Alfredsson Returns with Production

November 27, 2013

A burst of hope was brought from a game-time decision in Daniel Alfredsson. The veteran recorded one goal and one assist in the win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon. Alfredsson, ex-captain of the Wings’ recent foe Ottawa Senators, was playing on an injured groin. However, he felt the need to help his team, and his presence was statistically beneficial.

“He was real good. He’s just smart,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Alfredsson. “I don’t know if his legs were like he wanted them, but he’s smart and knows how to play. That line to me with Helm and [Justin] Abdelkader and him is a real good line because they do a lot of the leg work for him and he can do the thinking for them.”

Although the Red Wings’ opponent was not an exemplary team, the club can only be happy with the lines starting to click a little bit. In fact, the Buffalo Sabres currently sit at eighth in the Atlantic Division with a 5-19-1 record overall, and have not seen much productivity at all. Sabres defenseman, Tyler Myers, spoke to the media about the current level that the Sabres have been playing at.

“I thought in the first period we came out really strong, and then we let them take over the period,” Myers said. “It just seems like in our game right now we’re inconsistent with our compete level. We’re really going to have to focus on trying, no matter what the situation is, playing the same way. It seems like we’re a little bit off and on right now.”

Regardless of the team’s opponent, the Red Wings need to come out ready to play in all aspects. The wheels need to keep turning towards the promising second half of the season that looks to be coming together, after an early fundamental and mental struggle for a younger than usual team of red and white.

The Wings themselves are currently fourth in the Atlantic division, putting together an 11-7-7 record over their first 29 games.

Their next opponent will present a tiebreaker on the season against the Boston Bruins November 27 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

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Information from the Detroit Red Wings was used in this report.

For more information on the Detroit Red Wings and NHL hockey from analysts and journalists at Michigan State University – tune into Octopi Hockeytown podcasts and embrace the Spartan debate at www.impact89fm.org/sports

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Austin Goodman is the host of Octopi Hockeytown for Impact Sports

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Scoring Summary:

1st period:

BUF – 7:47 – C. Hodgson (Backhand) (D. Stafford)

2nd Period:

DET – 0:30 – D. Helm (Backhand) (D. Alfredsson, J. Abdelkader)

3rd Period:

DET – 11:43 PPG – J. Franzen (Wrist) (H. Zetterberg, J. Abdelkader)

DET – 19:11 EN – D. Alfredsson (Wrist) (J. Franzen)

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