By DAVE DYE
FOXSportsDetroit.com
DETROIT – Henrik Zetterberg has won the individual matchup of captains early in the Detroit Red Wings’ series against Chicago.
Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks came away from a Game 2 loss complaining about the officiating after getting pushed around by Zetterberg.
How will Toews respond Monday night in Game 3 as the series shifts to Joe Louis Arena?
Toews said following his team’s morning skate that he plans to take a different approach.
“Obviously, he’s doing a lot of little things to take myself and my linemates off our game,” Toews said of Zetterberg. “He’s a smart player that way.
“Maybe it’s time to return the favor a little bit. I was a little frustrated after (Saturday’s) game. Sometimes you try to draw penalties and things aren’t being called. I guess that’s the nature of playoff hockey that sometimes they’re going to let things go a little bit more often.
“It’s time to dish that back a little bit, just try to make things more difficult for guys like him and his linemates as well.”
Toews still hasn’t scored a goal in seven playoff games. He had 23 goals in the regular season.
He admitted he’s feeling some pressure to break through offensively.
“I always do, I think,” he said. “Maybe a little added pressure given the situation. I know it’s one of those things, I’ve just got to keep working and keep trying to find ways to score. Eventually it’s going to come.
“Right now I’m just not letting it build up too much in my own mind. Sometimes you start squeezing your stick and the rest of your game kind of goes downhill. I’m not letting that happen. I know sooner or later, something’s got to give.”
DEJAVU THRU GAME 2: This series has started out the same as the Wings’ opening-round matchup against Anaheim.
Detroit lost Game 1 but bounced back to win Game 2 on the road both times.
The Wings, however, were unable to keep the home-ice edge against the Ducks because they lost Game 3 at Joe Louis Arena.
The nature of the playoffs, particularly when two teams are competitive with each other, is that the one that lost the previous game comes out with a little more fire and takes the next game.
“It’s like us after the first game,” Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said of Chicago’s frame of mind entering Monday. “That’s what they want to do now.”
Teammate Justin Abdelkader added: “They’re going to come out with a game plan to get out on us right away out of the gate. You’ve got to be ready for it and be ready to push back.”
THEY THINK THEY CAN: The Red Wings’ confidence has soared since a 4-1 victory in Chicago to even the series.
It was the first time Detroit had beaten Chicago in nine games.
Going into Saturday, many analysts were writing the Wings off against the top-seeded Blackhawks following a decisive victory for Chicago in Game 1.
“We have a really positive vibe in the locker room,” defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “We know we’d been close to Chicago a few times during the regular season (losing twice in shootouts and once in overtime) and we’re playing better now.
“So why wouldn’t we be able to beat them? You have to trust yourself and believe in yourself. We do. We believe we can beat this team.”
ROAD WARRIORS: The Blackhawks have won nine of their last 11 games at Joe Louis Arena.
“It’s a fun place to play,” Chicago’s Patrick Kane said. “There’s a lot of history here. I think they have some of the best ice in the league, which favors us probably because of how fast we are and how skilled we are up front.”
Chicago is 14-8 in its last 22 playoff games on the road.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, are 8-8 in their last 16 playoff games at home.
However, they won Game 4 and Game 6 against Anaheim and they’re hoping a raucous crowd can help make a difference again.
“The crowd is getting really into it for 60 minutes,” Ericsson said of the revved-up playoff atmosphere. “I think that lifts us up, helps us be more aggressive. It feels like we have an extra player out there.”
BROTHERLY LOVE: Ericsson and his defensive partner, Niklas Kronwall, were celebrating Sweden’s world championship victory over Switzerland.
Their brothers – Jimmie Ericsson and Staffan Kronwall – played on the Swedish team.
“It’s pretty cool,” Niklas Kronwall said. “Both of us (he and Jonathan Ericsson) are really proud today. I think all Swedes are.”
Red Wings teammate Damien Brunner, who is Swiss, wasn’t so happy. He owes Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson a dinner.
