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Meech looks like only change
The Red Wings are on the ice now prepping for Thursday's home opener (I'm not going to call it a North American home opener ... just can't) and it looks like the only lineup change will be Derek Meech in for Brett Lebda on the blue line. Patrick Eaves is practicing as the 13th forward.
Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Franzen
Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Cleary
Leino-Filppula-Williams
Draper-Abdelkader-Maltby (Eaves working in)
Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Meech (Lebda working in)
Osgood
Howard
Nothing changes as far as line combinations either. Scratching Lebda is understandable after his slow start. He had an especially difficult Game 1 in terms of turnovers and being caught taking chances. Hopefully his start to this season won't be as slow as his start to last season was. The Brett Lebda in the final quarter of last season is the one that the Red Wings need now.
Also, Darren Helm is on the ice, skating on his own. He's not taking part in drills. The forward is still recovering from a training camp injury to the joint between his right shoulder and collar bone.
Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Franzen
Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Cleary
Leino-Filppula-Williams
Draper-Abdelkader-Maltby (Eaves working in)
Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Meech (Lebda working in)
Osgood
Howard
Nothing changes as far as line combinations either. Scratching Lebda is understandable after his slow start. He had an especially difficult Game 1 in terms of turnovers and being caught taking chances. Hopefully his start to this season won't be as slow as his start to last season was. The Brett Lebda in the final quarter of last season is the one that the Red Wings need now.
Also, Darren Helm is on the ice, skating on his own. He's not taking part in drills. The forward is still recovering from a training camp injury to the joint between his right shoulder and collar bone.
posted by Chuck Pleiness at
11:16 AM
4 Comments:
Bruce, thanks for the update. A question: Much has been made by fans and media about the continuing PK problems in the Swedish game. Any idea on Babcock's take of the technical resons for this? (Or I'd be interested to hear yours, for that matter.) Is it goaltending? Forwards not challenging? D-men trying to take the body? Is McCrimmon still coaching the PK? I'm just curious to hear concrete theories rather than the rote, "We have to be better."
Thanks,
Anne
Bruce, why is Lebda so inconsistent? When he's at his best, he's very dangerous -- joins the rush at the right time, pushes the puck up the ice quickly and recovers in time.
Why can't he be that guy -- or closer to it -- more often? Because when he's off his game, he's God-awful.
Hey Anne,
For the PK, right now I think the club looks at it as an execution problem. Just doing what you're supposed to be doing. That doesn't make it right.
I have to look at the tapes of the first two games to give you my opinion. I'll do that as soon as I can.
Hey Terry. Lebda seems to be a slow starter the past couple of years. Very slow. I don't know if that's how he's always going to be.
I think a big thing for Lebda is to be speed based. He has to outquick opponents, not outmuscle. For him, positioning is about getting there first, not battling in the paint like a basketball player.
He's got to get back to that.
There was a goal in the first game where his man cut through the slot. Lebda let him get in front and he's not going to tie him up from behind with the stick. Lebda has to be in front.
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