Wings, Blackhawks on heat alert despite The Joe’s rep for excellent ice

It was a common refrain around Joe Louis Arena on Monday as the Red Wings and Blackhawks prepared for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals: The ice in Detroit is among the best in the league.

Red Wings gird for ‘response’ from Blackhawks in key game tonight

After crushing the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 Saturday in Game 2, the Red Wings entertain the Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena on Monday night expect a different Chicago team from the one they played Saturday afternoon.

Wings’ Damien Brunner sees big hockey gains in native Switzerland

There will be plenty of dinners to pay off in the days ahead for forward Damien Brunner. You see, Brunner's native country of Switzerland was defeated Sunday in the finals of the world championships by Sweden 5-2.

Once-grizzled Wings proving youth is served in postseason

In between the hyperbolic extremes, the Wings are finding rejuvenation and balance, and a whole lot of energy. They come churning into Joe Louis Arena tonight brimming with possibilities that keep growing, and you can bet the crowd will be amped.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 1 -- Game 2

Viktor Stalberg returns, looking for mismatches in Red Wings’ defense

Viktor Stalberg will be back in the lineup after sitting out the first two games as a healthy scratch. The only question just hours before faceoff, however, was who was coming out of the lineup.

Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg's leadership is understated, but undeniable

Zetterberg is traversing one of the toughest seasons a captain of the Red Wings has faced, arguably in decades.

Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk reaches semifinals of ‘NHL 14’ cover vote

Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk defeated Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul in the quarterfinals of fan voting to be featured on the cover of the EA Sports video game "NHL 14."

Damien Brunner finds a home on Red Wings' third line

With four goals in the playoffs, and goals in both games in this series against Chicago, Brunner has been a key figure for the Red Wings offensively. The line of Brunner, Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist has been a revelation.

Game 3 keys: Wings’ Howard vs. Blackhawks’ Crawford an intriguing subplot

Keep an eye on the goaltending matchup between Jimmy Howard and Chicago's Corey Crawford. Howard was sharp in Game 2, and though certainly not peppered with shots (only 20), he made a key stop when needed.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 1 -- Game 2

Red Wings get under the Blackhawks' skin -- and right back in the series

They found their legs. And then they used them. Again and again, shift after shift, the Red Wings did, pulling together until they’d pulled even, skating away with Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 1 -- Game 2

What they’re saying: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks

What some writers are saying about the Red Wings-Blackhawks series after two games.

Saturday’s Game 5 in Wings-Blackhawks series starts at 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Game 5 of the Red Wings-Blackhawks Western Conference semifinal series will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The game is in Chicago and will be televised by NBC.

Niklas Kronwall's younger brother captains Sweden to 9th world hockey crown

Staffan Kronwall, 30, captained Team Sweden, which became the first team to win the world title on home ice since the Soviet Union in 1986. Vancouver's Henrik Sedin had two goals and an assist in the gold-medal game win over Switzerland.

Sunday's NHL playoffs roundup: Sens beat Pens in 2nd OT

Ottawa —Colin Greening wore six stitches on his left cheek, and a wide smile, after Ottawa's double overtime playoff victory against Pittsburgh.

Red Wings dominate Blackhawks to tie up series

The Red Wings had 30 shots on net and limited Chicago to 20 on Saturday. That was a reversal from Game 1 (42-21 Chicago edge), as was the fact the Red Wings ...

Red Wings’ Brendan Smith bounces back after subpar Game 1

Singled out by most analysts and fans for a subpar Game 1, Smith scored the eventual winning goal Saturday in the 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks that evened ...

Red Wings flip a switch, come to life in Game 2

Game 2 made it clear the Blackhawks do not walk on water. It also proved the Red Wings still can skate like mad on it, frozen. It is far easier for coaches and ...

3 stars of the Red Wings’ Game 2 victory

Henrik Zetterberg assisted on two goals, including the winner when he raced past the Blackhawks defense and fed Brendan Smith late in the second period. ...

Blackhawks take notice: Red Wings won’t be pushovers

For a team that had the league’s best regular-season record and that’s been equally dominant in the playoffs, Saturday’s 4-1 loss wasn’t appealing. The ...

Sharks beat Kings in OT to avoid going down 3-0

Logan Couture scored a power-play goal 1:29 into overtime to help the San Jose Sharks bounce back from two losses in Los Angeles. Game 4 is Tuesday night in ...

After a little rest, don’t count Red Wings out yet

Oh, the Red Wings are outmanned, and it was evident in Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss. But after practicing at Joe Louis Arena on Friday before hopping on the ...

Friday's NHL roundup: Sidney Crosby's hat trick powers Penguins

Working in wide-open swaths of ice left by Ottawa’s tentative defense, the Pittsburgh superstar needed just over one period to complete his second playoff hat ...

Red Wings not alarmed by third-period struggles

So far in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, third periods are not the Red Wings’ best phase. The Blackhawks and Ducks have outscored them, 15-5. But how much does ...

Blackhawks taking aim at greatness

Recent history suggests they can’t. The salary cap is designed so they won’t. But that won’t stop the Blackhawks from trying to become the kind of team that ...

Red Wings' Drew Miller declares he’s ready to play

Help is on the way. Maybe. Red Wings forward Drew Miller (broken bone, hand) could be in the lineup for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday ...

Criticism of Red Wings' Brendan Smith puzzles player, coach

Nobody on the Red Wings played particularly well in Game 1 of their playoff series against the Blackhawks, but few seemed to take the abuse on social media and ...

Red Wings' Mule is in need of a kick-start

Somebody better kick the Mule again. And they’d better do it while the Red Wings are still alive and kicking because they’re probably not going to be for long ...

Red Wings-Blackhawks rivalry was at its pinnacle in 1964, 1966

Just a few years before, the Blackhawks won a Stanley Cup. A few years before that, the Red Wings had won several of them. The Hawks were an offensive ...