So, was David Backes head-hunting here?

Video via KK: I’m not sure what to think about this one. David Backes, something of a notorious head-hunter in Wings-Blues history, caught his shoulder on Frans Nielsen’s chin with this hit, and Nielsen left the game:


Per DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji:

It started out as a pretty good night for Red Wings center Frans Nielsen.

Nielsen cut the Boston Bruins’ lead to 2-1 at 2:16 of the first period when captain Henrik Zetterberg found him in the slot. Nielsen beat Boston goaltender Anton Khudobin glove-side. It was his 14th goal of the season and 150th of his career.

Unfortunately, Nielsen was not able to build on that as David Backes hit him in the Detroit end along the boards with 11.2 second left in the first period.

Detroit athletic trainer Piet Van Zant rushed to Nielsen’s side and helped him off the ice.

Update:

Update: Here’s more from St. James:

Continue reading So, was David Backes head-hunting here?

Red Wings-Bruins quick take: Marchand the rat stifles a wonderful rally by a surprisingly plucky Wings team

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 7-game winless streak against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday evening. Detroit faced a streaking Bruins team that attempted to battle through injuries to Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask and Charlie McAvoy.

The Red Wings are now winless in 8 games against Boston, with the Bruins scoring in OT to defeat the Wings 6-5, but Detroit rallied from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits to tie the game at 5 on a Martin Frk marker halfway through the third…

Anthony Mantha had 2 goals and 2 assists, Tyler Bertuzzi was a pest who had 2 assists, Dylan Larkin was excellent with 8 shots, 12 attempts and an assist, Mike Green had a goal and an assist, Henrik Zetterberg was inspired as well and Jimmy Howard bailed out Jared Coreau by helping Detroit salvage a point against a Bruins team now 15-1-and-1 against Detroit. The Wings were physical, heavy on the puck, determined defensively when they weren’t giving up goals, and the 3rd period was one of the Wings’ better periods over the last month.

A lot of Wings fans will complain about this game, but I feel that the Wings have earned some good marks for effort and execution despite the disappointing result.

Continue reading Red Wings-Bruins quick take: Marchand the rat stifles a wonderful rally by a surprisingly plucky Wings team

Monroe: Walleye looking to add an offensive defenseman via trade

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that the Toledo Walleye hope to add an offensive defenseman to the mix before the ECHL’s trade deadline passes on Thursday:

While Toledo has charged to the top of the overall ECHL standings with a 40-14-5 record, Walleye coach Dan Watson is not content with the current makeup of his roster. The second-year head coach has made it abundantly clear that he would like to shore up his defensive corps.

“I think we’re still a deal away,” Watson said. “Obviously with the amount of forwards we have right now, we’ll be looking to get a high-end D-man.”

The goaltending is more than solid with the ascension of vet Pat Nagle to clear-cut No. 1 status. His teammates and coaches have the utmost confidence in the calm and confident Nagle, who leads the ECHL in wins.

The offense remains as steady as ever with an average of 3.24 goals per night. In fact, Watson believes the abundance of quality forwards should allow him to let go of a high-end offensive weapon.

It’s clear it will be one of the team’s top producers. “100 percent,” Watson confirmed.

Continued

Red Wings-Bruins game-day articles: B’s adjust to injuries; Frk looking to reestablish spot in Wings’ lineup; Coreau gets a start

Updated 3x at 3:03 PM: The Detroit Red Wings battle the Boston Bruins this evening (7:00 PM on NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA Sports/NESN/97.1 FM), and the morning skate revealed that the Wings will start Jared Coreau opposite Anton Khubodin, with Martin Frk drawing into the lineup as well.

The Bruins are a little shaken up after finding out that Charlie McAvoy will miss a month with a sprained MCL (Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask will also miss tonight’s game), but the Boston Globe’s Kevin Dupont notes that the B’s haven’t exactly had a hard time winning games this year:

NHL.com posted a Bruins morning skate update:

Continue reading Red Wings-Bruins game-day articles: B’s adjust to injuries; Frk looking to reestablish spot in Wings’ lineup; Coreau gets a start

Quick quip: Dylan Larkin on his brother signing with Edmonton

Of very brief note from the Boston Globe’s Fluto Shinzawa:

 

All about Dominik Shine

From Griffinshockey.com’s Mark Newman:

Dominik Shine may share the spelling of his first name with one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, but it will be his ability to create good plays in front of the crease that will push his chances to graduate to the NHL.

“I like his speed and how he’s tenacious on the puck,” said Griffins head coach Todd Nelson. “I also like his physicality and how when he keeps the game simple, he’s really effective and creates opportunities in the offensive zone.”

Shine is not the biggest player on the ice – he’s a 5-11, 180-lb. forward – but he’s all heart, a gritty puck hound who isn’t afraid to stick up for himself, as he proved when he dropped Cleveland’s Joe Pendenza with an impressive two-punch knockout on Dec. 29 at Van Andel Arena.

His tough-nosed style fits his blue-collar mentality, which was borne out of his family roots as the son of a Detroit autoworker growing up on the city’s ethnic southwest side. “My dad was a big Wings fan, and although he never had the opportunity to play hockey, he made sure that I got the chance,” Shine said.

Shine remembers being “terrified” when he first started skating, but he quickly discovered that he loved playing hockey. “By age 7 or 8, I knew I had a knack,’ he said. “I loved playing baseball and basketball, but I knew from an early age that playing hockey was what I wanted to do. Other sports were just for fun.”

Continued

 

Red Wings-Bruins morning skate Tweets and articles: B’s lose McAvoy for 4 weeks, will start Khubodin, Wings start Coreau

Updated 2x at 11:56 AM: Coreau starts vs. Khubodin.

The Detroit Red Wings face a stiff challenge in attempting to snap a 7-game losing streak against the Boston Bruins this evening (7:00 PM EST on NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA Sports/NESN/97.1 FM).

The Bruins preceded the Wings on to the ice at TC Garden, as is customary for the home team, per the Boston Globe’s Kevin Dupont…

Continue reading Red Wings-Bruins morning skate Tweets and articles: B’s lose McAvoy for 4 weeks, will start Khubodin, Wings start Coreau

David Pope receives a plug from the Hockey News

Among The Hockey News’s Matt Larkin’s “Prospect Need to Know”-listed players:

David Pope, LW, University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (NCHC) – Pope has used his time in college very well. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound senior is a lot stronger than he was coming into Omaha, while his skills and skating have also developed. The Detroit Red Wings pick was one of the NCHC’s top scorers with 40 points in 33 games (including a league-leading 20 goals) and now he and the Mavs have a conference tourney date with North Dakota. NHL arrival: 2019-20

The Red Wings are highly likely to sign Pope, who has developed from a 6’2,” 150-pound pure sniper into the player he is today.

Pope and the University of Nebraska-Omaha will take on Western Michigan University in the WCHA playoffs this upcoming weekend.

If his playoff season ends early, the Grand Rapids Griffins could sign Pope to an amateur try-out.