Red Wings spoil Babcock’s return with 4-2 victory over Toronto

 

By @StefanKubus –

DETROIT –  The Detroit Red Wings spoiled Mike Babcock’s return to Joe Louis Arena Friday night with a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller, Henrik Zetterberg and Brad Richards found twine, while Jimmy Howard stopped 31 of 33 for the Red Wings, who improved to 5-0-2 in the preseason.

“You like scoring, it’s better than not scoring, but I look at process way more than results, and I think our process has been pretty good for the most part,” Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill said. “I don’t put tons of stock into the record, but I just want to continue to look at the process.”

Blashill also said he was pleased with Howard’s game and established that he has two goaltenders who look strong going forward.

“I thought Jimmy was good tonight, for sure,” Blashill said. “I think Jimmy’s been good the whole preseason, that includes practice. We play a lot of games in practice and he’s been real good in those games. I think he’s been consistent, and I think so has Petr (Mrazek), so that’s a real positive for us.”

MORE: VIDEO: Mike Babcock talks to media in first return to Joe Louis Arena

Just 1:09 into the game, James van Riemsdyk redirected home a rebound off his shin pad to give Toronto the early 1-0 lead.

But on Michigan State’s homecoming weekend, a pair of Spartans responded for Detroit shortly after, though as Abdelkader and Miller struck less than three minutes apart to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead.

It appeared it would stay that way after 40 minutes, but Mark Arcobello poppped in a rebound goal with 31 seconds left in the middle frame to even things up at two aside.

At 3:57 of the final frame, the Red Wings captain put his team ahead, 3-2, capping off a gorgeous, tic-tac-toe passing play with Mike Green – in his first game back from a groin injury – and Gustav Nyquist.

“I thought Mike did a good job, I think obviously he wanted to play,” Blashill said. “He really wanted to get out there and get some rhythm going a little bit, so I thought it was a good first step.”

Photos by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

Richards popped home an empty-netter with 1:25 to play after stripping Dion Phaneuf of the puck in the Toronto zone and with Reimer out of the goal for the extra attacker.

The Red Wings’ next two contests are also against the Maple Leafs. Tomorrow night in Toronto will mark the preseason finale for Detroit, and then the two teams meet up Oct. 9 for Detroit’s season opener at The Joe.

“I think the first period was pretty good,” Zetterberg said. “The last half of the second period, they took over, they worked really hard in our end and I think in the third it was pretty even, so obviously it’s preseason. We’ve got one more tomorrow and then it’s right back against them again here on Friday.”

Larkin watch

Despite the strong play of Waterford native and former Wolverine Dylan Larkin, the 19-year-old knows a decision on his future is ultimately out of his hands. With one preseason contest remaining tomorrow in Toronto, Larkin is tied for the preseason team lead in goals with Tomas Tatar, his linemate Friday night.

“You guys are watching, you guys know, you have your own opinion and I did a pretty good job, and I understand that it’s a process and there’s different factors, but everyone in here would be lying if they said that they wanted to spend some time down or if they didn’t wanna be here,” Larkin said. “So I want to be here, and I think I did a good job.”

Larkin also skated against former Michigan teammate and Leafs hopeful Zach Hyman. Hyman and Larkin led not only the Wolverines in scoring last season, but also the Big Ten.

“I thought he had a really good game tonight,” Larkin said. “He’s obviously so fast, strong, physical, he did a good job working. He’s a hard working guy, so it’s good for him. I thought he had a good game. It was cool seeing him.”

He added that a number of their U of M teammates came out to the game to support them both.

Regardless of whether or not he makes the team, he has made a great impression on his coach.

“He’s done a really good job, he’s a competitive person who wants to do great every single time he’s on the ice, wants to win hockey games, he’s got a really good skill set,” Blashill said, “NHL ready? I don’t know how to answer that in the sense of – that depends on a lot of things. It depends on one, opportunity and that’s a decision we’ll make in a few days and two, execution. I mean he’s certainly knocking on the door with a bunch of guys.”