Wings coach Jeff Blashill was asked what he hopes to see from Hicketts this time around.

"It's not being erratic, not making big mistakes. It's a hard balance for Joe because he's a gamer. He wants to go make plays. He wants to make things happen," Blashill said. "You want to be able to do those things without making the big mistakes and causing the big chances against. I think that's the biggest thing.

"Again I think we've been successful here the last little bit because we've been able to avoid for the most part those big, big mistakes. If he can play his game without making those big mistakes then he's a real effective hockey player. I like Joe a lot. He's a real good player."

Hicketts has tirelessly worked on his game in Grand Rapids and knows what area he must improve upon to become an everyday NHL player.

"You can always work on your speed and quickness and agility in the corners. Up here it's a complete different level," Hicketts said. "You look at who we're playing tonight, (Sidney) Crosby, (Phil) Kessel, guys who have proven, not only this year but throughout their careers, which have spanned 10, 12, 14 years, that they're annual top-point producers. To be able to keep up with them, you have to be able to contain them in the corner and be able to close on them quick.

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