Bertuzzi gets back in Wings’ lineup; will skate on fourth line with Emmerton and Eaves

Todd Bertuzzi’s chances at returning this season seemed quite dismal when he suffered a back injury on Feb. 7 at St. Louis.

But after nearly three long months of rehab, shots and any other remedies anyone could think up, Bertuzzi made his return to the lineup for Game 2 of the Detroit Red Wings Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Anaheim Ducks.

“The one thing I’ve got going for me is that it’s not my first year,” Bertuzzi said before the game. “I’ve been around a bit. I understand the game and I understand the playoff game.”

Bertuzzi replaced Jordin Tootoo in the lineup and played on the fourth line with Cory Emmerton and Patrick Eaves.

“I don’t really care where I’m playing,” Bertuzzi said. “I’m in the lineup, putting on the jersey. I’ll do everything I can to help these guys out. If that entails six minutes, 10 minutes, whatever it is. I’ve just got to do the best I can out there.

“It’s gotten better,” Bertuzzi added. “It’s been a long time coming. A lot of things that I thought were getting better kept on getting worse. I’m at a point now where I’m comfortable and I’m excited to play.”

Bertuzzi’s back started to hurt after the first few games of the season.

He tweaked his back in the game in St. Louis and by the third period he lost all feeling in his right leg.

He had no strength in his right leg and things got progressively worse when he got back home and spent four days in the hospital because of the pain.

Then it was two straight weeks of getting needles and resting.

“Who has the puck after he has it,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said when asked how he’ll know Bertuzzi is back to being himself. “That’s the game. That’s soccer, that’s basketball, that’s football. If you give the puck up, did you do it in a controlled manner? You go watch 10-year-old girls’ soccer, after they have it does someone else have it? Usually, it’s ping pong. We don’t want to play ping pong.”

Babcock wanted to insert Bertuzzi back in the lineup with three games left in the regular season, but the rugged forward felt he needed another hard skate before clearing himself to return.

“I tried to get him to play against LA and he couldn’t play, so then the guys played good, so he couldn’t play,” Babcock said.

After beating the Kings for a second straight win, the Wings ended the regular season with two more wins to reach the playoffs for a 22nd consecutive season.

“We’re really excited to have him back in the lineup,” Eaves said. “He’s worked his butt off to get back in shape with this injury.

“He’s a huge man who can play that style of game and he has a high-end skill set too,” Eaves added. “He’s very dynamic and we’re very fortunate to have him on our team.”

Bertuzzi has played just seven games this season, registering two goals and one assist.

“He’s a huge guy, he protects the puck well and he’s got great skill,” Emmerton said. “I think he plays extremely heavy on the puck and he’s hard to get the puck away from. So he’s going to make it hard for them, on their (defense). Pretty much I’m just going to try to get the puck down low to him and let him go to work.”

Emmerton said he has never played on a line with Bertuzzi, except for three-on-three games.

“I don’t think he passed me the puck ever,” Emmerton said. “He’s played a lot of years. He’s been a great player for a long time. The biggest thing he brings is he’s such an imposing presence on the ice, makes it difficult for the other team’s D and he plays hard. He’ll definitely help. He’ll be kind of a different look for us.”

Jordin Tootoo reaches milestone

DETROIT — Jordin Tootoo will reach an NHL milestone tonight against the Anaheim Ducks when he plays in his 500th game.

“Seems like yesterday when I started out in the league,” Tootoo said after Friday morning. “But I feel great after all of the years of battling in the corners and what not. It’s just another game for me.”

Tootoo signed a three-year deal this offseason with the Wings with $1.9 million a season.

He said playing in his first NHL game is probably is best memory so far.

“It was a huge milestone for me, but you know, you come to practices, you come to games, you prepare for whatever’s thrown at you and after all of these years I’m very fortunate for what the opportunity for what I’ve been able to do, and I’m just happy to be a part of a special team,” Tootoo said.

Tootoo makes Sports Illustrated Top 10 list

DETROIT — The Wings jumped on Jordin Tootoo once free agency opened last offseason and inked the forward to a three-year deal adding an agitator with a bit of an offensive upside for the first time in a number of seasons.

Due to his agitating abilities, Tootoo landed on Sports Illustrated’s list of Top 10 Most Hated Players in the NHL, slotting in at No. 8.

“Part of my job is to create havoc out there and get under people’s skin,” Tootoo said after Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Kings. “You’re bought into this league to do a certain thing. It just goes to show that I’m doing my job.”

Tootoo leads the team with 30 minutes in penalties and four fighting majors.

“It’s part of being a role player,” Tootoo said. “Everyone has roles on the team and that’s what brings 22 guys together. It’s the little things that count. Maybe your average fans might not know it but the guys in the dressing room realize that’s a big part of the game.

“It’s a work in progress,” Tootoo continued. “It doesn’t matter how many minutes you play, you want to do your job and help the team win. Throughout my career, I’ve been a notable player to do that. It takes a little bit of a skill, a little bit of heart and willpower. I’m not the biggest player out there.”

Montreal’s P.K. Subban tops the list. Others on the list include Chicago’s Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix’s Raffi Torres and Vancouver’s Alex Burrows.

Here’s what SI’s Allan Muir wrote, “Tootoo earned his shot in the NHL as a high-energy winger who could send a message with a thundering body check. He’s since gained a reputation as a careless player, someone who’ll hit too high, too low or too late. He’s been suspended multiple times, most recently for running Ryan Miller.”

Seeing Cleary

DETROIT – Daniel Cleary admits scoring his first goal of the season Thursday night felt pretty good.

“A whole lot of us felt good about it and realized the importance of it,” Cleary said after practice at Joe Louis Arena Friday afternoon. “That’s how we’re going to be a successful team by getting some balanced scoring. It was good to get off the schneid, if that’s what they call it.”

Cleary had no points through the first nine games of the season.

“I think experience helps a lot with that when you go through a stretch like that you have to be able to have confidence in your ability and believe in yourself,” said Cleary, whose last goal came on March 19 last season. “But you don’t want to over-work either, which sometimes happens. You just keep skating as hard as you can, and your timing is off. You miss all of the pucks that are around, so you have to be patient and work hard when it’s time to work hard. Eventually it will pay off for you.”

Heading into Thursday’s game the bottom six forwards had combined for one point, an assist on the power play by Patrick Eaves while he was on the ice with Henrik Zetterberg.

“It takes some pressure off the other guys and we have to do it more often,” Cleary said. “That’s why we’ve been successful. We’ve had the scoring from different people, different lines and that’s important.”

In the 5-1 win over St. Louis, Cory Emmerton had a goal and an assist, Drew Miller had two assists, while Justin Abdelkader, Jordin Tootoo and Tomas Tatar each had one assist.

“We had real good effort from our bottom six,” Babcock said “They all played well and really contributed. They played hard. It’s a good thing for us.”

Bertuzzi (back) out for Saturday; Howard back between the pipes

DETROIT – A quick update from Wings’ practice, which was delayed an hour due to weather.

Todd Bertuzzi didn’t practice and will miss Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers due to a back injury.

Wings coach Mike Babcock didn’t know if Daniel Cleary would move up to the second line with Pavel Datsyuk and Valtteri Filppula.

“I’m not 100 percent sure,” Babcock said after practice. “I haven’t talked to Ken (Holland). Whether we bring up a kid from Grand Rapids or if I can potentially bring someone up so I don’t know what I’m doing with the lineup.”

Cleary scored his first goal of the season Thursday in St. Louis.

“We had real good effort from our bottom six,” Babcock said “They all played well and really contributed. They played hard. It’s a good thing for us.”

Heading into the game the bottom six forwards had combined for one point, an assist on the power play by Patrick Eaves while he was on the ice with Henrik Zetterberg.

In the Wings’ 5-1 win over the Blue, Cory Emmerton had a goal and an assist, Drew Miller had two assists, while Justin Abdelkader, Jordin Tootoo and Tomas Tatar each had one assist.

Detroit welcomes in Edmonton Saturday afternoon and Babcock is hoping for a little better effort than the last time the Wings played after beating the Blues.

“We left the game feeling good, but the last time we left the rink feeling good we weren’t so good,” Babcock said. “So it’s important we match last night’s effort. We’ve got a good team like the Oilers coming in so it should be lots of fun.”

The Wings lost to Columbus after beating the Blues.

Jimmy Howard will be back between the pipes Saturday.

Tootoo already energizing team with his fists

DETROIT – Jordin Tootoo sure knows how to energize a home crowd.

Just three seconds into Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Dallas, Tootoo fought the Stars’ Eric Nystrom. And if that wasn’t enough, he tangled with Dallas’ Brenden Dillon near the end of the first period.

“That’s part of my DNA, to bring emotion into the game and having guys feed off of that,” Tootoo said after the game. “I feel great. Let’s get after it again. I still had one more fight in me. I mean, it is what it is, but it is all part of the game. For me I don’t mind doing that part.”

The Wings targeted Tootoo on the first day of free agency and signed the former Nashville Predator to a three-year deal worth $5.7 million.

“We’re not really used to seeing that,” Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said. “But Toots goes out there and sets the tone for us, whether it’s a big hit or dropping the gloves. He got the crowd into it early for us.”

According to hockeyfights.com the Wings had the fewest fighting majors in each of the past eight seasons. And over the past 12 seasons, Detroit has ranked last 10 times and second-to-last the other two times.

“It’s part of my game and my foundation is bringing emotion to the game, brining energy and the guys feeding off of that,” Tootoo said. “Now let’s get after it Friday night.”

Tootoo’s scrap with Nystrom was the second time he’s fought right off the opening faceoff, going toe-to-toe with Columbus’ Jared Boll on Jan. 21.

His fight with Dillon, who’s six inches taller, was instigated by a hit Tootoo delivered on the Stars’ Philip Larsen last week. The rookie defenseman wanted to go with Tootoo and the end of his shift.

“I’m basically trying to protect myself from not getting hit and just keep whaling,” Tootoo said of fighting the much taller Dillon. “I have a good memory of what happened last game. It’s a rookie move when you ask a guy to go at the end of his shift. I thought we both were pretty fresh and away we went.”

Tootoo has 67 fighting majors in his career.

“I was expecting him to get on the forecheck, but he took it upon himself to have a couple bouts obviously and we don’t mind that either,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We just assume he forechecks. He’s a guy that gives us a different dimension that we’ve had and when he’s out there guys know that he’s out there.”

Todd Bertuzzi is the last Wing to right twice in a game. Bertuzzi went with Nashville’s Shane O’Brien on April 2, 2011. Tootoo did not play in that game.

“It’s just good old-time hockey,” Tootoo said. “I mean, I thought we needed another little energy boost there and that’s pretty much what happened.”

Justin Abdelkader led Detroit with six fighting majors last season.

“He’s really good at getting underneath the other team’s skin,” Howard said of Tootoo. “It’s great to have him on your side, that’s for sure.”

Quotes of the day … Jordin Tootoo

DETROIT – Jordin Tootoo on his two fighting majors Tuesday night.

“That’s part of my DNA, to bring emotion into the game and having guys feed off of that,” Tootoo said. “I feel great. Let’s get after it again. I still had one more fight in me. I mean, it is what it is, but it is all part of the game. For me I don’t mind doing that part.

“It’s part of my game and my foundation is bringing emotion to the game, brining energy and the guys feeding off of that,” Tootoo continued. “Now let’s get after it Friday night.”

As for how he handled fighting Brenden Dillon, who’s six inches taller than him.

“I’m basically trying to protect myself from not getting hit and just keep whaling,” Tootoo said.

Dillon wanted to tangle last week after Tootoo delivered a hit on Philip Larsen, but it was at the end of Tootoo’s shift.

“I have a good memory of what happened last game,” Tootoo said. “It’s a rookie move when you ask a guy to go at the end of his shift. I thought we both were pretty fresh and away we went.”

Helm, Bertuzzi and Kindl to make season debut tonight; Kindl running out of chances; Eaves out

DETROIT – Here’s a quick update from the Wings’ morning skate prior to their game tonight against the Minnesota Wild.

Forwards Darren Helm (back) and Todd Bertuzzi (flu) and defenseman Jakub Kindl (groin) will all make their season debut tonight.

Helm will center the third line with Danny Cleary and Justin Abdelkader.

“I’m just looking for everyone to be good,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “I don’t know what level Helmer’s game is going to be at, he hasn’t played in eight months. I just thought it gave us the best skating opportunity.

Helm has been on the wrong end of a rash of injuries of late.

He missed the Wings’ week-long training camp and the first three games of the season with a back injury, which was the first of his playing career.

He was hit by a puck on Nov. 2 during an informal skate in Troy, breaking an orbital bone.

On March 17, he missed the final 10 regular season games with a sprained MCL. Then, in his first game back, the playoff opener against Nashville, he had tendons in his forearm sliced by a skate to end his season.

“Every time I turned the corner and got on the ice, there was a puck in my face, or I was falling some awkward way or doing something wrong,” Helm said. “I went through kind of an unlucky stretch there. Hopefully it’s done for me.”

The Wings are looking for Helm to provide energy like he has in the past on that third line.

“As I went through it yesterday I had Abby on the fourth unit, but we talked about him being a real good third line right or left wing and that’s we’re going to start with here today and we’re available to go either way,” Babcock said.

Bertuzzi is slated to start on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Valtteri Filppula.

The first line will be Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen and Damien Brunner.

Cory Emmerton will be on the fourth line with Drew Miller and Jordin Tootoo.

Patrick Eaves is a healthy scratch.

Jonathan Ericsson (hip), Mikael Samuelsson (groin) and Jonas Gustavsson (groin) also won’t skate.

Kindl will be paired on the second power play unit with Brendan Smith.

For Kindl it may be his last chance to make this team has a regular.

“That’s another good thing about injures, other people get opportunities,” Babcock said. “If you grab hold of it you get to play a long, long time. Everybody comes in has nobody and then does something.

“You have to grab hold of it,” Babcock continued. “Kuba is getting to the point in his career, this is eight years now when you drafted him, you have to grab hold of it. If not you’re not part of it.”

Ins and outs: Samuelsson (groin) and Helm (back) likely out Tuesday; Eaves cleared for camp, but not games

PLYMOUTH – Forwards Mikael Samuelsson (tender groin) and Darren Helm (back) both missed the second day of training camp.

“Groins I hear all of the time are day-to-day and then 10 days later the guy comes back,” Babcock said of Samuelsson’s injury. “So, we’ll see what happens.
“We’re playing 48 games in 98 days,” Babcock continued. “So I wouldn’t miss. If you do, someone else is playing. I don’t worry about that stuff. We’re going to worry about who’s ready to play and we’re going to try to do what’s important today to get a win. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Helm hasn’t been on the ice since last Wednesday. The earliest he could return is Thursday.

Patrick Eaves took part in his second straight of training camp after being cleared to do so.

“I feel good,” said Eaves, who has yet to be cleared for game action. “I haven’t had any headaches since camp started so things are going well.
“I’m just trying to get better every day and just to get used to playing every day,” Eaves continued. “I’m just trying to get back up to speed. I feel good out there.”

Eaves did take part in special teams drills, working on a penalty-killing unit with Jordin Tootoo.

“It was good, just to get back to that speed again,” Eaves said. “I haven’t been in those situations for a while so it was good.
“It’s been a good learning experience and a test of patience,” Eaves continued. “I still haven’t fully been cleared yet. I’m just hoping to continue to get better every day.”

Jordin Tootoo: “I play to win every night, whatever team I’m on.”

TROY – The Wings signed former Nashville Predator Jordin Tootoo this offseason for a reason.

And many of his teammates know it.

“He’s going to make us feel better going to Nashville so that’s good,” Johan Franzen smiled. “No one likes to play against him. He’s one of those guys you have to look for out there because he can hit you really hard.”

The Wings targeted Tootoo, 5-foot-9, 199 pounds, on the first day of free agency and signed the 29-year-old forward to a three-year, $5.7 million contract.

“Over the last eight seasons we played against Detroit, they know what I bring to the table,” Tootoo said after an informal skate with teammates at Troy Sports Center. “For me it’s not going to be trying too hard to be the difference out there. I’m just going to have to keep it simple. That’s my game, north and south.

“Obviously, bringing the physical part, which will create not only room for myself but hopefully my linemates,” Tootoo added. “It’s about picking and choosing your spots. Sometimes there’s going to be games where you’re going to have to be more physical and I know I can play on both ends on the puck, defensively and offensively.”

Wings coach Mike Babcock has Tootoo penciled in on the fourth line with Justin Abdelkader and Drew Miller.

“Guys come and go throughout the year and we understand it’s going to be a quick process,” Tootoo said when asked about how long it’ll take to build chemistry with new linemates. “As far as line combos, that’s not up to me, wherever they put me in, that’s where I’ll be.

“We’ve got to make every opportunity count,” Tootoo continued. “For me, it’s taking it one day at a time and making sure I’m mentally and physically prepared for whatever’s thrown at me.”

Tootoo seemed to wear out his time in Nashville when the playoffs rolled around. He was a healthy scratch in seven of the Predators’ 10 postseason games.

“I think he’s a really good player, he brings a lot of energy,” Abdelkader said. “He’s a guy that’ll be a big help to our team. I’m just looking forward to going out there and playing with him.”

According to hockeyfights.com, Tootoo has 61 fighting majors in his career.

He also has two Gordie Howe hat tricks – goal, assist and a fighting major in a game – to his credit.

“I play to win every night, whatever team I’m on. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing pickup hockey or the Detroit Red Wings, I’m a Red Wing for the next three years and I’m going to make sure every team we play knows that,” Tootoo said.

Along with providing a dimension the Wings have lacked for some time, he is an agitator who can also produce some offensively.

“The last few years he’s really stepped it up offensively,” Franzen said. “He’s got good hands and a good shot and good speed. He’s a good all-around player.”
Tootoo is coming off a season where he set a career high for assists (24) and points (30).

Tootoo opted to spend the lockout home in Kelowna, British Columbia, where he skated with the WHL’s Rockets.

“Physically, I feel great,” Tootoo said. “We’ve been in practices here the last four months with the Rockets, so about 10 of us in Kelowna are maybe a couple steps ahead of some other guys that are coming back. You can practice all you want, it’s about being in game shape and I think it might take one or two or three good, hard practices with the big men.”