Red Wings getting ready for tomorrow’s historic Winter Classic event
By Stefan Kubus –
DETROIT – While the Babcock household will be partying to ring in the new year, the Red Wings head coach rented a hotel room a couple blocks down the road from his home in the metro-Detroit area.
Why? To get away from it all and stay focused on how he wants to ring in the new year: a Winter Classic victory.
“Well, let’s just go with what’s going to happen in my house,” Babcock said. “So my wife’s maiden name is Dunham, and my kids say nobody parties like a Dunham. So you can just imagine in my house tonight. That’s why a couple blocks down the road I got myself a hotel room, because when 11 comes, they’re not going to care that the Winter Classic is tomorrow. They’re still going to be on time.”
When asked about why the home team has only came out on top in one Winter Classic, Babcock said that, despite the potential lingering temptation to party, he and his players see the bigger picture here: discipline.
“So the home team has won one game. We’ve gone through this with our players. They know. There is an opportunity in our schedule for you to have a heck of a New Year’s Eve party on New Year’s Day. Make a decision. But if you’re counting on your family to do it for you, I don’t like your chances. That’s my theory.”
It should be a big deal, too; it’s a two-point game in the official standings. And though that’s the case, Babcock said it should be one memory that will last forever for both he and his players.
“I think you’re supposed to enjoy whatever you do. You don’t remember everything in your life, but you remember moments. This should be one. But it’s way more fun when you win. It’s been like that since you were six.”
In an interesting move, forward Tomas Jurco was sent down to Grand Rapids in order to bring up former Michigan Wolverine Luke Glendening a day after the Ann Arbor native scored a pair of goals in the AHL outdoor game against the Toronto Marlies. Babcock said the initial move to send Glendening down was made to ensure he got to play in an outdoor game because he wasn’t sure he would be able to play in the Winter Classic with the big club. Additionally, with captain Henrik Zetterberg moving to the wing alongside Datsyuk, the need for another center against Toronto was clear.
“I thought it was unfair if he didn’t play, and I was planning on playing Z and Pavel; Pavel’s in the game, and I needed another center,” Babcock said of Glendening’s situation. “So for today I wanted Glenny back. It’s unfortunate for Jurco. Now he misses on playing outdoors, which wasn’t our plan at all, but that is the way it happens. That is the change in day-to-day and business in our League.”
On the injury front, getting Zetterberg back in the lineup has been an undoubtable boost, though fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson remains a game-day decision.
“I said to Alfie, you’re not 20,” Babcock said. “You play in tomorrow’s game if you’re ready to play in tomorrow’s game. You don’t play in tomorrow’s game because it’s an opportunity of a lifetime. That makes no sense to me. We’re about winning. We still think we have a good group here.”
With New Year’s Day so close now, the stage has been set for the Red Wings and Maple Leafs to clash at The Big House in front of what is projected to be the biggest crowd to ever see a hockey game.
“If you haven’t been to a football Saturday here, then you should put it on your bucket list,” Babcock said of Michigan Stadium. “It’s the best sporting event. I’ve been to the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Stanley Cup. I’ve been to a few things to say the least. This is probably the best sporting event I’ve ever been to, bar none. Can it transfer into hockey? I assume it can.
“They’ve done a really beautiful job. It’s so close to Canada, with Toronto fans being able to be right here is a really great thing as well. It should be a lot of fun tomorrow. We always hope the game will live up to the opportunity.”