Finally. The Red Wings are actually playing a game after being on hiatus for five days this week. That's a good thing, even if it is against the Columbus Blue Jackets. An even better thing, the Wings have a chance tonight to become the second Detroit team to get off to a 5-0 start this season. 7:30 p.m.
Red Wings look to improve power play starting tonight vs. Blue Jackets
Team working hard on improving at both activities
During the past week, the Red Wings have taken two days off, worked on their power play and played a lot of ping-pong.
The goal now is to turn being rested and prepared into victory No. 5 tonight against Columbus at Joe Louis Arena. The Blue Jackets haven't won in regulation since March 12.
"They're a team that hasn't won that has the ability to win," coach Mike Babcock said Thursday. "I guarantee they'll be working hard. They had 38 shots against Dallas, they scored power-play goals, they looked dangerous. They'll be battling hard, and they'll be desperate. We're going to have a tiger by the tail, so our preparation is so important. We have to be ready, because they're going to be hungry."
In addition to being 4-0 and having allowed only five goals, the Wings have nearly everyone available; defenseman Mike Commodore, a former Blue Jacket, is steadily improving after a knee injury. The Blue Jackets are 0-5-1, have allowed 20 goals and are without top defenseman James Wisniewski (suspended) and top-six forward Jeff Carter (injured).
"They've got talented players not playing, but they've still got Rick Nash -- he's a hell of a player," Danny Cleary said. "We play them quite often, and they always give us a good game. And it's important for us to play well after a week of practices."
There has been ample power-play work thrown in to counteract being 1-for-19, but overall the Wings are pleased with how quickly they've gotten out of their own zone and how much they've controlled the puck.
Players have been similarly adept at handling ping-pong balls. They got hooked on the sport during training camp in Traverse City, and two tables now sit in the hallway outside the locker room.
Johan Franzen and Ty Conklin are among the best on the team, though Franzen claimed "I've got Conks' number. I've beaten him, like, five times."
"Everyone likes playing ping-pong," Cleary said. "Now we're going to arrange this big ranking system and try to have a tournament. We know who the top players are -- Patty Eaves is No. 1, two is Franzen, three is probably Conklin."
Cleary ranked himself, Valtteri Filppula, Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson as the next-best group, while one of the best puckhandlers on the team admitted he was one of the worst with a paddle in his hand.
"I'm probably bottom three," Henrik Zetterberg said. "I'm not a big ping-pong player. We'll see if we're going to do a tournament, if I can climb the ladder a little bit."
--Detroit FreePress
Red Wings look to improve power play starting tonight vs. Blue Jackets
Team working hard on improving at both activities
During the past week, the Red Wings have taken two days off, worked on their power play and played a lot of ping-pong.
The goal now is to turn being rested and prepared into victory No. 5 tonight against Columbus at Joe Louis Arena. The Blue Jackets haven't won in regulation since March 12.
"They're a team that hasn't won that has the ability to win," coach Mike Babcock said Thursday. "I guarantee they'll be working hard. They had 38 shots against Dallas, they scored power-play goals, they looked dangerous. They'll be battling hard, and they'll be desperate. We're going to have a tiger by the tail, so our preparation is so important. We have to be ready, because they're going to be hungry."
In addition to being 4-0 and having allowed only five goals, the Wings have nearly everyone available; defenseman Mike Commodore, a former Blue Jacket, is steadily improving after a knee injury. The Blue Jackets are 0-5-1, have allowed 20 goals and are without top defenseman James Wisniewski (suspended) and top-six forward Jeff Carter (injured).
"They've got talented players not playing, but they've still got Rick Nash -- he's a hell of a player," Danny Cleary said. "We play them quite often, and they always give us a good game. And it's important for us to play well after a week of practices."
There has been ample power-play work thrown in to counteract being 1-for-19, but overall the Wings are pleased with how quickly they've gotten out of their own zone and how much they've controlled the puck.
Players have been similarly adept at handling ping-pong balls. They got hooked on the sport during training camp in Traverse City, and two tables now sit in the hallway outside the locker room.
Johan Franzen and Ty Conklin are among the best on the team, though Franzen claimed "I've got Conks' number. I've beaten him, like, five times."
"Everyone likes playing ping-pong," Cleary said. "Now we're going to arrange this big ranking system and try to have a tournament. We know who the top players are -- Patty Eaves is No. 1, two is Franzen, three is probably Conklin."
Cleary ranked himself, Valtteri Filppula, Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson as the next-best group, while one of the best puckhandlers on the team admitted he was one of the worst with a paddle in his hand.
"I'm probably bottom three," Henrik Zetterberg said. "I'm not a big ping-pong player. We'll see if we're going to do a tournament, if I can climb the ladder a little bit."
--Detroit FreePress
