson has made just three appearances with the Red Wings this season and has a record, 2.30 GAA and.908 save percentage. Colorado will be without its top two defensemen tonight. Erik Johnson is out for at least two more weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Jan. 26 and Tyson Barrie joined him on the sidelines with a hip flexor. To replace Barrie, the Avalanche recalled AHL All-Star Stefan Elliott from the Lake Erie Monsters, where he had 12 goals and 14 assists in 40 games. Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last six games.... Gustav Nyquist has six multi-point games in the last 16. He has eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last six.... The Red Wings are tied for second place with Montreal in the Eastern Conference, two points behind leader Tampa Bay. They're 8-2 in their last 10 games and have a record on the road. 28