Notes: Healthy Ericsson thrives in playoffs

Jonathan Ericsson has been a physical force in the Red Wings first-round playoff series against the Lightning. (Photo by Getty Images) DETROIT – Sitting in the stands watching as his teammates were eliminated from the playoffs last spring is making this month’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning much more enjoyable for Jonathan Ericsson.

The Red Wings’ 6-foot-4 defenseman missed the final 14 games of the regular season and the entire playoff round against Boston after he required surgery to stabilize a fractured finger and repair a partially torn tendon.

“All last year was frustrating,” Ericsson said. “It was injuries after injuries and kind of fluke…