EDMONTON, Alberta -- Desperate for goals, the Red Wings have called up one of their most lethal minor-league players to possibly join the lineup for Game 6 -- one who has a history of scoring on the Oilers.
Donald MacLean flew to Edmonton from Detroit on Sunday morning, just in time to join practice at Rexall Place. He may play tonight when the Wings face being eliminated by eight-seeded Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs.
"You play all year and then you get a few games up at the end of the year, and then to be in the midst of your own playoff drive, and to come up for Game 6 -- playoff time is the best time of year -- and to get an opportunity to play for the Wings this time of year, it's awesome," MacLean said.
MacLean scored the first goal, on a power play, when the Wings beat the Oilers, 2-0, at home on April 11. It was exactly the sort of goal the Wings need in this first-round series: MacLean was making a nuisance of himself in front of the net when he caught a rebound and stuffed it top shelf. He played two more games for the Wings, also contributing an assist.
MacLean, 29, had 56 goals for the Grand Rapids Griffins, tied for first in the American Hockey League. Wings general manager Jim Nill called MacLean about 11 p.m. Saturday, the day after MacLean helped the Griffins eliminate the Toronto Marlies, 4 games to 1.
Asked if MacLean would play, Wings coach Mike Babcock gave a maybe. "We'll see," he said. "He scored a big goal against the Oilers." He's a "big body."
MacLean is the second Griffins player to join the Wings since the series began; goaltender Jimmy Howard arrived in time for Game 4. MacLean had a little fun when he walked past Howard Sunday after practice. "Good to see you finally sweating, Jimmy," MacLean said.
GIMME A GOAL: Mikael Samuelsson, who impressed during the regular season with his knack for scoring, hasn't done so this series. "I don't feel I've played my best hockey, that's for sure, but I've felt pretty good out there," Samuelsson said. "I'm not really frustrated at all, I have to be honest with you. I've had some chances, just couldn't put it in."
REDRAWING THE LINES: If Steve Yzerman (back) can't go and MacLean joins the lineup, the Wings may rearrange their lines. It's possible Babcock will reunite Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, because Datsyuk has magic in his moves and no one finishes what Datsyuk starts better than Zetterberg. Zetterberg has been playing with Tomas Holmstrom, but Holmstrom's real value is on power plays, and those two are on the same unit anyways.
Robert Lang's line clearly isn't the same without Yzerman. Lang has done what he can this series, moving his feet well and controlling the puck, but with Jason Williams and Mark Mowers as his wing men, this line isn't nearly as threatening as it should be.
NOT OVER YET: The Oilers are being careful not to get overconfident with a 3-2 series lead. "I don't think you count your chickens until you've won that fourth game," said Oilers defenseman Chris Pronger. "We've got to stay focused and not look out to see who you're going to play. You've got to finish them off.
"They've got a lot of pride in that locker room. We've got to stay focused and make sure that we're coming out with an even better effort than we did in Game 5 because, you know, we're going to see a better effort from them, that's for sure."
HIGH PRAISE: Craig MacTavish doesn't need to get long-winded to describe how well Pronger has played in this series against the Wings. But MacTavish, who began his playing career with the Boston Bruins before becoming an Oiler, gave Pronger a high compliment: "The best defenseman I ever played with is Ray Bourque. It's a real argument one way or the other. Ray Bourque was a terrific player, but Prongs is dominating the game at least as effectively."
Donald MacLean flew to Edmonton from Detroit on Sunday morning, just in time to join practice at Rexall Place. He may play tonight when the Wings face being eliminated by eight-seeded Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs.
"You play all year and then you get a few games up at the end of the year, and then to be in the midst of your own playoff drive, and to come up for Game 6 -- playoff time is the best time of year -- and to get an opportunity to play for the Wings this time of year, it's awesome," MacLean said.
MacLean scored the first goal, on a power play, when the Wings beat the Oilers, 2-0, at home on April 11. It was exactly the sort of goal the Wings need in this first-round series: MacLean was making a nuisance of himself in front of the net when he caught a rebound and stuffed it top shelf. He played two more games for the Wings, also contributing an assist.
MacLean, 29, had 56 goals for the Grand Rapids Griffins, tied for first in the American Hockey League. Wings general manager Jim Nill called MacLean about 11 p.m. Saturday, the day after MacLean helped the Griffins eliminate the Toronto Marlies, 4 games to 1.
Asked if MacLean would play, Wings coach Mike Babcock gave a maybe. "We'll see," he said. "He scored a big goal against the Oilers." He's a "big body."
MacLean is the second Griffins player to join the Wings since the series began; goaltender Jimmy Howard arrived in time for Game 4. MacLean had a little fun when he walked past Howard Sunday after practice. "Good to see you finally sweating, Jimmy," MacLean said.
GIMME A GOAL: Mikael Samuelsson, who impressed during the regular season with his knack for scoring, hasn't done so this series. "I don't feel I've played my best hockey, that's for sure, but I've felt pretty good out there," Samuelsson said. "I'm not really frustrated at all, I have to be honest with you. I've had some chances, just couldn't put it in."
REDRAWING THE LINES: If Steve Yzerman (back) can't go and MacLean joins the lineup, the Wings may rearrange their lines. It's possible Babcock will reunite Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, because Datsyuk has magic in his moves and no one finishes what Datsyuk starts better than Zetterberg. Zetterberg has been playing with Tomas Holmstrom, but Holmstrom's real value is on power plays, and those two are on the same unit anyways.
Robert Lang's line clearly isn't the same without Yzerman. Lang has done what he can this series, moving his feet well and controlling the puck, but with Jason Williams and Mark Mowers as his wing men, this line isn't nearly as threatening as it should be.
NOT OVER YET: The Oilers are being careful not to get overconfident with a 3-2 series lead. "I don't think you count your chickens until you've won that fourth game," said Oilers defenseman Chris Pronger. "We've got to stay focused and not look out to see who you're going to play. You've got to finish them off.
"They've got a lot of pride in that locker room. We've got to stay focused and make sure that we're coming out with an even better effort than we did in Game 5 because, you know, we're going to see a better effort from them, that's for sure."
HIGH PRAISE: Craig MacTavish doesn't need to get long-winded to describe how well Pronger has played in this series against the Wings. But MacTavish, who began his playing career with the Boston Bruins before becoming an Oiler, gave Pronger a high compliment: "The best defenseman I ever played with is Ray Bourque. It's a real argument one way or the other. Ray Bourque was a terrific player, but Prongs is dominating the game at least as effectively."
