“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others too.”

Okay, so Kennedy was talking about the moon and not the Nashville Predators, but the premise of the speech is still the same.

- This wasn’t going to be easy.

- It will measure the very best that this team has to offer, both in determination and ability.

- They play seven games in a series for a reason. We’ve still got a long way to go.

Jiri Hudler and Pavel Datsyuk during Thursday's practice at Bridgestone Arena.

The Red Wings held practice Thursday afternoon inside Bridgestone Arena. The penalty box was empty. The gold shirts were gone. And while the feelings still linger, the key for our team is that by the time they drop the puck at 7:30, only the positives from Game 1 remain. Things like controlling the bulk of the play over the final two periods, stellar work on the penalty kill, or the way the team responded after Darren Helm’s first period forearm injury.

You know, the good stuff.

“I think when you lose Game 1, especially when you’re the road team; I think it’s a great opportunity to win a game for sure,” Mike Babcock said. “Now we just have to get refocused and we’ve got to win a game in here.”

Yes, the Shea Weber/Henrik Zetterberg controversy was much discussed yesterday, but as the coach would say, you’ve got to put it behind you.

“I worked out with the strength coach, ran and worked off any ill felling I could possibly have,” Babcock said about Game 1 in general. “I’ve moved on.”

Well said.


QUICK STATS:

Ten of the 13 all-time playoff games between Detroit and Nashville have been decided by two goals or fewer.

The Red Wings enter tonight’s contest having killed off their last 31 penalties in a row, including six in Wednesday’s Game 1.

Henrik Zetterberg played 25 minutes and 48 seconds in Game 1, which was second most on the club. More than nine minutes of that was spent on the power play.


TODAY’S SCHEDULE
9:30 AM – Nashville holds their morning skate at Bridgestone Arena
10:30 AM – The Red Wings practice at Bridgestone Arena
7:30 PM – Red Wings-Predators Game 2 (TV: FOX Sports Detroit, CNBC, CBC, RDS2. Radio: 97.1 FM)

KEY INJURIES
Darren Helm will miss the remainder of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs after surgery to repair lacerated tendons in his right forearm. Hal Gill did not skate on Thursday and is expected to be a game time decision for Nashville with a lower body injury.

Wednesday's viewing party at Hockeytown Cafe.

GAME 2 VIEWING PARTY
Need a place to watch tonight’s game? Check out our Official Viewing Party at the Hamlin Pub in Chesterfield (50659 Gratoit Avenue) and watch the game with fellow fans, members of the Volunteer Energy Red Patrol and even Darren McCarty. Take advantage of trivia and prizes galore, including the opportunity to win playoff tickets.

Thanks to Absolut Vodka for sponsoring tonight’s event.

PLAYOFF BEARDS 
We’re three days in, how is your playoff beard doing?

And if you are growing one, why not do so for a good cause by taking part in the 2012 Red Wings Beard-A-Thon, with all proceeds going directly to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation.

For more information, visit the Beard-A-Thon website.

Thanks to Philips Norelco for supporting the 2012 Red Wings Beard-A-Thon.

VOTE FOR DATSYUK:
Pavel Datsyuk is the Red Wings representative in EA Sports’ NHL 13 Cover Vote after besting teammate Jimmy Howard in the first round of balloting. Now grouped with 30 other NHL stars, Datsyuk needs your help to reach the final 16. Click here to vote!

FOLLOW US
Twitter handles for some pretty important people.
@DetroitRedWings – The team’s official account
@CEmmer48 – Cory Emmerton
@GNyquist – Gustav Nyquist
@RSheahan4 – Riley Sheahan

We’ll have more to come later in the day.