Wings look to re-energize for Game 2

CHICAGO – Wings coach Mike Babcock feels his team needs to re-energize for Game 2.

“We’ve got to get up to speed because we weren’t … we haven’t played like that in a while,” Babcock said. “We knew as a coaching staff right when it happened, we thought we were actually playing (Tuesday) and we really felt the break was going to help us and the way this series is set up we have no reason not to be very good next game. So we’ve got to get back at and playing at a high tempo because obviously they’re playing at a level that they weren’t playing at.”

Quote of the day … Wings coach Mike Babcock

DETROIT – Wings coach Mike Babcock on how he views Game 4, where the Ducks lead Detroit 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series.

“You can make this as a reporter as bad as you want or you can make it as good as you want,” Babcock said. “You just have to choose your attitude. I’m going to choose mine and say we were right there knocking on the door and we’re going to win tomorrow and make it a best-of-three.”

Quote of the day … Wings coach Mike Babcock

ROMULUS — Wings coach Mike Babcock on Jimmy Howard’s performance Thursday.

“I think Howie picks us up most every night and we picked him up last night,” Babcock said.

Howard made 28 saves.

Quote of the day … Mike Babcock

DETROIT – Wings coach Mike Babcock on riding Jimmy Howard the rest of the way.

“He has to,” Babcock said when asked if Howard could carry the team. “It’s not about ‘can,’ he has to. There’s no option. We have a huge game against LA. They’re a big heavy team, they’re going to be hard to play against.”

Quote of the day … Niklas Kronwall

DETROIT – Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall on their playoff hopes.

“We’re in the standings where we’re at for a reason,” Kronwall said. “We have to live in the now and make sure to find a way through it.”

Filppula says he’s not close to a new deal with Wings

DETROIT — Wings forward Valtteri Filppula said he’s not let his pending unrestricted free agency become a distraction this season.

“You automatically think about it, but I’ve been trying to put little thought into it because it’s not going to do me any good,” Filppula said. “We’ll see what happens, but definitely interesting times. It’s been a great place to be, great team. Obviously you always want to be on a team like that.”

Filppula is in the final year of a contact that’s paying him $3 million.

“There’s nothing going on right now,” Filppula said.

He’s reportedly looking for a deal that will give him a $2 million increase per season.

“I don’t think it matters that much to me,” Filppula said when asked if he wished he was close to a deal. “I think the focus should be on playing right now. And then when the time comes to think about that stuff I will do that.”

DeKeyser inks deal with Wings and will practice with the team Saturday

DETROIT – Quick update from a call from Wings general manager Ken Holland, defenseman Danny DeKeyser will be practice with the team Saturday and won’t play Sunday or Monday.

More to come…

Quote of the day … Wings coach Mike Babcock

DETROIT – Wings coach Mike Babcock on Detroit’s lack of success on power play.

“Obviously it’s not a confidence thing,” Babcock said. “Even the other day at home, not taking anything away from Columbus because they penalty kill real well, we had nothing on the 5 on 4 part. We scored a 5 on 3 goal. So the power play just has to get better.”

Quote of the day … Jimmy Howard

DETROIT – Goalie Jimmy Howard on the Wings’ four-game stretch against teams in the bottom part of the Western Conference standings.

“They’re really not all that far off,” Howard said Monday. “They’re all grouped together from fourth all the way to last, so it’s tight and going to continue to be that way all the way to the end of the season. You just have to find a way every single night to get points.”

Detroit hosts Colorado (13th) and Edmonton (14th) before playing a home-and-home series with Columbus (15th).

Quote of the day … Marian Hossa

DETROIT – Marian Hossa on the fans booing him when the Wings announced him playing in his 1,000 game.

“It doesn’t bug me,” Hossa said. “It isn’t loud or anything. Just keep playing and it doesn’t bother me at all. Class act by their organization I spent, I think, a great year in Detroit and that was nice from them.”