March 10, 2015

by Brendan Savage – mlive.com
____________________________

Teemu Pulkkinen is plenty familiar with the route between Grand Rapids.

In the past 62 days, the rookie sniper has traveled across I-96 five times while splitting time between the Detroit Red Wings and their top farm club, the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

But Pulkkinen's traveling days may be over soon if he has many more performances like the one Monday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Pulkkinen had his first multi-point game in the NHL, scoring one goal and assisting on another as the Red Wings snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Oilers 5-2 at Joe Louis Arena.

"I feel good," said Pulkkinen, who was recalled from Grand Rapids Saturday. "I just like to play hard every game, every night. I can't think, just play with good energy and great defense and just go out there and have fun. That's what I have to do. I think I'm doing that right now.

"I feel better and better every day. Every day is a new day for me. This kind of game, when you win and get some goals, it builds your confidence. At the moment I feel good."

Pulkkinen scored what proved to be the winning goal midway through the third period, when he beat Edmonton goaltender Ben Scrivens with a wrist shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.

Pavel Datsyuk carried the puck into the Edmonton zone and sent it toward the net, where Pulkkinen gained control and fired it over Scrivens' shoulder into the top left corner of the net to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead with 9:20 remaining.

"I really can't remember what happened," he said. "I got the puck and tried to shoot it right away. I think it was a great pass. It was kind of a quick wrist shot. It just bounced to me. I tried to put it high and I got lucky it went in."

The goal was Pulkkinen's third in 14 games with the Red Wings this season. He has struggled to score in the NHL despite leading the AHL in both goals (34) and points (61).

Pulkkinen has scored once during each of his three stints with the Red Wings. He scored his first NHL goal in his sixth game with the Red Wings before returning to Grand Rapids, tallied again during his second stint and then connected vs. the Oilers.

"I think it takes you a couple times," said coach Mike Babcock. "He's totally dominated the American Hockey League. Obviously he's ready for the next level. He'll figure out how not to check himself.

"He's used to being able to drift around and find space (in the AHL). There's not as much space so he's go to learn to find his space. Once he does that, he'll become a real good player."

Pulkkinen, who appeared in three games with the Red Wings last season but failed to register a point, said he's getting more and more comfortable with each NHL game he plays.

He drew his first NHL assist in the second period, when Riley Sheahan scored to give Detroit a 2-1 lead. Pulkkinen got the puck in the corner, sent it to Gustav Nyquist near the right post and Nyquist fed Sheahan in front of the net.

"Guys are stronger here," said Pulkkinen, 23. "I have to play hard every single game and every single shift. That's the biggest thing. That's what I'm doing all the time. I get focused on the game, give my all and all my energy. It worked tonight.

"It was great to score. We got a couple goals. It feels good, but we won the game and that's the biggest thing. We got two points and that's great."

The Red Wings love Pulkkinen's booming shot and the fact that it comes from the right side is a bonus since they're overloaded with lefties.

"He's got such a great shot," said goaltender Jimmy Howard, who made 36 saves. "I think the more and more he plays, the more confident he becomes. He's finding open spots where he's able to get off those little snap offs.

"It's great to see. He's a great kid, works extremely hard. It's great to see his hard work paying off."

Learning where to go on the ice to score in the NHL might be Pulkkinen's biggest challenge.

Pulkkinen been given the green light to shoot whenever he gets the puck but that hasn't always been easy. He's been held to one shot four times and didn't get any in another game.

It's probably no coincidence that he scored his second NHL goal Feb. 26 in San Jose, where he had a career-high six shots in a 3-2 victory.

"He's just finding ways to get his shot off," said Justin Abdelkader, whose empty-net goal against Edmonton made it 4-2 with 1:04 left. "That's the big thing for him here. Obviously in Grand Rapids he's a proven goal scorer. He's trying to do it here at this level and it's not as easy.

"It's a bit quicker than down in Grand Rapids, but he's finding ways to get open and get his stick open. If he gets the puck right in that slot, I think nine times out of 10 it's going to go in."

There's also one more thing the Red Wings like about Pulkkinen - they've won all three games in which he's scored.

March 10, 2015

by Brendan Savage – mlive.com
____________________________

Teemu Pulkkinen is plenty familiar with the route between Grand Rapids.

In the past 62 days, the rookie sniper has traveled across I-96 five times while splitting time between the Detroit Red Wings and their top farm club, the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

But Pulkkinen's traveling days may be over soon if he has many more performances like the one Monday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Pulkkinen had his first multi-point game in the NHL, scoring one goal and assisting on another as the Red Wings snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Oilers 5-2 at Joe Louis Arena.

"I feel good," said Pulkkinen, who was recalled from Grand Rapids Saturday. "I just like to play hard every game, every night. I can't think, just play with good energy and great defense and just go out there and have fun. That's what I have to do. I think I'm doing that right now.

"I feel better and better every day. Every day is a new day for me. This kind of game, when you win and get some goals, it builds your confidence. At the moment I feel good."

Pulkkinen scored what proved to be the winning goal midway through the third period, when he beat Edmonton goaltender Ben Scrivens with a wrist shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.

Pavel Datsyuk carried the puck into the Edmonton zone and sent it toward the net, where Pulkkinen gained control and fired it over Scrivens' shoulder into the top left corner of the net to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead with 9:20 remaining.

"I really can't remember what happened," he said. "I got the puck and tried to shoot it right away. I think it was a great pass. It was kind of a quick wrist shot. It just bounced to me. I tried to put it high and I got lucky it went in."

The goal was Pulkkinen's third in 14 games with the Red Wings this season. He has struggled to score in the NHL despite leading the AHL in both goals (34) and points (61).

Pulkkinen has scored once during each of his three stints with the Red Wings. He scored his first NHL goal in his sixth game with the Red Wings before returning to Grand Rapids, tallied again during his second stint and then connected vs. the Oilers.

"I think it takes you a couple times," said coach Mike Babcock. "He's totally dominated the American Hockey League. Obviously he's ready for the next level. He'll figure out how not to check himself.

"He's used to being able to drift around and find space (in the AHL). There's not as much space so he's go to learn to find his space. Once he does that, he'll become a real good player."

Pulkkinen, who appeared in three games with the Red Wings last season but failed to register a point, said he's getting more and more comfortable with each NHL game he plays.

He drew his first NHL assist in the second period, when Riley Sheahan scored to give Detroit a 2-1 lead. Pulkkinen got the puck in the corner, sent it to Gustav Nyquist near the right post and Nyquist fed Sheahan in front of the net.

"Guys are stronger here," said Pulkkinen, 23. "I have to play hard every single game and every single shift. That's the biggest thing. That's what I'm doing all the time. I get focused on the game, give my all and all my energy. It worked tonight.

"It was great to score. We got a couple goals. It feels good, but we won the game and that's the biggest thing. We got two points and that's great."

The Red Wings love Pulkkinen's booming shot and the fact that it comes from the right side is a bonus since they're overloaded with lefties.

"He's got such a great shot," said goaltender Jimmy Howard, who made 36 saves. "I think the more and more he plays, the more confident he becomes. He's finding open spots where he's able to get off those little snap offs.

"It's great to see. He's a great kid, works extremely hard. It's great to see his hard work paying off."

Learning where to go on the ice to score in the NHL might be Pulkkinen's biggest challenge.

Pulkkinen been given the green light to shoot whenever he gets the puck but that hasn't always been easy. He's been held to one shot four times and didn't get any in another game.

It's probably no coincidence that he scored his second NHL goal Feb. 26 in San Jose, where he had a career-high six shots in a 3-2 victory.

"He's just finding ways to get his shot off," said Justin Abdelkader, whose empty-net goal against Edmonton made it 4-2 with 1:04 left. "That's the big thing for him here. Obviously in Grand Rapids he's a proven goal scorer. He's trying to do it here at this level and it's not as easy.

"It's a bit quicker than down in Grand Rapids, but he's finding ways to get open and get his stick open. If he gets the puck right in that slot, I think nine times out of 10 it's going to go in."

There's also one more thing the Red Wings like about Pulkkinen - they've won all three games in which he's scored.