Ian White hasn’t asked to be traded; wants to remain ‘mentally positive’ for when he returns to lineup

DETROIT – Defenseman Ian White is all about being a team player.

But that doesn’t stop him for wanting to know his position on the team.

White was a healthy scratch for a fifth straight game Thursday night.

“It’s a little bittersweet because you want to be with the guys when they’re playing well,” White said after the morning skate Thursday at Joe Louis Arena. “When they’re playing well, you seem to play well, too. So it’s frustrating all around but usually there’s some sort of reasoning behind it that helps make it more understandable.”

Wings coach Mike Babcock sat White after Detroit’s 8-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 24. He did so because he was having difficulty getting the puck out of his zone.

And with the return of Brendan Smith and Kyle Quincey to the blue line, White was benched.

“I talked to Mike two days ago, just asking what it’s going to take to get back in the lineup,” White said. “The way it went was after the Vancouver game we won two in a row at home and went to L.A. They have fairly big forwards, so they figured they’re going to throw all the biggest D we have against them. We ended up playing pretty well defensively, gave up that last goal, but overall played a pretty good game. And then went to San Jose and other pretty big group and only gave up one. Come home and played Chicago, similar story, played sound defensively and again the day before, didn’t allow a goal until the end. So it’s pretty hard to change the lineup when you’re letting in one goal a game.”

Heading into Thursday’s game, the Wings had allowed just five goals in the last four games, all with White as a healthy scratch.

“From talking to the coach, what it’s going to take is a poor defensive game,” White said when asked what it will take for him to get back in the lineup. “We’ve been playing pretty solid defensively, not letting in too many goals, so it’s tough to change the defense up. So that’s what it’s going to take for me to get in, or an injury.

“In terms of trying to stick with it and how I deal with it, you’ve got to come to the rink and be a good teammate, can’t put yourself above the team and be pouting and moping around here,” White continued. “That doesn’t do anyone any favors. Just try to stay positive, there’s more to life than just hockey, too. You’ve got your family at home to worry about. So there are lots of things on the go other than this. But it’s really a frustrating time.”

This is all brand new for White, 28, who was paired with Nicklas Lidstrom most of last season after signing a two-year deal worth $5.75 million to replace Brian Rafalski on the blue line.

White, who is the elder statesman on the blue line playing 492 games, said he has not asked to be traded.

“No, we’re not there yet,” White said. “This is Game 5, you play so many games in a condensed period, it can get away from you pretty quick. All of a sudden you look after the weekend that’s seven straight games, if you don’t play. Where do I fit, we’ve got (Carlo) Colaiacovo coming back. You just try to get a determination of where he thinks you fit and where Ken (Holland) thinks you fit, now and going forward.”

Colaiacovo, who the Wings signed this offseason, is expected to return from a sprained left shoulder soon, which creates an even bigger jam on the blue line.

“You can skate, that keeps your conditioning up as much as you can for games,” White said. “Obviously, in games everything changes. The intensity is up more and your adrenaline is flowing a little bit. The one thing you kind of lose a little bit is your timing. Even your hands a little bit. It’s one thing to stick-handle in practice and do stuff there, but it’s usually not the same pace as the game.

“More than anything just mentally you’ve got to stay positive,” White added. “Times like this you question your abilities. You can’t do that. You’ve got to stay true to yourself, you know you’ve had success in the past, you know how to play the game. When you do get that next opportunity you’ve got to go back to playing the way you know how.”

White, who missed five games early in the season after suffering deep leg laceration, has one goal and one assist in 14 games. He’s also a minus-2.

“I’m confident I can contribute,” White said. “I’m sure, from speaking with them, they made it clear they want to keep me around. You just hope by keeping you around it means putting you in the lineup. Hopefully I’ll get back in soon and forget about this.”

A healthy Jonas Gustavsson will only help Wings

DETROIT – The Wings went right after backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson once free agency started this past offseason for a reason.

On Thursday night in San Jose, their investment in him finally started to pay off.

Gustavsson made 25 saves, in regulation and overtime, and then kept the Sharks scoreless in the shootout as Detroit skated away with the extra point after its 2-1 win.

“You play because you want to win, that’s the best feeling you can have,” Gustavsson said after the game. “I’m really happy with the win and how the guys performed. They helped me a lot, they made it easier for me.”

The start was Gustavsson’s first with the Wings and just his third appearance all season.

“I felt pretty good,” Gustavsson said. “Of course, it was a while since I played at this level. The guys made it easier for me. I could see most of the shots. I don’t think they had a scoring chance on a rebound.”

After taking over for Jimmy Howard in the season opener in St. Louis, Gustavsson re-aggravated his groin and didn’t dress the next 13 games.

Gustavsson’s next appearance came in relief of Jimmy Howard in Nashville and led the Wings to an overtime loss.

However, last Sunday Gustavsson, who signed a two-year deal worth $1.5 million a season, suffered a minor setback with his groin and couldn’t backup Howard in a win against the Vancouver Canucks.

“Of course that’s probably not the best situation but that’s the way it is,” Gustavsson said when asked if it’s tough to join a new team and begin things injured. “Through your career you’re going to have different challenges. You’ve just got to find a way to handle them and stay positive. For me that (injury) is in the past and I’m just trying to look forward to the game tonight.”

Howard has started all but two games this season.

“Obviously it wouldn’t hurt to see him play and I think it’s important that you’re starting goalie doesn’t have to play every night,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “The other thing about it is it’s a real good opportunity for him. We need a win on the road and he’s capable of doing that so get in there and play like you can.”

Prior to Thursday, Gustavsson had played just over 68 minutes this season.

“He hasn’t played,” Babcock said. “When you’ve been here this much time and you’re injured all the time it’s probably hard on you mentally as well. What I liked about him is he earned himself more time in net. The other thing is it never hurts to have competition and people pushing each other. The season’s a grind.

“Howie needs a breather every once in a while,” Babcock added. “Howie will go against Chicago and Gus will be ready to go right away.”

Gustavsson has had his fair share of health concerns, more specifically relating to his heart.

His heart issues were first noticed on the first day of training camp his first season in Toronto. An ablation surgery process needed to be performed on his heart.

In 2009, he had a heart murmur, which led to a second ablation surgery.

In 2011, he was pulled from a conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies due to an accelerated heart beat and two days later he had a third minor heart ablation surgery.

“I’ve been feeling good, shouldn’t be any problems,” Gustavsson said. “I feel ready to go.

Gustavsson played his first three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he went 39-45-8 and had a 2.98 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.

The Leafs traded his rights to the Winnipeg Jets for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2013 prior to the draft.

The two-year deal gives the Wings a bit of an insurance policy if they have trouble signing Howard, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason if a new deal isn’t reached. Howard will make $2.25 million this season.

Quote of the day … Henrik Zetterberg

DETROIT – Henrik Zetterberg on Damien Brunner leading the team with 10 goals. Brunner scored two goals in Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

“It is amazing,” Zetterberg said. “I played with him over in Swiss and I saw that he has that special touch. You don’t see him for a long, long time and all of a sudden he comes up there and scores a goal. He has that kind of sense to be in the right spot in the right time and he has a good shot. On the first one (Sunday) he had good patience there and on the second one he turned around and shot and it goes top shelf. It is remarkable with this tough schedule. He’s not used to playing these many games in a short amount of time. So it’s good to see his consistency and hopefully he can keep it going.”

Wings’ power play finally catches fire

DETROIT – After going 2-for-19 with the man advantage in the last six games, the Wings struck for three power play goals on five chances in Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Joe Louis Arena.

“It was great to see the power play be rewarded,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We have been snake bitten on the power play, it hasn’t gone very well. We haven’t scored goals very good.”

The three power play goals in a game was a season high for the Wings, who three times had scored twice with the man advantage.

“It was fun to see the puck go in,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “We had been struggling a little bit. I think we’ve been doing some good stuff in the end, but really haven’t gotten goals, but we got them today.”

Detroit’s power play goals came from Daniel Cleary, Zetterberg and Damien Brunner.

The Wings scored all three power play goals in the second period on four chances.

“We’re always happy the power play came up this time,” Brunner said. “It’s something you have to take out of this game and hopefully it gives us confidence.”

The Wings’ penalty kill was also 2-for-2 on Sunday. It’s the second straight game that unit hasn’t given up a power play goal.

“The PK was good and the power play got going, so when special teams are good it is easier to win games and you see that today,” Zetteberg said.

Extended lockout not good for Bertuzzi

TROY – Todd Bertuzzi has been through this before.

However, the last time the NHL locked its players out Bertuzzi was in his late 20s. This time around, the Wings forward is 37.

“It’s not ideal,” said Bertuzzi, who will turn 38 in February. “I hear some people say sometimes it benefits the older players. I don’t think it really does. I think you’ve got to be consistently playing, being active.”

Bertuzzi was back in Troy with a few of his teammates skating at Troy Sports Center as they continue to wait word on a new collective bargaining agreement.

“You usually train for two and a half months in the summer and then after that you just maintain and do a little bit more,” Bertuzzi said. “Going on three months right now with training, it gets kind of Groundhog Dayish.”

The players have skating on their own since the league locked them out at midnight on Sept. 16. Both sides are scheduled to meet on Friday.

This is the third lockout under NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

The first, in 1994-95, ended after 103 days. The last time the league locked the players out it resulted in the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.

Bertuzzi was with the Vancouver Canucks that last lockout, coming off a 60-point season the year before. He returned after the lockout and had 71 points in 82 games.

“It’s been how many days already? I’m dragging my ass here right now,” Bertuzzi said. “We’ve got a good group of guys, we keep it light, we get the work done that we need, but at the same time it’s always tough when you don’t know what the unknown is, what lies ahead. You’ve got to try to keep yourself busy. I’m trying to occupy my time with doing stuff with my family and doing stuff like that.”

The league has already cancelled preseason games through the end of September and the remainder of the preseason should be cancelled this week.

The Wings, who were scheduled to report to training camp in Traverse City on Sept. 21, are supposed to open the regular season at home against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 12.

The NHL season opens on Oct. 11.

“I think we’re all pretty much prepared for that,” said Bertuzzi when asked about the season not starting on time. “It’s tough. I feel bad for the employees that work, I feel bad for people that run the rink, the fans, it’s not an ideal situation, especially for us in Detroit, we’re trying to get our city back up and moving and I don’t think it’s doing it any justice.

“The fact we have the Winter Classic coming in, Comerica Park was going to be packed for a week,” Bertuzzi added. “That was just an instant injection into our city. I’d hate to see that go by without anything happening.”

There has been talk the league may cancel the Winter Classic, which is scheduled to be held on New Year’s Day at the University of Michigan, as early as November if a new deal can’t be reached.

“That’s one thing I’ve always wanted to play in,” Bertuzzi said. “To me, that would be something pretty tough to miss. At the same time, both sides will miss out so we’ve got to figure this out once and for all and the right way.

“That week in downtown Detroit, that’s a lot of people coming from Canada, coming from all over the states, spending a full week in downtown Detroit,” Bertuzzi continued. “It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere. You’ve got the Junior games, my kid’s games, you’ve got the AHL games, alumni games, there’s a lot at stake with this game. It would be real unfortunate if it went by and you had to wait a whole year for it to maybe come back again.”