Babcock: Red Wings must stay out of penalty box

Mike Babcock’s key for the Red Wings to climbing back in the series against the San Jose Sharks? Avoid going to the penalty box, of course. Which is easier said than done when your team is the target of an obvious conspricacy (said with complete sarcasm, by the way.)

Per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News:

“We got 31 shots (in Game 2) and we were in the box 10 times,” Babcock said. “Just think if you’re not in the box 10 times. You’re not even giving yourself a chance to compete in the series, in my opinion, if you are in the penalty box all the time.”

It’s a simple formula really: outwork and outplay the Sharks, something the Red Wings didn’t do in the first two games, and the penalties should start to even out.

If Detroit is obviously outplaying San Jose yet is still getting shorted when it comes to the penalty calls, then perhaps there might be something to all the complaining.