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It was Krug's first NHL regular season goal, after scoring four goals when joining the Bruins in the playoffs last season.

The Red Wings answered, thanks to Zetterberg.

Justin Abdelkader fired a shot on goalie Tuukka Rask that was saved, but the rebound went to the hash marks.

Zetterberg fired the puck past Rask at 16:49, tying the game 1-1.

It was Zetterberg's 265th career goal, passing Nicklas Lidstrom (264) and tying John Ogrodnick for eighth place on the Red Wings' all-time list.

"They play a good structure and we had a lot of turnovers," Zetterberg said. "You play a good team like that you have to have structure and we didn't. Playing a back-to-back you have to keep it simple and stick to your game plan and we didn't do that."

Zetterberg's goal seemed to temporarily spark the Red Wings, but the momentum ended quickly at the start of the second period.

Marchand beat Howard from the dot on a rush just 36 seconds into the second period.

Slowly taking control of the game, the Bruins extended the lead to 3-1 on Caron's first goal.

Reilly Smith gathered a blocked shot and found Caron open just inside the circle, and Caron one-timed the puck past Howard at 7:58.

Krug set up Chara for the Bruins' final goal, on the power play, at 12:17 of the third period.

Krug corraled a loose puck along the boards and fed Chara alone in front, who backhanded a shot past Howard.

"Detroit is one of the best teams in the league and I knew it would be a challenge," Chara said. "They always give you a challenge. They've always had a good team, good system and they're very dangerous guys.

"We wanted to have a strong game and for the most part I thought we did."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131005/SPORTS0103/310050081#ixzz2gvmXB6Bp

Detroit News LOADED: 10.06.2013

719729 Detroit Red Wings

Wings' forward Tomas Tatar waiting for playing chance

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

October 5, 2013 at 1:00 pm

Boston — Is forward Tomas Tatar in the lineup tonight against Boston?

Tatar doesn't know. Coach Mike Babcock said he doesn't know yet, although Babcock may have slipped while doing his pre-game press conference.

"He's going to get in tonight," said Babcock, while ending a thought on how young players like Tatar have to wait their turn.

Babcock later said he was still deciding whether to use Tatar, the lone Red Wings forward yet to play in this opening three-game in four-night stretch.

Tatar is staying patient, either way.

"I'm not sure if I'm in or not," said Tatar, who had four goals in 18 games with the Red Wings last season before starring for Grand Rapids during its Calder Cup championship run. "I've been waiting for a chance. Coach said to be ready tonight, he's still thinking about it.

"We'll see. I'm ready to go. If I get in, I'll try to play my best."

There would be no other changes to the Red Wings lineup.

This will be the first of four games between the two teams who generally are considered the top in the Atlantic Division.

Bruins coach Claude Julien believes the Red Wings team defense doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

"They do a really good job of defending where I think sometimes we don’t give that team enough credit," Julien said. "The reason they have the puck a lot is because they defend well. You’ll watch tonight – they always have their players above ours. And very seldom do you get outnumbered situations and you have to be willing to fight for those pucks and you have to be willing to get it by them and go after it again.

"You’re not going to get a run-and-gun type game against that team because they defend so well."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131005/SPORTS0103/310050050#ixzz2gvmdb17h

Detroit News LOADED: 10.06.2013

719730 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock debating on whether to put Tomas Tatar in lineup tonight against Bruins

By Ansar Khan | akhan1@mlive.com

on October 05, 2013 at 12:51 PM, updated October 05, 2013 at 12:57 PM

BOSTON – Tomas Tatar might make his season debut tonight for the Detroit Red Wings. Or maybe he won’t.

Coach Mike Babcock seems to be debating whether to put the small but skilled forward in the lineup against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit, NHL Network).

After Saturday’s optional skate, Babcock said he would decide on lineup changes tonight. Then he said Tatar would be in. Then he said he hadn’t decided.

Tatar said he hasn’t been told, but he’s anxious to play.

“For sure, I’ve been waiting for a chance,’’ Tatar said. “Coach said be ready tonight. I’m not sure if I’m in or not. He’s thinking about it. I’m ready to go.’’

Babcock said everybody who played in Friday’s 3-2 overtime win at Carolina is available tonight. That includes right wing Mikael Samuelsson, who played only two shifts early in the third period before apparently getting hurt.

Babcock also said there will be no changes on defense, so Brian Lashoff will be a healthy scratch again.

Tatar is only spare healthy forward. Babcock seems anxious to get him into a game, but also appears hesitant to change a winning lineup.

“He likes the puck, he’s not scared of it, he goes to get it, he scores in tight,’’ Babcock said. “He’s not a big man (5-10, 186), he plays heavy on (the puck).You need that in your lineup. I like him as a player.’’

But, he added, “We always have ties with veteran players. It’s not like he couldn’t have had a spot in Game 1, but we give our veterans the first opportunity. He’s going to get in tonight.’’

He later backtracked on that last statement about playing tonight, saying he’ll decide later.

Tatar said he is patiently waiting for his opportunity. He’d enjoy the challenge of playing one of the biggest and best teams in the league.

“I like the challenge,’’ Tatar said. “I don’t really care if they are big or play physical. It’s just a part of the game. I have to expect that.’’

If he plays tonight.

Babcock said Jimmy Howard will start in goal for the 2-0 Red Wings. The Bruins are coming off a 3-1 season-opening win over Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.06.2013

719731 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Will game in Boston show what life in Eastern Conference will be like?

By Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com

on October 05, 2013 at 3:00 PM, updated October 05, 2013 at 4:24 PM

GAME INFORMATION

• Who: Detroit Red Wings (2-0) vs. Boston Bruins (1-0)

• Faceoff: 7 p.m. at TD Garden

• Live coverage: Join the MLive conversation at 6 p.m. ET and follow Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) and Brendan Savage (@BrendanSavage) on Twitter.

• TV: Fox Sports Detroit, NHL Network

• WXYT-AM (1270) and the Red Wings Radio Network

• Latest line: Bruins -1.5 (5.5)

THE STORYLINE

Much has been made about the Detroit Red Wings move to the Eastern Conference after spending the last 19 seasons in the West.

One of the biggest questions is how a skilled team like the Red Wings will fare against the supposedly tougher teams that reside in the East.

Tonight, they might get an indication.

The Red Wings visit the Boston Bruins in the first of two games in nine days between the teams. The Bruins have not only been one of the NHL's top teams in the last several years, they've also been one of the most physical.

Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and lost to Chicago in last year's Finals. During that span, the Burins finished among the top 10 in penalty minutes every season.

They were eighth in PIM and tied for second in majors in 2010-11, third in PIM and tied for first in majors in 2011-12 and 10th in PIM and fourth in majors last season.

The Bruins obviously aren't shy about mixing it up while the Red Wings are considered one of the more skilled teams in the NHL.

So with all that in mind, how much will the Red Wings learn about the supposedly more rugged Eastern Conference tonight?

HISTORY

Their most recent meeting was on Nov. 25, 2011, when the Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden. Pavel Datsyuk scored in regulation and the shootout as the Red Wings snapped Boston's 10-game winning streak.

The Red Wings have won four straight over Boston dating back to 2009-10.

Oh yeah, they also split a pair of preseason games for anyone who puts stock in that stuff. The Red Wings won 8-2 in Boston and lost 2-0 at Joe Louis Arena.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Henrik Zetterberg is always somebody opponents have to keep an eye on but the Red Wings captain has been especially involved in the offense this season. He already has 14 shots on goal in two games after getting 10 in Friday's 3-2 overtime win in Carolina.

Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall is plus-5 in two games.

When playing Boston, it's always wise to know where captain Zdeno Chara is on the ice. Hey, the guy is not only a former Norris Trophy winner (2008-09), he's also 6-foot-9 and stands 7 feet tall on skates.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.06.2013

719732 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings had chance to compare themselves to Bruins and came up short in effort and execution

By Ansar Khan | akhan1@mlive.com

on October 05, 2013 at 11:25 PM, updated October 06, 2013 at 12:41 AM

BOSTON – This was one of those so-called measuring stick games that are talked about so often in sports.

The traditionally strong Detroit Red Wings came into Boston Saturday night to play the big and talented Bruins and show the hockey world, and themselves, how they stack up against last season’s Eastern Conference champions, their new Atlantic Division rivals.

The Red Wings can only hope this wasn’t a true test of how they compare to one of the NHL’s elite teams.

The Bruins got a goal and an assist from Torey Krug, a strong performance from 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara and 25 saves from Tuukka Rask in a 4-1 victory at the TD Garden.

The Bruins controlled the game pretty much from start to finish with their skating and defense.

It was the Red Wings’ first loss after two wins, and even though it’s early in the season, they didn’t simply brush it aside. Players were genuinely upset about their effort and execution.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall said their collective brain “wasn’t really working,’’ causing them to be a step behind the whole night.

“We didn’t play at all,’’ Kronwall said. “We weren’t even there. Felt like we were a step behind the whole game.

“Give them credit, they’re a good team, they played well tonight but we didn’t give ourselves a chance.’’

The Bruins (2-0) got power-play goals to open the scoring at 9:11 of the first period (Krug) and wrap it up at 12:17 of the third (Chara). They took control in the second goal on goals by Brad Marchand (36 seconds) and Jordan Caron (7:58).

“We didn’t play at all. We weren’t even there. Felt like we were a step behind the whole game.'' -- Niklas Kronwall

Boston had a 37-26 edge in shots and the score would have been much worse if not for Jimmy Howard’s play.

What did the Bruins do so well tonight?

“What didn’t they do?’’ Howard said. “They controlled the whole game pretty much. They pretty much dominated in every aspect.’’

That includes special teams. The Red Wings went 0-for-2 on the power play, with is 0-for-8 in three games.

“If you’re going to win against a team like Boston you got to have good special teams,’’ Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “They kept us outside, we couldn’t find a way to get in for rebounds and second chances.’’

Zetterberg's goal at 16:49 of the first tied it at 1-1.

The Red Wings played the night before in Carolina, winning 3-2 in overtime, while the Bruins were off. But players never use that as an excuse.

“We played slow. We didn’t play fast, we didn’t have our legs,’’ forward Daniel Cleary said. “They’re a good team. We just didn’t play well tonight. We’re a way better team than that.’’

They’ll have another opportunity to show it on Oct. 14, when they visit Boston again due to a quirk in the schedule.

“I just thought they had way more energy than we did,’’ Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We didn’t execute good enough.’’

Babcock called three of the Bruins’ goals gifts.

“I’m not trying to take away from their effort,’’ Babcock said. “I thought they were better than us from the start to the end.

“Was that because we didn’t have enough energy, stick-to- itiveness or what? But we didn’t play hard enough, trust each other enough or do what we’re supposed to do.’’

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.06.2013

719733 Detroit Red Wings

Boston Bruins hand Red Wings 4-1 loss in early season clash of Eastern Conference contenders

By Ansar Khan | akhan1@mlive.com

on October 05, 2013 at 9:23 PM, updated October 05, 2013 at 9:32 PM

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins showed the newcomers in the Eastern Conference why they are widely regarded as the favorite to win the Atlantic Division, if not repeat as conference champion.

The Bruins got goals from Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron in the second period to snap a tie, and Tuukka Rask made 25 saves Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at the TD Garden.

Henrik Zetterberg scored the lone goal for the Red Wings, who are 2-1-0 despite scoring only six goals in three games, below their average of 2.54 last season.

The Bruins (2-0-0) were quick on transition and opportunistic. They converted on two-of-four power plays and outshot the Red Wings 37-26.

The Red Wings had won four in a row against the Bruins, whose last win in this series came on Nov. 29, 2008 (4-1 at Boston). The teams hadn’t met since Nov. 25, 2011 (Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout at Boston).

This is another Original Six rivalry rekindled with realignment. It figures to be a good one. The teams meet again in Boston on Oct. 14. They’ll meet twice in Detroit, Nov. 27 and April 2.

After a sluggish first period, the Red Wings skated better in the second, outshooting the Bruins 15-13, but they lost ground. Boston scored two unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead.

Marchand snapped a 1-1 tie by snapping in a wrist shot from the right wing just 36 seconds into the period during a three-on-two rush.

The Red Wings were sloppy and got running around in their own zone, leading to Caron’s goal at 7:58. He took a pass from Riley Smith and fired in a shot from just above the crease.

Zdeno Chara pretty much sealed the outcome by scoring on the power play at 12:17 of the third period, making it 4-1. The Red Wings coughed up the puck in their own zone and allowed Chara to slip in alone and flip in a backhand shot.

The Red Wings, having played the night before in Carolina, clearly didn’t have their legs in the first period against the rested Bruins. Boston outskated and outplayed Detroit by a significant margin, holding a 14-5 edge in shots.

Jimmy Howard, playing on back-to-back nights, saved his club from falling into a deep hole.

The Red Wings were fortunate to come away tied 1-1 after Zetterberg scored his second goal in as many nights at 16:49. Following a neutral-zone turnover, Justin Abdelkader led the rush into the zone and got off the initial shot. The long rebound came to Zetterberg, who buried it.

Torey Krug, a Livonia native who grew up a Red Wings fans and played at Michigan State, scored his first career regular season goal to put the Bruins ahead 1-0 at 9:11 of the first period. Krug blasted in a shot from the high slot just 15 seconds into a power play, while the 6-foot-9 Chara was parked in front of Howard.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.06.2013

719734 Detroit Red Wings

Blog recap: Boston Bruins snap four-game losing streak to Detroit Red Wings

By Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com

on October 05, 2013 at 6:00 PM, updated October 05, 2013 at 9:34 PM

FINAL

Bruins 4, Red Wings 1 (3:53 remaining): Krejci goes off for tripping Datsyuk. Power play for the Red Wings.

Bruins 4, Red Wings 1 (7:43 remaining): Red Wings are in serious trouble now; Chara scores Boston's second power-play goal of the game.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (9:31 remaining): Franzen goes off for interfering with Iginla. Bruins back on the power play.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (9:41 remaining): Only eight shots so far this period, five by Boston. Red Wings are quickly running out of time.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (13:27 remaining): DeKeyser goes off for interfering with Caron. Bruins back on the power play.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (19:59 remaining): Final period is underway at TD Garden.

SECOND PERIOD

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (0:00 remaining): Red Wings outshoot Boston 15-13 in the second but Bruins hold 27-20 edge for the game.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (1:20 remaining): Red Wings kill the penalty. Need to do something in the final 80 seconds here.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (3:47 remaining): Boston kills the Krejci penalty and gets a power play of its own when Bertuzzi goes off for hooking Lucic.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (6:15 remaining): Red Wings get first power play when Krejci goes off for hooking Anderson.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (7:56 remaining): Red Wings outshooting Boston 12-7 in the second with nothing to show for it.

Bruins 3, Red Wings 1 (12:02 remaining): Caron buries a one-timer from the bottom of the right faceoff circle to put the Red Wings two goals down for the second straight night.

Bruins 2, Red Wings 1 (14:03 remaining): Marchand apparently taken to the training room to be examined.

Bruins 2, Red Wings 1 (16:30 remaining): Datsyuk goes down hard when his legs are taken out from behind him (accidentally). But he's OK. Marchand needs to be helped off the ice, however. Appears OK, too.

Bruins 2, Red Wings 1 (19:24 remaining): Well, that didn't take long. Marchand bangs Boston's first shot of the period off the far post and past Howard.

Red Wings 1, Bruins 1 (19:59 remaining): Boston wins the draw and they're underway again at TD Garden.

FIRST PERIOD

Red Wings 1, Bruins 1 (0:00 remaining): End of one. Red Wings probably fortunate to be tied after 20 minutes as Boston outshot them 14-5.

Red Wings 1, Bruins 1 (3:11 remaining): Henrik Zetterberg continues hot start by banging home the rebound of an Abdelkader shot to tie it. Datsyuk with the other assist.

Bruins 1, Red Wings 0 (4:00 remaining): Krug has three shots on goal. Red Wings? Two.

'Bruins 1, Red Wings 0 (8:54 remaining): Detroit getting outshot 8-2.

Bruins 1, Red Wings 0 (10:49 remaining): Rookie Torey Krug, a Livonia native, scores his first regular-season NHL goal on the power play.

Red Wings 0, Bruins 0 (11:04 remaining): Boston gets first power play when Kronwall goes off for holding Eriksson.

Red Wings 0, Bruins 0 (13:21 remaining): Tatar in for Samuelsson. That's the only lineup change for the Red Wings.

Red Wings 0, Bruins 0 (19:59 remaining): Datsyuk wins the draw and they're underway at TD Garden in Boston.

PREGAME

They beat Buffalo 2-1 Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena before scoring three unanswered goals in Friday's 3-2 overtime victory against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

But the Sabres and Hurricanes aren't as strong as tonight's opponent.

Tonight, the Red Wings will get their stiffest test of the young season as they visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. The Bruins are not only one of the more physical teams in the NHL, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals last season after winning the championship in 2011.

While the Red Wings might be dragging by the third period rolls around tonight, the Bruins (1-0) should be well-rested since they were idle Friday.

Boston opened the season Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay at TD Garden.

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.06.2013

719735 Edmonton Oilers

Canucks chase Dubnyk from Oilers net with five goals in 34 minutes

By Jim Matheson, Edmonton JournalOctober 6, 2013 1:00 AM

VANCOUVER— The game puck for Dallas Eakins’ first NHL coaching victory is still on hold.

The Vancouver Canucks toyed with the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 on Saturday, driving goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the net after 31 shots in 34 minutes and picking on No. 1 centre Taylor Hall, who was minus-four, as Edmonton started the season 0-2.

Eakins considered starting backup Jason LaBarbera after Dubnyk struggled in the home opener, a 5-4 loss to Winnipeg Jets, but listened when the Oilers’ No. 1 goalie steadfastly said he wanted to climb back on the horse against the Canucks.

Unfortunately, Dubnyk didn’t have a bounce-back game, giving up a knuckler to Dan Hamhuis from 60 feet late in the first period. He was basically a pinata from start to finish and trudged to the bench after giving up five goals.

He’s surrendered 10 goals in his 59 shots over 94 minutes this season.

Was it a mercy pull?

“Yeah, 31 shots ... I thought that was enough. Poor kid. It was like the goalie in Slap Shot, ‘my hallergies to the fans,’ ” said a joking Eakins.

“It was craziness there for the poor kid. He’s in there battling as hard as he can and we’re giving him absolutely no support.”

Dubnyk, as he always is, was a stand-up guy after the game.

“I let in five goals in half a game,” he said.

Hamhuis’s shot that went off Jeff Petry’s stick (Petry scored the Oilers’ first goal on the first shot on Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo) was a knife to Dubnyk’s gut.

“I guess I have to start living cleaner. That’s two,” said Dubnyk, also referring to Jacob Trouba’s 40-footer in the Jets’ comeback on Tuesday.

“The puck dropped about two feet, but you have to find a way to get in front of it.”

Dubnyk had defiantly told Eakins after his bad performance against the Jets that he wanted some redemption.

“There was fire in his voice,” said the coach.

Unfortunately, the Canucks torched Dubnyk, basically running over the Oilers like a cement truck against a tricycle.

The Sedins were especially dangerous. Henrik had three assists while Daniel had a goal on six shots and an assist. They threw the puck around uncontested.

“We know all about the Sedins ... you give them some space, they’ll pop it around,” said Dubnyk, who got a condolences message from Eakins.

“He said we have to be better in front of you, but I have to be the same. I have to do my part, too,” said Dubnyk, who faced 22 shots in the first 20 minutes.

“I felt good tonight ... I thought I’d made a good move on the breakaway (Brad Richardson short-handed goal). I held my feet, but he tucked it five-hole. Like I said, felt good in the net. I guess I shouldn’t be saying that the way the game went,” he said with a soft laugh.

Eakins thought the Oilers had their noses rubbed in it.

“This is a heavy league and I don’t care what system you play ... if you’re not going to battle and compete like every shift is your last one in this league, you won’t win in his league,” said Eakins. “Sometimes you can sit a couple of guys on the bench, but I have to send five guys out there to play. It was a tough one for me to flex my muscles in the game today. I can talk and coddle and kick and scream, but it has to come within the dressing room.”