Three Questions: Wings-Canucks
DRW.com's Michael Caples analyzes the Wings' fourth game
Thursday, 10.16.2008 / 10:18 PM
/ News
By Michael Caples
- DetroitRedWings.com Intern
What was the best part of the night?
The Wings-Canucks game was a great, down-to-the-wire match-up, complete with lots of face washes in front of both nets. But the best part was the tribute to Alex Delvecchio, whose statue was unveiled prior to the game. I had the privilege of speaking with the former Red Wings’ captain after the pre-game ceremony, and let me tell you, he’s one of the nicest people you could ever meet. The Hockeytown crowd’s roar when he took the ice for the opening face-off ceremony was great to hear, and well deserved for Delvecchio, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Lady Byng Trophy winner.
What happened to the puck-luck?
One of Mike Babcock’s favorite terms, puck-luck, wasn’t on the Wings' side today. Goalie Chris Osgood needs to have a talk with the boards behind him, because they weren’t helping him much tonight. The Canucks' first goal was basically an off-the-backboard alley-oop, with Alex Burrows’ shot bouncing off the end boards, around the net, to a wide-open Jannik Hensen waiting on the other side. The game ended the same way, with the puck redirecting off the boards right on to the anxiously awaiting stick of Burrows.
How did Darren Helm look after being called up?
Helm, who played in 18 post-season games last spring, isn’t your average AHL call-up. The 21-year-old center is not on the Wings’ NHL roster only because of team depth, not because of a lack of skill on Helm’s part. He looked good in his first game back with the big league club, skating for 7:04 worth of ice time and finishing with an even plus/minus. He had his fair share of chances though, including when he actually jumped around defenseman Sami Salo and got a good shot on goal. Moments later, he used his terrific speed to chase down the Vancouver defense on their breakout, pick someone’s pocket, and then create another scoring chance which resulted in a Vancouver penalty.
The Wings-Canucks game was a great, down-to-the-wire match-up, complete with lots of face washes in front of both nets. But the best part was the tribute to Alex Delvecchio, whose statue was unveiled prior to the game. I had the privilege of speaking with the former Red Wings’ captain after the pre-game ceremony, and let me tell you, he’s one of the nicest people you could ever meet. The Hockeytown crowd’s roar when he took the ice for the opening face-off ceremony was great to hear, and well deserved for Delvecchio, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Lady Byng Trophy winner.
What happened to the puck-luck?
| WINGS CORNER |
One of Mike Babcock’s favorite terms, puck-luck, wasn’t on the Wings' side today. Goalie Chris Osgood needs to have a talk with the boards behind him, because they weren’t helping him much tonight. The Canucks' first goal was basically an off-the-backboard alley-oop, with Alex Burrows’ shot bouncing off the end boards, around the net, to a wide-open Jannik Hensen waiting on the other side. The game ended the same way, with the puck redirecting off the boards right on to the anxiously awaiting stick of Burrows.
How did Darren Helm look after being called up?
Helm, who played in 18 post-season games last spring, isn’t your average AHL call-up. The 21-year-old center is not on the Wings’ NHL roster only because of team depth, not because of a lack of skill on Helm’s part. He looked good in his first game back with the big league club, skating for 7:04 worth of ice time and finishing with an even plus/minus. He had his fair share of chances though, including when he actually jumped around defenseman Sami Salo and got a good shot on goal. Moments later, he used his terrific speed to chase down the Vancouver defense on their breakout, pick someone’s pocket, and then create another scoring chance which resulted in a Vancouver penalty.
