Detroit Red Wings Clips April 22, 2015

Detroit Red Wings Clips April 22, 2015 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 3 Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0: Why the Red Wings won Game 3 PAGE 5 Tampa columnist: Lightning must figure out road woes PAGE 8 Albom: Abdelkader returns, helps Wings ground Lightning PAGE 11 Seidel: Wings' Mrazek gets shutout with total team effort PAGE 13 Red Wings handcuff Lightning star Steven Stamkos again PAGE 15 Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0: Wings blank Lightning in Game 3 PAGE 18 Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk named finalist for Lady Byng PAGE 19 Detroit OKs change paving way for Red Wings arena PAGE 21 Helm has evolved into one of Red Wings' best forwards PAGE 24 Wings, Lightning play cat and mouse on specialty teams PAGE 25 Niyo: Wings penalty killers zap Lightning PAGE 27 Krupa: Red Wings turn in complete effort in Game 3 PAGE 30 Healthy Helm still dangerous for Red Wings PAGE 31 Wojo: Red Wings turn up the heat in Game 3 PAGE 33 Wings' Riley Sheahan finally breaks through in victory PAGE 35 Home ice can help Wings against an iffy road team PAGE 37 Mrazek roars back, Wings seize 2-1 series lead PAGE 39 Abdelkader, Smith give Wings more pop for Game 3 PAGE 41 ESPN's Melrose: Red Wings will win tonight PAGE 42 Wings have home ice, but is it an advantage? PAGE 43 Red Wings 'looked like a real hockey team' by bottling Lightning with strong all-around effort PAGE 45 Red Wings 3, Lightning 0: Petr Mrazek bounces back strong as Detroit turns in best effort of series PAGE 47 Fox Sports Detroit's Darren Eliot: Early power play provides a spark for Lightning PAGE 48 Second-period analysis: Red Wings 1, Lightning 0 PAGE 49 Fox Sports Detroit's Chris Osgood: Red Wings need to take advantage of 'shaky' Tampa Bay goalie PAGE 50 Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk a finalist for Lady Byng Trophy, award he's won four times PAGE 51 First-period analysis: Red Wings 1, Lightning 0 PAGE 55 Detroit officials concerned with blighted hotels, future jobs in new Red Wings development PAGE 56 Live updates: Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 3 (chat) PAGE 57 Red Wings' Mike Babcock on bounce-back fallacy; Lightning's Jon Cooper lauds Justin Abdelkader PAGE 58 Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Home-ice advantage? Not lately at Joe Louis Arena PAGE 60 Griffins coach Jeff Blashill says 'not one thing' discussed about Red Wings job

PAGE 62 Red Wings' lineup for Game 3 vs. Tampa Bay: Seeking first home playoff win in two years PAGE 64 Detroit City Council approves zoning changes for $450M Red Wings arena PAGE 66 Red Wings-Lightning links: Game 3 starter Petr Mrazek has rebounded in big way this season PAGE 69 Mrazek once again has a bounce-back performance PAGE 71 Pat Caputo - This time, the Detroit Red Wings were just better than the Tampa Bay Lightning PAGE 73 Mrazek shuts out Lightning 3-0; Detroit takes series lead PAGE 75 Detroit City Council approves rezoning for Red Wings' new arena PAGE 76 Abdelkader embraces enforcer role after 'dirty' play in Game 3 PGAE 78 Mrazek bounces back to help Wings capture Game 3 PAGE 80 Wings flex much-needed muscle to take series lead over Lightning PAGE 82 Mrazek shuts out Lightning in Game 3; Red Wings take series lead PAGE 84 Notes: Tampa Bay coach expects Abdelkader to make difference in return PAGE 86 Yzerman instrumental in Datsyuk signing PAGE 87 USA TODAY / Petr Mrazek bounces back, leads Red Wings' Game 3 win PAGE 89 Bob Duff: Detroit s kids are all right in 3-0 shutout over Lightning PAGE 91 Injured Mitch Callahan back with Griffins looking to contribute in other ways 2

Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0: Why the Red Wings won Game 3 By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 3:08 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 At Joe Louis Arena What happened: Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek finished with 22 saves for his first NHL postseason shutout. First period: The Wings pressured over the first 4 minutes of the game. Less than 2 minutes in, Darren Helm's shot went off the post and right shoulder of Tampa goalie Ben Bishop. The Wings took the lead at 8:46. Tomas Tatar's point shot deflected in off Pavel Datsyuk and past Bishop. Tampa's first shot on goal came at 9:20, a slap shot by defenseman Braydon Coburn. Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson was penalized for holding Brian Boyle at 10:35. The Wings' first power play chance came at 13:19, when Steven Stamkos slashed Helm. But Henrik Zetterberg was called for holding Alex Killorn at 13:55. Bishop made a save with 4.2 seconds left on a shot by Brendan Smith, who skated in following a turnover. The Wings outshot the Lightning, 7-6. Second period: Just like the first period, the Wings had an early scoring chance that rang off the post. Defenseman Marek Zidlicky's slap shot hit the iron at 1:36. Luke Glendening went off for interference at 4:47, giving the Lightning a power play. Victor Hedman's shot went off the post during the power play. Tampa had a 56-second 5-on-3, after Danny DeKeyser was penalized for delay of game. With 41 seconds left in the 5- on-3, Tyler Johnson's shot hit the post. The Wings killed off the penalties. Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. 3

Third period: The Wings killed off a holding penalty by Tatar. The Wings capitalized on the power play after Coburn went off for tripping Gustav Nyquist at 5:12. Riley Sheahan gave the Wings a 2-0 lead with a power play goal at 6:42. It was Sheahan's first career NHL playoff goal. Justin Abdelkader, playing for the first time in the series, assisted on the goal. Mrazek stopped a shorthanded try by Boyle midway through the period. Stamkos took a tripping penalty at 8:00, giving the Wings another power play try. Craig Paquette was called for goaltender interference 39 seconds later, but Abdelkader also went off for roughing. Glendening's empty-net goal at 19:11 gave the Wings a 3-0 lead. Overheard: "We could have made it a little harder on him," Lightning forward Brian Boyle said of Mrazek. "He did make some really good saves, though. Had some really good saves." Three stars: 1. Mrazek; 2. Abdelkader; 3. Helm. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 4

Tampa columnist: Lightning must figure out road woes By Tom Jones, Tampa Bay Times 1:56 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 Joe Louis Arena was dark save for the lights on all the cellphone screens. Opening faceoff of Game 3 of these Stanley Cup playoffs between the Lightning and Red Wings was still a few minutes away when the chant began. "Let's Go Red Wings... Let's Go Red Wings... LET'S GO RED WINGS." Louder and louder it grew. When the lights came back on and revealed a sea of red jerseys waving white towels, the roar was shaking this old-time hockey barn. At that point, as the Lightning took the ice and it was clear: it wasn't in Tampa anymore. And too often that has been curtains for a team that can't help but admit that there is no place like home. Well, unless the Lightning gets its act together and figures out how to win on the road, it will get to spend all the time it wants at home. Forget making a run at the Stanley Cup, the Lightning isn't going to get out of this first round unless it can become road warriors. Playing nothing like it did in the first two games - at home, of course - the Lightning lost 3 to a big, fat zero to fall behind 2-1 in the series. As far as this road business, Lightning coach Jon Cooper pointed out how Tampa Bay has won big road games this season in tough rinks -- Montreal, Anaheim, San Jose, New York and even here in Detroit. All true. But this, too, is true and a major concern: the Lightning is the worst road team of all the teams in the playoffs. A team that went 32-8-1 at home went 18-16-7 on the road. The numbers, as well as the eye test, shows the Lightning simply isn't as good on the road as it is at home. "Are we a different team on the road than (we are) at home? I don't think so," Cooper said. "They're a young group. They're competing, they're battling and if you keep that up, eventually the tide is going to turn." Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 5

Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. Rarely is any team as good on the road as it is at home, but the difference between the home Lightning and the road Lightning is especially drastic. That's particularly alarming because the Lightning will have to win at least one game in Detroit - either Thursday's Game 4 or next Monday's Game 6, assuming the Lightning isn't eliminated before then. Certainly, being on the road offers challenges. Strange beds, smaller locker rooms, uncomfortable surroundings, hostile crowds. There is also a strategic disadvantage, as the home team can make the last line change and get more favorable match-ups on the ice. But when you look at this Lightning team, it's difficult to explain what the issue is when they play outside the 813 area code. Tampa Bay has a smart coach who can make rapid decisions on line changes. It has veteran players who shouldn't be rattled by a few boos. So why does it feel like Chevy Chase is behind some of these road trips? Tampa Bay's Ryan Callahan quickly and emphatically used the word "nothing" when asked what being on the road meant to Game 3's outcome. The Red Wings gave, by far, their best effort of the series. Perhaps fueled by their energetic crowd, the Red Wings were sharper, more physical, more poised, more prepared. But the Lightning? It gave a pedestrian performance, nowhere good enough for a playoff game. "Probably didn't deserve to win," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. "It's not an easy building to win in, but we have to find a way if we want to make this a series." The way will have to be better than Tuesday. The Lightning went through long bouts of sloppiness, undisciplined play and just general malaise. You never got the sense that Tampa Bay was a serious threat to win Game 3. Only here and there did Tampa Bay generate any consistent pressure. Other than a few players -- Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Brian Boyle -- no Lightning stood out, especially up front. Stamkos, Callahan, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat -- players who are central figures in the Lightning's success and players the Lightning relies on in challenging times -- simply didn't make their presence known enough. Stamkos' most noticeable moment was letting the puck drift off his stick when the Lightning couldn't convert a 56-second fiveon-three power play in the second period. When the Red Wings killed that off, you knew the Lightning was toast. Tampa Bay's power play, strangely problematic for a team with so much offensive skill, was again powerless. It went 0-for-6 and is now a combined 0-for-13 in the two losses in this series. 6

Stamkos was hard on himself and his teammates after the game, while Cooper tried to remain upbeat. "We still have a chance to battle for the Stanley Cup," Cooper said. "That's all that matters to us right now," That battle starts Thursday night. On the road. The Lightning needs to quickly come up with a recipe for road success or else there's whole lot of home cooking in Tampa Bay's immediate future. And, perhaps, a fast-approaching off-season to swallow it. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 7

Albom: Abdelkader returns, helps Wings ground Lightning By Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press Columnist 12:19 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 Abby's road was long and winding. Six games. Seventeen days. Could only skate. Couldn't play. A slap shot off his hand left him injured and anxious, watching the playoffs without breaking a sweat. That's over. Abby's back. You saw him in Tuesday night's 3-0 victory in Game 3, banging bodies, blocking shots, delivering checks. You saw him on top of Tampa Bay's Cedric Paquette after Paquette had the audacity to upend Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek, pulling his skates out from under him like a magician trying to yank a tablecloth. Nuh-uh. Not in the Joe. Justin Abdelkader was on him fast and furious. He was on most things fast and furious, perhaps in a hurry to make up for his injured absence. On a night when penalty killing and goaltending got a worthy spotlight Mrazek's first playoff shutout Abdelkader was equally a difference-maker. Not only did he lead a toughness for the Wings that resulted in a season-high 48 hits (if you believe the home scoresheet) but he also made the biggest offensive play of the night. In the third period, Detroit clinging to a 1-0 lead, Abdelkader took a puck from Henrik Zetterberg and pushed a perfect pass to an angling Riley Sheahan, who snuck behind the sleeping Tampa Bay defense and dumped it in the net. "I'll remember that one for a while," young Sheahan gushed after his first ever playoff goal. As for the man who gave him the puck? "He's unbelievable. He's the kind of guy you model your game after. He did a great job for us tonight and we're glad he's back." The return game This was the Wings' first home playoff game of the year. The crowd at Joe Louis Arena was predictably crazy. The octopti were predictably flying. But Abdelkader, 28, hadn't been in the lineup since April 4. Doesn't matter how much you skate in practice or ride a stationary bike. Game action is game action. It was surprising the guy wasn't sucking oxygen in between shifts. "It's tiring," he admitted to the TV cameras after the first period. "I'm a little rusty out there." He shook it off pretty well. By the end of the night, he had an assist, six hits, a blocked shot and the joy of a victory. "Anytime you're out for over a week, you're going to be winded," he admitted. "The good thing is with the injury I could still skate and keep my legs.... I got tired as the game went on.... I think the crowd energized our team tonight and the crowd definitely energized me." Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 8

Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. Abdelkader heard the biggest cheers when he went after Paquette for what he called "a really dirty" play. ("There was no need for it," he said.) It was one of those little things that inspires teammates and gives the team an edge. Having the pesky Brendan Smith in the lineup didn't hurt either. Smith was credited with five hits, and the Wings held Tampa Bay to 22 shots (compared to 46 in Game 1). You do that against a team this loaded, it's saying something. "Getting (Abdelkader) and Smitty in the lineup helped us today," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I thought we were way better. We looked like a real hockey team." They also have a 2-1 lead in the series. Between the pipes But the Wings will only go as far as young Mrazek can take them. It's funny. He had a huge game in the series opener, despite giving up two goals. He had a shutout Tuesday night no mean feat against this team yet there was many open chances, and on another night, the Lightning might have scored two or three. Tyler Johnson hit the bar. Steven Stamkos put one right into Mrazek's body. Johnson missed a wide-open net. "When we had the look, it either hit a stick or hit the post or went wide," bemoaned Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper. The Wings hit posts and crossbars as well. Ping! Ping! It was like a sword-making shop in "Game of Thrones." But they only count if they go in. The Wings seem to have Tampa Bay's number in this building they certainly have frustrated Stamkos, the Lightning's star, who looks largely lost in this series. And if Detroit can work its Motown Magic again Thursday night, it takes a commanding grip on this thing heading back to Florida. It sure helps to have a full roster. Abdelkader, the former Michigan State Spartan, proved that Tuesday. He made the fans happy. He made his teammates happy. And with that amazing pass, he certainly made Sheahan happy. Or since we're speaking 9

of Abby's road as the Beatles might put in, in the end, the shot you make is equal to the shot you take. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 10

Seidel: Wings' Mrazek gets shutout with total team effort By Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press Columnist 11:52 p.m. EDT April 21, 2015 Petr Mrazek quickly took off his skates by his locker in the Detroit Red Wings' locker room. There was no sense of jubilation from this rookie goalie after he shut out the highscoring Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, 3-0. There was no sense of amazement, or even wide-eyed excitement coming from this 23- year-old, who was starting his first playoff game at Joe Louis Arena. Mrazek had the look of a man who expected to win Game 3, even if he was yanked in Game 2. Bounce back? No. This was nothing but back to normal, at least in his mind. And the Wings have the same expectation. "We expect him to play good every night," said Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose team took a 2-1 lead in this series. Just a few minutes after the game, Mrazek was already looking ahead to Game 4 on Thursday night. "It's a nice win but it's over," Mrazek said. "We should worry about Thursday right now." Mrazek finished with 22 saves, blanking the Lightning on six power plays and surviving a 5-on-3. "That was a huge part of the game," Mrazek said. And so was a little bit of luck. The puck bounced perfectly for the Wings right off Pavel Datsyuk's leg and into the net while Tampa Bay missed several opportunities. "We had open nets," said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, "that were an inch outside the post so, if you are ready for the cliché game of inches, that's what I'm throwing at you." Make no mistake, Mrazek didn't do this alone. This was a total team shutout, a total team win, because Mrazek's teammates helped him every step of the way. Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 11

Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. "I felt great," Mrazek said. "I think we played really well. The guys helped me real well." The Wings were energized and physical. They were credited with 22 hits in the first period, while Tampa Bay had just 10. Time after time, the Wings were able to get out of trouble by skating hard and fast and smart. They averted danger before it even reached Mrazek. "I thought we skated and looked like a real hockey team," Babcock said. "I didn't think we had skated the way we were capable of skating. I didn't think we had the physical play. I didn't think we made their D skate the way they should have in the first couple of games and I think those things happened tonight." One time, Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov was building up a head of steam, but Kyle Quincey knocked the puck away. Another time, Tampa's Brian Boyle had a potential breakaway, and Riley Sheahan defused it before it turned into a problem. Another time, Tampa's Nikita Kucherov was building a head of steam, with a potential one-on-one opportunity, but Niklas Kronwall knocked the puck away from him. "Defense was great," Mrazek said. "They help us win the game today." As Mrazek played, Jimmy Howard sat on the bench. Babcock made a smart, calculated, risky move at the start of this series, going with the youngster over the experience. Howard has started 45 playoff games in his career. Sure, it was risky, but it was also understandable because Howard finished the season with so much inconsistency. But Mrazek was consistently solid Tuesday night. And the Wings won Game 3. Just as he expected. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 12

Red Wings handcuff Lightning star Steven Stamkos again By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 12:20 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 The Detroit Red Wings have continued to frustrate Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos. More important, they've kept him from scoring a goal through three playoff games. Stamkos was held to two shots on goal and was minus-1 with two penalties in a 3-0 loss to the Red Wings in Game 3 on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings took a 2-1 lead in the series. Stamkos' second penalty, for tripping Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall, came 8 minutes into the third period. The Wings had taken a 2-0 lead at 6:42 in the third on Riley Sheahan's first career NHL playoff goal. The Lightning did get a short-handed scoring chance on the penalty, but Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek made the save on Brian Boyle. After leading all players with eight shots on goal in the first game without getting a goal Stamkos had one shot, but two assists, in Game 2. Stamkos, the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft, was held at bay in the first period Tuesday. The Wings came out strong, controlling the play over the first 4 minutes and eventually taking a 1-0 lead on a goal that deflected in off the leg of Pavel Datsyuk. Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson blocked a shot by Stamkos 3:29 into the game. Stamkos took a slashing penalty against Wings forward Darren Helm at 13:19. The Wings didn't take advantage, though, as Henrik Zetterberg was called for holding with 6:05 left in the period. Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak 13

More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. Mrazek stopped a Stamkos wrister at 6:51 of the second period and a one-timer from with 2:37 left. Perhaps the biggest sign that it wasn't Stamkos' night came late in a 5-on-3 chance, when he lost the puck in the right circle. "He's battling," Boyle said of Stamkos. "He's playing hard. He maybe wants to get a few more looks than he did tonight. Everybody kind of has a little less space than they do maybe in the regular season, especially a guy like him. He's a superstar. "He's a competitive guy. He's going to battle, too. He's going to figure out a way." Wings forward Joakim Andersson said before Game 3 that Stamkos was a big concern. "We gotta try and let him shoot from farther out," Andersson said. "He's the most dangerous shot on their team. We have to try to limit his chances of shooting the puck from where he's shooting." Wings fourth-liner Luke Glendening, who scored an empty-net goal with 49 seconds left in the game, has two goals in the playoff series. Stamkos, 25, ranked second in the NHL during the regular season with 43 goals. He finished 14th in league scoring with 72 points in 82 games. He has eight goals and 19 points in 25 career NHL playoff games. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 14

Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0: Wings blank Lightning in Game 3 By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1:43 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 The Detroit Red Wings came through with a performance reflective of just how good they can be. From a strong start to good special teams to a feisty finish, the Wings delivered a 3-0 victory tonight at Joe Louis Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. Game 4 is Thursday, also at the Joe. "I thought we were way better," coach Mike Babcock said. "We looked like a real hockey team." Tomas Tatar said, "This was the Red Wings." Pavel Datsyuk provided the first goal, deflecting a shot from Tatar, and Riley Sheahan scored on a power play. Justin Abdelkader, freshly back from a hand injury, drew frenzied chants of "Abby, Abby," after a fiery third-period shift. Luke Glendening capped the night with an empty-net goal, his second goal of the series. Petr Mrazek made 22 saves for his first career NHL playoffs shutout, continuing a habit of responding strongly after a porous performance. The penalty killers did their job through six assignments. "We had a good start, came out with a lot of energy," captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "Coming home and playing in front of our home fans was great. Unbelievable atmosphere here tonight." Mrazek called the victory "huge," then immediately talked about how "it's over now, and we look forward to Thursday." According to Elias Sports Bureau, when teams are tied 1-1 in a best-of-seven NHL playoffs series, the winner of Game 3 advances 67.3% of the time. The Abdelkader chants came after he took offense to Cedric Paquette's interference on Mrazek. "When I saw that play," Abdelkader said, "I thought it was really a dirty play. There's no need for that." Sheahan was among those who beamed afterwards, as he came away with his first career Stanley Cup playoffs goal. He scored early in the third period, when Zetterberg had drawn a pair of defenders to the wall only to slip a pass to Abdelkader. "Z made a great pass to Abby and Abby's pass was unbelievable and just kind of left me open in front and it went in," Sheahan said. "It was unbelievable. I can't really put the feeling into words." Just how much it meant to the Wings to get Abdelkader back was tangible from the start, as his line with Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist was among the first to threaten. When the Lightning weren't dealing with that group, there was pressure from Datsyuk's group with Tatar and Darren Helm. From the splat of the obligatory octopus landing just as the anthem finished through the first face-off, the Joe pulsed with energy. 15

"We knew we could be way better than our first two games in Tampa Bay," Sheahan said. "We were looking forward to playing back in our home rink. The fans did an unbelievable job of getting us going." In turn, the Wings gave those fans something to cheer about. Datsyuk got the crowd going when he took control of the puck at Detroit's blue line, wheeled around and found Tatar on the right flank. Tatar pulled up and fired a shot that ended up going in off Datsyuk's leg as he drove the middle, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. An opportunity to build on that during a power play didn't last long, as Alex Killorn masterfully drew a holding call on Zetterberg 36 seconds after Steven Stamkos went for slashing Darren Helm. Mrazek finished the period with six saves, the same as Ben Bishop, who gloved an attempt by Brendan Smith in the final minute. Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. "We started good, we played tight," Tatar said. "We didn't give them much room. I feel this is our best game by far. We passed the puck better, we track better. This was us." As good as the first period was -- and it was by far the Wings' best of the series -- they began the second period by pinning the Lightning in its zone for about 5 straight minutes. Datsyuk tried a backhand shot that Bishop swiped away. When the Lightning went on its third power play, Mrazek's saves included denying Tyler Johnson's shot from the left circle. Danny DeKeyser's departure for delay of game left the Wings short two skaters for 56 seconds, but Mrazek got help from his crossbar on another Johnson attempt and Drew Miller cleared the puck as the penalty to Glendening expired. "Anytime you get a 5-on-3," Miller said, "you've got to get a little lucky. (Steven) Stamkos gave me that one and I was able to clear it." 16

The Wings didn't a second power play until past the game's midpoint, when Abdelkader drew one against Braydon Coburn. Niklas Kronwall missed on a pass and ended up hooking Killorn when he paced off on a breakaway, ending Detroit's power play after 52 seconds and eventually setting up an equally short, but fifth, Tampa Bay man advantage. It had ended by the time Valtteri Filppula forced a pad save from Mrazek. With neither goaltending budging, the third period loomed all the more decisively. It didn't help when Tatar was called for holding Andrej Sustr behind Detroit's net, leading to a sixth Tampa Bay power play. Detroit's penalty killers came through again, effectively preventing the Lightning from even getting set up. The Wings got a man advantage a minute after that kill was over, and converted with 30 seconds to spare. Zetterberg drew a couple of defenders to him along the right boards, and forwarded the puck to Abdelkader. He sent a short pass to Sheahan, who timed his backhand just perfectly. Mrazek kept the score that way with a beauty of a save on a Brian Boyle breakaway. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 17

Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk named finalist for Lady Byng By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 7:18 p.m. EDT April 21, 2015 Pavel Datsyuk was recognized again for being one of the best and least dirty players in the NHL. The NHL announced Tuesday evening that Datsyuk was among three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded annually to "the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The Calgary Flames' Jiri Hudler, a former Wing, and Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar were the other finalists, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season. The winner will be announced June 24 at the NHL awards show. Datsyuk topped a point-a-game at 65 points in 63 games, while receiving just eight penalty minutes. Datsyuk took home the trophy four straight years from 2006-2009, and was third in voting in 2010. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 18

Detroit OKs change paving way for Red Wings arena By Matt Helms, Detroit Free Press 5:51 p.m. EDT April 21, 2015 After a number of delayed votes, the Detroit City Council today unanimously approved a rezoning that's critical to the plans to build a new arena for the Detroit Red Wings. The Ilitches' Olympia Development of Michigan agreed with the city's request for stronger assurance that the developers will follow through on commitments to redevelop one of two historic hotels near the proposed 20,000-seat arena. The city's top lawyer, Melvin (Butch) Hollowell, said Olympia agreed to be held to account to complete redevelopment of the Hotel Eddystone under court order, should the city's law department ever be forced to seek such a move, in exchange for the council's approval to tear down the adjacent Hotel Park Avenue, another abandoned historic building. The 8-0 vote Councilman Scott Benson was absent came after council members defended their actions against criticism that they were obstructionists. Councilman James Tate said the council was performing its legally mandated role of ensuring that the deal represents the best possible terms Detroit could get. "Each and every one of these council members has to do what we were put in charge legislatively to do," Tate said. Council President Brenda Jones and others said they supported the project and the construction jobs it will bring to the city, even if there are no guarantees that a certain number of post-construction arena jobs will be designated for city residents. Olympia had warned that additional significant delays could jeopardize the planned opening of the facility in 2017. The council last week delayed its vote until today because council members wanted stronger assurances that Olympia will renovate the Eddystone. The council proposed a requirement in a rezoning package needed for construction to proceed that Olympia's plans for redevelopment of the Eddystone must be approved by the city's Historic District Commission before the city would approve demolition of Park Avenue. But Olympia objected, saying that getting the commission's approval could take weeks or possibly months, adding unacceptable delays to the arena construction timetable. Councilwoman Janee Ayers said after the meeting that, while she couldn't predict whether the Historic District Commission would approve the demolition of the Park Avenue, she said the commission "shares the same vision. They want to see Detroit moving in the right direction, so I don't anticipate it being a huge holdup." A consultant for Olympia had urged the council to trust Olympia to follow through with the Eddystone renovation, but Jones expressed misgivings about not having the plans in writing. Olympia, which is under the umbrella of Ilitch Holdings, plans a 20,000-seat arena and new parking deck on 12 acres in the Cass Corridor. The $450-million arena is 58% publicly funded. 19

Jones said she will continue to hold Olympia to its word that it would continue to employ Detroiters at the arena even though no such guarantees were put in writing. She did not speak to reporters after the meeting. Councilman Gabe Leland said the council didn't get all it wanted, but he was comfortable approving the deal. "We were able to say we saved a building in our downtown," he said. Councilwoman Raquel Castañeda-López, whose 6th District includes the arena area, said after the meeting that she supported the project because it will bring construction jobs to Detroiters and because Olympia agreed to measures such as setting aside percentages of new housing in the area for lower- to moderate-income people and protecting open spaces and bike lanes on Cass Avenue. "Those are all key quality-of-life issues," she said. "It was broader than just jobs. Jobs are key, but ultimately protecting the quality of life for residents in the surrounding area should be at the forefront of the conversation." The change in the zoning law must also be approved by the city's Downtown Development Authority. It is scheduled to take up the issue at a meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, Hollowell told the council. The DDA has been supportive of the project, including approving a $450-million bond sale last September to fund the arena's construction. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 20

Helm has evolved into one of Red Wings' best forwards By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 10:59 p.m. EDT April 21, 2015 Darren Helm remembers the first time that he saw his name next to that of Detroit Red Wings superstar Pavel Datsyuk. "Quite a bit of shock, disbelief," Helm said Tuesday. Helm drew an early penalty on Lightning superstar Steven Stamkos during the evening's game against Tampa Bay at Joe Louis Arena, Helm played nearly 20 minutes in the game, and was credited with seven hits. Helm's work ethic is one of the reasons the coaching staff saw him as a good fit for Datsyuk, even as the assignment rattled Helm. "I was pretty nervous the first few games," Helm continued. "It took me a little while to get over that. As soon as I realized that it was a spot I was going to stay in for a bit, I was able to play my game, work hard and adapt a little bit." Stanley Cup playoffs Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay 5, Detroit 1 Game 3:Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0 Game 4: T.B. at Detroit, 7 p.m. April 23 Game 5: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 25 Game 6*: T.B. at Detroit, TBD April 27 Game 7*: Detroit at T.B., TBD April 29 Scouting report: Who has series edge? Predictions: Don't bet on Wings All 24 seasons: Wings' playoff streak More Red Wings coverage * - If necessary. Helm entered Game 3 with two assists, heralded by coach Mike Babcock as "one of our best forwards in this series by a long shot." At 28, Helm already has topped 70 career NHL playoff games because he started his springtime success back in 2008, coming in pretty much cold from the minors to serve a pivotal role. "He helped us win the Cup," Babcock said. "We didn't have a fourth line, brought him up, and he gave us four lines with good pace. He's hard to play against, is a penalty 21

killer. They used to call him, as kid, 'Danger,' because he was dangerous to everybody, us and them, he was flying around so fast. "He just settled down. The game slows down for you... and that's what he's done. He gives Datsyuk pace. He's at the net. He's on the puck." Helm left Tampa Bay with two assists, looking especially skilled when setting up Datsyuk on a power play. Holding on to the puck for that extra second stems from confidence Helm has gained as he has matured. "You realize you have more time, so you figure out situations and you try to do what you can with the puck in the time that you have," Helm said. "When you have success, your confidence grows, and that's kind of how my game has been progressing throughout the year." Helm is coming off of a season satisfying on many levels: He largely has been healthy after three years of various miseries. He had a career-high 15 goals and 33 points. He welcomed a second daughter, Rylee, in March. All this from a guy still giddy from the memory of the first time he saw his and Datsyuk's numbers side-by-side. "I never thought that would happen," Helm said. "I'm fortunate to be playing with a player of his caliber. I just want to do what I can to be successful." Helm wouldn't be a top-six forward if he didn't warrant it. There's that speed Babcock referenced, and which fellow forward Tomas Tatar seconded to the extent that he doesn't see any teammate being but a distant, distant second to Helm in a race. "He brings huge speed for us," Tatar said. "He's good on forecheck. He creates lots of space for Pav, for sure. Those two together are really dangerous, and I'm trying to help them as much as I can -- pass the puck to Pav and try to shoot it when I get a chance." Helm's evolution from fourth line to third, from center to wing, from penalty killer to also power player, stems from never getting ahead of himself, no matter whose line he is on. "Not getting out of what I do best," he said, "Just because I'm beside (Datsyuk) doesn't mean I'm a skilled player all of a sudden, that I can handle the puck and make unbelievable plays. My skill is working hard and using my speed. It's nice to score, but I just play hard at what I do." No more bouncing: Babcock doesn't want to hear any more talk about goalie Petr Mrazek's ability to bounce back after porous outings. "I'd like to clear this up," Babcock said. "In the NHL, if you get known for bouncing back, you're usually not in the league -- because you can't have bad games so you bounce back. You've got to play good every night." Babcock also reiterated that teammates didn't do much to help Mrazek in Game 2, and that Mrazek was told as he was pulled Saturday that he would start tonight. Jurco uses size: Tomas Jurco stepped up to serve as a screen for Datsyuk's power play goal in Game 1, and while the goal was originally credited to Datsyuk, it was later given to Jurco. "He went to the net hard," Babcock said. "He skates good. He's got to learn to take care of the puck and he's got to realize that you are what you are in the NHL until you become what you want to be. You have this fantasy when you arrive that you're this 22

high-end skilled guy who is going to be able to beat people one-on-one and score. Unless you're a superstar, that just isn't happening. So you've got to get to work." Babcock said Jurco need look no further than Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Luke Glendening for the right way to play. Jurco "has got to put his work boots on." Jurco said he is "trying to skate hard, finish checks, and play the way that works in the playoffs. It was a little easier last year for me. This year I had to work my way through, and hopefully it's going to pay off in playoffs." Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 23

Wings, Lightning play cat and mouse on specialty teams By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 1:19 p.m. EDT April 21, 2015 The chess match continues on specialty teams. The Detroit Red Wings allowed two power-play goals in Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and were on the ice too much as a penalty-killing unit in Game 1. The Lightning ranked 14th in the NHL on the power play in the regular season, with success rate of 18.8%. Tampa Bay is at 18.2% after two playoff games. The penalty kill for the Wings ranked 17th in the regular season (80.9%) and is at 81.8% in the playoffs. "They changed up a little from Game 1," said Wings forward Drew Miller, one of the team's top penalty killers. "We expected that. That's the chess match of specialty teams. They switch something up, we switch something up. It's always back and forth. "You're seeing the same guys and situations. I wouldn't say we're changing our structure. Our structure is there, and our system is there, but it's just little things that you key on. Obviously, they're going to have the same guy and the same setups. They're just switching little plays, and you just have to read as you go and adjust accordingly." Steven Stamkos is the No.1 threat on the power play for the Lightning, as he led the team with 13 power-play goals in the regular season. Ryan Callahan was second, with 10 goals, and Tyler Johnson had eight. Stamkos "is the No. 1 guy, but last game, they tried to spread it out a little bit and get some other guys shooting, trying to catch us keying on him a little more," Miller said. "It's definitely something you have to adjust to, and you can't just put everything into Stamkos. You have to play the system and count on your goalie to make the big saves." Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.22.2015 24

Niyo: Wings penalty killers zap Lightning John Niyo, The Detroit News 1:28 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 Detroit A month ago, they were "paralyzed." A year ago, they were "just awful," to use their coach's own biting assessment. But Tuesday night, the Red Wings' penalty-killing pairs were what they were in the first half of the regular season, and what they absolutely need to be now in the playoffs: Confident. And critical, again, as Detroit regained the upper hand in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, winning Game 3 at Joe Louis Arena, 3-0, despite spending long stretches still too long, for coach Mike Babcock's liking chasing the puck in their own end. That partly explains the disparity in whistles thus far, with Tampa Bay getting 17 power plays to Detroit's 11 through three games. And if that continues, it'll only up the ante for the Wings' penalty killers. But Tuesday they refused to fold as the Lightning failed to score on all six of their power-play opportunities in Game 3. It was similar to Game 1, when Tampa Bay went 0- for-7 in a 3-2 loss on home ice, with Petr Mrazek stealing the show, and maybe the game. And though Lightning coach Jon Cooper shrugged it off as just another example of hockey being "a funny game," he wasn't really in a laughing mood afterward. "It's tough when you go 0-fer," said Cooper, whose team is 34-5-2 this season when scoring a power-play goal. "But I thought they generated (chances) they just didn't go in for us." Mrazek had a big hand or glove in that, of course, recording his second straight shutout of the Lightning at Joe Louis Arena. (The Lightning went 0-for-6 on the power play in that 4-0 loss here on March 28 as well.) "Petr made some good saves there when he had to," said Justin Abdelkader, who certainly made his presence felt in his return to the lineup from a hand injury. "And we played really well in front of him." Playing for keeps They played aggressively, too, while down a skater, or two. That's something the Red Wings got away from in a midseason funk that lasted until mid-march. And it's something they simply they never going last postseason against the Boston Bruins. After winning the road opener in a 1-0 shutout, they allowed six power-play goals in the next four games as the Bruins sent them packing. The penalty-killing wasn't great Saturday in that Game 2 loss, either, though the first goal was hard to argue and the last came in the final 5 minutes with the game already decided. 25

But Tuesday it was still hanging in the balance when the Red Wings took consecutive minors barely a minute apart early in the second period. With Luke Glendening half of their best penalty-killing duo already in the box for interference, Danny DeKeyser drew a delay-of-game penalty when he sent the puck over the glass in his zone. And at that point, a tie game seemed inevitable. Yet the Red Wings managed to kill off 56 seconds of a five-on-three, with a little good fortune and a lot of effort. Tyler Johnson had scored an early power-play goal in Game 2 when a point shot caromed off the goalpost and directly to him for the open-net rebound chance. Tuesday, his shot 14 seconds into the five-on-three glanced off the crossbar behind Mrazek. That's the "funny game" Cooper was referring to afterward. "But I think anytime you get a five-on-three you've got to get a little lucky," said Drew Miller, who happily accepted a Steven Stamkos turnover to clear the zone soon after. "Stamkos gave me that one," Miller said. Surge in approval And the Joe Louis Arena crowd gave the PK unit Miller and Joakim Andersson, teamed with Niklas Kronwall to start an ovation as they finished their shift. The crowd roared even more as Glendening and Darren Helm nearly produced a short-handed breakaway on the next shift, and the teams finally returned to even strength. "That's where we get momentum, for sure, when we kill that off," rookie forward Landon Ferraro said. "Our PK was unbelievable tonight. When you kill off a five-on-three, especially a lengthy one like that, it gives you a ton of momentum. So it was a big point in the game." They were fortunate, perhaps, to avoid a penalty shot on another botched touch pass on their own power play while clinging to a 1-0 lead midway through the second period. Kronwall felt he had no choice but to hook Alex Killorn on a would-be breakaway after Riley Sheahan's pass slid dangerously into the neutral zone. But the referee pointed to the penalty box instead of signaling a penalty shot, and the teams played more than a minute of four-on-four hockey before Miller and Glendening were called into action again. And again they did the job, providing a lift and ultimately a win. "It definitely builds confidence on the bench," said Riley Sheahan, who scored the allimportant second goal for the Wings on the power play at 6:42 of the third period. "You can hear the crowd cheering loud, too. And I think it takes a little of (Tampa Bay's) confidence away as well." That's the idea, of course: Sometimes in the game of hockey, less really does mean more. And while the Red Wings would prefer not to rely on it, it appears they've remembered what it takes to win short-handed. Detroit News LOADED: 04.22.2015 26

Krupa: Red Wings turn in complete effort in Game 3 Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 1:24 a.m. EDT April 22, 2015 Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and Lightning coach Jon Cooper talk about the Wings' 3-0 win in Game 3. Detroit They set out to play their best game of the series, a complete game. They wanted to make it look like it looked in December and January, not March. They succeeded. The Red Wings took care of their chores in the neutral zone and in front of Petr Mrazek, by and large. The Lightning was looking at a different scene. All of a sudden, there were Red Wings everywhere. And their defense created what it usually does, offense. When they were able to capitalize on their scoring chances, the Wings started making the Lightning look like it can be had in this series Dear Abby The kid from Muskegon is really writing some kind of story for himself, in the Red Wings jersey for which he dreamed as a kid. Back from an injury, with a bad hand in whatever shape is it in he was all over the ice Tuesday. His hand sure looked OK on his assist on the winning goal. Gaining a stretch of ice in front of the Lightning net, carrying the puck, Abdelkader gave it a little bit of a right, then left, drawing a defender to him and perhaps making another one delay, for just a moment. And then Abdelkader feathered a pass perfectly to Riley Sheahan who played it like a Stradivarius. Meanwhile, Abdelkader was a force all over the place. He was second on the squad with six hits. Deterrence was his intent. When Lightning center Cedric Paquette ran Mrazek in the net a bit of dirt that required some response, at some point, surely Abdelkader went right at him. He may get a lecture for not standing down, at that juncture. It would have created a five-on-three, and that would have been the better play, clearly. But his intent was clear, and it came on a team that does not always forcefully exhibit such intention: Do not tread on us! 27

First career playoff shutout Mrazek is making his coach's difficult choice look like genius. It has not been a clean year, for the 23-year-old net minder. Some bad goals have gone in. But he stopped 22 of 22 shots against the most prolific offense during the regular season Tuesday. When the Wings were up 2-0 and on the power play, Niklas Kronwall took a tough angle, trying to intercept the Lightning forward Brian Boyle at the Tampa Bay blue line, he failed And down came big Boyle, on Mrazek. And "Petey," as they call him around the room, absolutely stoned Boyle, from eight feet. Mrazek was spectacular on that shot. But, mostly, was just terrifically steady the sort of steadiness that eluded him, at times, this season. Asked what he wants from the goalies, Babcock invariably says, "Just stop the puck." Mrazek is stopping it. Datsyuk, again Pavel Datsyuk got them started up again, just like he did at the start of the series in Tampa. He scored on the first Wings shot of the first game, when the Lightning seemed destined to totally overwhelm them. He scored on the third Red Wings shot of the third game, when they were fairly all over the Lightning, but in need of some "finish." Sure, Tomas Tatar bounced it off of Datsyuk's leg. But it went in. At times during the regular season, even when they were hot, the Wings were failing to score. Capitalizing on their chances can be an issue. Off his body or not, it put the Wings ahead early. Great home crowd They were loud. They were proud. The "Let's go Red Wings!" came early, well before the puck drop, and often. They were in full voice, with great tone and rhythm. And do not think the boys did not notice. They do. And their criticisms of the refereeing were on point. It was a bravura performance by the denizens of Hockeytown. And, as far as the players and their coaches go, the more of it, the better. Better start 28