Niklas Kronwall: “Hopefully, the experience we’ve had through these adversities can help us out (in Game 7).”

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall summed up the meaning behind a Game 7 in the playoffs perfectly.

“Most playoff games are special, but Game 7, one of the teams goes home,” Kronwall said. “It’s as simple as that. One team wins and moves on, the other teams loses and goes home. Hopefully, the experience we’ve had through these adversities can help us out,” he said.

The Wings forced a Game 7 in their best-of-seven first round series with the Anaheim Ducks after a 4-3 win in overtime on Friday night at Joe Louis Arena.

“You don’t have many chances to play a Game 7 throughout the course of your career,” forward Henrik Zetterberg said. “We just have to embrace it, have fun, enjoy it. It’s a special atmosphere. It’s fun to play those games.”

Game 7 is Sunday at 10 p.m. in Anaheim.

“It’s do or die,” Zetterberg said. “It’s the last game of the series. We’ve played them six times, both teams know each other inside and out. It’s tight. There are a lot of emotions and you don’t do it often that’s why it’s so special.”

Detroit is 2-2 in its last four Game 7 appearances.

The last time the Wings took part in one was in 2011, falling to San Jose on the road, 3-2.

Many of the Wings in the locker room have experienced the pressure of a Game 7 before.

“It’s a lot of fun,” forward Justin Abdelkader said. “Games 7s, anything can happen. It’s been such a tightly contested series. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I think it’s great for hockey. I’m glad I’ve been able to be a apart of the series because it’s one of the better ones in recent memory. It’s two great teams going at it. There’s not much room out there and teams aren’t giving up too much. I’m just looking forward to another game.”

For defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, Sunday will be his first appearance in a Game 7.

“That’s all you talk about growing up playing hockey is being in that moment of a seventh game,” Colaiacovo said. “This is my first shot at a seventh game. We feel pretty good about the guys that we have in here that have been there and done that before. We’re going to get great leadership and at the end of the day, we’ll put on our work clothes and go to work.”

Most of the team also agreed that home-ice advantage really doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to playing in a Game 7.

“I think Game 7 you can throw it out the window,” Abdelkader said. “Really, home ice in this series hasn’t meant too much. Our fans were great (in Game 6). They lifted us and that was big. For us, we’re playing on the road but there’s still some Red Wings fans out in Anaheim. That’s always good to see. I kind of noticed the last game when I was sitting out and saw all the red jerseys. We’ll have somewhat of a home presence but it’s still going to be road game. We just have to go out and get the job done.”

One of Detroit’s two wins in the series came in Anaheim. The Wings also won both regular season games there.

“It’s always an extra bonus when you’re playing at home, the energy of the crowd to feed off of,” Colaiacovo said. “But obviously they’re going to try to use that against us and we’ve got to weather the storm in the first 10 minutes and play good, simple hockey, try to make them play out of their comfort zone. Right now we’re going to enjoy this moment.”

Lashoff sent back to Grand Rapids; McCollum recalled

DETROIT — Wings defenseman Brian Lashoff will be playing again this season, but it more than likely won’t occur in Detroit.

Lashoff was reassigned to Grand Rapids on Saturday.

The team also recalled Tom McCollum as a third goalie.

Jimmy Howard is expected to start Game 7 in Anaheim on Sunday, but there could be some concern on his health.

Howard was pulled off the ice early in the team’s morning skate prior to Game 6 in Detroit.

Wings coach Mike Babcock said it was planned.

“Anytime it’s real humid, and we’ve done this a lot in the past, before we’d have a minor league goalie available, but that team made the playoffs, so what we did was we skated him and gave him the boot,” Babcock said.

Howard was run into a couple of times in the first period of Game 5.

Lashoff got in the Wings’ playoff lineup after Danny DeKeyser broke his thumb in Game 2, but was replaced by Carlo Colaiacovo after struggling through three games.

Lashoff is expected to be in the Griffins’ lineup Saturday night against the Toronto Marlies.

McCollum had a 2.63 goals-against average with the Griffins in 18 games this season.

Colaiacovo in for Lashoff; Eaves out, Cleary OK to play

DETROIT – Quick update from the Detroit Red Wings’ morning skate at Joe Louis Arena prior to Game 6 tonight against the Anaheim Ducks.

Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo will replace Brian Lashoff in the lineup and with Justin Abdelkader returning from suspension, forward Patrick Eaves will be a healthy scratch.

“We didn’t move the puck (in Game 5),” Wings coach Mike Babcock said about his decision to sit Lashoff. “We struggled, in particular that pair a lot that game, opening shift and a number of other shifts. We weren’t good enough so we’re making a change.”

Lashoff was paired with Jakub Kindl.

“You’re a pro, you’ve been practicing, here’s your opportunity, you can decide for yourself,” Babcock said. “If you’re mentally tough it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Colaiacovo was told he would make his playoff debut on the plane ride back from Anaheim on Thursday.

“I don’t know what the word is to use, I think excited is a small word,” Colaiacovo said. “It’s real gratifying obviously. This is the biggest reason why I wanted to come here, to play at this time of the season for this team. It’s been tough watching, but I think the team has done a great job in getting us to this point. We’ve got a real good group in here, a real resilient group. It’s taken a lot of patience and hard work for me to get this opportunity and I just want to make the most of it tonight. It’s a game that’s really important to us. It’s do or die and there’s no better feeling than playing playoff hockey.”

As far as Babcock’s decision to sit Eaves over Mikael Samuelsson or Todd Bertuzzi, that was much tougher.

“Real good question and I ask myself the same question,” Babcock said when asked why Eaves was sitting. “He played good, does what he’s supposed to, runs over people and a real competitive guy. But because I know more insider information that I’m not sharing with you, I have to have other guys to cover up for other people just in case they can’t survive. I did the same thing you just asked, it makes no sense for me.”

That player could be Daniel Cleary, who was checked from behind against the end boards by Daniel Winnik in Game 5.

“I feel good,” Cleary said. “It’s playoffs. I feel good. I was happy about that this morning.”

Cleary left the game on Wednesday in Anaheim with a shoulder injury, but did return for the start of the third.

“I didn’t see him at any point,” Cleary said of the incident. “It’s a dangerous play, what happened to me on the ice with my shoulder. Hockey’s a fast game, decisions are made quickly.
It was as bad as I anticipated. I was … it’s fine. I got a little bit of help from the doctors, was able to come back and I feel good today.”

Brian Lashoff: “I’ve been watching plenty of video, so there’s no reason I can’t come in and contribute.”

DETROIT — Defenseman Brian Lashoff will make his playoff debut, replacing an injured Danny DeKeyser (broken right thumb) on the blue line.

“I think Lash will be fine,” Babcock said. “He’s played a lot this year. That’s not a big deal. He’s been a big time player for us. He played well against the Ducks the last time, matched up against the (Teemu) Selanne group which he’ll do again tonight, so it’s perfect. Everything is good for him.”

Lashoff, 23, who last played on April 4 due to the Wings’ depth on the blue line, leapfrogged over veterans Carlo Colaiacovo and Ian White to earn a spot in the lineup.

“I’ve been watching plenty of video, so there’s no reason I can’t come in and contribute,” Lashoff said. “Playing in the playoffs is huge. As the year went along, I got more and more confident and I got into more games, so I’m just excited to play and hopefully contribute.”

He’ll be the sixth Red Wings player, and fourth defenseman, to make their career playoff debuts in this series.

“I’m ready to go,” Lashoff said. “I’ve been itching to get out there.

“The intensity is up a notch or two (in the playoffs),” Lashoff added. “It’s really physical and more competitive, which I like. It’s been fun to watch, but at the same time, I want to be out there.”

Lashoff had one goal, four assists and a minus-10 rating in 31 regular season games this year.

“I can’t make anyone skate like DeKeyser, he’s a world class skater,” Babcock said. “Lash has to play the way Lash does and everyone has to do what they do and you just adjust. Dig in, play hard and let’s go.”

Lashoff will be paired with Kindl to begin the game.

“It’s sad that DK got hurt,” Kindl said. “Lash is a good defenseman. I’m very excited for him. I’m glad I can play with him. He’s a smart player, he can move the puck, he’s solid defensively. I’m sure he’ll be fine, he’s been working his butt off ice and on the ice to stay in shape. I’m sure he’ll play simple, just move the puck ahead all the time and I think he’ll be fine.”

Wings lose DeKeyser for season; Lashoff to step in: Wings coach Mike Babcock, “It’s a big loss. It’s hard to believe a kid out of college would be a big loss, but he is. He’s played real well for us. We just have to keep on going.”

ROMULUS – Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock decided to go with another rookie defenseman to replace the rookie blue liner they lost Thursday night in Anaheim.

Brian Lashoff will replace Danny DeKeyser on defense for Game 3 Saturday night of the Wings’ Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Anaheim Ducks at Joe Louis Arena.

“It’s a big loss,” Babcock said after getting off the plane Friday afternoon. “It’s hard to believe a kid out of college would be a big loss, but he is. He’s played real well for us. We just have to keep on going. That’s the playoffs.”

DeKeyser broke his right thumb on what he believes was a collision with Ducks forward Kyle Palmieri midway through the third period of Thursday’s 5-4 overtime win.

He’ll be sidelined six-to-eight weeks. He may also have to have surgery. That decision will come soon, as early as Saturday.

“I was a little nervous to actually take my glove off and look at it,” DeKeyser said. “I was kind of turning (to my left). I think it was Palmieri, I don’t really remember for sure. (He) kind of came in to hit me and my hand went into him as he hit me, just kind of bent it back and I guess it snapped.”

Babcock elected to go with Lashoff, wo will be making his NHL playoff debut, over veterans Carlo Colaiacovo and Ian White.

“He’s just smart,” Babcock said of Lashoff. “He knows how to play and he competes hard. He makes a good first pass, he’s a good penalty killer and is very competitive.”

Lashoff has been a healthy scratch along Detroit’s crowded blue line for some time. He last played on April 4.

Lashoff, 23, has one goal and four assists in 31 games. He also had a minus-10 rating.

“Just the thought of not being able to play the rest of the playoffs is a bummer for sure,” DeKeyser said. “It’s something I definitely wanted to continue to do here. I’m just going to have to get over it and move on.”

Babcock credited the signing of DeKeyser as the main reason the Wings extended their streak of appearances in the postseason to 22 consecutive seasons.

“It’s been a good month or so for me here,” DeKeyser said. “I just tried to come in and play my game the best I could and just to contribute in the ways I could. I did a pretty good job of doing that.

“I knew coming in that it’s a higher level, obviously, so I was going to have to step up my game and play solid positioning out there and just try to use my feet to skate out of trouble and keep guys to the outside,” DeKeyser added. “So nothing really surprised me too much. I knew the skill level and everything was going to be that much more.”

DeKeyser also earned the respect of all his teammates.

“Danny’s been playing really well ever since he came in, coming from college hockey, going straight into basically playoff hockey,” captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “It’s a tough loss for us. He played a lot of minutes and did really well. Now Lash will get a chance to play again. I think he played well when he’s been in this year so it’s going to be fun to see him back playing with us.”

“First of all, I think Lash is going to come in and play great, just like he has all season,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “Obviously losing DK is going to be a tough challenge. Ever since he came in, he’s been playing great for us, playing more and more minutes, playing in all kinds of situations. He’s been huge for us. In saying that, I think Lash is going to do great. He was playing really well this year and he’s ready for this.

“What he’s been able to do, I don’t know if people really realize how good he’s been for us,” Kronwall continued. “Coming from college, you don’t really expect somebody to come in and play that well for us. He’s going to be here for years and years to come. We’re really happy he chose to come here.”

Just before the injury DeKeyser got under veteran Teemu Selanne’s skin after he finished off a check in the Ducks’ zone. Selanne was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty.

“He had the puck, I was just finishing my hit,” DeKeyser said. “I guess he didn’t like it too much. I thought it was a clean hit. It was 4-1 at that time and I’m sure he was getting frustrated.”

DeKeyser’s season appears to be over; Colaiacovo or Lashoff expected to fill his void

Rookie defenseman Danny DeKeyser’s season appears to be over.

DeKeyser suffered a broken right thumb and left the arena Thursday night with a cast on his right hand.

The injury occurred midway through the third period.

“He’s probably done for the year, broke his thumb,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “That’s a big blow for us.”

DeKeyser, 22, made a seamless transition from college to the NHL and helped propel the Wings to the postseason.

After making his NHL debut on April 5 in Colorado he never left the lineup while veterans Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo and rookies Brendan Smith and Brian Lashoff battled to remain or even get in the lineup.

Babcock said before the playoffs that signing DeKeyser was the reason the Wings reached the playoffs for a 22nd consecutive season.

“He’s a kid, don’t get me wrong, but he’s a good player, so that’s a big blow for our team,” Babcock said. “But there are other guys that have been working hard, Lash, Colaiacovo have been working like crazy, trying to get back in the lineup. One of them will be in.”

Wings coach Mike Babcock: “If we don’t get DeKeyser we don’t make the playoffs.”

DETROIT – The biggest question mark heading into this season for the Detroit Red Wings was their depth along the blue line.

After the loss of Nicklaus Lidstrom (retirement) and Brad Stuart (trade), coupled with their inability to sign a top notch defenseman this offseason and the injuries they faced at the start, the Wings patched things together to where now the blue line is one of their strengths.

“We’ve really improved drastically in that area, probably the most improved part of our team,” said Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose squad faces Anaheim in the first round of the playoff Tuesday night. “With (Jimmy Howard) playing the way he is and the D able to get the puck going, we’re spending a lot less time in our zone. That allows you to be much better up front.”

And everything seemed to come together on the blue line when Detroit was able to land Danny DeKeyser.

“He really has done a good job for us,” Babcock said. “We liked him all along when we were recruiting him. We had no idea that when he came to the National Hockey League he’d be able to do the things he’s done for us. Basically, it’s allowed us to move the puck better, to get back and get pucks. If you improve your D zone play, it improves your offense and makes you a much quicker team. Obviously, we had deep growth amongst the group we had already and we added him, it made us all that much better.”

The Wings beat out a number of teams to get the services of the prized free agent defenseman out of Western Michigan.

“I’m really impressed,” captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “I didn’t know much about him before he arrived. Coming from college hockey to playing at this level and the way he’s been playing is impressive and we’re happy for him and hopefully it’ll continue.”

DeKeyser, a De La Salle graduate, made his NHL appearance on April 5 in Colorado and has not left the lineup while others, Ian White, Brendan Smith, Kyle Quincey, Carlo Colaiacovo and Brian Lashoff, have been a healthy scratch a time or two during that stretch.

“I think we’ve done a real good job to rebuild our D on the fly here,” Babcock said. “We’ve had great growth on the back end. Getting DeKeyser to come has made a huge difference to our team. If we don’t’ get (him) we don’t make the playoffs.”

DeKeyser, who is still waiting on his first NHL goal, had one assist, 15 shots on goal and was a plus-4 over those 11 games.

“He’s been solid,” Smith said. “It’s been quite impressive actually coming right out of college and stepping in and playing a lot of minutes. We’re really impressed with him and happy that he can help our team as much as he has. We’ve needed that speed on the back end and he’s got a lot of speed and a great reach and a great first pass. He’s been really good for us.”

DeKeyser is averaging about 18 minutes of ice time.

“It seems like he’s been around for a while the way he’s been playing,” Smith said. “I’m impressed. I think a lot of people are impressed. I know the coaches are. We all knew he was a good player. Anytime you grab a player who’s so highly touted who was undrafted and there are 20-plus teams going after him, like Justin Schultz was last year, you see there’s a lot of talent, but you don’t know how he’s going to defend when he gets a chance to play. Obviously, he’s done it. He’s been awesome. Hopefully he can keep it up because we need him more than ever now.”

Wings coach Mike Babcock: “The guys that got us here are getting in Game 1.”

ROMULUS — Wings coach Mike Babcock said he’ll go with the same lineup for Game 1 that has won four straight to finish off the regular season.

“They’re not getting in,” Babcock said of the injured guys that are healthy enough to return to the lineup. “The guys that got us here are getting in Game 1 and we’ll adjust after Game 1. I already told them that they’re not in, get themselves ready and be there to support the guys and help the team. But for Game 1 those guys that got us here are getting a chance to play.”

Forwards Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson have been cleared to return to action.

Defensemen Carlo Colaiacovo, Ian White and Brian Lashoff will continue to be healthy scratches.

Forward Darren Helm is also on the trip, but has yet to be cleared to return.

Forward Drew Miller (broken hand) is also the trip.

Wings coach Mike Babcock looking for a sixth defenseman to step up

DETROIT — Wings coach Mike Babcock said the sixth spot on the blue line is still up for grabs.

“Right now I’ve got five guys that seem to be in on a nightly basis,” Babcock said. “It’s been a rotation. I don’t want a rotation.”

Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Jakub Kindl, Kyle Quincey and Danny DeKeyser are in, while Brendan Smith, Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo and Brian Lashoff are competing for that sixth spot.

“I want somebody to grab it and keep it,” Babcock said. “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do in Calgary.”

Zetterberg, Samuelsson out Monday; Colaiacovo returns to lineup; Bertuzzi getting closer

DETROIT – Quick update from the Wings’ morning Monday at Joe Louis Arena.

Forwards Henrik Zetterberg (groin) and Mikael Samuelsson (upper body) won’t play tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.

“Like all groins, day-to-day for 10 of them,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “(Samuelsson) went and got looked at this morning so I’m assuming he’ll be ready to go here soon eventually.”

Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo returns to the lineup after injuring his shoulder in the second game of the season.

‘It’s been a long time,” Colaiacovo said. “It’s been a lot frustration, a lot of hard work, countless hours at the rink and away from the rink just preparing myself for this moment. I’m feeling really good about myself, especially the stint I had with the (Grand Rapids) Griffins, played a lot, got some confidence back and just felt really good to be back out there, be a hockey player and play hockey again.”

Colaiacovo will be paired with Brendan Smith on the blue line.

“We had to send (Brian Lashoff) to the minors and that was a roster move and not a coaches’ decision,” Babcock said. “We needed to make a roster move so we could clear room. He’s a guy that’s played in the league. He’s a guy, like Samuelsson, that basically hasn’t played for us all year. We’re putting him tonight not ideally, but we’re going to be a much different team than we were (Sunday) and ideally he plays well.”

Smith will move to the right said because Colaiacovo is more comfortable on left.

Forward Todd Bertuzzi (back) continues to skate with the team.

“Hopefully everything stays the course and hopefully get back within a week or so,” Bertuzzi said. “But it’s tough to say when you’re going to do it. I just have to make sure that I’m ready. I don’t want to go in the lineup then come out of the lineup because of an issue because I rushed. So, I understand the season’s coming to a halt and it’s frustrating that I feel that I can go in there and hope the guys out, and the guys are battling and doing their best. They’ve done a good job, but it would be nice to get out there and help them out.

“I think the doctor just said it goes in sections,” Bertuzzi added. “The epidural works in the back first, works its way down the leg and back up the inside, so I think I’m probably at the last stage, hopefully. Hopefully it stays that way and I can be back sooner.”