DK Pittsburgh Sports posted a video of Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin speaking with the media at Boston’s TD Garden on Wednesday, ahead of tonight’s Four Nations Face-Off final between the U.S. and Canada (8 PM EST start on ESPN/Sportsnet/TVA Sports)…
“Ten days is a long time to be away from the rink no matter if you’re skating, working out or doing nothing,” Andrew Copp said. “You need these four days. It’s been pretty upbeat and energetic so far. I think guys are excited to get back.”
Detroit went into the 4 Nations Face-Off break with plenty of momentum, going 15-4-1 from Dec. 29 – Feb. 8. Now, according to Copp, it’s about improving and carrying that momentum over into the club’s final 27 games of the regular season.
“[Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan] has been trying to make sure we’re paying attention to the details,” Copp said. “We’re staying in shifts kind of long to make sure that we’re not only physically ready, but our minds are ready to be at tip-top [shape] for games that last three hours. You can replicate as much as you want in practice, but we’re only out there for an hour. It’s hard to have that mental stamina to stay in a game for 2.5 – 3 hours after two weeks off.”
The players know mentality matters, especially as the team continues forming its identity under McLellan.
“We talked a little bit about identity again today and all the parts of the actual hockey game, but something that we talked about at the end was our togetherness, resiliency and the team that we have, in terms of handling adversity, but sticking together,” Copp said. “That has really improved since Christmas. Obviously, winning helps with that but I feel like we’re really gelling as a team.”
Having a rough week, on the blog and away from the blog. Life’s challenges and caregiving’s relentless schedule have me a bit down today. But the bills continue to need to be paid, so here we are:
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“Pretty cool,” Moritz Seider said. “I was fortunate enough to see the whole look already and looks really sweet. Had a chance trying it on firsthand and it feels pretty good. I think the excitement is starting to grow here.”
Andrew Copp, who went to Michigan and was a prolific high school quarterback at Ann Arbor Skyline High School, noted the similarity in colors to U-M’s bitter rival.
“There’s a little tribute, colors are opposite though, so can’t get too close or else we’ll look like Ohio State,” Copp said. “It’s pretty good, I guess. Took a little to get used to it, seeing it on the ice. Definitely different than seeing it on a picture. But the jerseys should look good.”
It will be the Red Wings’ fifth outdoor game and first since Jan. 1, 2017, against Toronto at BMO Field.
Seider is among the players who haven’t played an outdoor NHL game but has at a lower level.
“In juniors back home (in Germany) we played before the men’s team played,” Seider said. “Probably like 35, 40 (thousand fans), and they sold-out I think with 55 (thousand) for the men’s game. Pretty cool atmosphere. It’s really special being on the ice and everything is so far away.”
As promised, for the mask enthusiasts: close ups of Talbot (1) and Lyon’s (2-3) #StadiumSeries art. New pads are coming as well. Leaning in to the auto-style Motor City script and stitch/etch details. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/fzkTAovY2B
With only a week-and-a-half before the Stadium Series game against Columbus, the Red Wings have been breaking in their gloves, pants and helmets for that game…
But Detroit will have four games to be played before their Saturday, March 1st outside game against Columbus–including the front half of a home-and-home series with the Blue Jackets–as well as a back-to-back set of games (vs. Minnesota and Anaheim) this weekend.
Ultimately, the Red Wings will play 8 times in the 15 calendar days before the March 7th trade deadline, and that’s a fair amount of games to undertake.
After the Red Wings’ practice today, Andrew Copp and coach Todd McLellan spoke with the media:
A native of Detroit’s westside, Hart started playing hockey roughly six years ago. Hart’s love for the game has only grown since then, prompting his parents to build him a backyard rink that the family has maintained for the past four winters.
For Motte, who was born in St. Clair, Mich., hockey also was a big part of his childhood.
“The few Red Wings games that we got down to in Detroit were always important and awesome,” Motte said. “Growing up, watching great teams but getting into other hockey like college hockey and the [Port Huron Prowlers]. Going to those games and getting signed sticks, pucks and all that goes a long way. I remember being [Hart’s] age and what it meant to me and is part of my hockey career.”
Before wrapping up their combined post-practice media session, Hart told Motte that he hopes “you guys can make it to the playoffs.”
The 29-year-old forward smiled.
“We’ll do our best for you, buddy,” Motte said. “We look forward to seeing you at the game.”