 |
|
Abdelkader stands tall in win
By Sarah Lindenau - RedWingsCentral.com / September 13, 2008Although it didn't show on the scoresheet, Justin Abdelkader was a force for the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night in Traverse City, Mich.
The 6-foot-1, 209-pound left-winger's big hits and sound defensive game energized his team from start to finish in a 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers at Center Ice Arena on opening night of the annual prospects tournament.
"I wanted to get the tempo up," Abdelkader said. "I like to throw the body around. I wanted to get the guys energized and inspired."
Playing on a line with rookie pro Jan Mursak and skilled Swede Mattias Ritola, the trio played well and showed instant chemistry.
"Mursak and Rittola are good unselfish players and I thought we jelled," Abdelkader said. "We just wanted to come out and play hard and play fast"
His performance Saturday was nothing new. The Muskegon, Mich., native has developed steadily for the past three seasons with the Michigan State Spartans, making a name for himself when he scored the championship-winning goal against Boston College in 2006 and picking up Frozen Four MVP.
"I think Justin plays the same (style of game) all the time," Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said." He plays hard, takes the man and plays physical. He just plays a good solid all-around game."
The Wings got a taste of Abdelkader's effort last spring when they signed him to a three-year contract. The 21-year-old played two games for the Wings as an injury fill-in before joining the Black Aces for the 2008 Stanley Cup run.
"It was a dream come true growing up in Muskegon and being a Red Wings fan," Abdelkader said. "It was pretty awesome to have the winged wheel on for the first time and wear it out there at the Joe."
Abdelkader is slated to start the year in the American Hockey League, but is a wild card for one of the final roster spots along with Aaron Downey and Darren Helm.
— The Red Wings played much of the first two periods in the offensive zone. Cory Emmerton led the offensive charge, collecting two goals and adding an assist. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward is off to a good start at the tournament after battling mononucleosis last season and having a disappointing year.
The line of Emmerton, Dick Axelsson and Zack Torquato provided a strong attacking line that was dangerous all night long accounting.
Torquato collected a goal of his own.
"Emmerton's a great player and scored a couple of nice goals tonight," Torquato said. "He gave me a great pass on my goal and I got lucky."
— Jakub Kindl, Abdelkader and Emmerton were named alternate captains for Detroit. Similar to previous years no captain was assigned.
— Free agent Cameron Cepak was the lone healthy scratch for Detroit.
— Swedish goalie Daniel Larsson left midway through the second period after suffering dehydration and cramping. Thomas McCollum, who was not scheduled to play, replaced him and stopped all 15 shots he faced.
"McCollum was thrown into a situation where he wasn't sure he was going to play or not," Nill said. "He was just thrown into it and he played well."
"Mac came in pretty much cold turkey halfway through the period," Abdelkader said. "He did an outstanding job for us."
— Free agent Bryce Swan fought Justin Soryal and lost. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Soryal bloodied Swan's nose before the pair dropped to the ice.
— Jakub Kindl, who had the worst plus-minus rating in the American Hockey League last year at minus-34, had a couple of tough shifts in the first period. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound defenseman struggled early on the power play but seemed to regain his form as the game wore on.
"He's a high-end offensive guy so at times he's going to make some mistakes," Nill said. "Overall he controlled the power play well."
— Nill single out the play of forward Jordan Foreman and defenseman Travis Ehrhardt as being among the best of the free agents trying out.
— With games against Tampa Bay on Sunday and Atlanta on Tuesday, the Red Wings aren't getting overly excited about the win over the Rangers.
"We have to be better next game," Abdelkader said. "We have to play like we did tonight but be a little better and a little sharper in our own zone."
Sponsored Links
The next wave
RWC's featured prospects
| D | Jonathan Ericsson » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| F | Ville Leino » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| F | Darren Helm» | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| D | Brian Lashoff» | Barrie (OHL) |
| F | Brent Raedeke » | Edmonton (WHL) |