Wings' Zetterberg turns into Captain Milestone

Detroit — The start hasn't been what the Red Wings expected this season, but you can't blame the captain.

Henrik Zetterberg has easily been one of the Red Wings' best players this season.

Zetterberg leads the team in scoring (14 points, three goals and 11 assists) and has shown leadership and calmness while the Red Wings have navigated through rough waters.

Saturday, with the Red Wings mired in a slump where they'd lost six of seven games, Zetterberg again was crucial in a 5-3 victory.

And in the process, he achieved some career milestones.

Zetterberg's two assists Saturday pushed him past 800 career NHL points (801) and past the 500 assist mark (501).

His next goal will be No. 300.

"He would have had another (milestone) if that empty netter would have went in," coach Jeff Blashill told reporters of an empty-net chance Zetterberg just missed on during the closing seconds Saturday. "Good for him. He's got lots of career left in him, but it's a good milestone."

Zetterberg, 35, has put last season's second-half offensive fade to distant memory with October's quick start.

Playing with Dylan Larkin and Justin Abdelkader, Zetterberg's line has been the Red Wings' one consistent offensive threat during the season's opening month.

Healthy and motivated, Zetterberg didn't dwell on his milestones after Saturday's victory.

"(Drew) Miller told me a few games ago that I was close," Zetterberg said. "I'm happy I reached it. I played with a lot of great players. I got to thank them."

Playing along side Zetterberg has been a thrill for Larkin, who is a Waterford native and grew up a Red Wings fan and a fan of Zetterberg's.

"It's incredible just to sit next him in the locker room and see how it works and then just to play with him. He's probably the best player I've ever played with," Larkin said. "Just how poised he is and calm with the puck and he's an even better guy.

"A great leader. I couldn't be happier for him."

Offensive defensive

The Wings received an offensive jolt from their defense in Saturday's win over the Senators.

Jonathan Ericsson and Danny DeKeyser both scored goals, and Niklas Kronwall had two assists, as the defense showed the production the Red Wings' have needed.

Blashill saw signs signs of it in Friday's loss to Ottawa.

"The seed was kind of planted (Friday)," Blashill said. "Our 'D' did a great job (Friday) getting up in the play. We had lots of clips of them joining the play, having four (players) in the attack, that continued tonight (Saturday).

"We were able to get results. We're not always going to get results but I thought we did a good job in terms of them being active."

Nyquist the horse

Gustav Nyquist had a goal and assist Saturday, keying the Red Wings' win.

Equally as enjoyable for him was seeing Nyquist, a 2-year-old horse who won Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile race Saturday in Lexington, Ky.

Nyquist (the horse) is owned by Windsor, Ontario, native J. Paul Reddam, an avid Red Wings fan who has named several of his horses after Red Wings players.

Saturday's victory firmly establishes Nyquist as an early favorite for May's Kentucky Derby.

Nyquist has won all five of his races.

Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill (Dearborn) won the first two legs of the 2012 Triple Crown with I'll Have Another, before the horse was injured.

Ice chips

The Red Wings were off Sunday after back-to-back games.

…Goalie Petr Mrazek made 33 saves and earned the victory Saturday in Ottawa where Mrazek starred in junior hockey for three seasons.
"I have good memories of Ottawa," Mrazek said.

…Saturday's goal was the first game-winning goal of Larkin's career.