Detroit Red Wings Notebook: April 7th

The Wings wrapped up the 2007-2008 regular season with a 4-1 win over Chicago yesterday afternoon. There isn't much to say about the game. The Hawks put up a fair fight, but were too shorthanded to do much, and the Wings were too businesslike to let the game get out of hand.

We can hope that Jiri Hudler's goal is a sign of more to come in the post-season. Darren McCarty's feed on the goal may not become a regular event, but it looks like he's rounding into form. Dominik Hasek's performance also helped put to rest some doubts about his readiness for the playoffs.

Two defensemen with minor injuries, Brian Rafalski (neck) and Chris Chelios (groin), sat out the game for rest purposes. Derek Meech filled in for Rafalski and Jonathan Ericsson was called up late to fill in for Chelios.

Dallas Drake also had the game off, though apparenly not because of an injury. Justin Abdelkader subbed for the elder Wings forward.

Tomas Holmstrom returned from a groin injury but wasn't overwhelming.

The Wings won the Jennings Trophy for fewest team goals-against, though not without some controversy. George Malik covers that here.

Pavel Datsyuk finished with the best plus-minus in the NHL at +41. He still wasn't mentioned during the NBC broadcast as a possible Selke candidate. The old stereotype of Pavel Datsyuk as the typically offensive Russian forward persists.

Nick Lidstrom finished +40, by the way.

NHL.com is launching a re-design this week. It sounds like it'll be pretty good.