Red Wings’ new faces pay dividends against Rangers
By @SKubus –
DETROIT – Newcomer Marek Zidlicky got on the scoresheet for the first time as member of the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday night in his team’s 2-1 overtime victory over the New York Rangers at Joe Louis Arena, though it wasn’t exactly the way he wanted to.
Zidlicky took a holding penalty in the first period that led to a New York powerplay goal to tie the game at one. But it was how he redeemed himself when it really mattered that elevated him to heroic status.
The 38-year-old rearguard potted the overtime game-winner at 1:09 into the extra frame, as he whacked at a puck in a scramble near Rangers netminder Cam Talbot that took a weird bounce to find its way into the back of the net, a powerplay marker and his fifth of the season.
“It was the first game, couldn’t be a better feeling than to score, especially in overtime,” Zidlicky said after the game.
Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg made his own return to the lineup after missing the previous four games due to a head injury he suffered against Dallas Feb. 21. The Red Wings captain said there couldn’t have been a better welcome for the new players.
“It was nice to see him get that last one,” Zetterberg said. “He had some good looks there on the 4-on-3, but it was an ugly one, it went in. It felt good.”
Goaltender Jimmy Howard naturally took more notice of Zidlicky’s defensive zone game.
“Steady, very steady, solid, made a lot of great first passes, smart with the puck out there, so it’s a great addition on the back end,” Howard said.
Detroit head coach Mike Babcock was impressed with the additions, but especially Erik Cole, who played on an effective line with Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader.
“They’re really gonna help us, depth and skill level and size and skating and lots of things that are really gonna help us, so once they get comfortable, obviously they’ll be a lot better, but I think we’re a much deeper team with them,” Babcock said.
“Those guys are confident pros. I think Cole can really help Zetterberg and Abdelkader once they’ve played and gotten to know each other and they got a feel for one another and get some rhythm.”
Cole was a plus-one on the evening, with a shot on goal and a pair of hits in 14:24 of ice time, including 1:03 on the powerplay. In Zetterberg’s eyes, what he brings to the line–similar to Abdelkader–is undoubtedly beneficial, not just for the team, but for his own game as he comes back after a brief layover.
“I think Abby and Cole really skated well for me,” Zetterberg said. “They’re two fast guys and work hard, so it makes it easier for me to have my first game back.”
Babcock joked that he hopes that both players didn’t get the wrong idea from the team’s first showing, one he felt was sloppy and slow.
“To be honest, I hope they don’t think we play like this, because we don’t.”