One of the key factors in Detroit's 3-1 win on Saturday was its dominant performance in the face-off circle, as the Wings won 39-of-55 draws. It's an impressive number on its own, but when you consider the Wings were playing without Pavel Datsyuk (winning 52 percent of his draws this postseason) and Kris Draper (64 percent) it's downright scary. And kind of ridiculous. After the jump, a breakdown of which players did the damage, and who they did it against. Let's just say this: It's ugly for the Penguins, which begs the question: where the hell is Mike Zigomanis when you need him?
Henrik Zetterberg, the reigning Conn Smythe winner, was 15-for-20 in the circle, while he was matched up against Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby all night. Not only was Crosby held off the score sheet for the first time in six games (and only the third time this postseason) he was just six-for-20 on draws, and Zetterberg was responsible for most of his problems.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zetterberg was two-for-two against Crosby on the Penguins' power plays, while Crosby got the better of him on Detroit's power play. Zetterberg's second face-off win against Crosby on the penalty kill helped lead to a shorthanded chance for Daniel Cleary, while his win at the 18:46 mark of the second period led to Johan Franzen's game-winning goal. He was also perfect in the third period. Impressive all the way around.
Meanwhile, the pipeline to the NHL from Grand Rapids to Detroit has been on display in the postseason as the speedy Darren Helm has jumped up to the big club and fit right in. He was once again a high-energy player for the Wings on Saturday, while he also helped earn the Wings puck possession with a stellar night on face-offs.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Once again, an impressive showing as the 22-year-old Helm went against the top three Pittsburgh centers and beat them all. Crosby's struggles are disappointing seeing as how he entered the game winning 52 percent of his draws, up from the 49 percent mark he put up a year ago in the postseason. He was one-for-three against Valtteri Filppula, Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler collectively.
As for Staal's night ...
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
The Detroit rookies, Helm and Abdelkader, simply owned him on this night. Just as a point of reference, the Wings won 52 percent of the draws in last year's final ... and that was with Datsyuk and Draper in the lineup. Obviously, this is something the Penguins must improve on as this series moves forward, and it's not going to be easy as the Red Wings, for the third year in a row, were the top face-off team in the league.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-31-2009 @ 3:10AM
rwing said...
Just lucky I guess...the Wings hard work, and faceoff success...very lucky. The Wings are the luckiest team in the League...and oh, let's not forget their lucky goals too, and the bounces going their way. The Grand Rapids Griffins line playing against the Crosby line. And Justin Abdelkader's goal, what a lucky one for the 3rd goal...one lucky kid. Yes, the Wings sure are one LUCKY bunch....except when it comes to the refs. LOUSY calls and non-calls. Enjoy the hockey luck guys and gals!!!!!
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 7:54AM
hdekiere said...
Okay, now that the 1st game is over now it's time to start reading all the comments from the crying pittsburgh fans about how the refs were against them or the wings were lucky.
Face the music Penguin fans this is not your year. Same as last year all the media hoopla on Crosby and Malkin being the two best Superstar tandem in hockey. Then the big game starts and where are they. Shut down!!!! If the penguins are ever going to win you need alot more than just two guys. Heir apparent after todays game. They got shut down and there is no-one to pick up the slack.
A great example is Abdelkader, our lines got shut down and here is a rookie 4th line guy scoring a huge playogff goal.
WINGS in 5!!!!!!!
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 8:12AM
Josh said...
I've read this comment on like 5 different articles. Er... shut up? And just for the record is straight, I live about 40 minutes from the Joe. So yeah. Shut up.
5-31-2009 @ 10:56AM
roberts070 said...
Both of us made it to the Stanley Cup so that doesn't mean that you Red Wings are any bit more skilled than us. And so what if we lost last night,there's still 6 more games. I don't know why America these days just can't sit back and chill and watch the game.Always gotta be on the top and talkin trash on anyone who wants to try and knock you off the top of the mountain. Who ever wins wins and who ever loses loses. Who ever wins shouldn't get all high and might bout themselves n@,but who ever loses shouldn't get all whisy washy and blame everyone under the sun for their problems. Good luck to both teams and let the ones who deserve it win.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 12:03PM
KING BOB said...
robetrs070 R U kiddin me. Did you watch the same game or are you in some sort of la la land. Pitt got there butts handed to them. The wings are in their head and battle tested. Quit crying. Whoever wins wins....Give me a break
5-31-2009 @ 11:14AM
patriciadee92 said...
If you have two eyes to see - then there is no mistaking the talent on the Red Wings. I love the Penquins team and if the Red Wings weren't playing them I'd be rooting for Pittsburgh. But, the facts are the facts, the Red Wings are superior. Well coached, talented, deep - this team will not be beat. I feel bad for Crosby going up against Zetterberg - as I think Crosby is exceptional. But, Hank is justing making it look way too easy!
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 12:18PM
victorlazlo58 said...
Crosby is a punk-ass girl, see that ticky-tack crap he tried to pull on Maltby after the Horn sounded? I hear Crosby's going to star in that new movie put out by The Onion, "Cockpuncher II".
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 1:26PM
qongquest said...
dominating night, what game did the blogger of this article watch. other than the score and ossies play in goal, this game was a disaster. yes the face-offs are extremely important but if the puck stays in your own end, its a problem. for almost 2 periods of game one, the pens outplayed the wings in almost every aspect of the game. if this continues the pens will win the cup. on the other hand, hopefully the hockey gods will allow the wings to get healthy. why would bettman change the game start from the 5th of june to may 30. knowing that 4 red wings players were hurt. wing players and fans won't whine about it, we will question it. but as ossie said before the start of the series, the pens are a great team, lets have some fun.
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 1:29PM
slfpgh said...
is it victor or victoria lazlo??? ha,ha,ha,you live in detroit, you poor slob.
Reply