As much as they are known for their skill and talent, the Detroit Red Wings take the most pride in being the hardest-working team on the ice, so they're a bit embarrassed to admit that hasn't been the case thus far in their Western Conference first-round series against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Preparing for Game 4 Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena, the Coyotes led the best-of-seven set 2-1 and Wings coach Mike Babcock acknowledges that Phoenix is full marks for its advantage.
"They've been the better team in two of the games," Babcock said. "I don't think we can be disappointed in the results so far. We can be disappointed in our execution, we can be disappointed in our battle level, but not in the results so far. It's been fair."
Detroit forward Dan Cleary echoed his coach's sentiments. "They worked harder than us," Cleary said. "That's not something you like saying, but that's the reality and now we have to play better."
Babcock appreciated that his team was aware of their shortcomings.
"That's a clear statement to us that we've got to be better," Babcock said. "We understand that. We're not making any excuses for ourselves. We've got to be better. We understand that totally."
Injury updates
The Coyotes were anticipating that centre Vernon Fiddler (upper-body injury) would return to the lineup for Game 4, and were cautiously optimistic that captain Shane Doan (upper-body injury) might also be able to go.
Fiddler, who missed Game 3 after falling into the boards late in Game 2, participated in practice Monday, while Doan, who was hurt early in the second period of Game 3 when he crashed into the boards, skated briefly just prior to the Coyotes taking the ice.
"He was better (Monday)," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said of Doan. "We'll list him as day-to-day. He'll probably skate (Tuesday) morning and we'll see where he's at.
"I think we'll get a good indication (Tuesday) morning whether he's going to be able to play. He was in good spirits, so that's positive."
Both Tippett and Fiddler seemed certain that barring some overnight setback, he'd be suiting up for Game 4.
"Fidd's went through a good practice (Monday)," Tippett said. "We'll see how he is (Tuesday), but he looks like he's ready to go."
"I felt pretty good for the most part of the practice," Fiddler said. "It's something that gets better and better as the days go on. We'll have a little skate Tuesday morning and hopefully, I'll be good to go."
Detroit defenceman Brian Rafalski, who left Sunday's game briefly with what was believed to be a back ailment, didn't participate in Monday's practice. "He had a maintenance day," Babcock said. "He'll play (Tuesday)."
Babcock didn't anticipate any Game 4 lineup changes. "Not at this point, no," he said, before adding a caveat. "But the good thing about being the coach is you have the right to change your mind."
Bryzgalov honoured
Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was among the three Vezina Trophy finalists announced Monday by the NHL, but he took the recognition to be more of a team thing than an individual achievement.
"It's a big honour for me, and I think for all my teammates, because we were nominated for the Vezina Trophy," said Bryzgalov, who will be up against New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and Buffalo's Ryan Miller for the award.
Howie doings
Detroit sports talk radio was ablaze with demands that Detroit pull rookie goalie Jimmy Howard and replace him with the more playoff-tested Chris Osgood, a notion that even Osgood found to be amusing, having faced his share of fan criticism over his years in Detroit.
"I've been done with that for years," Osgood said. "It's his turn now, but I can help him out with that."
Osgood, a three-time Stanley Cup winner, has served as mentor to Howard all season long, and was there for him again after Howard struggled in Game 3. "I said 'Let's not dwell on something that's already happened,'" Osgood said. "'You can't change it. Move on from it.' That's what we've done."
He advised Howard to go home after Sunday's loss and think about anything but the game.
"The biggest thing is when you're done here, go away and don't think about hockey," Osgood said. "Be mentally fresh when (Game 4) starts." At the same time, Osgood recognized that taking such an approach is something he's learned over time.
"It's hard to let things go," Osgood said. "You kind of learn as you go along. He's already got the mental makeup to be able to do it. Now he's got to be able to use those tools to shut that out of his mind and not think about hockey when he's at his house."
