As writer Casey Richey from Winging It In Motown points out, the Red Wings are off to a slow start but remain red-hot at Joe Louis Arena, where they are 3-1-1.
NESN.com: Detroit is the type of hockey city that has realistic hopes for a Stanley Cup every season. Given that environment, how are the first few months of the season typically viewed?
Casey Richey: The first few months of the season are crucial to the success this team has had in past years. Detroit usually relies on a fast start to the season while the rest of the teams in the division are trying to find their identity, allowing them to rack up some early and much-needed points. This season, their start is even more important than before given the success of the other teams in the division. Unfortunately, the wheels aren’t yet turning in a consistent manner.
NESN.com: The Red Wings have been somewhat similar to the Bruins this year in that they’ve yet to find a consistent stride. To what can that be attributed?
CR: This year there has been a lot of talk about the inconsistencies in the level of play the team is putting forth. So far, the losses of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky haven’t hurt all that much offensively, but the more recent losses to injury of Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen are of big concern heading forward. The defense (and netminding) that has struggled already this season is going to be called on even more with the losses on the offensive side.
NESN.com: From 1993-2008, Chris Osgood‘s GAA never topped 3.00. But last year, he posted a 3.09 GAA in 39 starts, and he currently owns a 3.10 mark after nine starts this year. Is he losing a step as he closes in on his 37th birthday?
CR: Osgood is one of those guys that’s a little tough to figure out. One night he’ll stonewall the best players in the league, while the next he’ll be giving up soft goals one after the other. I don’t want to say quite yet that he is losing a step because he can definitely turn “it” on whenever “it” is needed but the focus might be a problem down the road.
NESN.com: The points leaders for the Wings are some familiar names — Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom — but the fourth-leading scorer is Jonathan Ericsson, who most of us last saw posting three points and a plus-1 rating in last year’s Stanley Cup Finals. Can you describe his game and what has made him more effective at age 25?
CR: Jonathan Ericsson has some great offensive skills to go with a defensive game that needs some adjustment. Big E, as he’s called in Motown, has a heck of a shot and that gets him both a lot of assists and goals. He’s also not too shabby of a passer in the offensive zone. His effectiveness lies within his skating and his knowledge of the game. He usually reads plays very well and has good enough wheels to make a play on the puck.
NESN.com: Are there any particular matchups with the Bruins that you think the Red Wings will need to include in their game plan?
CR: Matchups that the Red Wings will need to look out for on offense are any lines that go up against Zdeno Chara. I don’t think I need to explain myself there. The matchups with the Wings that the Bruins can exploit are mainly on Ericsson and Brett Lebda‘s line. They’ve given up the most goals and if the Bruins can get their talent line out against that pair, it could be bad for Detroit.
NESN.com: In Boston, fans get excited for the all-too-rare games against the Red Wings. Do Red Wings fans ever wish for more Original Six matchups and fewer games in places like Phoenix?
CR: I know I get more excited about Original Six games. That’s not to say I’m opposed to all the expansion teams, but I love watching the Original Six battles. There’s a certain nostalgia that goes along with those games and while some of the newer teams have great venues and fans, the Original Six teams have that history and tradition that I love about hockey.
NESN.com would like to send another thanks to Casey Richey for this report and encourage fans to check out Winging It In Motown, which is the SB Nation Detroit Red Wings’ Web site. SB Nation is affiliated with Yahoo! Sports and is partners with other Web sites like CNNSI, CBS Sports and NHL.com. Winging It In Motown is a fan-oriented site that encourages comments and viewpoints from all over to create a unique environment for Red Wings fans.
