Drew Miller signs a three-year extension to stay with Wings

DETROIT — Drew Miller got his wish.

According to a source, the Wings have inked their penalty-kill specialist to a three-year deal worth $4.05 million to stay in Detroit.

“I would like to stay,” Miller said after the season. “I’ve got to talk to Babs and to Kenny Holland, figure out what their approach is to coming back. I don’t have much more to say other than I’d like to come back. But being in a position to have options is something that could possibly be looked at but my first choice would be to stay and come back.”

The deal with worth $1.35 million a season.

Miller, 29, got a nice little raise from the $850,000 her made last season.

“I’m a huge fan of Millsie,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “Millsie’s an important part of this team. When he was out, we missed him.”

Miller, who could have opted for free agency that begins on July 5, broke his hand prior to the end of the regular season before returning for Game 2 of the Wings’ second round series with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He scored the game-winning goal in Game 3 against the Blackhawks, who eventually won the series in seven games.

Miller was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 11, 2009.

Filppula leaves United Center with left leg in an immobilizer

CHICAGO — Just two shifts into his Game 7, Valtteri Filppula had his night end.

Filppula got tied up with Chicago’s Andrew Shaw near the Wings’ bench and wound up on the ice and needed to be helped back to the dressing room.

He did not return and was seen leaving the United Center with his left leg in an immobilizer.

“He’s hurt,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “He’ll be ready for camp.”

The Wings reported his injury as lower body.

Filppula left with either a knee or ankle injury.

Shaw first crosschecked Henrik Zetterberg and then Daniel Cleary tried to grab him while on the bench. Shaw then crosschecked Filppula high and the forward tumbled awkwardly to the ice.

The replay looked as if Shaw slew-footed Filppula to bring him to the ice.

“You guys watched the video, you decide,” Babcock said.

Shaw was not penalized on the play.

“He’s a big big part of this team, but our forwards were all over the place, working so hard, making it tough on them,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “I thought everyone really laid everything on the line. It’s tough to come up short.”

Filppula made the Wings juggle forwards on and off the line with Zetterberg and Cleary.

“Losing Fil didn’t help us but I thought we found a way, we had different guys moving up with me and Z,” Cleary said. “We played well. (Jimmy Howard) played great for us. We had a great goalie. Z, Pav, it was a fun year. It was a great season.”

Gustav Nyquist’s time on the line led to the Wings’ only goal in the 2-1 overtime loss to the Blackhawks.

“I don’t even know what happened to him, but when you lose a great player like that it’s tough,” defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo said. “I thought everyone did a good job filling in for him. I’m really proud of the effort the guys put in tonight.”

“He has been really good for us throughout the whole playoffs,” defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “To miss a player like that and to have to go short after that line had been playing so well we had to make adjustments, but that’s part of the game.”

Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have stepped up their game when it comes to Game 7s

CHICAGO – Superstars are called upon to step up when the team needs them the most.

And that’s been the case with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

In five career Game 7s, Zetterberg has two goals and six assists, while Datsyuk has four goals and one assist.

That’s why Wings coach Mike Babcock doesn’t worry about his two superstars heading into Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at the United Center.

“That’s because I’ve been hanging around them for a long time,” Babcock said. “Pav had six shots on net (in Game 6). He was home-free (Monday) night and didn’t score, he didn’t get up over the pad. Like he’s due. So the way I look at guys like that when they haven’t scored in a bit they’re due, they’re bound to come through.”

Zetterberg has yet to score through six games in the series, but does have three assists.

Datsyuk has just one goal and one assist in the series with Chicago.

“Everyone talked about (Jonathan Toews) for a long time,” Babcock continued. “It’s the same thing. When you’re due and you’re a good player and you work hard and you’re determined eventually you’re going to break out. So to me those guys are like money in the bank as far as I’m concerned.”

Zetterberg did come through in the clutch for Detroit in Games 6 and 7 against Anaheim. He had two goals and an assist in Game 6 and followed that up a goal and an assist in Game 7.

Datsyuk had a goal and two assists in Game 6 against the Ducks.

“That’s why they are who they are,” Niklas Kronwall said of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. “I wish I could tell you why. They bring it every night and in games like these is when they shine the most.

“They seem to find that comfort zone and just go out there and produce and make things happen out of nowhere,” Kronwall added. “They’re two of the best players in the league and we’re really happy that they’re on our club and not the other teams.”

Toews had been held without a goal this postseason before he finally lit the lamp in a must-win Game 5 for Chicago.

He then had two assists in the Blackhawks’ second must-win game of the series, Game 6.

“I just think anybody who is a scorer, who is getting shots on net is bound to score,” Babcock said. “If you’re not getting any shots on net, you’re not getting any looks, you’re not going to get any opportunity that way. We had looks (Monday) night, there’s no question about it. In the end, if you fail to execute around the net that’s just part of it. You have to find a way to put it in the net. Close doesn’t get you anywhere at this time of year.”

Valtteri Filppula also has come up clutch in Game 7s, registering a goal and five assists in five games.

Jimmy Howard is 2-1 in three Game 7s, with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” Howard said. “They’re a really good team. They showed it in the last two games. Just made a couple mistakes and it wound up in the back of our net.

“Some days they go in, some days they don’t,” Howard continued. “It’s just one of those things where you put it all behind you. It’s just one game. Nothing matters what happened previously in the serious. You just go out there and play.”

As a franchise, the Wings are 14-9 all-time in Game 7s.

‘Enjoy yourself,’ Babcock tells Red Wings as Game 7 approaches

DETROIT – As the regular season drew to a close and as their chances began to dwindle of keeping their postseason streak alive, the Detroit Red Wings played some of their best hockey just to get in.

Then, down 3-2 in the opening round of the playoffs to Anaheim, the Wings won two straight to advance to the next round.

Also in that series with the Ducks, Detroit squandered three- and two-goal third period leads only to regain its composure and beat Anaheim in overtime.

The Wings seem to play their best hockey when their backs are against the wall, which is where they’re at Wednesday night, playing Game 7 at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“I think you’ve got to be at the right level for you,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said when asked if he would prefer his players loose or amped for the game. “But loose is a great way to be, but you’ve got to be intense about what you’re doing too, so there’s a fine line there.

“I think when players are talking about being loose, I don’t think they’re talking about loose in a bar,” Babcock continued. “I think they’re talking about loose enough to execute, do good things, to feel good about themselves. So you don’t want to be all wound up, but at the same time you want to be amped enough that you’re at the best of your ability. That’s the challenge for you to walk that fine line.”

This will be Detroit’s fourth consecutive Game 7 on the road.

“I’ve been fortunate to win some on the road and lose some,” Babcock said. “I just like the fact that it’s what competition is all about. I mean, if you’re going to continue to play you’ve got to be successful in the game. You play to play again.

“I think you grow up as a kid dreaming of scoring a goal in Game 7,” Babcock continued. “Obviously, anytime you go to Game 7 it’s been a heck of a series, so we just feel that we’ve done enough good things and feel good about our game. We got a lot of positive reinforcement from last night.

The Wings beat Anaheim 3-2 in the first round, and shellacked Phoenix 6-1 in 2010.

“I don’t know if there’s really one that stands out more than another one,” Niklas Kronwall said when asked about his previous experience in Game 7s. “Just the feeling after the first series against Anaheim was something very special, just how hard fought it was. We had our ups and downs, but we found a way through it and it always feels great coming out on top.”

They lost to San Jose 3-2 in 2011 in the second round after falling behind 3-0 in the series.

“We’re excited about being here,” Babcock said. “Would you like to have the series over and moving on? Absolutely, but in saying that what an opportunity as we played in a Game 7 last series. It was a lot of fun, and why wouldn’t this be?”

This will just be Chicago’s third Game 7 since 1995.

“When you’re in this situation you look back at what you’ve done before and use the experience you’ve been though,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “It’s nothing different for (Wednesday). It’s nice that we’ve been through it.”

After falling behind 1-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series with the Blackhawks, the Wings won three in a row before dropping the final two.

“When we’re successful you go onto the next game,” Babcock said. “I’m not a big momentum guy. I just never have been. You just play the game. I think the starts of all games are really important at home and on the road. They scored early in the game (Monday) night and I thought we really responded. We need to start on time (Wednesday), for sure.”

The Wings took a 2-1 lead into the third period of Game 6, only to witness Chicago score three times in less than nine minutes to swing the momentum back on its side.

“I think we all know it’s Game 7,” Zetterberg said. “It’s win or go home. But that makes it a lot more exciting to play. Preparation-wise you just do what’s normal.”

This is just the third time in their 87-year rivalry that the Original Six teams will meet in a Game 7. They last met in a Game 7 on April 15, 1965.

The teams are 1-1 in those two preview Game 7 meetings.

“They could tell you that they just went through two Game 7s because they were elimination games,” Babcock said. “I just find that they’re all different and getting started on time is really important. That’s what our focus will be. We want to get off to a good start. Now if you don’t have it it’s not the end of the world. You have to play, but the reality is we’ve been through it. Each experience is just a lot of fun and you know it’s going to be fun. You relish the opportunity. Enjoy yourself.”

Quote of the day … Mike Babcock

DETROIT – Wings coach Mike Babcock on whether he’ll play Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk together in Game 6.

“We did that last night and it was no good,” Babcock said. “Was that just because the game was over? I don’t know the answer to that. They’ve been really good together in the playoffs. We’ve had them apart and they’ve been really good. They’re going to be really good no matter how we play them.”

Wings all know that the toughest game in any series is the one to close things out

CHICAGO – If the Detroit Red Wings haven’t seen the best from the Chicago Blackhawks through the first four games of their Western Conference semifinal series, they’ll for sure see it Saturday night at the United Center.

The Blackhawks are at the point where it’s win-or-go-home, trailing the Wings 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s like every game that you play in the playoffs, it’s the most important one that you can play and they get harder and harder,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said at the team hotel in downtown Chicago. “We know that they’re a desperate team. I’d like to think that we’ll be desperate as well. You want to be as prepared as the opportunity is important and we have to play that hard.”

After dropping Game 1, 4-1, Detroit has won the last three games in the series, outscoring Chicago by a combined 9-2 over that stretch.

“It’s important, but it’s also the most difficult, knocking a team out of the playoffs,” goalie Jimmy Howard. “You’re expecting them to come out and play extremely hard, extremely urgent (Saturday) night and we’re going to have to be extremely focused at the same time.”

This is the Blackhawks’ first three-game losing streak this season. They had just three two-game losing streaks during the regular season.

“Our thing is it’s a race to four,” forward Daniel Cleary said. “Those guys are champions, they’re winners, they know the toughest game ever is the one to eliminate a team. We have to be ready. It’s going to be the hardest game we’ve played all season.”

Chicago began the season 21-0-3 and sprinted its way to the Presidents’ Trophy.

“They had a sense of urgency realizing the importance of the game (Thursday), but knowing some of those guys and their mindsets they know that they can win three in a row, they’ve done it the whole year.”

And what a difference a couple weeks make.

The Wings were on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs by Anaheim in Game 6 at Joe Louis, only to win that game in overtime and then ousting the Ducks in Game 7 on the road.

“We learned a lot,” forward Henrik Zetterberg said. “As a team here, the last two weeks and so far in the playoffs we’ve done a lot of good things. We did a few bad things. We lost a lead in the third a couple times and we won a few in overtime. I think we got a lot of experience the last month or so and I think it’s good for the club.”

In the opening series with the Ducks the Wings lost a three-goal lead and a two-goal lead in the third period only to rebound and win the games in overtime.

They also never held a games-lead in the series until taking Game 7.

Then, the Wings were outplayed in the opener with the Blackhawks over the final two periods after an even opening 20 minutes.

“Game 1 wasn’t the game we wanted to play,” Cleary said. “We regrouped and had a good Game 2. Obviously Game 3 was another good game, we got some timely scoring from depth players and (Thursday) night was just a battle all game and we just came out ahead. The turn of the series, I don’t know if the series has turned, we’re just in the lead.”

Every player and coach knows the importance of getting out to a good start Saturday.

“The start is important every night,” Babcock said. “I didn’t think we were very good (Thursday), we gave up 14 shots and were very loose in the first period, turned the puck over and weren’t sharp. We got better as the game went on, we got eight in the second and six in the third, so we need to start on time tomorrow, for sure. I think when you’re on the road that first 10 minutes are always important.”

“The lead is important, the start is important,” Cleary said. “You want to go out and play a good road game. Their building is going to be loud and we have to keep our minds real sharp and play real loose. We can’t play tight.”

Since the Presidents’ Trophy was introduced in 1985-86, the Wings are 2-1 in the playoffs against the team that won it. They beat Colorado (1997) and Dallas (1998) and lost to Edmonton (1987).

“I guess the way that I look at it is when you’re coaching and playing it usually doesn’t matter to you what the people on the outside think,” Babcock said when asked about being in a position that no one felt they would be at against the Blackhawks. “It matters what you think and we think we have a good group and we’re determined to keep playing and we have a tough task ahead of us but we’re excited for our opportunity.”

The last time the Wings won consecutive series as the lower-seeded team was 1997.

Quote of the day … Mike Babcock

DETROIT – Wings coach Mike Babcock on whether or not there should have been a penalty on Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson after hitting Johan Franzan into the boards from behind early in the third period of Game 2.

“It should have been a two-minute penalty,” Babcock said. “This is the way I look at it. Those referees are trying to get to the Stanley Cup final like the rest of us and it’s fast. When I watch the replay and see it, it’s a penalty. They don’t get to watch the replay.”

With Franzen down in the corner, Duncan Keith lofted a pass out to Patrick Kane, who got behind the Wings’ defense and beat Jimmy Howard between the pads just 4:32 in.

Zetterberg: “He creates a lot of stuff, sometimes for both teams.”

CHICAGO – Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg didn’t hold back when asked about teammate Brendan Smith.

“He creates a lot of stuff, sometimes for both teams,” Zetterberg said with a slight grin Saturday after the Wings’ 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series at the United Center. “He’s young, he’s still learning. He learns every game. It’s nice to see he had a bounce back game.”

Smith was raked over the coals after the Wings’ 4-1 loss in Game 1, by TV analysts and then on social media.

“That’s a fair judgment,” Smith said when told of Zetterberg’s quote.

Smith had another gaff Saturday that led to the Blackhawks’ only goal, but then he recovered to net the game winner off a nice feed from Zetterberg.

“I just lost the battle with Sharp and he made great play,” Smith said of Chicago’s goal. “I think I just under-estimated his strength and his speed. It’s something that I have to do better.

“Actually, at the end of the game I did better and made sure that I was on the defensive side,” Smith said. “You see how quick it can change like that and I how quick they can get a chance like that. It’s just those little things that I have to be working on.”

Smith decided not to pinch and then had his stick lifted by Sharp which led to a 2-on-1 going the other way and eventually a goal.

“I thought Smith was outstanding,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said.

Smith trailed the play before jumping in to receive a pass from below the goal line from Zetterberg and he one-timed a shot into the open net.

“There wasn’t as much of a back-check and I seemed to have a little more speed than one of the forwards, so I just beat him to the front of the net,” Smith said. “He’s so fantastic with the puck, I think he put it through (Duncan Keith’s) legs and I put it into the open net. It was kind of a gimme for myself. Just being in the right place at the right time, so it’s kind of like a Damien Brunner goal.”

Defense partner Kyle Quincey keeps telling Smith to keep doing what he’s doing and continue to have a short memory.

“He’s a very emotional guy and I try to tell him, good or bad, it’s a job that we have,” Quincey said. “We get paid to play a game and it’s a game of mistakes and whoever makes the fewest wins. When you score everything is good, but every shift is the exact same. Overtime is the exact thing as the first period. Just keep going. We had a few bad bounces against us. I really didn’t hear what grief he took, but that’s the rumor. It’s good to see him respond. It was a tough one on the first goal but it was good to see him bounce back there.

“It’s taken me a long time to kind of let it roll off my back and he’ll learn the hard way,” Quincey added. “I’ve been there done it. It’s fun to watch him get better and better after every game. I just try to tell him that it’s just a game.”

Smith, who didn’t score a goal in the regular season, saw just over 16 minutes of ice time, registered three shots and blocked two shots.

“It’s huge for me confidence and just for our team because it was such a big game,” Smith said. “I had some things to work on from last game and there are still a lot of things that I have to work on. But hockey is a weird game and sometimes the bounces go your way.”

Late in the regular season Smith found himself a healthy scratch for two straight games after his coach wanted him to look after the puck better. Prior to his benching he had gone five consecutive games by registering a minus-1 rating.

“Coach will tell you how it is,” Smith said. “If you don’t play very well, he’ll tell you. I think we both kind of went over things and we didn’t think all the criticism I got wasn’t as bad as people were saying. If I did a much worse game, he would have told me and would have been honest.”

Smith was called on to play a huge role this season after the Wings lost Nicklas Lidstrom (retirement) and Brad Stuart (trade).

Babcock defends Smith; young defenseman won’t let critics faze him

CHICAGO – Wings defenseman Brendan Smith isn’t going to let his critics faze him one bit.

All of social media was a buzz after Detroit’s loss in Game 1 to the Chicago Blackhawks and much of the finger pointing was directed the rookie blue liner.

“I think a few buddies told me it was all over Twitter,” Smith said Friday. “It’s somebodies opinion about it. I just put that behind myself and come out and play.”

His coach was quick to defend his young player.

“I heard all the stuff, I heard the emotion from some of our staff, too,” Mike Babcock said. “I didn’t see it like that. I saw a young guy trying to make a bunch of plays and no one there to accept the pass at the other end. So what I did today with Smitty, I showed him a bunch of good plays and I said, ‘Let me decide and you decide, nobody else decides.’”

TV analysts began piling on Smith during the game.

“I don’t think so, actually,” Smith said when asked if that was fair. “I talked to coach about it where there’s a thing where my speed will get me back to the puck. So I have to make better plays, obviously. It’s one of the things I want to do better at. But I don’t think that’s a fair assessment.

“There were a lot of good plays I felt that I made and there are some things that I have to build on,” Smith added. “Coach and I went over some things this morning and it didn’t come off like that. Coach said, ‘I watched the game without the announcers and it was a totally different thing. Just take it for how you play and build from the good things that you did.’”

Statistic wise Smith’s numbers were good, finishing a plus-1 with three blocked shots, two hits and two shots on goal.

“I thought Smitty fit in perfect,” Babcock said. “This is kind of the way I look at this situation. Smitty’s played 48 games in the NHL in the two-pair. So the number 3-4 pair, the two-pair. So I look at (Jonathan Ericsson). Big E played in the 5-hole for the Red Wings for seven or six years. I don’t even know why we’re talking about.”

Miller an “option” for Game 2 against Blackhawks

CHICAGO – Wings forward Drew Miller thinks he’s a definite option now.

Miller has been sidelined since breaking his fourth metacarpal bone on his ring finger after getting hit with a puck on April 20 in Vancouver.

“I think I’m ready to go, it’s up to the coaches,” Miller said Friday. “I think the last couple of days I’ve come along with the straightening of my hand and my wrist so I feel confident out there. I feel that I’m ready to go.”

Miller, who had the cast removed on Sunday, could be back in the Wings’ lineup for Game 2 Saturday afternoon at the United Center in Chicago.

Wings coach Mike Babcock said before Game 1 that he was worried about the strength in Miller’s right hand.

“He looks good now on the ice so we’re happy to see that,” Babcock said. “He’s definitely a big part of our PK. He plays in all situations. If he can go, it’s a plus for us.

As expected Miller is anxious to get back.

“It’s definitely tough (sitting out),” Miller said. “You just try to stay a part of the team, in for the meetings and be around for the pre-game stuff. You try to watch and learn as much as you can from atop. It’s a little different perspective, but I have to be ready. It’s tough mentally, but you just have to work through the bag skates and prepare yourself for when you get back in.”

Prior to the injury Miller led the forwards in blocked shots (41) and was second on hits (81).

“The training staff here had me doing a lot of stuff to make the bone grow and get back,” Miller added. “I wouldn’t say rush back, because you want the bone to heal right and be all right. It’s good to be back out there shooting the puck and getting ready to play.”