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Red Wings-Predators quick take: Talbot’s 40 stops pace Wings to a 3-0 win

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to end their winless streak at one game as they faced the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. With both teams having lost their home openers, the Wings and Preds were in no mood to drop to 0-and-2 on the young season.

For the Red Wings, who are playing a stretch of 3 games to be played over the course of 5 nights, turning the ship around is particularly imperative, because losses add up in a hurry.

On Saturday night, the Red Wings were able to win from the goal on out, and by that, I mean Cam Talbot, who stopped 40 shots and faced a stunning 87 shot attempts.

Thankfully, the Red Wings blocked 34 shots en route to a 3-0 victory in which J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp and Dylan Larkin (empty net) were able to slowly but surely assail Juuse Saros (and the net behind him) in a game where the Red Wings really did skate uphill against the stacked Predators at times, but the Red Wings did prevail thanks to superb defensive play, a commitment to withstanding the Predators’ physicality (though the team did lose Christian Fischer to an upper-body injury), and just plain old out-working the Preds.

The teams will reprise their rivalry (it’s still a rivalry!) next Saturday in Nashville.

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators quick take: Talbot’s 40 stops pace Wings to a 3-0 win

Three things: on stemming self-inflicted errors, Albert Johansson’s debut, and teaching prospects to rebound from mistake-making

Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

  1. DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills noted in his game preview that the Red Wings are wary of giving the Predators unintentional assistance over the course of tonight’s game:

Detroit dropped its season opener on Thursday in a 6-3 setback to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alex DeBrincat (two goals, one assist) and Lucas Raymond (two assists) each had multi-point nights, but a three-goal second period from Pittsburgh proved too much for the Red Wings to overcome.

Head coach Derek Lalonde said self-inflicted wounds hurt his club on Thursday.

“I was fully confident, after how we performed in the first period, that would translate over 60 minutes and be successful [on Thursday] but didn’t,” Lalonde said. “Even some of the things that crept into our game in the second, some D-zone structure, obviously puck play was an issue [on Thursday]. We had a lot of turnovers. I think it was pretty self-inflicted, so I think it’s important not to overreact but respond correctly on a performance like that. It feels like we kind of gave one away with the way we started the game.”

As for the Predators, they are coming off a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Last season, Nashville finished fourth in the Central Division with a 47-30-5 record (99 points) before falling to the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference First Round.

“A different look than last year coming in [Saturday],” Tyler Motte said about the makeup of the Predators’ roster this season. “A better opportunity to take care of yourself, your details and hopefully put ourselves in a position to win a game.”

2. The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan discussed Anton Johansson’s imminent NHL debut, which will come with his parents and one of his two brothers watching in the stands:

Continue reading Three things: on stemming self-inflicted errors, Albert Johansson’s debut, and teaching prospects to rebound from mistake-making

Prospect round-up: Kiiskinen 1G + 2A for HPK; Sandin Pellikka 1A as MBN makes SHL debut

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen had a hell of a game against his “old team,” helping HPK Hameenlinna win 5-3 over the Lahti Pelicans thanks to 1 goal and 2 assists registered over the course of 17:13 played. He had 8 shots and finished even:

In the SHL, Noah Dower Nilsson did not play in Frolunda HC’s 2-1 overtime win over Linkopings HC;

Anton Johansson was a healthy scratch in Leksands IF’s 4-2 win over the Vaxjo Lakers;

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard made his SHL debut, finishing scoreless with a +1 and 2 shots and a penalty taken in 17:33 played on the second line, and Axel Sandin Pellikka had an assist, finishing at -1 with 4 shots in 21:02 played as Skelleftea AIK lost 4-2 to Timra IK:

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Maximilian Kilpinen didn’t play in Ostersunds IK’s 5-2 loss to IK Oskarshamn;

In the Swedish J20 league, Charlie Forslund didn’t register a point in Mora IK’s 6-3 win over MoDo Hockey;

A bit more about Albert Johansson’s NHL debut

MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a game-day notebook about Albert Johansson’s NHL debut, noting that Albert is the son of former NHL defenseman Roger Johansson:

“It’s going to be a special night,” Johansson, 23, said. “It’s going to be a dream come true moment. I’m really excited. I just want to come in and play a simple game and move pucks and be solid defensively. I think that’s the biggest key for me.”

That was coach Derek Lalonde’s message as well. The Red Wings need to be much better defensively following Thursday’s 6-3 season-opening loss to Pittsburgh.

“It’s been a really nice progression, watching him develop from camp last year to this year and then you get the feedback from the coaching staff (in Grand Rapids), you get feedback from the management team,” Lalonde said. “They were very excited about his development. You can see it. You know what got him here is his puck play, defending, being smart and simple.”

When Johansson was informed Friday afternoon that he’d be playing tonight, he called his family in Sweden. His parents and one of his brothers arranged to get to Detroit as quick as possible and were scheduled to arrive early this afternoon.

“Long day for them, but it’s a special night and I’m happy they could come here and watch it,” Johansson said. “It’s a big moment for them, too. My family, they support me my whole life, so, I’m happy that they’re able to come watch it.”

Continued (paywall)

Game-day notebooks: Wings wary of Predators’ speed; Johansson, Holl in, Gustafsson, Petry out

Among the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton’s notes comes this quip from coach Derek Lalonde regarding the scrappy-in-general Predators…

“They’re north, they’re fast, they have an ability to spread the puck out with speed through the puck,” said Lalonde of [Predators coach Andrew] Brunette’s team.  “They play long, and I think they rely on one of the best goaltenders in the world [Juuse Saros].  I wouldn’t say they take it for granted, but I think they know that puck’s not going in.  It might be coming out [with Saros’ aptitude for puck-handling], and it might even fuel their north play.

For the Red Wings, the priority entering the evening is to finish what they started and lost Thursday against the Penguins.  “The whole first period was exactly what we wanted, obviously besides getting scored on,” said Michael Rasmussen of that defeat.  “There wasn’t anything in particular.  I think we just got deflated a couple of breakdowns and didn’t respond properly.”  To correct, per Rasmussen, the solution is simple: “Play a full 60 minutes and don’t beat ourselves.  I think if we do those things, we’ll be good.”

Stockton also spoke with Albert Johansson about his NHL debut…

On Wednesday, Albert Johansson was focused on staying patient, trusting that his time would come.  “I’m here right now, and I’m working every day, trying to be in the top six and play games, but I know all defensemen are good in here,” he told The Hockey News.  It’s gonna be a challenge every day, but [I’m focused on] coming in here, working hard during practice, trying to get better every day, trying to get into the top six.”

Four days later, his family is on its way to Detroit from Sweden, and he is getting ready to make his NHL debut tonight.  “It’s gonna be a dream-come-true moment,” Johansson said this morning.  “I just want to play a simple game, move [the puck], and be solid defensively.  That’s the biggest key for me, so just trying to keep it simple.”

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff also filed a game-day notebook which includes coach Lalonde explaining why the Wings recalled Justin Holl…and why they’re sitting Erik Gustafsson:

“I told him I do expect him up soon and helping us out and be ready,” Lalonde said of Holl. “I didn’t expect it in Game 2, but here he is.”

Gustafsson’s Red Wings debut was not one he’ll remmeber fondly. He was beaten badly on one Pittsburgh goal and wound up minus-two. Gustafsson finished with a Corsi of 38.8%, the worst of any Detroit defender.

“It wasn’t a great game for him the other night,” Lalonde said. “I think he would probably self admit that.”

It may be a short-term formula. Petry was skating on Saturday morning.

“There’s no doubt I do come in here and lie to you guys sometimes (about players) in the day-to-day (category),” Lalonde admitted. “He is. No, really. He’s a true day-to-day. It’s a good sign. Hopefully have him Monday (at the New York Rangers). If not, pretty confident he’ll be around for us this following game.”

Saturday fundraising fun fandango to pay the bills

No fun on a Saturday, but this is the price we both pay for a paywall-free, commercial-free blog. Fundraising appeals. And I just lost $50 in assistance from the State, so it’s time to ask the readers (you) to chip in.

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Reminder: The Red Wings ‘Red Carpet Walk’ takes place today

A promotional Tweet of note:

Video: Albert Johansson, Derek Lalonde speak after the Wings-Preds morning skate

Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson will be making his NHL debut tonight against the Nashville Predators (7 PM EDT start on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM), with defenseman Erik Gustafsson sitting as a result.

Both Johansson and coach Derek Lalonde spoke with the media after today’s morning skate:

Anything but a ‘stupid stat of the day’

This is at least a little reassuring, and I’m always amazed at how Clark Rasmussen of DetroitHockey.net finds these:

Kasper opens the season with 1G, 1A for Grand Rapids

Marco Kasper registered a goal and an assist over the course of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals last night, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen took note of Kasper’s performance:

The Austrian center Kasper made a strong case to make the Red Wings roster in training camp. In the end, the Red Wings decided it is better for his development to be the Griffins’ No. 1 center rather than competing for playing time in Detroit. Depending upon factors such as injuries and Red Wings performance, Kasper should get to Detroit at some point this season.

“We are going to play the heck out of him down here,” Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson said. “We are going to make sure when he gets that opportunity he’s ready to take it.”

Kasper’s take on his own growth is he is simply more comfortable in the North American professional game this season than he was last season. He put in plenty of work this summer improving his skating and growing stronger.

“Skating a lot more than last year,” Kasper said. “Trying to be involved in the game. That’s a big part of what I’m doing this year.”

Based on his opening night production, Kasper, if he stays in Grand Rapids, could should be the team’s offensive catalyst.

“I’m really just taking it day by day,” Kasper said to the media after the win over Milwaukee. “We are working really hard down here….just working every day, getting one percent better every day.”

Continued; Kasper needs to keep it up. He probably will do just that.