The Red Wings had a meeting, like they usually do, then an optional skate, like they usually do, and then scattered to do their own thing, like they usually do.
The emphasis yesterday was on keeping things normal, as normal as possible, anyway, given that a victory tonight would unleash sheer, unadulterated jubilation. The Red Wings have won three games in the Stanley Cup final against the Penguins and play Game 5 tonight, at home, no less. Attaining normalcy under these conditions takes a superhuman effort.
"We want to get out there as soon as possible," Johan Franzen said. "We're happy to be in this situation. But I'm going to try to prepare the same as I've done for every game this year and not change anything. I try to see it as another game -- a pretty important one, but we have to play the same way we've been playing. We've got to not feel nervous."
The Red Wings came out flat at home against Dallas in Game 5 the last round, and as a result were handed a 2-1 defeat, their only loss at Joe Louis Arena all playoffs. Now comes another opportunity to clinch a series at home, and the lessons learned against the Stars should pay off.
"Dallas came in here and played really well," Nicklas Lidstrom said. "I thought we had some good chances in the second half of the game, but that's a good reminder that you can't take anything for granted in the playoffs, and especially not when you're in the finals. I think it helps having a veteran group that's been there before and knows what we have to do here."
Game 4 against the Penguins marked the first time the team that scored first in this series didn't go on to win, but the Red Wings, naturally, want to get the coveted first goal tonight, because throughout the playoffs they've played better with the lead than trailing. Above all, the focus is on continuing to play good team defense and let the offense flow from that. In other words, keep to the status quo.
"I'll do the same thing I did all year and through the playoffs," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "We had our meeting today like we do, went through our game like we always do. We'll have a power-play meeting [today.] We'll have a penalty-kill meeting, regular meeting. It will be no different."
He's back
Tomas Holmstrom said he will be back in the lineup after missing Game 4 because of a hamstring injured, delighting teammates.
Holmstrom said there's nothing worse than having to be a cheerleader rather than a player, but he and the trainers had to make the sensible decision.
"We didn't want to risk me really pulling it and then I'd be gone for the rest of the playoffs," he said. "So, it worked out good."
First Published: June 2, 2008, 4:00 a.m.
