Red Wings Rumblings
Let’s start with the Grand Rapids Griffins… Their season has taken a bit of a turn — they are win-less in the month of February and have dropped five games in a row. Doesn’t help that Detroit has taken some key players (Kasper, Soderblom), but it’s been pretty ugly. This team should not be slumping like this. They were on top of The AHL’s Central Division about a month ago… Now they’re in third place. The Griffins have a back-to-back in Iowa this weekend starting tonight.
Meanwhile, the Toledo Walleye coincidentally have a back-to-back in Iowa this weekend as well. Different story for this team, though. The Walleye have won all six games they’ve played in the month of February and are currently riding a nine-game win streak. So, while everything seems to be going wrong for the Griffins, everything seems to be going right for the Walleye! Jan Bednar and Carter Gylander have carved out a nice tandem there.
Okay, let’s talk a little bit about the 4 Nations Face-Off. We’re two games into this NHL sanctioned tournament, and I have some thoughts after Team USA’s win over Team Finland last night. I wasn’t really entertained, more annoyed honestly. Dylan Larkin played around 11 minutes of ice time and I didn’t see him out there once on Team USA’s four power play tries. I guess that’s what you earn when you’re the third-highest power-play goal-scorer in the NHL. Great win for USA, but if this is how Larkin is going to be used, I am less interested in watching.
Not to say that’s the case for Team Sweden and Lucas Raymond… They opened the tournament with an OT loss over Team Canada, but Raymond was magnificent with a pair of assists and three shots on goal in nearly 18 minutes of ice time. It was a pretty tough matchup for Sweden (or anyone) — Canada’s roster is absolutely stacked. Tough to keep momentum when Sidney Crosby finishes a shift and Connor McDavid steps on the ice to replace him… and that’s just TWO players. Maybe Team USA can stop them, but that is a big MAYBE.
4 Nations Face-Off Action This Weekend
Saturday at 1:00 PM ET on ABC: Team Finland vs Team Sweden
Saturday at 8:00 PM ET on ABC: Team USA vs Team Canada
Enjoy the weekend, folks!
