A few updates from practice as the Wings start the Fathers & Mentors part of their road trip
Jeff Blashill says everybody who should be available is available, along with Mike Green and Justin Abdelkader
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 10, 2017
Tomas Tatar, with shoulder wrapped, watching skate from bench. #RedWings
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 10, 2017
#RedWings Athanasiou said his dad Stan is looking forward most to the plane as he is a pilot for Air Canada.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) January 9, 2017
If Tatar can’t go, it would seem to make more sense to put Jurco in his third-line spot right now, but keep your shocked eyebrows at the ready in case we see Ott instead (with either Sheahan or Glendening moving up to play the third).
Key Match Ups
Red Wings Starting To Get Healthy
I can’t blame the Red Wings trolley ride to the graveyard all on injuries. In some ways it’s been a blessing, helping Mantha, Athanasiou, Jensen, Ouellet and Sproul all get a crack in the lineup. Yet, this team was constructed a certain way and logic be damned, they played their best at the very beginning of the season when this roster was in tact. No, I’m not saying Helm is what this team’s missing, but possibly getting Abdelkader back will be a help. I’m hoping a few games into his return, he will have rendered Sheahan useless and he’s taking that bottom six/net-front power play role exclusively. You can’t argue the impact of Green returning. He creates offense and if anyone can defibrillate this power play, it’s him. If you have any hope of the Wings still making the playoffs, Abdelkader and Green make them a better team right now. We’ll see about getting Helm and Smith back down the line.
Blackhawks Defense Catalyzing The Offense
Stan Bowman’s scouting process runs like a mill. When you think ‘Oh finally, the Blackhawks will take a step back’ here comes Anisimov, Panarin, Hartman and Panik. For all the consistency they get at forward, you have to examine their stellar defense that continues to crisply move the puck to set their offense. Keith has 28 assists (!), Hjalmarsson has 5 goals in what many are hailing as his breakout season. There’s still the ageless Brian Campbell on the back end, keeping his reputation as one of the best skating defensemen at age 38 and is still one of the best at getting off that first pass in the game. The Blackhawks aren’t getting as many shots as a typical Blackhawks team in this era, but they still manage to be a top 10 team in Goals For to this point. Much of that is set up by this veteran defense.
Ugh Fine, I’ll Mention Kane and Toews
Yeah, Patrick Kane is leading the team in points. He’ll probably find his way into the Hart conversation again. And the NHL put him in the damn All-Star game commercial, even giving him the big punchline. COOL. More of this guy. You know I have a diatribe loaded up here, but I’ll just throw some shade over Lake Michigan instead. His partner in (on ice) crime, Toews, has had a disappointing season so far. It’s been marred by a back injury that caused him to miss nine games in December. Since returning, he’s put together 4 points in six games—trying to get some momentum going. One thing to note with Toews; his shooting percentage is cut in half right now at 7% compared to the 15% he’s hovered around for his career. Toews just needs to keep getting chances, that puck luck will turn soon.
Larkin Trying To Settle In At Center
Ideally I would like Jurco in the lineup tonight, as well as Jensen but you take what you can get—I like this lineup tonight. I especially like Larkin back at center away from Glendening or Sheahan. The transition to center hasn’t been smooth for Larkin but I believe it’ll eventually click. Putting him with Tatar and Abdelkader is a step in the right direction. I also am fine with Nyquist taking Tatar’s place on Mantha’s line for the time being. Goose needs to start getting some goals. He’s still been a solid forward despite the lack of production. I think keeping him with Mantha and Zetterberg will eventually jump start him. This is one of the more balanced lineups I’ve seen from Blashill in a while. I’m curious to see how it works against a first place team.
Why Isn’t This Game On Wednesday?
It was essentially a straight up rivalry trade; Maple Leafs for Blackhawks. While I’ve enjoyed the resurgence of the Leafs rivalry, I can’t help but smile thinking how good it got playing the Blackhawks 2008-13. I miss the skill, physicality and intensity (I don’t miss Blackhawks fans). They were games that truly had it all. Hopefully the Wings have a surprise turn around within the next couple seasons. Not only for the sake of keeping up with the Leafs but make these couple times a year you see the Blackhawks really mean something.
