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| Red Wings |
Nicklas Lidstrom is one of the greatest defensemen ever to lace up a pair of skates.
Pavel Datysuk has played perhaps the best hockey of his career to begin this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, opening up the possibility he is the greatest forward in the world.
Yet, an argument can be made that Datsyuk isn’t the best forward on his own team, that it is Henrik Zetterberg, a splendid two-way player in his own right.
And the list goes on and on.
Perhaps even greater than their star power, however, the Red Wings possess superior depth, which was never more evident than Monday night when they took complete command of their opening-round series with the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Red Wings’ 4-2 victory, giving them a three games to none lead in the series, was sparked more by players lower on their proverbial totem pole than their stars.
Datsyuk did not have a goal nor an assist. Lidstrom played less than 19 minutes. Zetterberg remained out with a knee injury.
Detroit’s first goal was scored by 36-year-old Ruslan Salei, a stay-at-home defenseman, whose primary role is to provide a steady presence in front of goalie Jimmy Howard.
Salei plays on the Red Wings’ last defensive pairing. There were even some questioning whether he should be in the lineup for the postseason instead of rookie Jakub Kindl, who was scratched. The questions weren’t raised, though, because Salei is so bad, but because Kindl is so good - too good, honestly, to be scratched on virtually any other team. Kindl is an excellent puck carrier. He can skate it out of trouble. He is sound defensively, too. It was a matter of choosing style and experience over youth.
The goal was gravy for Salei. Zone defensive coverage is his strength.
The Red Wings took a 2-0 lead very early in the game, not only because of Salei’s goal, but also a tally by Drew Miller.
Miller, brother Buffalo Sabres’ goalie and United States Olympic standout Ryan Miller, and a former Michigan State star, was claimed off waivers by the Red Wings last season after their roster was decimated by injuries. It was the first waiver claim by the Red Wings in roughly a decade.
Miller and Patrick Eaves, another veteran player picked off the scrapheap by Detroit general manager Ken Holland, have been in the lineup the first three games of the playoffs.
Mike Modano, raised in Southeastern Michigan, and widely regarded as one of the greatest American born players of all time, has not. Given Modano’s status in the game, and the ballyhoo when the Red Wings signed him during the off season, the moves raised eyebrows - even if Modano was hurt most of the regular season.
Eaves is 26. Miller is 27. These are players in their prime. Between them, they have scored 45 goals the last two regular seasons. More importantly, they are willing to serve roles.
Also, Howard is playing well. His save percentage has improved in the postseason from the regular season. He was solid as could be in the first three games of this series.
The Red Wings’ goaltending may not turn out to be the issue many fans seem to think it will be in these playoffs.
Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was a second-team all-star last season. He is one of the better goalies in the NHL. This is the second straight playoff series Howard has clearly outplayed him.
Like their depth, it bodes well for the Red Wings.
They clearly have a much better team than the Coyotes. And it is not just because of their stars.
