Red Wings: Notebook

Top-rated Nick Lidstrom isn't concerned about scoring slip

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Detroit -- During the Hall of Fame festivities last weekend in Toronto, inductee Brian Leetch was asked by the Hockey News for an assessment of Red Wings defenseman Nick Lidstrom.

"I tell people, the game's not as easy as Nick makes it look," Leech said. "That's the biggest compliment I can give him. He does it all and he does it efficiently."

The Hockey News, in its Nov. 16 edition, assembled a panel of general managers and scouts that included the Wings' Jim Nill, Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford and Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, and determined that Lidstrom, at age 39, still is the best defenseman in the game.

He was voted to have the best first pass, be the best shutdown player and top mentor, plus the best point shot in the NHL.

Lidstrom himself might question that last one. About the only area where Lidstrom's game has shown even the slightest decline has been his offensive production.

"Yeah, usually I have more points than I have now," Lidstrom said after the Wings' morning skate Saturday, ahead of the night's 7-4 victory over the Ducks at Joe Louis Arena.

This season, Lidstrom has just one goal and six assists -- including one Saturday -- while averaging just 2.1 shots per game.

"It's nothing I'm concerned about, as long as the team is playing well," Lidstrom said. "The team has started playing a lot better the last five or six games and I care a lot more about that than my own stats."

Rightly so, and to talk about Lidstrom's offensive production when he leads the team with a plus-10 rating is nitpicking, for sure. But the concern, as always, is how much his right elbow, which has troubled him the past couple of years, is hampering his shooting.

"Not at all," he said. "The elbow is holding its own. It's doing fine."

Yet, Lidstrom's shots have gone down the last three seasons.

"I know I can do a better job at getting more shots through and shooting the puck more than I do now," he said. "Usually my production is up a little bit more than this, but I am not overly worried about."

Ice chips

Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch presented captain Lidstrom with a limited edition Waterford Crystal globe before the game, honoring him for achieving the 1,000-point milestone earlier this season.

... Kirk Maltby took part in the morning skate and declared himself flu-free, but he was scratched from the game nevertheless. Coach Mike Babcock kept all four lines together, including the fourth line of Justin Abdelkader, Brad May and Drew Miller.

... Chris Osgood still hadn't kicked the flu and was not at the rink Saturday morning. Jimmy Howard got his third straight start and stopped 19 of 23 shots.

... The Ducks were without Saku Koivu (groin) and Ryan Carter (foot).

chris.mccosky@detnews.com