Detroit Red Wings 2012-2013 Season:
The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the NHL's most dominant teams over the course of the past decade and always seem to be in the thick of the Stanley Cup playoff hunt. During the 2011-12 season, the Red Wings finished with a stellar 48-28-6 record and 5th in the Western Conference. The team even set an NHL record during the regular season by posting 23 consecutive straight home wins. However, the Red Wings experienced one of their earliest exits from the postseason in years when the Nashville Predators knocked them out of the playoffs in five games. While the Red Wing faithful may have been a bit disappointed with the team's offseason moves or lack thereof, the team is still loaded with talent from top to bottom and should have more than enough firepower to stay in the upper echelon of teams in the Western Conference.
On offense, the Red Wings have one of the most potent scoring attacks in the NHL, lead by a blue line featuring Johan Franzen, Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi. Each of these players posted more than 38 points during the 2011-12 campaign and formed the backbone of the Red Wings' scoring rotation. Henrik Zetterberg and Valtteri Filppula are extremely competent backups and both scored more than 30 goals a year ago. The Red Wings also made a smart acquisition in the offseason by signing winger Jordin Tootoo to an inexpensive contract to provide solid depth.
Defensively, the Red Wings are extremely stout from one end of their roster to the other, and it all starts up front with the rotation of Niklas Kronwall and Ian White. The two defensemen were an absolute force on the Red Wings' power play and penalty kill opportunities and are fantastic mentors to younger players like Jonathan Ericsson and Kyle Quincey, who are expected to play a larger role this year. At goaltender, Jimmy Howard posted an impressive .920 save percentage in his first year replacing Chris Osgood, while Jonas Gustavsson will provide solid depth for the squad in the net.
The Red Wings will open up the 2012-13 campaign with a revenge matchup against the Nashville Predators, Friday, October 12 at home. However, the team scored one of the marquee matchups on the NHL calendar when they will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Winter Classic at The Big House at the University of Michigan. Eager to bounce back after a disappointing playoff exit, the Red Wings have the talent and experience to be a serious threat in the playoff hunt during the coming season.
DETROIT RED WINGS EXPERIENCE:
Founded: 1926
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Stadium: Joe Louis Arena
Conference: Western Conference
Division: Central Division
Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Titles: 11: Last Stanley Cup Title - 2007-08
Detroit Red Wings Conference Championships: 6
Notable Players: Norm Ullman, "Black" Jack Stewart, Gordie Howe, Paul Coffey & Steve Yzerman
Detroit Red Wings play hockey in the Central Division of the Western Conference of the (NHL). The Red Wings were founded in 1926 as the Detroit Cougars, one of the “original Six” NHL teams. The team changed its nickname to the Falcons in 1930, as they struggled to find success. After merging with an AHL team from Chicago and changing the name to the Red Wings, the team began to win, getting its first Stanley Cup in 1936. The team would be a contender from then on, especially once legend Gordie Howe joined the team in 1946. Howe would help the Detroit Red Wings win 4 Stanley Cups. The 1970's were a dismal era in Detroit hockey, but their fortunes would change when the Wings drafted Steve Yzerman in 1983. With Yzerman and Sergei Federov, among others, the Red Wings would win two more Stanley Cups in the ‘90s and dominate their division nearly every year.
The Detroit Red Wings play their home games at Joe Louis Arena in “Hockeytown” - Detroit, Michigan. The arena holds more than 20,000 spectators. Walking through the west entrance, known as the “Gordie Howe Entrance”, you won't be able to ignore the hockey history that you're now a witness to. Buy Detroit Red Wings tickets and watch this great team make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals!
See Also:
Detroit Red Wings Playoff tickets
Detroit Red Wings Season Preview History