PLYMOUTH, Mich. — A new era in Red Wings hockey got off to a great start for its new leader.
Henrik Zetterberg was named the Red Wings new captain in a press conference held a little over an hour before the Wings held a Red-White scrimmage at the Compuware Arena in Plymouth. Fittingly, Zetterberg ended up scoring the game-winner in the scrimmage for Team Red.
The Grand Rapids Griffins also took part in the game, and both teams in the scrimmage had Red Wings and Griffins players. The Compuware Arena was overflowing with Red Wings fans looking for their first taste of game action since the NHL lockout ended.
It was Team White that opened the scoring in the first period thanks to a Grand Rapids Griffin. Trevor Parkes beat Jonas Gustavsson in the final minute to give Team White a 1-0 lead after one period of play. Earlier in the day, the AHL announced a one-game suspension for Parkes for a boarding incident in a game at Rockford last Friday. Parkes will sit out tomorrow’s Griffins game in Charlotte.
The Red Team even the score early in the second period. Drew Miller buried a rebound off a Jordin Tootoo shot past Jimmy Howard. Cory Emmerton also got an assist on the play.
Team White retook the lead when Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan knocked down a shot by Kyle Quincey and bounced it of off Gustavsson. Team Red would tie it back up with a redirect of their own. Griffins forward Louis-Marc Aubry tipped a Jonathan Ericsson shot past Howard.
Zetterberg would end the scoring in the second period. New Red Wings forward Damien Brunner charged the net hard with the puck drawing both defenseman allowing Zetterberg to come in and push Brunner’s rebound past Howard for the eventual game-winner. Brunner and Zetterberg played on the same line in a league in Switzerland during the NHL lockout.
Griffins defenseman Nathan Paetsch added the final goal in the third period.
The Red Wings will take Wednesday off and finish camp with practices on Thursday and Friday. Detroit opens the season Saturday in St. Louis against the Blues.
