Detroit Red Wings Clips  March 13, 2016

Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 How to watch tonight's Detroit Red Wings-Toronto Maple Leafs game PAGE 3 St. James: Wings’ resolute vets spring toward playoff push PAGE 5 Detroit Red Wings lose Niklas Kronwall to injury vs. Rangers PAGE 6 Detroit Red Wings 3, Rangers 2: Darren Helm caps big rally in OT PAGE 7 Wings earn dramatic win but Kronwall injured PAGE 8 Green: Wings need to honor Gadsby, Kelly by retiring No. 4 PAGE 11 Kronwall leaves game early, MRI verdict comes Sunday PAGE 13 Red Wings beat Rangers on Darren Helm's overtime goal PAGE 15 Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall leaves with leg injury PAGE 16 Red Wings' lineup vs. Rangers: Petr Mrazek starting in goal, no changes

planned from win over Jets PAGE 18 Red Wings Gameday: New York Rangers have struggled mightily at JLA

in recent years PAGE 20 Resilient Red Wings' postseason efforts aided by 'playoff-like' win PAGE 22 Red Wings postgame: Second straight comeback win provides four-point

cushion in wild-card race PAGE 23 Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall doesn't believe injury is major PAGE 24 Helm suddenly becoming a shooter PAGE 26 Pat Caputo - Time for Detroit Red Wings to start living up to their stellar

reputation PAGE 28 Red Wings rally past Rangers 3-2 in OT PAGE 29 USA TODAY / Bill Gadsby a warrior on the ice, a gentleman off of it PAGE 31 Griffins build win streak to 10 as they head out on the road

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How to watch tonight's Detroit Red Wings-Toronto Maple Leafs game Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press 3:28 a.m. EDT March 13, 2016 7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network, WXYT-FM (97.1): An Original Six matchup in consecutive days at the Joe. Detroit Red Wings (34-23-11, 79 points) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (22-34-11, 55 points) When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Joe Louis Arena. TV: NBC Sports Network. Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1; other radio affiliates). Game notes: Just like the old days, eh? Saturday matinee against the Rangers followed by a Sunday date with the Leafs. With Saturday's win over the Blue Shirts, 3-2 in overtime, the Wings keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Detroit is one point ahead of Pittsburgh for the second wild card spot, with the Flyers two points behind the Pens. But the biggest takeaway from Saturday was the injury to defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who appeared to hurt his right leg and will be out for an unspecified period of time. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.13.2016

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St. James: Wings’ resolute vets spring toward playoff push Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 10:21 p.m. EST March 12, 2016 Brad Richards, Darren Helm and Jeff Blashill talk after the Wings beat the Rangers 3-2 in overtime March 12, 2016, at Joe Louis Arena. Video by Helene St. James, DFP. There came a moment this past week when the Detroit Red Wings looked at one another and decided, “That’s enough.” They’ve shown the last two games they’re serious about another playoff run, distancing themselves from a disappointing road trip with two huge rallies on home ice. On Saturday the Wings were nearly thwarted by a hot goaltender, but their veterans delivered another 3-2, come-from-behind victory. “Our leadership really stepped up and really took charge, carried us to two big wins,” rookie Dylan Larkin said. “It’s exciting times.” Exciting because after a three-game losing streak capped by a lousy performance Tuesday at Columbus left the Wings close to being overtaken for the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race, they’ve banked four points by showing guts and grit, coming back from deficits to beat the Winnipeg Jets and then the New York Rangers. “I think overall we’ve played a lot better hockey,” veteran Brad Richards said after scoring a tying goal with 31.8 seconds left in regulation against the Rangers. “The start against Winnipeg, we played some good hockey but were down, and tonight felt like we were doing a lot of good things, but we were down a lot of the game. “But you have to play a full 60, stay with it, and don’t break away from the game plan. It’s a good sign that after a tough road trip, we come back and show some resiliency.” It was Richards, a two-time Stanley Cup champion added for his leadership last summer, who noted after the Columbus loss that the details of playoff hockey had to come to the forefront for the Wings. That happened Thursday against Winnipeg, when the Wings trailed, 2-0, after the first period despite outplaying the Jets but kept working, piling up 35 shots en route to a 3-2 victory. It was especially true Saturday, when it appeared Henrik Lundqvist would singlehandedly hand the Wings a loss. Larkin described Lundqvist as being “like a cat” with his acrobatic saves. It wasn’t until the third period that Darren Helm scored to make it 1-1, and it took Richards falling on his knees to force the game past regulation. “When Richie scored,” Larkin said, “I jumped up pretty high. That was a big goal for us to get to overtime.” Teammates jumped even higher when Helm tipped Pavel Datsyuk’s shot past Lundqvist at 3:03 of overtime. It was the result the Wings deserved, after playing well at both ends of the ice and outshooting the Rangers, 43-25.

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“We were talking in dressing room, ‘Keep going,’ ” goaltender Petr Mrazek said. “We play really good defensively, helping each other get the puck out of the zone, and strong penalty kill.” Coach Jeff Blashill, who is big on how the Wings play regardless of result, pointed to the last two games as proof they can compete with anyone. “If we play like that on a consistent basis,” he said, “like we have the last two in terms of our determination and our energy, we’ll beat lots of teams. I was real happy with the way we played. “We were much better with the puck. We didn’t have nearly the number of turnovers we’d have had earlier in the year. We were strong on battles, and I thought we were overall pretty good defensively.” The power play remains in sore need of attention: Richards’ goal was on a power play, but it came as the Wings had two extra skaters after pulling Mrazek. This week could mark a turning point for the Wings. They learned in Columbus that they cannot overcome a soft start with a hard last few minutes. When they fell behind against the Jets, that was enough. “First period against Winnipeg was a little scary,” Helm said. “But that was a moment where we looked at each other and knew that we had to dig in and find a way to win some games, put some points up and make a final push.” Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Detroit Red Wings lose Niklas Kronwall to injury vs. Rangers Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 6:24 p.m. EST March 12, 2016 Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall limped away from Saturday’s game after an awkward fall left his immediate future in doubt. Coach Jeff Blashill said after the 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers that Kronwall “is going to be evaluated, so we should have more in the morning.” Kronwall was injured midway through the second period when he fell backwards in a collision involving two teammates. Kronwall’s left leg got caught up in Petr Mrazek just as Andreas Athanasiou arrived and fell on Kronwall’s right leg. Kronwall flailed his arms in pain, appearing to favor his right leg as he got up, and was helped off by Athanasiou and Brad Richards. The Wings limited information to saying Kronwall is out with a lower-body injury. Kronwall underwent a scope in mid-January, causing him to miss 15 games. He has not had a great season, but he has remained the Wings’ top workhorse, the only skater to average nearly 23 minutes per game. He is their second-loading scorer from the back end, with 20 points in 52 games. “Kronner is a great defenseman, and I hope it’s not going to take long and he’s going to be back soon,” Mrazek said. Helm hot: Darren Helm has been shooting the puck every chance he gets. He’ll take a goal any which way it comes, of course. Helm played the hero twice Saturday, scoring first and last, the overtime winner coming off a shot by . “I just tried to use my speed to get to the front of net, hoping for a pass or be a screen,” Helm said. “Pavel shot, and it went in off my stick. I don’t know how it went in, but I’m happy it did.” It was Helm’s 10th goal of the season. He led the Wings with eight shots Saturday, reaching 20 shots total in his last four games. “I thought his determination at the end of the game last game (Thursday) was unbelievable, so he’s really, really, I think, playing at a real good level right now,” Blashill said. “I haven’t used him tons in the 3-on-3, but Tony Granato and Pat Ferschweiler both felt we should definitely use him, and thankfully we did.” Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Detroit Red Wings 3, Rangers 2: Darren Helm caps big rally in OT Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 4:57 p.m. EST March 12, 2016 Brad Richards was on his knees as the puck sank into the New York Rangers' net. His goal with 31.8 seconds left in regulation this afternoon at Joe Louis Arena earned the Detroit Red Wings one point, and Darren Helm got them the second when he scored in overtime to seal a 3-2 final. Helm tied the game early in the third period, after the Wings had gone 26 shots without beating Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers retook the lead during a power play when Chris Kreider tipped Keith Yandle's shot with 4:27 to in regulation, but the Wings replied on a power play of their own, pulling Petr Mrazek to make it a 6-on-4. Henrik Zetterberg fired a shot on net and Richards got a hold of the puck just in time to fired it behind Lundqvist on what was the Wings' 38th shot of the game. Box score Niklas Kronwall left in the second period after an awkward fall left him favoring his right leg. The Wings forced 15 saves from Lundqvist just in the first period, including a left pad stop on Danny DeKeyser when he pinched. Helm tried for for that rebound. Dylan Larkin hit the right goal post and Jonathan Ericsson sent that rebound just wide of the left post. J.T. Miler had the puck behind his own net only to see it disappear thanks to the stick work of Pavel Datsyuk, who tried to stuff the puck past the right post. Henrik Zetterberg racked up the 10th shot near the 13-minute mark. Mrazek saw nowhere near as much action, but he did need a little attention after getting hit in the head by Rick Nash. The Rangers had four shots until the last minute of the period, when Derek Stepan conve Kreider's rebound for a 1-0 Rangers lead. The Wings earned a power play in the first minute of the second period, but as usual weren't able to convert. They went on a second penalty kill fresh on the heels of that event, then segued into a second power play that saw Mrazek have to make a save. The Wings got nine shots on Lundqvist in the second period, including a DeKeyser slap shot that saw Lundqvist wind-mill his glove to keep the Wings with a goose egg to show for their efforts. It took a Rangers mistake for the Wings to finally get rewarded. Dan Boyle's inability to corral the puck in the Rangers' zone gave Luke Glendening the opportunity to find Helm breaking up the middle, resulting in a 1-1 game at 4:28 of the third period. Mrazek kept the Rangers from doubling up with a save on a deflection from Kreider. A third Detroit power play materialized midway through the third period, but neither Datsyuk nor Henrik Zetterberg were able to dent Lundqvist any further. Lundqvist sold an interference call on Justin Abdelkader to earn the Rangers a power play, which they used to their advantage.

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Wings earn dramatic win but Kronwall injured Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 5:04 p.m. EST March 12, 2016 Detroit – The Red Wings beat the Rangers 3-2 in an overtime thriller on Saturday, after outplaying New York for long stretches of the game. Darren Helm scored at 3:03 of overtime, redirecting a shot by Pavel Datsyuk. Helm had set a perfect screen in front of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Brad Richards tied the game 2-2 at 19:38 of the third, after the Wings outplayed the Rangers for long stretches but appeared to be about to go down with yet another hard-fought loss. Helm also scored early in the third period for the Wings. The Rangers got goals from Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan. Niklas Kronwall was injured in the second period and did not return. Scrambling back on defense with Andreas Athanasiou to cover a rebound, both players collided and Kronwall’s left leg went against Petr Mrazek, awkwardly, and his right leg folded underneath him, with Athanasiou adding to the weight. He was assisted from the ice, and went directly to the dressing room. Kronwall did appear to walk unassisted, with considerable discomfort, once he got into the tunnel to the dressing room. The Wings announced he would not return to the game, with a lower-body injury. Detroit News LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Green: Wings need to honor Gadsby, Kelly by retiring No. 4 Jerry Green, Special to The Detroit News 4:24 p.m. EST March 12, 2016 Salute to Stanley Cup Legends The steamship left the harbor and sailed into the perilous Atlantic with the tough Canadian kid bravely aboard. World War II had started two days earlier with the Nazi Germans’ invasion of Poland. And Great Britain had quickly declared war against Germany. Just as quickly, Hitler’s deadly U-Boats started searching the high seas for British shipping. So it was that Bill Gadsby, an aspiring hockey player, was deposited into the ocean at age 12. The U-30, a German submarine on patrol in the North Atlantic, fired a torpedo into the hull of the civilian passenger liner SS Athenia out of Glasgow and Liverpool on Sept. 3, 1939. The sinking of the Athenia was the first atrocity of the war. Young Gadsby, so tough then, so resilient, was among those rescued. He returned home to Calgary in Alberta in Western Canada – a fearless kid who would become tougher and tougher. Hitler could never get Bill Gadsby. Stan Mikita made Bill Gadsby bleed and curse, but never diminished his toughness. Mikita never got Gadsby except with his stick surgery. Gordie Howe, when they were enemy players, never really got Bill Gadsby. Elbows and hips, of course. Gordie got him better with his pranks when they were teammates with the Red Wings and they connected as the closest of friends. It took old age to get Gadsby. It finally got him Thursday this past week. Bill died. He was 88, a Hockey Hall of Famer. Late in his NHL career Gadsby brought life and vigor to Detroit and its sports scene. He would talk, when pressed about the memory, about the sinking of the Athenia and his rescue with quiet dignity, thankful. “It happened off the coast of Ireland,” Gadsby told the late Joe Falls and me during a book interview in 2000. “We were coming back to Canada when it happened. “I was in my bunk when it happened and it knocked me to the floor. It was a helluva experience. A bad experience. “A lot of people were killed. As I remember it, the U-Boat surfaced and fired into the steamship. We wound up in a lifeboat for about seven or eight hours before we were picked up and taken back to England.”

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From then on, Gadsby was a survivor. He later survived polio and was able to keep playing hockey. He survived the ferocity of Howe when he played for the Black Hawks (then two words) and the Rangers. Back then the Black Hawks and Rangers were the perennial bottom feeders of what still is wistfully referred to as the NHL’s Original Six. But Gadsby was an all-star defenseman. One night in the 1959-60 season, Gadsby and Howe tangled in a corner at the old Olympia on Grand River. Two extremely rugged and physically nasty hockey players. “I was banging him pretty hard into the boards,” Gadsby recalled in the 2000 interview, “when he said to me: ‘Hey take it easy, you’re coming here tomorrow.’ “I said, ‘Yeah, yeah big guy, you just want us to back off so you could put in the winner.’ “He said, ‘No, I’m serious. You’re coming here tomorrow.’ “I came off the ice at the end of the game and they told me I’d been traded to Detroit. I was happier than hell.” Bill Gadsby in 2009 Alas the trade was nullified – in a marvelous spot of irony – when Red Kelly, who was to have been dealt in exchange for Gadsby, refused to go to New York. Gadsby got his wish after the season – traded at last to a contender, the Red Wings. And thus started his mighty battles with Mikita and the improved Black Hawks – games that historically remain the essence of playoff hockey. Gadsby would talk about his bitter wars with Mikita in front of the goalmouth with loud anger. “Stan and I didn’t get along too well,” Gadsby recalled. “I just hit him harder and harder. Some nights I thought we would never get up.” But Mikita would rise back on his skates and crack and smash his hockey stick across Gadsby’s back. One night after a playoff game at Olympia, Gadsby lifted up his Red Wings sweater to show me the results of Mikita’s handiwork. His back was covered with reddish welts and black and blue bruises. Finished as a player after 20 seasons and 645 stitches (“from the neck up”), Gadsby became one in the parade of coaches as the Wings’ barren years started in the late 1960s. Gadsby survived the rocky 1968-69 season and started his second season as coach. The Wings defeated the Maple Leafs and the Black Hawks. Bruce Norris, the Wings’ owner, embraced Gadsby in the grungy visitors’ dressing room deep in Chicago Stadium. “Norris came in and said, ‘Gads, you’ve got these guys going,’” Gadsby said in the 2000 interview. “I said, ‘Bruce, we’ve got a helluva hockey team.’

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“He had his arm around me – and 20 hours later he put the knife right into my back. “I was stunned.” Those were the Red Wings back then. Norris issued a brief explanation for the firing of Gadsby with a 2-0 record. “He wasn’t sophisticated enough,” Norris said. That was the Red Wings back then. And throughout all those years since – through four Stanley Cup championship seasons – the Red Wings have failed to rectify one glaring mistake. Likely because, Red Kelly had refused to go to New York but later thrived following a trade to Toronto. Both Kelly, a member of four Cup championship teams in Detroit, and Gadsby wore Red Wings’ uniform No. 4. They both were recognized as Hall of Fame defensemen. They, along with Nicklas Lidstrom, rank as the best defensemen in the nearly 90-year history of the Red Wings. Yet the Red Wings stubbornly have not honored No. 4 with a banner at the ceiling of Joe Louis Arena with Gordie’s 9, Ted Lindsay’s 7, Lidstrom’s 5, Steve Yzerman’s 19 and others as part of Detroit’s celebrated ice hockey history. Now Mike Ilitch – who long ago relished watching Howe and Ted Lindsay and Kelly and Gadsby play for the Red Wings – is constructing a new arena. There should be a place in honor above the new rink for Kelly and Gadsby plus Mark Howe – and a retired No. 4. Time to forget the 55-year grudge against Red Kelly and time also to honor Bill Gadsby. Detroit News LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Kronwall leaves game early, MRI verdict comes Sunday Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 12:17 a.m. EST March 13, 2016 Detroit — Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said late Saturday night that results from an MRI conducted on defenseman Niklas Kronwall will be available Sunday, and the status of the veteran defenseman will be determined then, after a what appeared to be a nasty incident in the second period of Saturday's victory over the Rangers. It looked so ugly one could not quite tell which knee Niklas Kronwall injured before he was helped off the ice. About 8-1/2 minutes into the second period on Saturday, Kronwall and Andreas Athanasiou scrambled to get back in the play and simultaneously tried to pounce on a rebound in front of their goalie, Petr Mrazek, with Rangers circling. Kronwall was getting there first, with Athanasiou immediately behind him, when the players collided. Kronwall’s left leg went awkwardly into Mrazek, with Athanasiou providing more momentum. Kronwall’s right knee twisted unnaturally behind him as he fell, with Athanasiou partially on top of him. It was nothing the rookie forward could have helped in any way. Indeed, his back-checking was admirable. But Kronwall looked bad. His teammates skated to him and helped him off the ice. At first, he seemed to favor his right leg. Then, as he got to the bench, he strode off the ice with his right leg first, and seemed, perhaps, to favor his left. Kronwall left his teammates and hobbled down the tunnel to the dressing room on his own power, with no support. About 15 minutes after the game Kronwall was seen leaving the dressing room, appearing to walk normally, without discomfort. He told a reporter he did not think it was serious. A report out of Toronto late Saturday said that after an MRI, it was determined Kronwall sustained a sprained knee and he would return to the lineup sometime before the end of the regular season. However, Holland said the results of the MRI would be available Sunday morning, and a determination on Kronwall’s status would be made then. Kronwall, who has had knee injuries in his career, underwent minor arthroscopic surgery the third week of January to “clean out” a knee. The Wings did not reveal which one.

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On Saturday, they merely announced that Kronwall would not return to the game, and had suffered a “lower body” injury. “I have no updates, I think, more than what’s been said,” Jeff Blashill said after Kronwall had left. “He’s going to be evaluated, so we should have more in the morning.” Kronwall, 35, in his 12th season, has played in 53 of the Red Wings’ 68 games. Bad rap? Justin Abdelkader is a pest in front of opposing goalies, and he gave Henrik Lundqvist a particularly difficult time on a shift about 14 minutes into the third period. He skated by Lundqvist once, and when Abdelkader was contacted by a Rangers defender, he slightly brushed Lundqvist. Moments later, with Abdelkader standing about a foot from Lundqvist at the top of the crease, the Rangers goalie went down as if he had been shot. Up went a referee’s hand. Abdelkader reacted like a teacher admonished him for something he’d done in class — on a day when he was home sick. It happens several times a season. Lundqvist, one of the best goalies in the game, is able to draw penalties around his crease when infractions do not occur. This time, it did not look close in real time, and multiple slow-motion replays seemed determinative: There was no contact. And on three other occasions during the game, there was considerable contact from Rangers on Petr Mrazek in the Red Wings crease. Asked after the game to comment on about Lundqvist’s ability to draw penalties, Blashill demurred. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Blashill responded, as the question unfolded. “I mean, uh … No. No comment.” In the crease Blashill said before the game that he decided to start Mrazek partly to solidify the improved play he showed against the Jets in Thursday’s 3-2 victory. He did not say who would play against the Maple Leafs on Sunday. Maple Leafs at Red Wings Faceoff: 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit TV/radio: NBCSN/WXYT 97.1, 1270 Outlook: The Maple Leafs are cleaning house under Mike Babcock, Lou Lamoriello and Brendan Shanahan, but their young roster is dangerous, despite the team’s record. Entering their game against the Senators, Saturday night the Leafs had played in six consecutive one-goal games, in which they were 1-4-1 … The game will feature two friends and former stars for the Michigan Wolverines, Dylan Larkin and Zack Hyman. Detroit News LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings beat Rangers on Darren Helm's overtime goal Ansar Khan | on March 12, 2016 at 4:46 PM, updated March 12, 2016 at 5:21 PM DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings showed tremendous resilience Saturday in a fast-paced, action-packed game in which they outplayed the New York Rangers. Just when it appeared all was lost, Brad Richards tied it in the final minute of regulation. Darren Helm then scored with 1:57 remaining in overtime to lift the Red Wings to a 3-2 victory at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings (34-23-11) opened up a four-point lead over Philadelphia for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers play at Florida tonight. The Red Wings outshot the Rangers 43-25. Helm was parked in front of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist when he scored his second goal of the game and 10th of the season to end it. Pavel Datsyuk's shot from the slot glanced off Helm's pants. Richards scored with 31.8 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it at 2-2. It came during a six-on-four advantage as the Red Wings pulled Petr Mrazek for the extra skater during a late power play. The Rangers just missed scoring into an empty net twice, hitting the goal post from 175 feet the first time. Chris Kreider snapped a 1-1 tie with 4:27 remaining in the third period, scoring a power-play goal while Justin Abdelkader was off for goaltender interference. The win came with a price, however, as defenseman Niklas Kronwall suffered an apparent knee injury with 11:07 remaining in the second period. His left skate was tangled with the Rangers' Jesper Fast while teammate Andreas Athanasiou fell on his right leg. Kronwall was helped off the ice by trainer Piet Van Zant. Kronwall missed 15 games earlier this season after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Helm had created a few scoring chances with his speed during the first two periods but couldn't finish. He finally buried one at 4:28 of the third period to tie it at 1-1. It was his ninth goal. Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle lost the puck in his skates, enabling Luke Glendening to tap it ahead to Helm as he was skating to the net. In one motion he swatted it past Lundqvist. Lundqvist had shut out the Red Wings for 106:26 in two games this season before that goal. He had missed the past three games with a neck injury.

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The Red Wings had excellent pace in the first period, spending much of it in the offensive zone and getting pucks on Lundqvist. They registered 10 consecutive shots at one point and finished with a 15-7 edge. But it ended on a sour note after Derek Stepan scored with 49 seconds remaining in the period. Danny DeKeyser overskated the puck in his own zone, losing it to Stepan, who got off a shot. Mrazek couldn't smother the puck. He made the rebound save on Chris Kreider but the puck squirted loose to Stepan, who buried it while Mike Green attempted to cover the empty net with Mrazek down. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall leaves with leg injury Ansar Khan on March 12, 2016 at 3:16 PM, updated March 12, 2016 at 4:05 PM DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall left Saturday's game midway through the second period with an apparent leg injury. Kronwall was hurt with 11:07 remaining in the second period against the New York Rangers at Joe Louis Arena, after teammate Andreas Athanasiou fell on his right leg. Kronwall needed to be helped off the ice by trainer Piet Van Zant. He will not return, according to the Red Wings PR department. Kronwall missed 15 games after having arthroscopic surgery in his knee on Jan. 18. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings' lineup vs. Rangers: Petr Mrazek starting in goal, no changes planned from win over Jets Brendan Savage | on March 12, 2016 at 12:37 PM, updated March 12, 2016 at 12:45 PM DETROIT – Petr Mrazek will start in goal for the Detroit Red Wings today when they face the New York Rangers and there will be no lineup changes from Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, according to coach Jeff Blashill. Mrazek made 23 saves and the Red Wings rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Winnipeg to snap a three-game skid in the first of three straight games at Joe Louis Arena. Mrazek has never faced the Rangers during his brief career. "I think Petr played real good last game so hopefully he can come out and be real good" today, Blashill said this morning. "He's been good for us for most of the year so we'll need that same performance." Despite falling into the early hole against the Jets, Blashill was generally pleased with the Red Wings' start against Winnipeg. But there will be an emphasis on getting off to a strong start against the Rangers, who bring a 39-22-6 record into the game and lead the Red Wings by seven points in the Eastern Conference's overall standings. "You don't always control when the puck goes in the net or not but you certainly control how you execute and how hard you play," Blashill said. "But I thought we came out and played hard in the last game. I thought we came out and executed. I thought the first few shifts were good. I thought we drew two penalties. We didn't score on the power play and then they scored. "I said to the guys before the game, 'We might go out and play great and they might score first. They might score second.' That's exactly what ended up happening. We've got to make sure if when the opponent scores it doesn't put us on our heels and we keep moving forward. "I thought after the first I thought we did that. We didn't let the score affect us. We just kept playing. You've got to play as good as you can for 60 minutes." The Rangers, who are 7-3 in their last 10 games, will get a boost today with the return of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and forward Rick Nash. Lundqvist has missed three games with neck spasms after colliding with captain Ryan McDonagh March 3 vs. Pittsburgh and Nash has been sidelined for 20 games after injuring his left leg while blocking a shot. But Blashill said he isn't focusing on the Rangers' lineup. "Those are two good players, two great players," Blashill said. "But to me they're going to have a good team regardless of who's in their lineup and I think we have a good team regardless of who's in our lineup and let's go execute at a higher level.

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"They're a great team. They've had one of the best goalies in the league for a long time. They're very good in the O-zone so we're going to have to have real good D-zone coverage. We're going to have to be better in that area in general against these guys and second we gotta make sure we get to their crease. "We talk about owning each crease. Own our crease and own their crease. We're going to have to do that" today. Putting pressure on the opposing net is always a key, according to Blashill, but it's especially important against a guy like Lundqvist. "I don't think you can score in the league on a consistent basis without good net presence so I think you have to have that," Blashill said. "He's able to fight through traffic and their 'D' do a good job of deflecting out so it's not easy but we're going to have to fight to get traffic and we're going to have to fight to get seconds. "I think that's an area we can get better at, making sure we get pucks and bodies to the net." The Red Wings complete the three-game homestand Sunday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are last in the NHL's overall standings. Blashill said it hasn't been decided whether Mrazek or Jimmy Howard will start vs. Toronto. "I'm worried about trying to win the hockey game today and won't make any decisions past that," he said. The Red Wings, who are one point behind Pittsburgh and two in front of Philadelphia in the bid for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, are 12-1-1 in their last 14 home games against the Rangers. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings Gameday: New York Rangers have struggled mightily at JLA in recent years By Brendan Savage | on March 12, 2016 at 6:06 AM, updated March 12, 2016 at 8:19 AM GAME INFORMATION • Who: Detroit Red Wings (33-23-11) vs. New York Rangers (37-20-8) • Where: Joe Louis Arena • When: 2 p.m. • TV: Fox Sports Detroit, NHL Network • Radio: 97.1 WXYT-FM, 1270 WXYT-AM and Red Wings radio network • Social media: Follow MLive sports on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. • Twitter: Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage • Live coverage: Join our live updates at 1 p.m. GAME NOTES • The Rangers were in the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago and have reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the past four but they've been no match for the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in recent years. The Red Wings are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games at The Joe vs. their fellow Original Six foe. In their only meeting this season, the Rangers posted a 1-0 overtime victory Feb. 21 at MSG, where Jimmy Howard made 29 saves for the Red Wings before Kevin Klein scored 1:59 into the extra session. • The Rangers are 1-6-0-2 on the road vs. the Red Wings dating back to the start of the 2000 calendar year, according to STATS. That's their worst road record vs. any team in that stretch. They've been outscored 32-20 by the Red Wings in those games. ... This is the second of three straight games at home for the Red Wings. ... Detroit is 17-11-6 at home this season while the Rangers are 16-15-3 on the road. • Petr Mrazek is expected to start in goal for the Red Wings after making 23 saves in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Mrazek has never faced the Rangers during his young career. • Henrik Lundqvist will be back in goal for the Rangers and that might not be good news for the Red Wings. Lundqvist, who has been sidelined by neck spasms for the three games after colliding with captain Ryan McDonagh March 3 vs. Pittsburgh, has won five straight games against the Red Wings. Three of those victories came via shutouts. In another of those wins, he allowed one goal. That said, all five of his wins over the Red Wings were in New York. • The Rangers' lineup will also be bolstered by the addition of Rick Nash, who has missed 20 games since injuring his left leg while blocking a shot Jan. 22, according to NHL.com. Center Derick Brassard is questionable after not accompanying the Rangers

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to Detroit because of the flu but he could travel on his own and hasn't been ruled out for today's game. • Today is the Red Wings' eighth afternoon game of the season. They're 3-4 in those games and have lost the past two, 4-1 last week in Chicago and 4-1 Feb. 15 in New York against the Islanders. But that game against the Islanders came 20 hours after the Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 at home in another matinee. The Red Wings are 2-2 in home matinees. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Resilient Red Wings' postseason efforts aided by 'playoff-like' win By Ansar Khan | on March 12, 2016 at 7:01 PM, updated March 12, 2016 at 7:02 PM DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin has never appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game but said "That was a playoff game," following his team's exhilarating victory in one of its best efforts this season. The Red Wings were strong from the start, playing with urgency and energy, peppering Henrik Lundqvist with shots and showing no quit, even when it appeared all was lost. The Red Wings never led, until Darren Helm scored his second goal of the game at 3:03 of overtime, resulting in a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers at Joe Louis Arena and an enormous two points. "It's a huge two points for us against a good team," Larkin said. "We had to do it again, find a way to win, and we did." Brad Richards sent it to OT by scoring with 31.8 seconds remaining in regulation – a power-play goal that turned into a six-on-four advantage after Petr Mrazek was pulled. Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill called it one of his team's better 60-minute efforts in a while. They outshot the Rangers 43-25. It is their sixth game in a row with 33 or more shots. "This one from the drop of the puck, I just thought we were really, really strong," Blashill said. The Red Wings (34-23-11) have won back-to-back games following a three-game losing skid, which culminated with a bad loss at Columbus Tuesday. "We lost (three) in a row there and our leadership really stepped up and took charge and carried us to two big wins," Larkin said. "It is like playoff hockey, where you lose a game and you think everything is coming to an end and you win a game and people are excited," Richards said. "But you got to be even keel, stay calm, huge game (Sunday vs. Toronto), can't let the foot off the gas, got to keep backing up these points." The winning goal was the result of Helm's net-front presence, as he deflected in Pavel Datsyuk's shot. "Just a rush, (Danny DeKeyser) threw it to Pav and I just tried to use my speed to get to the front of the net just hoping for some kind of puck, pass or whatever," Helm said. "If not, then I just wanted to be a screen. Luckily Pav just shot one and it hit off my stick and found a way in." Said Lundqvist: "I picked it up first and then kind of lost it. I was reading the shot kind of coming towards me. When it went in I knew (Helm) got a piece of it because there was no other way to score on that angle."

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It wouldn't have happened if the Rangers hadn't barely missed two empty nets – one shot from 175 feet hit the goal post – in the final two minutes. That set up Richards' goal. "Heard a lot of people tell me to shoot for five or six seconds," Richards said. "There's so much traffic I couldn't get anything through. I was waiting for (Henrik Zetterberg) to pop out and he got something through – well, not through, it hit (Justin Abdelkader) – but I kind of snuck back there and everybody was looking at Z I think. I snuck in there, the puck came to me and those are fun when you see an open net." The Rangers had taken a 2-1 lead on Chris Kreider's power-play goal with 4:27 to play in regulation, while Abdelkader was off for goalie interference. But the Red Wings' determination was unyielding. Helm's first goal tied it at 1-1 at 4:28 of the third period, after Derek Stepan opened the scoring at 19:11 of the first. "Tonight it felt like we were doing a lot of good things and we were down a lot of the game," Richards said. "But you have to play a full 60 and stay with it and don't break away from the game plan. It's a good sign that after a tough road trip we came back and showed some resiliency against some adversity here." Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings postgame: Second straight comeback win provides four-point cushion in wild-card race By Brendan Savage | on March 12, 2016 at 6:31 PM, updated March 12, 2016 at 6:33 PM DETROIT – If you missed the Detroit Red Wings' 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Rangers Saturday at Joe Louis Arena, we've got you covered. Here's a quick snapshot: THREE STARS 1. Darren Helm – The Red Wings speedy forward got his team on the board in the third period and then scored the game-winning goal in overtime when Pavel Datsyuk's shot deflected off his body. 2. Henrik Lundqvist – The game probably would have never reached OT had it not been for the Rangers' goaltender, who was brilliant for much of the night while making 40 saves. 3. Brad Richards – The game certainly wouldn't have went into OT had it not been for the veteran forward's power-play goal with 31.8 seconds remaining in regulation that tied it 2-2. BY THE NUMBERS 2 – Consecutive comeback wins by the Red Wings. They erased a 2-0 deficit in Thursday's 3-2 win against Winnipeg and then came from behind twice to tie the Rangers before winning it. 4 – Points the Red Wings, who hold down the top wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, are ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers. Pittsburgh is one back of Detroit and in possession of the final wild-card spot in the East. 8 – Shots on goal by Helm, the most on either team. 13 – Wins by the Red Wings in their last 15 home games vs. the Rangers. They're 13-1-1 in that stretch. 16 – Blocked shots by the Rangers compared to seven for the Red Wings. Dan Girardi led New York with four. 29 – Number of goals scored in the final minute of regulation this season to send games to OT in the NHL this season after Richards connected. Teams scoring those goals have a 21-0-8 record. 41 – Faceoff wins by the Red Wings with Henrik Zetterberg's 12 in 17 opportunities leading the way. Pavel Datsyuk had 11 and Luke Glendening 10. The Rangers won 21 faceoffs. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall doesn't believe injury is major By Ansar Khan | on March 12, 2016 at 5:41 PM, updated March 12, 2016 at 5:56 PM DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall might have avoided a serious injury Saturday, when he was forced to leave midway through the second period due to a lower-body injury. Kronwall walked out of the building on his own power and told MLive that he didn't think his injury was anything major. Coach Jeff Blashill had no further update following his team's 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers at Joe Louis Arena, saying Kronwall will be evaluated Sunday. Kronwall was hurt with 11:07 remaining in the second period. His left skate got tangled with Ranges forward Jesper Fast near the Red Wings net while teammate Andreas Athanasiou fell on his right leg. Kronwall needed to be helped off the ice by trainer Piet Van Zant. Kronwall missed 15 games after having arthroscopic surgery in his knee on Jan. 18. Michigan Live LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Helm suddenly becoming a shooter By Chuck Pleiness, POSTED: 03/12/16, 6:23 PM EST | UPDATED: 6 HRS AGO DETROIT >> Darren Helm has suddenly become a shooter for the Detroit Red Wings. Helm had a team-leading eight shots on goal and scored two goals to lead the Wings to an overtime win Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. “I always want to get pucks to the net,” Helm said. “Anything can happen when you’re shooting from any angle, rebounds, sneaky goals, just trying to create opportunities and the guys I’m playing with right now are doing a great job forechecking and finding the pucks and getting them to me. We’re just making an effort to put pucks on the net and create chaos.” Helm has had 20 shots on goal over his last four games after totaling just 12 over a nine-game stretch prior. “I thought his determination at the end of the game (Thursday’s) game was unbelievable, so he’s really, I think, playing at a real good level right now,” Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I haven’t used him tons in the 3-on-3, but Tony Granato and Pat Ferschweiler both felt like we should definitely use him. Thankfully we did.” Pavel Datsyuk had the winning shot that deflected off Helm in front of New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in overtime. “Just a rush, (Danny DeKeyser) threw it to Pav and I just tried to use my speed to get to the front of the net just hoping for some kind of puck, pass or whatever,” Helm said of the game-winning goal. “If not, then I just wanted to be a screen. Luckily Pav just shot one and it hit off my stick and found a way in. I don’t know how it found a way in but I’m happy it did.” Helm’s season high for shots on goal was nine, which came on Feb. 12 at home against Colorado. Detroit out shot the Rangers, 43-25. “It’s a better effort to make sure we get the pucks on the net and create chaos,” Blashill said. “I think we’ve done a good job of creating chaos in the last number of games, just getting them to the net and making sure we have bodies to the net.” KRONWALL SAYS HE’S OK Niklas Kronwall appears to have avoided a serious knee injury when he left midway through the second period. Kronwall was able to walk out of Joe Louis Arena on his own power and said he didn’t think his injury was anything major. Kronwall, who needed to be helped off the ice by trainer Piet Van Zant, missed 15 games when he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Jan. 18.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY Blashill on whether this was one of the Wings’ better 60-minute efforts lately, “I think it’s one of our better ones in a while. I think lots of games have an ebb and flow and I don’t want to take away from other efforts. I thought there were moments of real good in Chicago, even in Columbus, but this one from the drop of the puck, I just thought we were really, really strong. “I think we’ve played hard all year long, but I thought we were a little, not a little better, we were much better with the puck, we didn’t have nearly the number of turnovers we had at different times of the year, we were strong on battles and I thought we were overall pretty good defensively,” Blashill added. “They’re a really good team, they created some chances, but I didn’t think we gave them lots of easy chances.” Macomb Daily LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Pat Caputo - Time for Detroit Red Wings to start living up to their stellar reputation By Pat Caputo, POSTED: 03/12/16, 6:05 PM EST | UPDATED: 6 HRS AGO The Red Wings’ stellar reputation has been well-earned, yet it’s based more on the past than the present. They have won the Stanley Cup championship within the last decade, sure, but the memory of 2008 has faded. The Red Wings have made the playoffs 24 straight seasons, which is much-celebrated by the organization, but they haven’t been beyond the second round since 2009. Even though all-time great defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom retired in 2012, theoretically this should, nonetheless, be the Red Wings’ best team since their most-recent Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2009. However, they are struggling mightily to make the playoffs – again. That’s what made Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers promising. For the second straight game, anyway, the Red Wings displayed the competitive character of a championship-caliber franchise. Brad Richards scored a power play goal – with Detroit’s net empty – with 31.6 seconds remaining to tie it in regulation. Darren Helm netted the game winner in overtime. The Red Wings peppered Rangers’ future Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist with 43 shots. This after the Red Wings rallied from a two-goal deficit after the first period to beat Winnipeg Thursday. “It felt good when it went in because, at that point, I felt like we deserved it,” Red Wings’ coach Jeff Blashill said of Richards’ huge goal. Rookie sensation Dylan Larkin’s production has slowed considerably. Since he vaulted into the top spot in the NHL’s plus-minus ratio rankings during the first half of the season, Larkin has been a minus player for an extended span. Red Wings’ goalie Petr Mrazek has gone from being a Vezina Trophy candidate to average recently. Even with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg playing regularly and mostly effectively, and improved team speed because Helm is healthy, and the additions of Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou, the Red Wings’ fell off course. It wasn’t that they just lost a couple recent games to defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago, but rather the way the Red Wings were blown out of the rink that raised

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eyebrows. So did getting outshot 16-4 in the first period of a loss Tuesday at lowly Columbus. General manager Ken Holland may have been right to stand pat at the NHL trade deadline. It’s not wise to make deals for the simple reason of perception. Yet, it did look bad that the losses to the Blackhawks were in close aftermath of the deadline passing - and Chicago adding four solid players. Now, with Philadelphia making a surge, the Red Wings’ spot in the playoffs for a 25th straight season is in jeopardy. The Red Wings have two games remaining with the Flyers, including one in Philly Tuesday where the Red Wings haven’t won since 1997 - 10 straight losses. The Flyers are good enough they won home-and-home games against Tampa Bay heading in Saturday night’s game at Florida. It’s given added meaning to Detroit’s home game Sunday night vs. the hapless Toronto Maple Leafs. “We’re playing with a little more determination and heart,” said Helm, who had eight shots on net, including the Red Wings’ first and overtime goals, Saturday. Larkin has played much better the last two games. He started Detroit’s rally Thursday with his 20th goal of the season and he had six shots on net vs. the Rangers. Mrazek has been solid the last two games. Maybe the worst is over and the best to come for the Red Wings. “It’s a good sign we have shown resiliency,” Richards said. Agreed. Macomb Daily LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Red Wings rally past Rangers 3-2 in OT By NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer POSTED: 03/12/16, 6:02 PM EST | UPDATED: 6 HRS AGO DETROIT >> Brad Richards tied the game with 31.8 seconds left in the third period, and then Darren Helm scored in overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday. Henrik Lundqvist made 40 saves in his first game since March 3, but Detroit finally broke through against the New York goalie. Helm also scored in the third period for the Red Wings. Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who also got Rick Nash back after an extended absence. The Red Wings tied it in the final minute of regulation when Richards scored on a power play. Detroit had its goalie pulled at the time, and the Rangers twice came within inches of scoring into the empty net. Ryan McDonagh shot the puck all the way down the ice at the open net, only to have it hit the left post. Moments later, Viktor Stalberg’s attempt slipped just past the right post. The Red Wings got the tying score when Henrik Zetterberg’s shot bounced off teammate Justin Abdelkader in front of the net. Richards slammed the carom past Lundqvist from the right doorstep. Lundqvist stopped a clean breakaway by Dylan Larkin in overtime, but Helm ended it with 1:57 remaining when he got a piece of Pavel Datsyuk’s wrist shot on its way into the net. Lundqvist had been out with neck spasms, and Nash hadn’t played since Jan. 22 because of a bone bruise. Nash had two shots on goal in 17:12. Detroit outshot the Rangers 15-7 in the first, but Lundqvist kept the puck out of the net, and New York opened the scoring on Stepan’s goal in the final minute of the period. Helm tied it early in the third with a wrist shot from the slot, and the Red Wings swarmed Lundqvist in the final minutes. Abdelkader got a little too close, taking a goaltender interference penalty with 5:42 remaining, and the Rangers took advantage when Kreider tipped in Keith Yandle’s shot from the point to put New York up 2-1. Eric Staal was called for holding with 2:05 to play, however, giving Detroit a last-ditch power play that the Red Wings converted. NOTES: C Derick Brassard didn’t play and remained in New York because of the flu. The Rangers also were without D Dylan McIlrath because of a knee injury. ... Detroit D Niklas Kronwall left in the second period with a lower-body injury. Macomb Daily LOADED: 03.13.2016

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USA TODAY / Bill Gadsby a warrior on the ice, a gentleman off of it Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports 10:48 a.m. EST March 12, 2016 When I interviewed former NHL defenseman Bill Gadsby for the first time before writing his book in 2002, he jokingly warned me that I would be interviewing two different people. His beloved wife Edna told him regularly that the rough-and-tumble warrior she watched play in the NHL was a different guy than the sweet, caring gentleman she had been married to since 1952. Gadsby told me it was important that I understood the player who amassed 640 stitches, 11 broken noses and 1,539 well-deserved penalty minutes during a Hall of Fame career. But he wanted me to know the guy who sent Edna 150 letters during their courtship and penned his first letter to his oldest daughter Brenda when she was four months old, advising her of the importance of behaving for her mother and the need to eat more strained carrots than she wore. Edna showed me all of those letters, hoping I would draw a more realistic portrait of a player who once hit Tim Horton with such force that he momentarily feared he might have killed him. Those memories marched through my mind when I heard that Gadsby died Thursday at age 88. Gadsby is among the most complex, fascinating, big-hearted professional athletes I’ve ever met. Bill and Edna Gadsby were among Gordie and Colleen Howe’s closest friends. That says more than any words I can write. Gadsby played 20 seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings from 1946 to 1966, and was voted among the top 100 NHL players all-time when the Hockey News ranked them in 1998. His book was called The Grateful Gadsby because Gadsby felt blessed to have such a wonderful career. When he was 12, he was on the passenger ship Athenia, traveling home from the United Kingdom, when it was sunk by a German submarine in 1939. The death toll was 118. Gadsby and his mother survived. When he was 26, playing for the Blackhawks, he was diagnosed with polio. He made a full recovery, which was not often the case in 1952. As a rookie in 1946-47, Gadsby led NHL defensemen with eight goals and outscored Howe by two goals, a fact he never let Howe forget. But he was mostly known as a competitor. “I enjoyed the physical side of hockey,” Gadsby told me. “I enjoyed hitting people with hard, clean body checks. I didn’t want to maim my opponents. I just wanted to get their attention. My belief was every time you hit someone you took something out of him.”

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Gadsby never won a Stanley Cup. He was close in 1964, but Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bobby Baun became a legend by scoring an overtime goal on a broken leg in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final against the Red Wings. “What nobody remembers is that less than a minute before Baun fired the shot that made him famous,” Gadsby said, "I took a shot that haunts me to this day." Early in overtime of Game 6, Gadsby worked a 2-on-1 with Floyd Smith and ripped a potential series-ending winner. “(Goalie Johnny) Bower never even reacted to the shot,” Gadsby said. “I was already raising my stick to celebrate.” But the puck struck the thin shaft of Bower’s stick and deflected away from the net. The puck quickly turned the other way. Gadsby was defending against Baun, who had broken a bone on a Howe shot. “Baun’s shot struck my stick, and the puck deflected up, just missing my head and went past (goalie Terry) Sawchuk,” Gadsby said. “In hindsight, I wish that shot would have hit me square in the bean. Given all the stitches that had been sewn into my face by that time, what would a few more have mattered?” That story provides a different perspective of one of the memorable moments in NHL history. But my favorite story about Gadsby is the one Edna told me about her husband’s quest to find Farmer’s Wife infant formula after Brenda was born. Their pediatrician recommended they use that brand, and an exasperated Edna couldn’t locate any in Chicago, where Gadsby was playing. Gadsby was on the road in Canada, and found it in a supermarket there. He bought all they had, but couldn’t fit it all in his suitcase. So he asked every Chicago teammate to bring a couple of cans home for him. “When Edna I think of Original Six hockey we think of the Blackhawks getting off the train one-by-one and handing us a couple of cans of Farmer’s Wife formula,” Gadsby said. “Any man can throw his body in front of a Rocket Richard slap shot, but it takes a really tough man to carry another man’s baby formula down the street.” Gadsby was a great hockey player, and a man who loved his family as much as anyone I ever met. That is his legacy. “I wasn’t two different people, really,” Gadsby said. “I was one man who believed he had to do the best he could every day as a husband, father and hockey player. That’s how my parents raised me. I knew no other way.” USA TODAY LOADED: 03.13.2016

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Griffins build win streak to 10 as they head out on the road

By MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS – Behind 32 saves by Tom McCollum, the Grand Rapids Griffins completed a weekend sweep of the Manitoba Moose on Saturday with a 5-1 win at a sold-out Van Andel Arena, moving within .003 percentage points of first place in the Central Division with their 10th consecutive victory.

Eric Tangradi chipped in a goal and an assist to finish the two-game set against Manitoba with seven points (3-4—7), while Andy Miele had two helpers to give him six points (1-5—6) over the last two nights.

Combined with their 15-game run earlier this season, the Griffins have become the first AHL team since the 2009-10 Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears to post a pair of double-digit winning streaks in the same season. And with first-place Rockford losing tonight, Grand Rapids (.650) has climbed nearly even with the IceHogs (.653) in the Central Division race while taking the lead over both Rockford and Milwaukee in terms of points (78 to 77).

With only four home games remaining over their final 16 contests, the Griffins will commence a five-game, 11-day road trip on Sunday with a 5 p.m. EDT start at Chicago, from which they'll head to Texas for a pair of games each against the Texas Stars and San Antonio Rampage.

The Griffins' penalty killers were put to an extended test less than four minutes into the game after Joel Rechlicz was whistled off on simultaneous roughing and cross-checking calls. Manitoba failed to capitalize on that four-minute opportunity, but the Moose did break through for the first goal at the 10:28 mark when Axel Blomqvist – who drew the penalties on Rechlicz – snapped a shot past McCollum from the right circle.

Grand Rapids revived its potent offense from Friday's 7-2 win to score three times in a span of just over nine minutes, beginning with a power play goal by Tyler Bertuzzi off a feed from Tangradi with 2:49 remaining in the first period.

Anthony Mantha's 20th goal of the season put the Griffins ahead only 51 seconds into the middle period. From deep in the right corner of his own zone, Robbie Russo threaded a perfect 120-foot stretch pass to Mantha, who broke in alone on Eric Comrie and managed two quick shots before sliding his third try just inside the right post.

The Griffins doubled their advantage on their second power play tally of the night at the 6:13 mark, as Martin Frk took a pass from Miele at the top of the circles and blasted a rising howitzer past Comrie for his team-high 23rd goal of the campaign.

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Tangradi scored Grand Rapids' fourth consecutive goal at 4:20 of the third to make it 4-1, showing quick hands on the doorstep to slip a rebound home, before Tomas Nosek added a shorthanded empty-netter at 16:16 for the final margin.

McCollum earned his fifth consecutive win since Feb. 20, a stretch during which his 1.00 goals against average and .967 save percentage are both the best marks in the AHL – one spot ahead of teammate Jared Coreau's numbers (1.19, .956) over that span.

Comrie logged 26 saves for the Moose, who went 0-for-5 on the power play while allowing the Griffins to finish 2-for-5.

Notes

During their 10-game winning streak, the Griffins have outscored their opponents 41-11...Defenseman Dan Renouf made his pro debut after signing an amateur tryout with Grand Rapids on Thursday. He recently finished his season at the University of Maine...The capacity crowd of 10,834 was the Griffins' fourth of the season as well as their eighth crowd in excess of 10,000, and it raised their average this season to 8,306.

Manitoba Moose 1 at Grand Rapids Griffins 5 - Status: Final

Saturday, March 12, 2016 - Van Andel Arena

Manitoba 1 0 0 - 1

Grand Rapids 1 2 2 - 5

1st Period-1, Manitoba, Blomqvist 1 (DeSalvo, Stoykewych), 10:28. 2, Grand Rapids, Bertuzzi 11 (Tangradi, Zengerle), 17:11 (PP). Penalties-Rechlicz Gr (cross-checking, roughing), 3:27; MacWilliam Mb (tripping), 15:06; Cormier Mb (high-sticking), 16:41.

2nd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Mantha 20 (Russo), 0:51. 4, Grand Rapids, Frk 23 (Miele, Sproul), 6:13 (PP). Penalties-Harstad Mb (high-sticking), 5:26; Lashoff Gr (interference), 12:57; Kramer Mb (diving/embellishment), 17:58; Bertuzzi Gr (slashing), 17:58.

3rd Period-5, Grand Rapids, Tangradi 22 (Lashoff, Miele), 4:20. 6, Grand Rapids, Nosek 12 16:16 (SH EN). Penalties-Stoykewych Mb (holding), 0:49; MacWilliam Mb (slashing), 11:14; Mantha Gr (high-sticking), 11:51; Frk Gr (holding), 16:02.

Shots on Goal-Manitoba 9-10-14-33. Grand Rapids 10-13-8-31.

Power Play Opportunities-Manitoba 0 / 5; Grand Rapids 2 / 5.

Goalies-Manitoba, Comrie 12-21-5 (30 shots-26 saves). Grand Rapids, McCollum 10-9-0 (33 shots-32 saves).

A-10,834

Referees-Mike Langin (90), Keith Kaval (40).

Linesmen-Bob Marcis (65), Jim Scarpace (75).