The Detroit Red Wings closed out their preseason schedule this week as the regular season draws near. Here’s the team of the week for the final week of the preseason.
Team of the Week
Goalie-Jimmy Howard
Defenseman-Joe Hicketts
Defenseman-Xavier Ouellet
Forward-Gustav Nyquist
Forward-Michael Rasmussen
Forward-Matt Lorito
Jimmy Howard
For the second consecutive week, Howard is our top goalie. He started two games for the Wings and finished with 34 saves on 38 shots combined. This has been a fairly solid preseason for Howard and you have to like what you’ve seen so far from him.
Joe Hicketts
Despite being sent down to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday, Hicketts had himself a solid week on both ends of the ice. He finished the week with two assists and had some big hits against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
Hicketts definitely played his heart out this week in hopes that he would sway the coaching staff to give him a role on the first team. This won’t be the last you see of him this season.
Xavier Ouellet
The Red Wings defensive unit saw limited offensive production and most of the normal starters did not play much. Ouellet had a nice week which included an empty net goal. He also had a plus/minus rating of +2.
Gustav Nyquist
Nyquist finished the week with a goal and an assist. He has looked great in the appearances he has made during the preseason. Hopefully, he can carry the momentum into the regular season. The Wings could really use a big year out of him offensively.
Michael Rasmussen
A three-goal week from Rasmussen was not expected but the 18-year-old made the most of his playing time and made some nice plays along the way. His performance should leave Red Wings fans excited about the future that is ahead of this talented young player.
Matt Lorito
Lorito was the hero of the Red Wings shootout win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. The forward scored a great goal in the third period of that game as well.
Come back next week for the first edition of the regular season team of the week.