The Malik Report

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to start a two-game winning streak at the expense of the Anaheim Ducks’ playoff hopes.

Both teams played rope-a-dope defensive hockey, but the Red Wings ended up out-grinding, out-working and out-goaltending the Ducks, winning 2-1 thanks in no small part to 32 stops from Jimmy Howard and another 20 blocked shots by a Wings defense that was peppered by the desperate Ducks.

Ultimately, Dylan Larkin’s goal on a Bieksa giveaway and Nielsen’s slapper from the slot were enough offense for the Wings to deal with a late Ducks goal (Henrique scored with only 3:54 remaining), and the Wings were excellent late, “killing off” the Ducks’ push to tie the game late in the 3rd.

Continue reading Red Wings-Ducks quick take: Wings goose the desperate Ducks

Toledo Walleye forward Dylan Sadowy was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins today, and while it’s unknown whether Sadowy’s promotion involves a Griffins injury, there’s no doubt that he’s earned his call-up.

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe profiled Sadowy today, discussing the forward’s redemptive season in ECHL:

You always want to get back up to that next level,” he said. “You hope to get that call. You always want to play at the highest level you can. I hope to get into some games and perform.”

It was Sadowy’s performance of late that led to his promotion. Sadowy extended his point streak to four straight games on Sunday.

The native of Woodbridge, Ont. has bounced between Toledo and Grand Rapids in his first two seasons. So far this year he has tallied 21 points with six goals and 15 assists in 30 games with the ECHL Western Conference-leading Walleye.

Sadowy has accumulated nine points in his last 10 games with four goals and five assists.

“I’ve been getting my confidence back here,” Sadowy said. “The guys here help you get through [tough stretches]. I’m getting into a groove.”

Monroe continues…

Of disparate Red Wings-related note this evening:

1. In the “big picture,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Red Wings 2 times in his “31 Thoughts” column:

13. All of the Detroit defence focus is on Mike Green, but, quietly, the Red Wings are trying to give Xavier Ouellet a fresh start somewhere else.

That would be very kind to X, who’s been a good soldier despite no ice time…

And, regarding college free agents-to-be, should they not sign with their NHL teams:

29. Just some names to keep an eye on, with NHL team followed by school: Brian Pinho (Washington/Providence), Ryan Donato (Boston/Harvard), Anthony Angello (Pittsburgh/Cornell), Louis Belpedio (Minnesota/Miami), David Pope (Detroit/Nebraska-Omaha), CJ Suess (Winnipeg/Minnesota St.), Jake Evans (Montreal/Notre Dame), Brandon Hickey (Arizona/Boston University — traded to the Coyotes in the Mike Smith deal), Nolan Vesey (Toronto/Maine) and Nolan Stevens (St. Louis/Northeastern). The latter Nolan, John Stevens’s son, scored a beauty in the Beanpot final.

Pope told The Athletic’s Craig Custance that he will be signing with the Red Wings…

2. “Closer to home,” CBS Detroit’s Will Burtchfield spoke with the Red Wings’ players regarding the lack of NHL participation in the Olympics:

Continue reading Evening news: Red Wings ‘thoughts,’ Wings on the Olympics, Ducks on LCA and Mantha the shooter

The Red Wings discussed both their inability to hold 3rd period leads and their penalty-killing unit’s struggles in conversations with the Wings’ beat writers, and the team used similar language to describe both issues.

DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji spoke with Justin Abdelkader and Trevor Daley about the holding-the-lead issue…

After blowing three-goal leads three times in two games against the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, the Wings know they have to do a better job of maintaining leads.

“No lead is safe, for sure, in this league,” Justin Abdelkader said. “We played two really good teams, two teams that are dangerous offensively, probably two of the more dangerous teams offensively. It’s obviously two different situations, one was a five-minute power play, the other one, they did get the power play at the end, which definitely helped them score but they were on top of us in the third period.

“Obviously we talk about it and talk about it, but you just got to continue to play and can’t worry about what the score is, whether it’s in the third period or the second period, you got to continue to play your game and keep the foot on the gas because once you let up or kind of back away a little bit, that’s when a team can really get going, kind of like Washington did, especially in their building.”

Daley agreed that the Wings can’t sit back at all.

“It’s more to just let’s try to keep doing what got us the lead,” Daley said. “The last two, they look bad. One’s a five-minute penalty kill. That rarely happens. That’s unfortunate. The very next night, it happens again. Two totally different situations, obviously. But at the end of it, when you do get the lead you gotta maintain the reason why you got the lead and keep going.”

And coach Jeff Blashill suggested similar means by which to rectify the team’s penalty-killing issues, as the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan noted:

Continue reading Whether it’s holding the lead or killing penalties, Wings believe that confidence is key

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Gustav Nyquist regarding the possibility that #14 will be traded to clear cap space and acquire draft picks:

A source confirmed the club will try to deal Nyquist or Tomas Tatar before this year’s deadline (Feb. 26).

It’s far from a sure thing, mainly because Nyquist has a no-trade clause, giving him control over where he goes, or even if he goes.

“That’s for sure a bonus for me, that I’m able to make that decision, to have that power,” Nyquist said.

Nyquist is second on the team with 15 goals and has 25 points in 54 games. But his contract could limit potential suitors, too. His cap hit is $4.75 million, but his actual salary for next season is $5.5 million.

Nyquist said the Red Wings have not approached him about possibly waiving his no-trade clause. Asked if he would consider it, Nyquist said, “It depends on the situation I guess, but it’s not something I want to speculate on. Until it happens, I don’t want to have that on my mind.”

Khan continues, noting the following:

Defenseman Mike Green is their most viable trading chip. The Tampa Bay Lightning, with general manager Steve Yzerman and head scout Pat Verbeek, have kept close tabs on Green. Washington, Green’s former team, also has shown interest.

The Red Wings would like to move a goaltender, Jimmy Howard or Petr Mrazek, but that will be difficult since few playoff-contending teams – perhaps only the New York Islanders – appear to be in the market for a goalie.

Updated 3x at 2:34 PM: The Detroit Red Wings will start Jimmy Howard opposite John Gibson as the teams tangle this evening (7:30 PM EST on FSD/Prime Ticket/97.1 FM).

The morning skates revealed that the Wings will reunite Larkin and Athanasiou, but Tyler Bertuzzi will do some penance on the fourth line; Trevor Daley is also going to play despite blocking a nasty Capitals shot in the 3rd period of Sunday’s game.

After the Ducks’ morning skate, a couple of noteworthy Tweets rolled in…

Continue reading Red Wings-Ducks game-day updates: Ducks desperate for points; Howard vs. Gibson in goal

Here’s a press release of note from the Red Wings:

Continue reading Red Wings press release: revealing some details of Hockey Is For Everyone Month plans

The Athletic’s Cat Silverman examines the Red Wings’ goaltending situation ahead of a trade deadline in which the team appears to want to move one of their goaltenders. Silverman believes that the Wings should hold onto both goaltenders until the offseason to maximize their return:

Clearly, the longer both players work with Salajko, the bigger the benefit for the club — even if one or the other eventually gets moved out. Paying nearly $10 million for both Mrazek and Howard will hurt the Red Wings if they try to ride that out for long, especially when they’re not in a position to contend. But the longer they can wait on a potential return, the better that return might be.

In June, we’ll have a better idea of which teams will be in immediate need of help, and how much room they’ll have for it.

The Oilers will be finished with their horrible, terrible, no-good season, and can consider whether adding Mrazek or Howard would benefit them when they start fresh next year.

The Islanders will also be able to properly assess where they’re headed, with Halak hitting free agency. Assuming they don’t have a ton of interest in re-signing him, and assuming the cap goes up as much as it’s expected to, they could have room to add Mrazek and may pay a heavy price to ensure they get a sure talent.

Silverman continues (paywall), and my understanding is that the Wings don’t have a priority as to whether they move Howard or Mrazek first–they just want to move a goalie.

 

The Detroit Red Wings host the Anaheim Ducks this evening (7:30 PM EST on FSD/Prime Ticket/97.1 FM) with the Ducks desperate to earn two points as they’re in the thick of a tight Western Conference playoff race.

Detroit took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena around 10:30 AM for their morning skate, per MLive’s Ansar Khan…

Jimmy Howard in starter’s net at #RedWings morning skate. Face @AnaheimDucks tonight at 7:30. pic.twitter.com/ms5b0NI6vE

— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) February 13, 2018

The Red Wings said, “Hello”…

Continue reading Red Wings-Ducks morning skate Tweets and articles: Howard starts as Wings host desperate Ducks

Four days after the Kansas City Mavericks and Toledo Walleye got into a brawl, the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that the Walleye are still upset about the event:

What started the melee is the real problem and it must be addressed. [Garrett] Klotz suckered punched Toledo’s A.J. Jenks and leveled him. He then assaulted Jenks with a series of vicious cross-checks as Jenks lay on the ice.

It was eerily and nauseatingly reminiscent of the brutal attack Kalamazoo captain Ben Wilson put on young Walleye defenseman Simon Denis less than a year ago in the same venue.

I get that KC was fatigued and frustrated (down 4-0 and in the middle of a five-game losing streak). I even understand it if Mavericks coach John-Scott Dickson may have urged his team to “stir something up.”

But Klotz’s Neanderthal attempt to provide a spark is just bad for hockey and bad for the ECHL. The gruesome mental snap that resulted in nothing less than assault and battery would result in jail time off the ice.

Walleye coach Dan Watson is still fired up about Saturday’s incident. He called it a non-hockey play and called for stiff suspensions.

“It’s extremely dangerous,” Watson said. “It was uncalled for. It’s someone attacking someone who is defenseless. It’s a black eye for our league.”

Monroe continues, and the Kansas City Star’s Blair Kerkhoff reports that the Mavericks deny that their fights were encouraged by their coach:

[John-Scott] Dickson denied that Klotz or any of the Mavericks were out to rough up the opponent.

“I want to make this clear — players were not sent out to deliberately do anything,’ Dickson said in a statement. “Things were happening on the ice. We will always play till the end. Emotions and frustration came into play and that is hockey.”

Mavericks president and general manager Brent Thiessen was just as adamant in his denial that Kansas City players were deliberating trying to injure opponents.

“We at no time condone actions that put any player in jeopardy of being injured,” Theissen said Monday. “We have spoken with Klotz and will speak with the league on the matter. At no time, ever, were players instructed to “take on” players from an opposing team and to make accusations such as that is completely wrong and unfounded.

“That isn’t how this teams plays or approaches any game. It’s an unfortunate instance and we are very happy there wasn’t an injury to the opposing player.”

Continued, and WTOL’s Jordan Strack did a fantastic job of explaining the particulars of the brawl on Twitter:

HERE IT IS: FULL VIDEO OF THE WALLEYE VS. KC BRAWL — EVERYONE INVOLVED INCLUDING THE GOALIES. pic.twitter.com/yLg645d9Me

— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) February 11, 2018

THIS IS STRONG: Kevin Tansey responds to the brawl between Toledo & Kansas City from Saturday night. He played for the Mavs last year and has been outspoken on social media. He had some extremely strong words about the incident & the player who started it, Garrett Klotz. pic.twitter.com/6akmJ57QGc

— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) February 12, 2018