The Detroit Red Wings’ losing streak against Tampa Bay extended to 11 games via a 4-1 loss to the Bolts on Thursday night.

Detroit simply got out-classed by a Lightning team motivated to snap a 2-game losing streak amidst a fierce battle for Atlantic Division supremacy.

The Red Wings…the Wings tried hard, out-shooting the Lightning, but Detroit’s defense couldn’t get a handle on the Bolts’ tremendous lateral passes, and when Nikita Kucherov has 4 points, Victor Hedman has 3 assists, Steven Stamkos scores 2 goals and Andrei Vasilevskiy makes stopping 38 of 39 shots look easy, you’re going to struggle.

As the Lightning discussed their win with the media, Steven Stamkos issued something of an understatement regarding himself, Kucherov and Hedman to TampaBayLightning.com’s Jacob Lynn:

Continue reading Red Wings-Lightning wrap-up: out-classed →

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 10-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

This one wasn’t even close. Tampa Bay defeated Detroit 4-1, extending their winning streak to 11 games, and Nikita Kucherov (1+3) had a 4-point game, Victor Hedman had 3 assists, Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 38 of 39 Wings shots, and the Wings plain old got out-classed.

Jimmy Howard was very good despite giving up 4 goals on 32 shots against–because the Bolts worked lateral passes to perfection, scoring mostly empty-net markers–and Tomas Tatar scored the Wings’ goal on a good night for Tatar, Larkin and Bertuzzi…

But Anthony Mantha’s blind drop pass that yielded the Bolts’ 4-1 insurance goal typified the Wings’ attention to detail, or the lack thereof, as well as the Lightning’s aplomb in scoring on the counter-attack. The Wings just aren’t as good as the Bolts, by a fair margin, and they lost because of it.

Continue reading Red Wings-Lightning quick take: this losing streak goes up to 11 →

The Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith discussed whether Mike Green might be a fit for the Tampa Bay Lightning:

A lot of this depends on the price. Red Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press he’s looking for assets and to open roster spot for younger players, so a package involving a draft pick and prospect could work.

“I look at every player, whether it’s a rental or has term on their contract, what does it cost?” Yzerman said. “Does it make sense for us?”

In some ways, Green makes sense. He’s a veteran, right-shot defenseman with playoff experience. He’s a very good puck-mover and creator, which would fit into the Lightning’s system. He’d be an upgrade on the right side over Jake Dotchin, whose play has dropped off.

And Green has got a fan in the Lightning coach.

“He’s very cerebral,” Cooper said. “You watched in the All-Star Game, the way he’s scoring, the way he can move the puck, it’s just effortless. He’s somebody that’s been doing it for a long time in this league. He seems to be able to create everywhere he goes. He’s been in the league for a while, but he’s sure a hell of a player still.”

The Lightning doesn’t need much help on the power play, which ranks second in the league at 23.7 percent. That’s been a strength for Green, who has quarterbacked units in Washington and Detroit.

“It’s just the way he sees the ice,” said Lightning wing Ryan Callahan. “You see what he did in Washington. I remember playing against them in the playoffs and he’d tear us apart pretty good when I was in New York. That was his biggest asset, the way he sees the ice and his speed, what he can do with the puck.”

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Of Red Wings-related note this evening:

1. Here’s the Wings’ Game Day Preview video:

2. Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff spoke with coach Jeff Blashill regarding the challenges that the Lightning present:

Continue reading Evening news: A Game-Day Preview, Blashill on the Bolts and Nielsen the scorer →

The Athletic’s Craig Custance penned a list of solid non-rental players on the trade market, and four of the players–Gustav Nyquist/Tomas Tatar, Jimmy Howard and Danny DeKeyser were listed from the Red Wings:

13. Danny DeKeyser, D, Red Wings – Teams have expressed interest in DeKeyser, although those who like him, like him at $4 million per season (through 2021-22) much better than they do at his full-rate of $5 million. Like most of their players not named Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings are listening here but not looking at a DeKeyser deal as a salary dump or even a player they’re eager to retain salary on. The most likely scenario for the Red Wings at the deadline is a Mike Green trade and potentially a trade involving a winger. But DeKeyser could be lured away and teams like him at the right number. “It’s just managing him,” said an NHL scout. “I think he’s a good player. He can provide value. He’s a little overpaid but with the cap rising, it’s probably fine.”

Continued (paywall)…

Grand Rapids Griffins announcer Bob Kaser sets up the Griffins’ 2-game series against the AHL’s Western Conference-leading Manitoba Moose (tonight and Saturday in Winnipeg) via a 3:33 Game-Day Preview video:

 

From the Free Press’s Helene St. James:

Darren Helm was watching Olympic skeleton when he, a man once nicknamed ‘Danger’ because of his speed on ice, found himself curious.

“I just want to know how they get into a sport like that,” Helm said Thursday. “Like, what makes them join that event.”

As the Detroit Red Wings prepared for the evening game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena, the television in the visitors locker room was tuned to coverage of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. As highly trained athletes themselves, players are fascinated by a variety of the events. It is bittersweet for some that the NHL decided to forgo participating, but that doesn’t affect enthusiasm for watching, dreaming about trying out an event, and picking teammates to participate.

“Whenever there is a chance to watch I turn it on,” Helm said. “I think there are a lot of really interesting events – bobsled, luge, skeleton, that’s all pretty interesting to me. It’s pretty exciting. The skiing stuff, snowboarding, the half pipes. I think almost every event has that certain element that’s exciting to watch.”

Continued, and St. James spent 9-and-a-half minutes speaking with the Wings about Olympic events:

 

Updated at 3:33 PM: The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning will face off this evening (7:30 PM EST on FSD/FS Sun/97.1 FM) after engaging in a morning skate where news was hard to come by.

It appears that Jimmy Howard and Andrei Vasilevskiy will oppose each other in goal, and it sounds like Andreas Athanasiou will miss the game due to an illness (per the Free Press’s Helene St. James), but at almost 3 in the afternoon, all that’s out there is “Bolts stuff.”

The Lightning spoke with TampaBayLightning.com’s Jacob Lynn about heading home for an extended stretch after spending most of the first two thirds of the season on the road, as well as tonight’s match-up with Detroit…

Continue reading Red Wings-Lightning game-day updates: Mostly Bolts stuff →

From the Detroit Free Press…

The dramatic story of the five Russian hockey stars who helped propel the Detroit Red Wings to two Stanley Cup championships is the focus of Freep Film Festival’s opening night film.

The world premiere of “The Russian Five” documentary will open the fifth annual Freep Film Festival on April 11 at the Fillmore Detroit.

The movie, directed by Port Huron native Joshua Riehl, includes new interviews with Russian Five stars Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Viacheslav Fetisov, along with other Red Wing and NHL greats, including Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Darren McCarty and Wayne Gretzky. Top brass like Jim Devellano, Scotty Bowman and Tom Wilson also appear, as does actor and super fan Jeff Daniels.

The film gives the behind-the-scenes story of the Red Wings’ strategy in luring the five Russian players, including the under-cover-of-night defections of Fedorov and Vladimir Konstantinov. It also provides new insight into many key moments in Red Wings’ history, including coach Bowman’s decision to play all of the Russian Five at the same time, the bloody rivalry between the Wings and Colorado Avalanche, the 1996-97 Stanley Cup run and the horrific limousine accident that seriously injured Konstantinov and masseuse Sergei Mnatsakanov in the celebration aftermath.

“I think the story of the Russian Five is one of the most exciting chapters in the history of sports in Detroit, and I’m absolutely thrilled to screen our documentary at the Freep Film Festival,” said director Riehl. “There won’t be a better audience for this film anywhere in the world, and I can’t wait to share it with the people of Detroit.”

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Of note from TSN’s Frank Seravalli’s “Trade Board” report:

At No. 24, Detroit’s Petr Mrazek is the top-ranked goalie on the board. The Philadelphia Flyers recently lost starter Brian Elliott for a period of five-to-six weeks after core muscle surgery. Mrazek is an RFA at the end of the season and the Red Wings are not expected to qualify him at $4 million. That is the exact situation under which Philadelphia rescued and resuscitated Steve Mason’s career from Columbus on Deadline Day in 2013.

The belief is the Red Wings are looking to move one of either Mrazek or Jimmy Howard before the deadline. Howard, 33, has one more season remaining at $5.3 million. A comparable either-or situation exists up front in Detroit. Gustav Nyquist ranks No. 27 on the list, but the Red Wings are also shopping two-time 20-goal scorer Tomas Tatar. The difference is Tatar is in the first season of a four-year, $21.2 million deal.

Continued