DETROIT — The NHL's playoff campaign slogan last
year was "History will be made."
Detroit Red Wings fans were able to see a little history made during the
regular season at Joe Louis Arena Tuesday night.
With a 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars, the Red Wings entered the record
books with their 21st consecutive home victory. They are 24-2-1 at the Joe this
season.
To put that in perspective, the Wings have more home wins than the Montreal
Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus
Blue Jackets have total wins.
"It's something special especially with all the really great teams I've
been on here over the years and great players, but we've never had a chance to
do something like this," Wings captain Nick Lidstrom said. "This is a
real special moment for the team."
After the final horn sounded and the players had congratulated goaltender Joey
MacDonald, who made 20 saves, all the Wings skated around the ice with their
sticks raised to acknowledge the fans who were standing and cheering.
"That’s the least we can do," said Henrik Zetterberg, who scored the
first goal of the game. "(Fans) are a big part of this and the way they’ve
been carrying us here this year, especially the last two games have been like
playoff games, it’s helping us to play good."
Brad Stuart, who scored the eventual game winner 78 seconds after Zetterberg in
the first period, talked about the reasons behind the team's home success.
"Probably just good solid defensive play," Stuart said. "Our
goals against has been pretty good. There’s been games where we shouldn’t have
won, but found a way to do what we needed to. I think that’s the confidence we
have, it’s a big factor we have now. When we need a play, need a save, a goal,
we’re confident we’re going to get it."
Coach Mike Babcock, who has insisted throughout the streak that the team is
more focused on getting points than setting records in a tight division,
admitted that he's proud of what the Wings have accomplished.
"We're thrilled this has happened for our team," Babcock said.
"I think it's really good for our logo, it's really good for our
ownership, our team. I'm proud of the guys. They've worked hard and now let's
get on with it."
The Stars, who avoided a shutout with a goal from Adam Burish with 33 seconds
left in the third period, were less thrilled than the Wings about appearing in
the record book.
"It's incredible. It truly is," Dallas center Steve Ott said.
"Twenty-one games in a row at home, let alone five in a row at home is
amazing. It's a tremendous accomplishment for their organization. It completely
sucks to be on the other end of it watching them do it against our team. It's
disappointing, disheartening, because we wanted to be the spoilers."
But there was no spoiling a record-setting Valentine's Day for the Wings and
their fans.
Not even the naysayers who point out the fact that the Wings earned their 21 consecutive
wins with the help of three shootout victories and an overtime victory,
something unavailable when the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and 1975-76 Philadelphia
Flyers won 20 in a row at home.
"There's really no way to combat that argument, but still in itself it's
an incredible accomplishment regardless of what you're going to compare it to,
whatever happened 80-some years ago," Stuart said. "We can take pride
in it regardless of the arguments that can be made against it."
Despite their mind-blowing success at home, the Wings are still just four
points ahead of second-place Vancouver in the Western Conference.
Things also remain tight in the Central Division. Although the second-place St.
Louis Blues lost Tuesday, they are just five points behind the Wings with two
games in hand. The Nashville Predators are eight points behind with one game in
hand and the free-falling Chicago Blackhawks are 15 points back with one game
in hand.
"For us, now we just want to keep going and we want to win the next
game," Zetterberg said. "Now we’re kind of back to winning games
because other teams are winning games. But, still, every game we win now is
going to extend the record. You might as well keep going."
As MacDonald pointed out, there's something way better than an entry in the
record book as far as the Wings are concerned.
"Guys have stepped up," MacDonald said. "It's a different guy
every night. Twenty-one wins is a pretty good feeling but we've got to keep
going. It's a record, but there's one goal every year and that's to win the
Cup."
