by Mitch Albom | Apr 20, 2016 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
Let’s be honest. If the game, the series and the entire season were coming down to power plays, you wouldn’t put your money on the Detroit Red Wings. They had one of the weakest power plays in the league this year, and in this first-round series against the Tampa Bay...
by Mitch Albom | Apr 11, 2016 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
Pavel Datsyuk wants to go home. His career has been here. His wealth has been here. His celebrity has been here. But his heart is somewhere else. It’s in Russia — with his teenage daughter and his roots, both of which he wants replanted into his life. “I’m thinking I...
by Mitch Albom | Apr 7, 2016 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
Just before the national anthem Wednesday night, it was announced that Pavel Datsyuk had recently reached the 600-assist milestone with the Red Wings. He was called out on the ice for a presentation. Then, as the 37-year-old skated back to the bench, anxious fans...
by Mitch Albom | Oct 9, 2015 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
The Detroit Red Wings start their season tonight, and the opposing team will be led by Mike Babcock, the former Detroit coach, who was hired by Brendan Shanahan, the former Detroit player. You’ve heard of chickens coming home to roost. Is this the wolves coming...
by Mitch Albom | Apr 28, 2015 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
First off, anyone who says they know what’s going to happen in Game 7 should sit down and shut up. There are no patterns here. No predicting. The Red Wings stole a road win in Game 1 of this series and the Lightning stole a road win in Game 4. The Lightning...
by Mitch Albom | Apr 24, 2015 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
All of sudden, it was a terrible turn of events that tied the seriesThey were six minutes from a stranglehold grip and then, like one of those movies where the hero gets distracted by someone screaming, the Red Wings loosened their hold just for a moment.And got...
by Mitch Albom | Apr 22, 2015 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
The former MSU star proved to be the catalyst for the 3-0 win for the Red Wings Tuesday to take a 2-1 series leadAbby’s road was long and winding. Six games. Seventeen days. Could only skate. Couldn’t play. A slap shot off his hand left him injured and...
by Mitch Albom | Apr 23, 2014 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
Well, that was a sorry homecoming. Bad enough the Red Wings spent most of the first period in their zone. But at one point, they left the ice altogether.Or should we say “all together”?In a line change that looked like a five-man beer run, the Wings headed...
by Mitch Albom | May 30, 2013 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
CHICAGO – In the closing moments of “Rocky,” the gutsy fighter and his slick rival clench together at the bell, their epic battle now complete.”Ain’t gonna be no rematch,” one gasps.”Don’t want one,” gasps the...
by Mitch Albom | May 28, 2013 | Detroit Free Press, Sports
After all the bodies, all the traffic, all the smacking sticks and human shot blocking and forechecks and pile-ups and take-downs and gloves to the face, here was the lonely showdown:One skater and one goalie.Everyone else watching.And the night hanging in the...