Justin Abdelkader ‘off on the right foot in Red Wings season-opening victory
By @StefanKubus –
DETROIT – Muskegon native Justin Abdelkader helped fuel the Michigan offense in Detroit’s 4-0 victory Friday night in the team’s season opener.
Abdelkader kicked off his 2015-16 campaign fashionably, recording just the second hat trick of his career – the last came on March 22, 2013 against Anaheim. It was the first hat trick recorded by a Red Wings player in a season opener – and only the third ever – since 2001 when current Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan did so.
“Seems like he likes to score against Anaheim and Toronto,” goaltender Jimmy Howard said. “We’ll take that.”
The trio of Abdelkader, captain Henrik Zetterberg and rookie Dylan Larkin combined for four goals and four assists in the win.
“Obviously, love playing with Z, we have great chemistry out there and Larks brings an element of speed, energy, hard on pucks, can really shoot, can skate, I think he showcased his skill set tonight,” Abdelkader said.
For Abdelkader, building off last year’s career-high marks of 23 goals, 21 assists for 44 points in 71 games certainly seems like the natural course, not a lofty expectation.
“I felt coming into the season that, what he did last year is what Abby is,” head coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think he’s a really good player who now has had enough years under his belt where he’s probably earned more offensive opportunities and, as a result, you saw the goals he scored last year and he started on the right foot today. I think Abby is a very, very good 200-foot player who brings an element to a line and there seems to be some chemistry with that line.”
Abdelkader is one of five Michigan natives on the Red Wings roster this season – six including head coach Jeff Blashill. He affectionately referred to the group as “five guys and a coach.” Larkin, Danny DeKeyser, Luke Glendening and Drew Miller make up the rest of the group.
Back when Abdelkader was first breaking into the league, being a Michigan native was a rarity. But now, it has become a normality.
“I think it’s great, great for the fans, great storylines, all of us connected to college hockey, which is big,” Abdelkader said. “When I first came to the team, being a Michigan-born player was kind of out of the norm and now it’s more the norm with five guys and a coach. It’s extra special and it’s great for Michigan hockey players and players can hopefully look up to us and strive to playing the NHL like we did when we were their age.”
The former Michigan State Spartans standout wasted little time getting to work in the game, too, scoring a powerplay marker just 1:15 into the contest on a rebound off a Johan Franzen shot from the high slot.
That was also good for the fastest tally by a Detroit player in a season opener since Dan Labraaten on Oct. 11, 1978 (1:14).
Seven minutes later, Abdelkader struck again, taking a gorgeous feed from Larkin, spinning around and beating Toronto netminder Jonathan Bernier with the shot.
At 3:54 of the middle frame, Abdelkader completed the hat trick after bursting down the right wing with all kinds of space and unleashing a quick wrister that zipped past James Reimer. Larkin had chased Bernier after his first NHL goal 20 seconds into the period.