Kindl, Hudler left off Czech Olympic team

Defenseman Jakub Kindl was not named to the Czech Olympic roster for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

The inconsistency in Kindl’s game from last season to this year could have played a part in it.

He led the Wings’ defensemen in plus-minus a year ago with a plus-15. This year he’s a minus-8 in 41 games.

Former Wing Jiri Hudler, who leads the Calgary Flames with 11 goals and 22 assists, was also left off this list.

Alfredsson scores game winner and picks up 700th career assist along the way

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings finally found a way to get an extra point out of extra time.

Daniel Alfredsson scored his second goal of the game, this one on the power play, just a minute and three seconds into overtime as the Wings beat the Calgary Flames, 3-2, Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena.

Detroit had lost nine straight games that were decided after regulation.

“I mean we’re not playing our best, but we have to have the effort I think we’ve got to build from this,” said Alfredsson, who also had an assist. “It’s great to see everybody working hard, but you know it’s one game and we’ve got two more here before Christmas and like to really finish strong before the little break we have.”

The victory also snapped the Wings’ six-game winless streak.

Joakim Andersson also scored for Detroit and Jonas Gustavsson, who entered the game 0-4-0 lifetime against Calgary, made 20 saves.

Mikael Backlund and Mark Giordano scored for the Flames, while Karri Ramo stopped 35 shots.

“Just winning the game was important for us,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “I never thought about the extra point, just about winning the game.”

After not scoring a goal on their last 17 power play chances, it was a 4-on-3 man advantage that led to the game winner.

Pavel Datsyuk, who assisted on all three goals, fed a pretty cross-ice pass to Alfredsson for the one-timer to beat Ramo cleanly.

“Pav got the puck back and caught them a little spread out and he found a perfect seam for me there and it was just you know get it off the ice and had an open net pretty much,” Alfredsson said.

Datsyuk assisted on all three goals.

“I thought part way through the second he got going,” Babcock said of Datsyuk. “I thought their line had the toughest time through the first period. We kind of split them up in the second and then I thought he got going as did Alfredsson as well. You need your big guys, especially when you’re shorthanded, especially offensively for us because of the players we dressing. Our team competed.

“You need guys, not to talk necessarily, but lead by example on the ice,” Babcock continued. “Make a play when you need one. Then everyone settles down and relaxes. Our captain (Henrik) Zetterberg is a hard-headed guy. He’s got stick-to-itiveness and we miss that part of his game so other guys have to step up.”

Alfredsson opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the game, banging home a rebound in the slot off the stick of Ramo.

“Alfie has been huge for us,” Niklas Kronwall said. “To be able to play like that is pretty remarkable and the leadership that he brings and just the person that he is, very happy for him. I’m very happy that he’s on our side.”

Kronwall fired a shot in from the blue line off the end boards and right to Datsyuk, who shot was sticked aside by Ramo and right to a wide open Alfredsson.

“I thought I had my legs a little bit more than I’ve had lately which helps create chances and be strong on the puck and also being on the receiving end of some unbelievable passes helps too,” Alfredsson said.

However, less than five minutes later the Flames got the equalizer off a pretty similar play.

Mike Cammalleri fired a shot off the end boards behind Gustavsson and it came right to the stick of Backlund and he was able to fire it into the open net before the Wings goalie could get over.

Andersson put Detroit back in front by a goal as a shot from the point by Alfredsson deflected in off his skate just past the midway point of the game.

Andersson had just got done serving a penalty for cross checking and then joined the rush led by Datsyuk.

The assist by Alfredsson was the 700th of his career.

Alfredsson looked as if he had put the Wings up two goals with a power play tally, but after a very short review it was overturned and ruled the puck never completely crossed over the goal line.

Calgary again tied things up on a power play goal from Giordano.

The Wings had just got down killing off 1:44 of 5-on-3 power play time for the Flames, but with Jonathan Ericsson still in the box for high sticking, Giordano unleashed a wrist shot to beat Gustavsson.

Tootoo ready to show he belongs in Detroit; he’ll skate on a line with Bertuzzi and Sheahan

DETROIT — Jordin Tootoo’s chance to remain in Detroit begins tonight against the Calgary Flames .

“You can’t take it as a negative,” Tootoo send about being placed on waivers by the Wings on Nov. 6 and then getting assigned to Grand Rapids after clearing. “For me personally I’ve been through a lot of crap throughout my career so this was just another bump in the road.

“Hopefully this time around I can really make a mark and solidify my spot on this team,” Tootoo added. “That being said, it’s got to be one shift at a time and one day at a time.”

Tootoo was recalled from Grand Rapids on Wednesday and will skate on a line with Todd Bertuzzi and Riley Sheahan.

“To win hockey games it’s got to take 20 guys in the dressing room,” Tootoo said. “For me it’s about creating emotion out there, energy and moving my feet. It’s not a lot to ask for, but when you play that role you have to use every shift to your full advantage and try and make a mark right off the bat.”

The Wings are winless in their last six, going 0-4-2.

“The first five minutes, first couple of shifts, for me will be key,” Tootoo said. “I need to keep my feet grounded and just get back in the swing of things.”

Tootoo, 30, was a salary-cap and roster size casualty, along with Patrick Eaves and Cory Emmerton. He was assigned to the Griffins on Nov. 14.

Tootoo played in 12 games with the Griffins, scoring a goal to go with three assists. He also had 23 penalty minutes.

“I love the game so much,” Tootoo said. “Coming to the rink every day for me is fun. When you have a job you can enjoy and wake up every morning and be around the boys it’s a lot of fun. That’s basically it. Self-pride, being committed and determined to do whatever it takes to win hockey games.”

Tootoo has played in eight games this season and has yet to record a point and is a minus-4. In 50 career games in Detroit he has three goals, five assists and 83 penalty minutes.

He has one more year left on a three-year deal that pays him $1.9 million a season.

Tootoo’s name was bantered about this offseason as possibly heading back to Nashville in a trade that would help Detroit free up cap space and trim its roster down.

Tootoo played in just one of the Wings’ 14 playoff games last season. He was also a healthy scratch in six of the final 23 games in the regular season a year ago, registering three goals, five assists and a team-high 78 penalties in 42 games in his first season in Detroit.

Despite it being a lockout-shortened 48-game regular season, Tootoo registered his highest total of fighting majors, eight, since totaling 10 in the 2008-09 season with Nashville.

Zetterberg ready to play; White could return Tuesday

DETROIT — Quick update from the Wings’ morning skate prior to tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

Henrik Zetterberg will play tonight after missing practice Thursday with a fever and sore throat.

“I had a sore throat and fever for two days,” Zetterberg said. “I feel better today. I’ll play.”

Wings coach Mike Babcock said he’ll go with the same lineup as he did Tuesday, which means Brian Lashoff will be a healthy scratch.

Ian White (leg laceration) took part in the optional practice and said he’ll be ready to play Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.

“I can’t bend it past 120 degrees, so it’s still pretty stiff,” White said. “Fortunately, skating you probably don’t bend your leg even 90 degrees, so skating’s pretty easy, no pain doing anything on the ice, just need to get that range of motion back.

“I was actually hoping to play today because I was skating for a few days now, felt fine skating but then the doctor explained if you fall and that leg jack knifes or whatever then it’ll blow everything up in there,” White added. “I’m aiming for Tuesday, we’ll see. It gets a little bit better every day and hopefully I’ll be back then.”

Babcock will wait and see as well.

“He said he’s going to go on Tuesday, I said we’ll see after practice and decide if he’s going on Tuesday,” Babcock said.

White still has stitches in his leg.

“We’ve got to keep the stitches in there as long as possible because once you start going like that, you know it would rip open if they weren’t there,” White said.

Mikael Samuelsson (groin) is getting closer to returning to the ice.

“It’s in a matter of a couple of days I’ll start skating so that’s going to be good,” Samuelsson said. “We were more cautious than we’ve been in the past. I thought I was good to go in training camp, I pulled it a little bit and this time I didn’t really pull it but it was still sore. I’m being cautious about it so it doesn’t happen again.”

Babcock didn’t seem like backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson (groin) is close to returning.

“The goaltenders there doesn’t seem to be any light here at the end of the tunnel,” Babcock said. “As a goalie if you haven’t played and you have to win every night how can you put that guy in? Howie can’t play every night, like eventually you have to have someone play.”