![Babcock shuffles Wings' lines - Detroit Red Wings - News 4906676424_9200e4ced7]()
Conference semifinals agains the Sharks.
Along with mending minor injuries, the Wings are leaving to get out for Game 3 with some different looking line combinations that hopefully generate a twinkle to a high-powered offense that has only produced two goals in two games.
The biggest change will occur with the interval of the Euro Twins, the team`s star forward Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
“We didn`t win when they were together. That`s it,” said Babcock of his thinking to separation. “We`ve got to get a way to win a game. This only gives us a deeper one, two, three; Just different.”
Zetterberg missed all four games of the cross of Phoenix in Round 1, but was a welcome addition to be reunited with Datsyuk, given their capital on ice chemistry and playmaking ability. One problem also may be the strength and wellness of power forward Johan Franzen.
Asked about Franzen`s health and if his injury could nag throughout the series, Babcock wasn`t sure.
“That could be, I don`t recognize that for sure,” he said. “He`s had a day off and took minimal reps in practice yesterday, just to try and get his hands going. I thought when he got mad in the third period the early night it wasn`t as sore, so perhaps he should get mad right from the start tonight.”
Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi has played well, but the Wings think they can make him a heavier workload and that the shake-up in lines may help.
“Yeah maybe, obviously we`ve got to convert something up and hopefully make us a flicker and guys can get some chemistry right out and go from there,” forward Justin Abdelkader said.
Babcock then went in-depth near the way the lines will see at puck drop.
“Well, I`m going to tender them up like this, 93-13-96,” Babcock said. “That`s from left to compensate by the way. Then I`m going to receive 44-40 and 11. Then I`m going to hold 8-51 and 26. Then I`m going to make 33-43 and 17. So as shortly as I tear up Pav and Z, that means (Logan) Couture will bet on the remaining position with (Joe) Thornton and (Devin) Setogucci, I`ll just do this for you.
“Then (Patrick) Marleau will work in the heart of (Ryane) Clowe and (Dany) Heatley. The ground I live this is we`ve been done this already this year. It`s only one of those things.”
Babcock insists that the match-ups are a small point compared to the big picture.
“I said this afterwards the 1st two games; to me it`s not near the match-ups. I liked the match-ups in San Jose. I didn`t believe that had any charge on the game, they only won more of the 50-50 pucks and both second periods they`ve been better than us. Their offense isn`t one and done.”
INJURY UPDATE: Asked if he was performing in Game 3, Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski said, “Oh yeah, 100 percent sure.”
Read the rest of this entry »