By the Numbers: Red Wings 3, Lightning 0

Postgame Thoughts

Bullets:

• So that happened. And by “that” I mean Henrik Zetterberg getting obliterated and “slightly” separating his shoulder. The Wings are sticking to the “out a minimum of two weeks” company line. At this point, I can honestly say that these injuries are no longer surprising. It’s not a good way to go through life, but whatever. In terms of the impact of Zetterberg leaving the lineup, I offer up this: he’s the leading scorer on a team that has struggled to score this year. You figure out the rest.
• Let’s swing the pendulum to the other side and congratulate Jimmah on his first career NHL whitewash. Howard was stout last night, stopping all 30 shots that the Lightning threw his way and maintaining his role as the Wings best penalty killer. However, the event didn’t go off seamlessly, as Howard had to spend a good minute waiting for the officials to pry a stick out of his skates at the end of the game as the rest of the team waited to congratulate him. Nothing says “Job Well Done!” like this:
  
• How about Drew Miller getting the eventual game-winner against his former teammates? Seriously, I want to take a second and thank the TBL front office for putting this guy on waivers.Your check is in the mail.
• Dear Michael Petrella: Todd Bertuzzi. Love, Me.
• Overall, it’s really reassuring to see this team get through a shellshocked second period and come away with a win, no matter the caliber of opponent. The Wings have shouldered the mantle of adveristy and have worked their way through every unfortunate bounce or injured player, and it will pay dividends down the road. It’s absolutely amazing that this group has run off four straight wins with so many of the key players not in the lineup. It’s going to be a bumpy ride for awhile given the personnel situation, but all we can do is fasten the seatbelts and scream our lungs out.
• Don’t lie, junkie: As much as this whole situation sucks, you secretly love this feeling of insecurity and fear. It feels like the playoffs and that feeling of desperation is addicting.

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Production Charts

*The season totals are updated here and here.

Line Production

Special Teams Production

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CSSI

*Season CSSI numbers are updated here.

Goal 1 (DET 1 TB 0): Drew Miller (4) from Brian Rafalski (11) at 8:24, First Period

• Wings on ice: Zetterberg, Leino, Eaves, Rafalski, Janik

• HP(+): Ridiculous play. Rafalski (+1.5) for the long bomb pass right to Miller. Miller (+1.5) for knocking the thing out of the air, corralling it and then lifting it over the pokechecking Mike Smith. Nice flying finish too.

Goal 2 (DET 2 TB 0): Todd Bertuzzi (9) from Tomas Holmstrom (6) and  Pavel Datsyuk (18) at 6:48, Third Period

• Wings on ice: Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Lidstrom, Stuart

• HP(+): Datsyuk (+1) for making an excellent steal on a clearing attempt up the boards. He literally picks the puck out of mid-air and then makes a sweet backhand pass along the boards. Holmstrom (+1) for showing some nice patience and puck handling skills as he waited for Bertuzzi to get open in front of the net. Bertuzzi (+1) for getting in the right place to make a play and score the goal.

Goal 3 (DET 3 TB 0): Patrick Eaves (4)  from Nicklas Lidstrom (11) and Brian Rafalski (12) at 10:10, Third Period

• Wings on ice: Datsyuk, Eaves, Lidstrom, Rafalski

• HP(+): Rafalski (+0.5) for smartly reversing the flow of the play to help facilitate the line change on which Eaves gets on the ice and is able to sneak in behind everyone. Lidstrom (+1) for going to the puck in the corner and making an excellent pass to the middle of the ice. Eaves (+1) for sticking with a squibbing puck and keeping control long enough to go around Smith and tap it home.

Miscellaneous Points

• HP(+): Abdelkader (+1) for doing an excellent job getting in front of shots and being a team player. His grit and toughness was exactly what the Wings needed on a night like last night.

Chart:

Tags: Drew Miller, Henrik Zetterberg, Tampa Bay Lightning, The Jimmah Howard Experiment, Todd Bertuzzi