Author: George Malik

Ken Kal and Carley Johnston preview tonight’s game in a 14-minute video:

NHL.com’s fantasy hockey staff made a “bold prediction” for each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams which may or may not take place over the course of 2022, and I’m a little skeptical of this one for the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings: Forward Filip Zadina will lead the Red Wings in goals from Jan. 1, 2022 to the end of the regular season and finish with their most SOG by season’s end, surpassing center Dylan Larkin.

Continued; I’d be as happy as a clam if Zadina blossomed offensively, but this is really out there.

Of Red Wings and Capitals note ahead of tonight’s game between the two teams (7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit/NBCS Washington/97.1 FM):

1. NHL.com’s “On tap” looks toward tonight’s game as another possible milestone-marker for one Alex Ovechkin:

Ovechkin tries again for power-play goals record: Alex Ovechkin will try again to set the NHL record for most power-play goals when the Washington Capitals (19-6-7) visit the Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; BSDET, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). It is the fourth attempt to break the record for the Capitals forward, who tied Dave Andreychuk with 274 power-play goals in a 5-4 overtime loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 15. Ovechkin is also looking to become the third player this season to score 50 points, joining Edmonton Oilers teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, each of whom has 50. Ovechkin has scored 48 points (22 goals, 26 assists) in 36 games. Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings (15-13-3) have not played since a 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 18, but the forward has scored five goals in his past three games, including a hat trick against the Devils. — Shawn P. Roarke, Senior Director of Editorial

As you already know by now, the beat writers more or less skipped today’s Red Wings morning skate, with only a video of Jeff Blashill’s comments and a couple of Tweets from the Red Wings hitting the internet wires, as it were.

2. The Red Wings did post a very late game preview as well, with DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills discussing the Wings’ aim to win their first game in nearly two weeks opposite a stacked Capitals team:

MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a game-day notebook in which he discusses the Red Wings’ wariness of one Alexander Ovechkin during this evening’s match-up with #8’s Washington Capitals:

Ovechkin, at age 36, is showing no signs of slowing down. He is second in the NHL with 22 goals and third with 48 points. In his 17th NHL season, Ovechkin continues to possess one of the best one-time shots in the league.

“If you haven’t seen Alex Ovechkin play live you don’t understand how big he is,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s a huge, huge man. That was one of the biggest things I realized when I was first behind the bench and you see him at ice level. He’s just wide, he’s strong, he’s big. That allows him such great strength to be able to fight people off and still shoot. He’s got such a great release and he can shoot it really from anywhere. A lot of guys need a really good pass to shoot one-timers. He can shoot it in any kind of sphere around his body. It’s really amazing.”

Washington’s 2-0 victory at Detroit on Nov. 11 is the only game this season in which Ovechkin did not record a shot on a goal, just the second game over the past two seasons in which he’s failed to register a shot.

The nine-time winner of the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in the league leads the NHL with 149 shots.

Ovechkin ranks fourth all-time with 752 goals, trailing Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801) and Jaromir Jagr (766). If he stays healthy, there is a good chance he will pass Gretzky in about four years at age 40.

Continued

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an end-of-the-year article which discusses his top 21 stories of 2021, and the Red Wings’ dynamic rookie duo of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider cracked his list:

5. Seider, Raymond headline rookie class: The Red Wings were anticipating contributions from rookie defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Lucas Raymond. But what the duo has provided has surpassed anyone’s expectations.

Raymond has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 31 games, including an early season hat trick and a long string of deft passes during the season that make him a leading contender for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year).

To win that award, Raymond will likely have to beat out Seider, who has been a tower of strength defensively, while also putting a forth an offensive game (three goals, 18 assists, 21 points) that was somewhat unexpected so early in his NHL career.

Raymond and Seider have shown savvy, aren’t awed by the NHL and play with a confidence and assurance beyond their ages.

The only comparable rookie is Trevor Zegras, who is having a breakthrough season in Anaheim with 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists).

Continued (paywall); my second-half storyline is watching Raymond and Seider hold off the massive Trevor Zegras Hype Machine…

The Detroit Red Wings sit at 15-13-and-3 today, and hope to make forward progress against the 19-6-and-7 Washington Capitals, who they host in the final game of 2021 (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/NBCS Washington/97.1 FM).

Washington returned to play after the NHL’s pause with a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, but WashingtonCapitals.com’s Mike Vogel’s game preview for tonight’s affair reports that the Caps have some COVID issues on defense still, with Dennis Cholowski, Martin Fehervary, Nick Jensen and Justin Schultz all hitting the COVID list, so Washington brings a patchwork defensive corps into Detroit.

As you already know by now, the Capitals have an explosive offense, so if the Wings plan on sitting on their 11-3-and-2 home record, it’s going to be a bumpy New Year’s Eve.

I apologize for not having posted a more thorough game preview…Last night I had a bad anxiety attack, and it shut me down for about 2-and-a-half hours. I felt the attack coming, and took some medication to help shut it down, but living with chronic mental illnesses can be a pain in the ass.

You’ve got me this morning, at least.

Anyway, your friendly neighborhood Red Wings took to the ice at LCA for their morning skate at 10:30 AM, per the Wings’ Twitter account…

The Red Wings Alumni team played against a group of Toledo hockey legends last night at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, and BCSN posted a highlight clip from the game:

? Hockey Legends in Action ?

The ?????? ?????? and ??????? ??? ????? Alumni Game at Fifth Third Field was nothing short of incredible last night. In the end, it didn’t matter who won the game. ???????? ??? ? ??????! ? pic.twitter.com/9VXCGgczPp— BCSN (@BCSNsports) December 31, 2021

Well-put together, this one:

What a year it was for the Red Wings and their prospects. Here’s to a continuation in2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣
Happy new year everyone??#LGRW pic.twitter.com/slRb74cYdD— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) December 31, 2021

The Free Press’s Helene St. James looks back at memorable New Year’s Eve games ahead of tonight’s match-up vs. the Washington Capitals (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/NBCS Washington/97.1 FM):

The Worst Eves: The 1970s — fittingly, considering it was the decade of the “Dead Wings” and the “Darkness with Harkness” — featured some terribly un-festive eves. On December 31, 1970, the Wings were hammered, 8-3, by the Black Hawks at Olympia Stadium. The Black Hawks were up, 3-0, halfway through the first period. The Wings got as close as 4-2 in the second, but neither Jim Rutherford, who started the game and allowed five goals on 23 shots, nor Don McLeod, who allowed three goals on 16 shots, were able to withstand Chicago’s attack. In 1977, the Wings endured a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the Boston Bruins, with Ron Low getting shellacked in net and future color commentator Paul Woods among those in the lineup.

Steve’s Fantastic Eve: New Year’s Eve 1987 was a memorable one for Yzerman: He had a goal and three assists in leading the Wings to a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. That stretched Yzerman’s scoring streak to 18 games, breaking Alex Delvecchio’s franchise record of 17 straight games, set in Feb. 20-March 17, 1965. “The Captain has been fantastic,” then-coach Jacques Demers said. “He’s been phenomenal.”

Yzerman was his usually unassuming self about breaking a legend’s record, saying, “It’s nice, I guess. Alex was a great player, but I’m sure somebody will come along and break this record some day.” Yzerman’s point streak ended after 22 games (20 goals, 30 assists) and he was right, somebody did break it — him. From Nov. 1, 1988-Jan. 4, 1989, Yzerman had a point in 28 straight games, with 29 goals and 36 assists.

…

The Starry Eve: New Year’s Eve 1999 got a lot of attention because of Y2K fears that the change in digits would lead to a worldwide infrastructure collapse. The Wings spent the evening playing to a 4-4 tie with the Los Angeles Kings. The Wings hosted the Kings again on New Year’s Eve in 2000, and that night was one to cheer. Yzerman scored first and last, with assists both times from fellow Future Hall of Famers Nicklas Lidstrom and Igor Larionov. The Captain, the Perfect Human and The Professor — now those were auld acquaintances that should not be forgot.

Continued (paywall)

Fox 17 posted a video previewing Friday night’s New Year’s Eve game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Milwaukee Admirals, which includes an indoor fireworks show: