The last chance to vote in Operation Bobblehead.

Three Detroit Red Wings players are battling it out in the final round of Operation Bobblehead, which will determine what player will join teammates Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Danny Cleary and Nicklas Lidstrom as players to be featured in the Red Wings’ season-long Bobblehead Thursday promotion.

Justin Abdelkader, Todd Bertuzzi and Niklas Kronwall are the three finalists fighting to claim right to that remaining bobblehead.

Voting is underway now through Monday, Aug. 29.

VOTE HERE!

Red Wings’ 2011-12 Bobblehead Giveaway Schedule
Oct. 13 vs. Vancouver – PAVEL DATSYUK
Nov. 3 vs. Calgary – HENRIK ZETTERBERG
Dec. 8 vs. Phoenix – JOHAN FRANZEN
Jan. 12 vs. Phoenix – DANNY CLEARY
Feb. 23 vs. Vancouver – Winner of the Last Vote!
April 5 vs. New Jersey – NICKLAS LIDSTROM

Over at Hockeytown Beat we’re going to start your morning off just right with the latest morning headlines (Playoffs Edition!) around the web about your Detroit Red Wings. So sit down, grab a cup of coffee and read on about all the latest Red Wings goodness you can absorb this morning.

Here is your morning scan of headlines around the web about your Detroit Red Wings, brought to you by Hockeytown Beat:

Coyotes take a Pavel pummeling in Game 1 >> Detroit News

Red Wings dominate second period, beat Phoenix 4-2 in Game 1 of first round >> MLive.com

Red Wings seize momentum, take Game 1 >> Detroit Free Press

Breakdown: Game 1 vs. Phoenix >> DetroitRedWings.com

Todd Bertuzzi appreciative of fans’ support after fight in Game 1 >> MLive.com

Johan Franzen breaks slump, helps Wings take Game 1 >> Detroit News

Redemption? Maybe not, but Bertuzzi earns his reward >> Sporting News

Penalty-kill lifts Wings in Game 1 >> DetroitRedWings.com

Johan Franzen breaks loose as Red Wings beat Coyotes >> USA Today

Five keys to Game 1: Todd Bertuzzi’s fight, Jimmy Howard’s saves crucial >> Detroit News

Mike Modano vows to stay ‘ready’ after healthy scratch in game one >> MLive.com

Video of the Day:

Todd Bertuzzi goes at it with Phoenix’s Rostislav Klesla during Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Wednesday night. Go Big Bert!

Todd Bertuzzi won't be suspended for questionable hit on Chicago's Ryan Johnson on Monday night.

Todd Bertuzzi won’t face suspension for a hit to the head on Chicago’s Ryan Johnson on Monday night, the Red Wings confirmed on Tuesday.

The hit happened in the first period and Big Bert received a five-minute penalty, for elbowing, and was ejected at 5:17 of the first period.

“I don’t think it was anything malicious,” Johnson told reporters. “He was very apologetic, came walking right in here and said ‘Sorry’ as soon as it happened.”

The NHL even met with Bertuzzi following the game and determined that the ejection was punishment enough.

“Colin Campbell (NHL vice president of operations) talked to him after the game,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland told reporters. “They felt the punishment was appropriate.”

Detroit Red Wings defeat the Minnesota Wild, 2-1 in SO

The Red Wings are on a roll–a five-game roll to be more specific. I don’t know about you all but it finally feels like the Wings we know and love–that were sporadically missing throughout the last couple of months–are back for good.

Todd Bertuzzi played in his 1,000th career game and it certainly was a milestone he will be remembering as a positive.

I don’t think the players on either team, besides goalies Jimmy Howard and , got the memo of the early 12:30 p.m. start, as the real offensive action didn’t start until the third period. Nicklas Lidstrom scored the first goal of the game just minutes into the third period and Martin Havlat evened it up for Minnesota.

Big Bert, though he wasn’t officially credited with it, scored the game-clinching goal in a shootout to lead the Wings over the Minnesota Wild and secure them two more points. Pavel Datsyuk scored the first shootout goal for the Wings.

But even then the story of the game was the play of the goalies. Howard, who received a rare night off on Friday against the Florida Panthers, stopped 25 shots tossed his way and surrendered a single goal. Backstrom made 38 saves for the Wild.

Even better news? The Wings can only get better once they welcome back three injured players (Valtteri Filppula, Mike Modano, Chris Osgood) within the next couple of weeks.

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Jimmy for the save!

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GOAL SCORERS

DET:   N. Lidstrom (01:10 – 3rd) , P. Datsyuk (00:00 – SO)

MIN:   M. Havlat (04:50 – 3rd)

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MOST VALUABLE WING

How many times have I named Todd Bertuzzi the MVW in the past week? I’m losing count. He earned it again on Sunday, due in large part to the streak that he has been on, as well as the game-clinching goal in a shootout. Bertuzzi partook in his 1,000 career game, becoming the 263rd player in NHL history to do so, and made it one to remembered, in front of family, with a final backhander to clinch a Red Wings win, as well as two points further solidifying their division lead.

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QUOTED

DET, Mike Babcock: ”We did a lot of good things. Both goalies were good and we had a lot of opportunities. It was good for us to find a way to win.

“We didn’t give up much. When we did, our goaltending was there.”

DET, Todd Bertuzzi: “There’s no better place to get the two points and also score. It’s a great atmosphere. Every time we come here it’s always a real good game for the fans.”

DET, Jimmy Howard: “It’s just being patient and letting them make the first move and just moving with them. It’s been successful this year.”

DET, Kris Draper: “Just a nice way to win a game, and for Bert, you could see how everybody was excited for him.”

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The Red Wings will host the Sharks on Tuesday. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

*Select content provided by DetroitRedWings.com and NHL.com

Detroit Red Wings defeat the Boston Bruins, 4-2

Two wins in a row? Now the Red Wings are just spoiling us.

It seems that Detroit has finally gotten back on track, following recent struggles in the past month, with a weekend sweep of the Boston Bruins, winning 6-1 on Friday night and 4-2 on Sunday afternoon.

As of now it seems pretty hard to believe that Detroit went eight straight periods without a single goal just a little over a week ago. In two games against the Bruins, who aren’t a bad hockey team (they lead their division), the Wings have piled on 10 goals. Pretty impressive for a team that seemed to lack any semblance of an offense a few games ago.

Todd Bertuzzi lit up the Bruins, again, in round two, scoring two goals in the winning effort. Bertuzzi recorded his 700th career point off his goal in Friday night’s victory and added two more goals on Sunday afternoon to bring his season total to 12. But perhaps most impressive about Bertuzzi was his play off the puck, as well as on. He was able to utilize his strength and size to capitalize on a good Bruins squad.

Jimmy Howard got some help from his team’s defense on Sunday afternoon, something which he hasn’t had the privilege of receiving since well before the All-Star break. Howard stopped 23 of 25 shots that came his way, putting together a second consecutive solid performance. Now, if only he can keep that up on a more consistent basis.

Before the game, Chris Osgood was honored at center ice for his 400th career victory, back on Dec. 27 against the Colorado Avalanche. Osgood received a Rolex watch and his wife received flowers. His teammates are planning to send him on a summer golf vacation to Scotland and Ireland, which they plan on tagging along.

Detroit doesn’t play another game until Thursday, as they journey down to Florida for a two-game stand against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Feb. 17) and Florida Panthers (Feb. 18). Let’s hope this four-day steak without a game doesn’t deflate their momentum.

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Check out 93 North Hockey for the Bruins side of things.

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Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!

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GOAL SCORERS

DET: T. Bertuzzi (06:09 – 1st) , P. Datsyuk (03:54 – 2nd) , K. Draper (12:44 – 2nd) , T. Bertuzzi (13:35 – 3rd)

BOS: T. Seguin (01:29 – 1st) , B. Marchand (PPG, 12:17 – 1st)

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MOST VALUABLE WING

Todd Bertuzzi earns the MVW honor for the second consecutive game from Hockeytown Beat. Coming off his 700th career point in a goal against the Bruins on Friday, Bertuzzi doubled that scoring two goals and doing what he does best–utiliizing his size and strength–in the Wings 4-2 weekend sweep over the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Bertuzzi has 12 goals throughout the season, with a quarter of those coming in the last two games.

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QUOTED

DET, Todd Bertuzzi: “We got challenged. Our backs were against the wall and we had spoken enough about it. It was nice to see us go out and do something about it.”

DET, Mike Babcock: “Bert skated unbelievable tonight. That’s without the goals,” Babcock said. “I don’t evaluate that as much, just how he played and I thought he played great without the puck.

“He was physical on the ice. He skated great. When he’s doing that, he’s a big man.”

DET, Jimmy Howard: “It doesn’t surprise me at all. He works so hard in practice. He wants to score, wants to finish in practice. You continue to do that and put pucks on net, the hard work pays off.”

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The Red Wings travel on their Florida road trip to play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Feb. 17. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

*Select content provided by DetroitRedWings.com and NHL.com

Detroit Red Wings defeat the Boston Bruins, 6-1

It’s been quite a roller coaster since the All-Star break came to a close and I was beginning to seriously doubt the credibility of my Detroit Red Wings. But games like Friday night’s 6-1 beating of the Boston Bruins remind me of the team that the Wings seemed to have forgotten they are, over the past week.

Detroit has struggled mightily over the past week with getting goals on the board. They didn’t take long on Friday to show that Mike Babcock’s message during a grueling practice on Thursday had gotten through. The Wings scored on their first two shots of the game, taking an early 2-0 lead off the sticks of Todd Bertuzzi and Daniel Cleary.

Henrik Zetterberg would contribute a goal and then seconds later Bertuzzi would get his second of the night, as well as earn his 700th career point. Tomas Holmstrom finally began to look more like his old self with a rebound goal in third period to make the final 6-1.

Honestly, Jimmy Howard is giving me whiplash. One game he is allowing four goals on 16 shots and then another he allows one goal on 25 shots and comes up with some mind-boggling saves. His inconsistency still worries me, especially in regards to the playoffs when stability is a goalie’s best friend. Howard needs to find some sense of stability–I don’t care where the heck he gets it from–if the Wings are to feel confident about their goaltending situation. Getting veteran Chris Osgood within the next couple of months should certainly help things.

While this win feels good–real good–I have learned–in just the past week–that things change game-to-game. I honestly don’t know what to expect when these teams meet for the second time in three days on Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Could we see a repeat performance or perhaps another discouraging setback?

I hope you had a good vacation, boys, because from here on out it is nonstop.

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Check out 93 North Hockey for the Bruins side of things.

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Oh yeah, we're back, boys.

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GOAL SCORERS

DET: T. Bertuzzi (01:10 – 1st) , D. Cleary (03:10 – 1st) , J. Hudler (01:09 – 2nd) , H. Zetterberg (PPG, 16:14 – 2nd) ,T. Bertuzzi (16:38 – 2nd) , T. Holmstrom (PPG, 13:51 – 3rd)

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MOST VALUABLE WING

Congratulations to Todd Bertuzzi on 700 career points, as well as his two-goal performance in Friday night’s win over Boston. Bertuzzi scored Detroit’s first goal on their first shot of the game and later he would score his second of the game, the Wings’ fifth, and his 10th goal of the season in the second period.

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QUOTED

DET, Nicklas Lidstrom: We played with a lot more sense of urgency. You could tell from the puck drop that we wanted to score. I think it showed that we were going after pucks and getting pucks at the net.”

DET, Mike Babcock: “We think we’ve got a good hockey team but we weren’t playing like a good hockey team.”

DET, Jimmy Howard: “It was a bit of an eye-opener for us. That’s not the way we want to perform for our fans. They deserve better.”

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The Red Wings host the Bruins on Sunday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena. The puck drops at 12:30 PM.

*Select content provided by DetroitRedWings.com and NHL.com

Photo: DetroitRedWings.com

This is the absolute last thing the Red Wings could possibly have asked for right now. In what has been a battered two-month span of injuries that I would soon need a third hand to count them all on, the Wings avoided disaster on Tuesday after Todd Bertuzzi and Brad Stuart collided in a practice drill.

Poor Stuey! Isn’t it enough that his jaw was fractured, that rubber bands hold his teeth together and he had to eat liquid food for a good couple of weeks?

Oh, the humanity!

Stuart just returned to his first practice on Monday since getting his jaw bashed in by Tom Kostopoulos back in November.

Stuart and Bertuzzi collided after an on-ice drill and both players wound up on the ice, with Bertuzzi staying down for a moment longer.

“I was more worried about Stuey,” said Bertuzzi. “A little accidental contact; everything is all right. There’s so many thinks that are going on that it happens every once in a while.”

“I knew I was OK,” Stuart said. “I was really worried for him. Thankfully, I had my back turned and he ran into my back and it didn’t hurt me at all. But I’m sure it looked pretty scary.”

What do you get when two 6-plus-foot, 210-plus-pound hockey players collide? A big scare that both players were able to shake off. But it could have been much worse.