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Entries with the tag: brian+rafalski

Rafalski Talks Team USA

by Paul on 08/18/09 at 01:40 PM ET
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Rafalski Skates

by Paul on 05/11/09 at 07:37 PM ET
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from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Update from Monday’s late afternoon practice at the Honda Center: Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski participated in his first practice in 12 days, said he felt good and will be a game-time decision for Tuesday. Rafalski has missed the first five games of the series with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

“If the coaches and myself feel I can contribute in any way, then there’s a good chance I’ll play, but we’ll see what happens,’’ Rafalski said. “Until I get on the ice, I can’t really tell when I’ll be able to play. Practice went well today, skated well yesterday for 25 minutes (with the reserves before the game), a little longer today.’’

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Play Like Rafalski

by Paul on 01/14/09 at 09:43 AM ET
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from Dave Waddell of the Windsor Star,

Generously listed at five-foot-10, the 191-pound Rafalski is the poster boy for the NHL’s smaller, skilled defencemen.

“It’s nice to hear guys (scouts, general managers) say we have a Brian Rafalski-style of defenceman,” said Rafalski, who is quietly putting together a career-year with 32 points and a plus-13 through 42 games....

“He opened the door for a lot of players,” said Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill, who handles Detroit’s drafting. “You didn’t see many small defencemen in the league, Phil Housley and (Reijo) Ruotsalainen in Edmonton, but Brian can move the puck better than those guys.

“He’s made everyone sit back and look at why he’s successful. Everyone has got one (small, skilled defenceman) now.

“He’s got his own style. Small guys, if they’re going to survive, you have to play like Rafalski.”

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Afternoon Line

by Paul on 06/06/08 at 02:42 PM ET
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This is a great atmosphere here in Detroit, much better than a parking lot.

-Brian Rafalski during the Stanley Cup Parade today.

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Tuesday with Osgood, Draper, Rafalski & Lidstrom

by Alanah McGinley on 06/03/08 at 06:11 PM ET
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Q. Chris, could you talk about the mood of the team, maybe compare it as it is right now as to maybe immediately following the end of last night’s game?

CHRIS OSGOOD: We were all right after the game. We played hard. It was another great game. We just fell in the wrong end. That’s the way we looked at it. It was an end to end game. We had plenty of chances. It just didn’t happen. Sometimes it’s a game of bounces. It didn’t go our way, but we managed to fight back.

It didn’t happen. We have another opportunity tomorrow night, and that’s what we’re looking forward to.

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 Tags: brian+rafalski, chris+osgood, interviews, kris+draper, media, nik+lidstrom, transcripts,

Rafalski Enjoys Playing In Detroit

by Paul on 05/08/08 at 06:58 AM ET
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from the Star-Ledger,

There haven’t been many missteps this season for Rafalski or the Red Wings. The 34-year-old Dearborn, Mich., native has a chance to win his third Stanley Cup (he won in 2000 and ‘03 with the Devils).

“It would be crazy around here,” he said. “Personally, it would be special winning it in front of family and friends after growing up watching the Red Wings and then being part of the organization.

“Not many people were picking us to win. Everyone picked Anaheim, San Jose or the Rangers. The critics said we weren’t built for the playoffs and we didn’t have the goaltending. There was some added pressure because of the history of this team going out early in the playoffs.”

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Rafalski Activated

by Paul on 03/04/08 at 06:41 PM ET
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The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday activated defenseman Brian Rafalski from injured reserve.

Rafalski, has missed the last eight games with a groin strain

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Rafalski Out With Groin Injury

by Paul on 02/14/08 at 01:19 PM ET
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via the Detroit Free Press,

Quick update from practice: Wings coach Mike Babcock said defenseman Brian Rafalski would miss Friday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a groin injury.

Babcock said he thought Kyle Quincey would be called up to replace Rafalski in the lineup.

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Rafalski Enjoying Offensive Freedom

by Paul on 09/26/07 at 07:16 AM ET
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from the Windsor Star,

Though he hasn’t been the point producer Schneider has been in his career, Rafalski has been a steady 50-point man on a New Jersey team that wasn’t noted as an offensive juggernaut.

“It’s a big difference,” Rafalski said. “You have more freedom to jump up, join the plays. I like it.

“It’s like going back to how I played in Europe. It’s going to take me a while to get back in that mode.”

more on the Wings…

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