Wings Off to Fast, if Quiet Start

It’s time to introduce the Detroit Red Wings.

Remember them?

They’ve been Detroit’s forgotten team, lost in the giddiness of the Tigers playing in the American League Championship Series and the Lions cruising to a 5-1 start.

But the Red Wings, very quietly, have been on a torrid streak of their own, starting the N.H.L. season 4-0. One of the keys to the Wings’ fast start is the play of newcomer defenseman Ian White, who is plus-4 with a pair of goals and an assist.

White signed with the Wings for two years and $5.75 million in the offseason and was expected to fill the void left by the retirement of Brian Rafalski. White has played for the Maple Leafs, Sharks, Flames and Hurricanes since entering the N.H.L. in 2005.

White told the Detroit News he’s feeling good with the Wings so far, a team that plays his style of hockey.

“They pride themselves on hanging on to the puck and making plays,” White said. “They don’t have a whole lot of that dump and chase and have good puck possession. I feel that works good for me.”

White has been paired with team captain Nicklas Lidstrom and they seem to have found chemistry quickly.

“It’s been special, obviously he’s one of the best of all-time,” White told the Detroit News. “To get an opportunity to play with him, alongside him, and just watch the way he plays out there is amazing.”

The Wings have also gotten fast starts from Jiri Hudler, Jakub Kindl, Johan Franzen, Valterri Filppula. Hudler and Franzen are a plus-4, with two goals and two assists each. Filppula has a goal and two assists.

Kindl, a defenseman, has become a bigger part of the Wings lineup and is a plus-6.

Another strength, so far, for the Wings has been the steady goaltending of Jimmy Howard. He’s put up a 1.63 goals against average, good for fifth in the N.H.L.