Sport-scan daily brief

NOTEBOOK: General manager Ken Holland said forward Riley Sheahan was called up from Grand Rapids because a couple of regulars "are banged up" and questionable for today.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.08.2013

668751 Detroit Red Wings

Blues 1, Red Wings 0: Notes, quotes from Sunday's loss

April 8, 2013 |

By Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

In the first period: The Wings, with last Sunday's shellacking at the hands of Chicago still fresh, had a decent start against the Blues. The Wings didn't get much going offensively -- Jakub Kindl tried with a slap shot off a face-off about 5 minutes in, and it was Jimmy Howard who had the hardest workload, making an especially swift save on Jay Bouwmeester past the halfway point, one of eight Blues shots at that point. Howard denied Jordan Leopold on a late power play, catching a slap shot from the right point. The Wings were outshot, 11-7.

In the second period: The Blues continued to have the better early chances, but as the Wings got skating, they swarmed Brian Elliott more regularly. Some good footwork by Johan Franzen resulted in a stretch pass that got Gustav Nyquist off on a breakaway, but his shot hit Elliott and bounced high. A power play, Detroit's first of the game, at 12:22, saw the Wings cycle in St. Louis' zone but not get a single shot on goal. The Blues took a 1-0 lead at 16:28, when a rush on net resulted in a loose puck in the crease that Chris Porter got to first and was able to poke past Howard. The Wings outshot the Blues, 13-8 for a total advantage of 20-19.

In the third period: The Wings began the third period with 1:16 on a power play, but they struggled to get set up and failed to convert. Howard kept the score close with a windmilling glove save on Patrik Berglund. The Wings got a third power play, at 3:48, but the Blues' penalty killers go in lanes and swung sticks so the Wings couldn't get a good chance. Henrik Zetterberg sent a shot into Elliott's glove with 8 minutes to go as the Wings pressed. Niklas Kronwall went off for delay of game with 2:08 remaining, after getting called for concealing the puck with his hand.

Reactions: "I think we can do a better job of getting more pucks in there," Kronwall said. "But I didn't think there were a lot of clear chances either way. It felt like both teams were doing a pretty good job in our own zones, boxing out. It was tight out there." ...

"I thought both goaltenders were good," coach Mike Babcock said. "But I didn't think either had to be great." ...

"They played really tight, five-on-five and on the PK," Henrik Zetterberg said. "They were really tight in front of their goalie."

Up next: Thursday against San Jose.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.08.2013

668752 Detroit Red Wings

Mike Babcock: Red Wings rookie Riley Sheahan needs seasoning

April 8, 2013 |

By Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

The Red Wings see Riley Sheahan as a future building block, not so much a present one.

They used Sunday's game at Joe Louis Arena against the Blues, which ended with a 1-0 loss, as a chance to get a look at Sheahan, their first-round pick from three years ago. Coach Mike Babcock judged Sheahan overmatched, and general manager Ken Holland said Sheahan would be going back to Grand Rapids.

"He's going to be a player for us, but he's got to get quicker and play with more pace," Babcock said. "When you're ready, you come here and you show you're ready. And when you're not quite, you come here and you're cautious."

The Wings called up Sheahan, the 21st overall pick from 2010, on Saturday because a couple of banged-up forwards were questionable for the Blues game. Jordin Tootoo ended up sitting out, and Sheahan took over Cory Emmerton's spot on the fourth line.

Sheahan, 21, made his first appearance for the Red Wings exactly one year earlier, against Chicago. Sunday's game was another lesson.

"I just focused on using my body and being a physical presence out there," Sheahan said after playing 6 minutes and change. "I think the biggest thing is just to not think too much.

"You just have to be so much more sound with the puck. So just battling every time you have the puck, every point of possession, is important. It was awesome to play."

DeKeyser debuts at Joe: Babcock went with the same six defensemen who played in Friday's victory, which meant the home debut of Danny DeKeyser. He played just over 11 minutes, again helping out on the penalty kill. "I like him," Babcock said. "To me, when you can skate like that -- he made a few errant passes, but I think they're more nerves than anything else. I know our good players like D, who can go get the puck and get it going, versus D-zone coverage."

DeKeyser, 22, played in his first NHL game in Colorado, after a career at Western Michigan. "I'm just trying to do the best I can to adjust to the pros," he said. "It's harder, that's for sure. The more I get out there, the more comfortable I get. I'm just going to take it one game at a time."

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.08.2013

668753 Detroit Red Wings

Blues blank Wings, jump ahead in Western playoff chase

By Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

Detroit — That sure felt and looked like a playoff game Sunday. The Red Wings only hope right now they get an opportunity to see the real thing later this month.

It's getting dicey, no question, as the Red Wings lost 1-0 to the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues (21-14-2, 44 points) moved past the Red Wings (19-15-5, 43 points) into the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

The Red Wings own the eighth and final playoff seed in the West — with several teams close behind, looking to deprive the Red Wings of a 22nd consecutive postseason appearance.

"We all know what is at stake here," said defenseman Niklas Kronwall, after Sunday's narrow loss. "We have to do a better job. We didn't do enough."

The only offense from either team was a playoff-like goal. Blues forward Chris Porter scored at 16 minutes, 28 seconds of the second period during a goal-mouth scramble.

Porter jammed a loose puck laying near the crease through the legs of goalie Jimmy Howard for his second goal of the season.

"Just a scrum in front of our net — that's playoff hockey, that's what it's all about," coach Mike Babcock said.

Blues goalie Brian Elliott, who has been struggling all season, stopped 28 shots for his first shutout of the season.

Howard was only asked to stop 25 shots, as neither team could generate much offense in the defensive struggle.

"Both goaltenders were good but I didn't think both goalies had to be great," Babcock said. "There wasn't hardly any (scoring) chances.

"It was a real good game, I enjoyed it. Our guys competed hard. They're (the Blues) a good team, well organized. Our guys played hard."

One of the best chances the Red Wings had came in the final minute, when Pavel Datsyuk's shot off a rush, from between the circles, wound up in Elliott's glove.

"(Elliott) was big and square and made the save," Babcock said.

Another key for the Red Wings in the loss was the ineffectiveness of the power play. After going 25 percent (4-for-12) in the last three games, the Red Wings failed to score on three power-play chances Sunday.

"Our power play, I felt, could be more dangerous," Babcock said.

If the Red Wings do miss out on the playoffs, they could point to this recent stretch of games at Joe Louis Arena — few as they've been in between long road trips. The Red Wings have won only once in their last five games (1-3-1) at Joe Louis Arena. This late in the season, with the games as important as they are, it's simply not enough points earned.

"We were so good last year at home," said Howard, noting the Red Wings' record 23-game home win streak. "It's just frustrating we haven't been able to get the job done.

"It's frustrating. We know we need the points right now and we're not getting them."

The Red Wings are off until Thursday, when they host San Jose, before going on another two-game road trip to Chicago and Nashville.

More than ever, it seems the like this playoff chase will go right down to the end of the season.

"No surprise," forward Henrik Zetterberg said. "We all knew it would be like this. It's going to be tight all the way which makes the games so much fun to play. We look forward to the next one."

Detroit News LOADED: 04.08.2013

668754 Detroit Red Wings

Winter Classic to start at 1 p.m.; Hockeytown Festival schedule also announced

By Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

Detroit — The Winter Classic is on again.

The Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs will face each other Jan. 1, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The puck will drop at 1 p.m.

The two teams were scheduled to play this past January but the NHL lockout wiped out any possibility of that happening.

A record crowd of over 110,000 is expected to attend the game.

"I suppose this event is so big, we need to make the announcement twice," said commissioner Gary Bettman, announcing the game Sunday morning at Joe Louis Arena.

Bettman also announced the Hockeytown Winter Festival — a weeklong series of events and games including two alumni games between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs, minor and junior league games, as well as high school and youth league games — will take place at Comerica Park.

Bettman expects over 250,000 fans to attend the events at Comerica Park and credited Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch for the downtown events.

"Mike and Marian Ilitch are totally committed to and love the fans and city of Detroit, and it was extremely important to them we conduct the Winter Festival to bring people downtown," Bettman said.

Alumni from both the Red Wings and Maple Leafs attended the announcement.

Former Red Wings forward Kris Draper grew up in Toronto, which makes this alumni game a special opportunity.

"I can tell you that everybody wants to be part of this event," Draper said. "It's going to be a first class event."

Draper played in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field between the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks and called it one of his career highlights.

"We had so much fun, it was amazing to play at Wrigley Field," Draper said. "It was special."

Draper hopes to get Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom to participate in the alumni game.

"We'll do a full-court press on them," Draper sai

Detroit News LOADED: 04.08.2013

668755 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings changing composition of team on the fly

Gregg Krupa

Detroit -- The Red Wings lost, 1-0, Sunday to the Blues, the team that started the day a point behind them and ended it one point ahead, as the Wings slipped to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

So, do the Wings make the playoffs?

Chances are slimmer than they were Sunday morning, certainly. Some anxious denizens of Hockeytown are likely to lean further toward desperation, with nine games left.

So, why was Mike Babcock enthusiastic, telling a group of youth soccer players, parents and coaches at a community event afterward, "I'm proud of my team."

"We lost, 1-0," Babcock said. "Why am I proud of them? Because they battled for every inch of ice."

Why were he and general manager Ken Holland also satisfied enough with a team struggling to make the playoffs they did not augment the roster at the trade deadline five days ago? So satisfied, in fact, Babcock said he expected no moves all along?

Because they are rebuilding.

Rebuilding on-the-run, mind you. Rebuilding with the intent of keeping and nurturing prospects and getting larger players at most positions.

Rebuilding even at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

Rebuilding without mentioning the word until right after the trade deadline, when Holland finally said it before perhaps engaging in a bit of immediate self-editing and describing it as "retooling."

Looking at the kids

No one ever announced the Red Wings' intentions this season. But their purpose has been patently evident. Having lost important players over several seasons, it was time to foster youth, kick a lot of tires and to make plans — not for the playoffs, necessarily, but for 2014, 2015 and beyond.

As that reality continues to sink in, Wings fans are confronted by an elderly bogeyman not seen in these parts for decades, the ghost of Mays and Junes without NHL playoffs in Detroit.

But they are taking good looks at "the kids," regardless.

Riley Sheahan was in the lineup Sunday after considerable improvement, offensively, in Grand Rapids this season.

Henrik Zetterberg's sore groin resulted in calling up Sheahan. But even when the captain played, the Red Wings sat Jordin Tootoo and watched the big kid.

"It was good to be back up here," Sheahan said. "My biggest concern is just putting up points offensively."

He will go right back to Grand Rapids. But Babcock frequently makes it plain that he needs to see who is part of the future being created here in Detroit.

"He was good, and he's going to be a good player for us," Babcock said of Sheahan. "But he's got to get quicker and play with more patience."

The Wings also played Danny DeKeyser, in his second NHL game, even with the playoffs at risk and more veteran defensemen in need of playing time.

And DeKeyser impressed again. After two NHL games, it looks like the 23-year-old maintains his position like the British Beefeaters on duty at Buckingham Palace.

He needs to eat more, though. Listed at 200 or 190, I give maybe 185, and more likely 180.

Playoffs still a goal

And those are the sorts of things that currently concern the Red Wings: They want to make the playoffs, but it is also important a tall, skinny kid from Macomb County gains weight.

Babcock was upbeat about a one-goal loss to a major playoff contender because his is a work in progress.

"I thought it was a real good game," Babcock said in the dressing room. "I enjoyed it a lot, to tell you the truth.

"I thought our guys competed hard."

Babcock called it playoff hockey that turned on some bounces — one good for the Blues, some bad for his team. Keep playing hard, and it will turn.

The playoffs, this year? They might well make it.

I will stick to my prediction they finish sixth and win in the first round.

But, what is more certain is that they are far more prepared for the roster moves they will make this summer and the next one, aimed at revitalizing the franchise and completing what amounts to a two-year rebuild, than they were in January after the lockout.

It is April. There is a lot going on with the Wings — some of it despite their playoff chances.

Detroit News LOADED: 04.08.2013

668756 Detroit Red Wings

Blues, Brian Elliott edge Red Wings, 1-0, as Detroit is shut out at home for first time in two years

Ansar Khan | akhan1@mlive.com By Ansar Khan | akhan1@mlive.com

on April 07, 2013 at 2:55 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 3:56 PM

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings could not take advantage of struggling goaltender Brian Elliott on Sunday, making him look like the Jennings Trophy winner of last season.

Elliott made 28 saves to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 1-0 victory at Joe Louis Arena.

Chris Porter's second-period goal was all the offense the Blues needed.

The Red Wings have been shut out four times this season. This was the first time they were shut out at home since Feb. 4, 2011 by Steve Mason of Columbus (3-0).

Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock liked everything about game vs. St. Louis except final score Red Wings lost 1-0 to Blues despite outshooting St. Louis 28-25 and getting several great opportunities in the third period.

Elliott came into the game with a 3.43 goals-against average and .866 save percentage. He made a few key stops, but benefited from a strong team defense and penalty killing (Detroit went 0 for 3 on the power play, registering only two shots).

The Red Wings (19-15-5) are 1-3-1 in their past five home games, scoring only eight goals.

The Blues (21-14-2) have won four in a row. The moved one point ahead of Detroit, into seven place in the Western Conference, and they have two games in hand on the Red Wings.

St. Louis won the season series 3-1-1.

The Blues broke the ice with a second-period goal from Porter.

It came during a scramble around the net. Porter whacked in a loose puck at 16:28 past Jimmy Howard.

The Red Wings were better in the second period, outshooting the Blues 13-8. Their best chance came on Gustav Nyquist's breakaway with eight minutes remaining. He fired a shot off Elliott's right shoulder.

Elliott and Jaroslav Halak shared the Jennings Trophy in 2011-12, when the Blues had the lowest goals-against average in the NHL.

Michigan Live LOADED: 04.08.2013

668757 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings-Toronto Maple Leafs to meet in 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium

Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com By Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com

on April 07, 2013 at 11:26 AM, updated April 07, 2013 at 12:17 PM

DETROIT – After a one-year delay because of the NHL lockout, the Winter Classic will be played at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

The NHL confirmed this morning what everybody already knew – the 2014 Winter Classic will be played on New Year's Day at The Big House in front of an anticipated crowd of at least 105,000.

The game is expected to break the world record for attendance at a hockey game.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was at Joe Louis Arena this morning to make the announcement.

Bettman was joined at a news conference by Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, Maple Leafs president Tom Anselmi, former Red Wings Kris Draper and Mickey Redmond, and Maple Leafs alumni Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald and Wendel Clark.

The Winter Classic's festivities will include an alumni game on New Year's Eve at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Although no Red Wings have formally committed, Holland said the club is hoping their alumni team will include the Russia Five – Sergei Fedorov, Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov and Vladimir Konstantinov – as well as Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

Anselmi said the Maple Leafs alumni team will include Sittler, Clark and McDonald, who was also on hand for the press conference.

The NHL also unveiled the jerseys that would be worn by the Red Wings and Maple Leafs as well as the sweaters for the alumni game.

Next year's game will mark the sixth time the Winter Classic has been played.

The Red Wings have played in one previous Winter Classic, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 in 2009 at Wrigley Field before a crowd of 40,818.

The Maple Leafs will be making their first appearance in the game.

Bettman said the game will also be the subject of HBO's popular "24/7" series and the Red Wings-Maple Leafs episode will air in December.

Michigan Live LOADED: 04.08.2013

668758 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings Gameday: Did the NHL Winter Classic lose some luster because it was postponed?

Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com By Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com

on April 07, 2013 at 6:30 AM

GAME INFORMATION

• Who: Detroit Red Wings (19-14-5) vs. St. Louis Blues (20-14-2)

• Faceoff: 12:30 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena

• Live coverage: Join the MLive conversation at 11:30 a.m. ET and follow Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) and Brendan Savage (@BrendanSavage) on Twitter.

• TV: NBC

• Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1), WXYT-AM (1270) and the Red Wings Radio Network

• Latest spread: Red Wings -1.5 (5.5)

THE ISSUE

Hockey fans all over Michigan were understandably excited when it was announced the 2013 NHL Winter Classic would be played in Ann Arbor. The same goes for many Canadian fans when they heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs would be playing the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium.

Then, the lockout took place.

Not only was the start of the NHL season delayed for three months, the Winter Classic was postsponed for a year when the lockout lingered and it became obvious there wouldn't be enough time to pull it off – providing a labor agreement was even in place by New Year's Day, which it wasn't.

Now, the NHL has called a press conference for this morning (you can watch it live) to begin hyping the 2014 Winter Classic, which will be played between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs on New Year's Day at Michigan Stadium. But has the game lost some of its luster because it was postponed for a year?

ANSAR KHAN

No, the game hasn't lost its luster. In fact, now that the Red Wings and Maple Leafs will be division rivals next season, the game will be more than just a spectacle between opponents who meet just once a year and aren't competing for anything other than those two points.

These Original Six clubs will meet four or five times next season. Perhaps they will have played a couple of times before the Winter Classic, rekindling their old rivalry, perhaps building some bad blood. By the time they hit the ice in Ann Arbor, they won't be strangers to one another.

BRENDAN SAVAGE

Some fans are going to say yes, the Winter Classic isn't as exciting because of the lockout and the selfishness of the owners and players and blah, blah, blah.

But mark my words, when the Winter Classic and all the events surrounding it – the Alumni Showdown as well as games involving college, junior and high school teams – starts drawing near, hockey fever is going to reach epidemic proportions in Michigan.

As far as hockey in Michigan goes, the Winter Classic is going to be the biggest thing since the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 2008.

Michigan Live LOADED: 04.08.2013

668759 Detroit Red Wings

NHL Winter Classic to take on 'a lot more meaning' with Red Wings, Maple Leafs in same division

Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com By Brendan Savage | bsavage@mlive.com

on April 07, 2013 at 8:00 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 8:05 PM

DETROIT – It goes without saying the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium will be a career highlight for players from the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

There will be more than 100,000 people on hand, the game will played outdoors on New Year's Day between two Original Six teams, and it might be the only chance many players get to take part in a Winter Classic.

But the fact that it will also be a division game is going to make the event all the more meaningful. The Red Wings are moving to the Eastern Conference next season under NHL realignment and will play in a division that includes their longtime rival from Toronto.

Had the Red Wings-Maple Leafs Winter Classic not been postponed this year by the NHL lockout, the game itself wouldn't have held nearly as much importance in the standings with the teams located in division conferences.

"It going to be different because (this year's postponed Winter Classic) was probably the only time we would have faced each other," said Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard. "Moving to the East next year, we're going to see them a lot.

"I'm sure there's going to be a lot more meaning to that game."

It might even be like the old days, when animosity would build up as the teams would often play each other in a home-and-home series on back-to-back nights in Detroit and Toronto.

"It was always heated," said former Red Wings tough guy Joe Kocur, who attended the announcement and will play in the Alumni Showdown scheduled for New Year's Eve at Comerica Park. "It seems like we always played Friday-Saturday nights and Saturday night was in Toronto.