April 26, 2004
BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
The Red Wings are in the playoffs, and once again, captain Steve Yzerman is picking his spots -- when to speak, where to go, when to shoot, when to show emotion.
"He's our guy," defenseman Mathieu Dandenault said. "Even after the knee injury he had, he's still our guy."
Yzerman had major knee surgery in August 2002, and he played only 16 regular-season and four playoff games last season.
But at age 38, he came back and played 75 regular-season games, the most since he played 78 in 1999-2000. He produced 18 goals and 33 assists, the most since his 18 goals and 34 assists in 2000-01.
Now, in eight playoff games, he has scored three goals and added two assists.
And more.
Yzerman doesn't always make himself available to the news media. But he does it more often this time of year, especially after losses.
Let's face it: He doesn't love giving interviews, and he might feel it's less important for him to comment after a November victory over Columbus than it is after a pivotal playoff game, especially if he wasn't an important player on that particular night.
But it's more than that. He knows more reporters are around now. He knows if he speaks, his teammates won't have to say as much. And he also knows when he speaks, people listen. He can try to set the tone, to keep people from overreacting to the ebbs and flows of a series.
When the Wings ran into trouble in the first round against Nashville -- losing two straight, allowing the series to be tied -- Yzerman did what he had done so many times before. He said he wasn't surprised, the Predators were a good team, the Wings knew this would be tough, and so on.
When the Wings lost the second-round opener to Calgary on Thursday night . . . you guessed it. Without being asked, Yzerman came out, grabbed a sports drink, stood in front of the cameras, microphones and notebooks, and said the Wings would be fine if they stayed patient and played their game.
"He's definitely the leader," Darren McCarty said.
Yzerman produced no points and rated minus-4 as the Wings opened the playoffs 2-2. He can be criticized for that.
But he responded with a goal, two assists and a plus-3 rating as the Wings won two straight and eliminated the Predators. The goal gave him 68 playoff goals, and he passed Gordie Howe as the Wings' all-time leading playoff goal-scorer.
Yzerman produced no points and rated even as the Wings lost Thursday night. He can be criticized for that, too.
But he responded with two goals and a plus-2 rating as the Wings beat the Flames on Saturday, 5-2.
"That's why he's the player he is," associate coach Barry Smith said. "He has the ability to raise his level at certain times."
Yzerman didn't create the plays that led to the goals he scored Saturday. Dandenault and Kirk Maltby made great passes.
But Yzerman knew where to go on the ice and knew where to put the puck -- easier said than done.
In Game 1, the Wings had lost in large part because they had failed to add to a 1-0 lead. In Game 2, Yzerman gave the Wings a 2-0 lead, then a 3-0 lead, and the rout was on.
"Stevie's a gamer," Dandenault said. "When your leaders are playing really well, it's just easy for everybody else to follow suit."
Yzerman rarely shows emotion, even when he scores or reaches a milestone. But after each of his goals Saturday, he pumped his left arm, and people noticed.
"Not to say he hasn't had it, but I think he had that look in his eye that I think most captains have when it's time for a big win and a big performance," forward Ray Whitney said. "He was nothing short of spectacular in the way he played and the energy he showed."