from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of Yahoo,

Nicholas J. Cotsonika’s weekly Three Periods column will appear on Thursdays. This week’s topics include the Red Wings’ quest for 22 straight playoff berths; NHL and NHLPA’s partnership with You Can Play; players’ opposition to hybrid icing; nagging questions about Coyotes sale; plus, added outdoor games, a rich extension for Jimmy Howard and unexpected trade deadline dividends.

Henrik Zetterberg settled into a comfortable routine in his NHL career – win at the rink, relax at home. He wasn’t the type to stress on off-nights. He didn’t need to. Why waste time and energy on worrying? Watching games and checking scores could always wait until the playoffs.

“But this year,” Zetterberg said with a laugh, “I’ve been kind of watching hockey a little bit earlier than normal.”

Zetterberg has been watching hockey every night lately, because his Detroit Red Wings are in an unfamiliar position – on the bubble. They entered Thursday night clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They had a one-point lead over the Phoenix Coyotes and a two-point lead over both the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets.

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