Wings Blow Two-Goal Lead, Lose In Shootout

by joehass on Oct 17, 2009 9:20 PM CDT in Game Recaps

After two strong periods, the Detroit Red Wings looked like they were on fire against the Colorado Avalanche.

But two goals from Cody McLeod gave the Avalanche life, and put the game into a shootout. There, Ville Leino missed on the third shot to give the Avalanche a 4-3 win at Joe Louis Arena.

With Pavel Datsyuk out for the second straight night with an upper-body injury, the Wings got off to a strong start. Justin Abdelkader scored his first regular-season NHL goal early off of Darren Helm. The Wings extended that lead just 1:16 into the second period, when Todd Bertuzzi took advantage of a Matt Hendricks hooking penalty and fought off Adam Foote in front of the net, taking a Henrik Zetterberg pass and put it past Craig Anderson to make it 2-0 entering the third.

But Cody McLeod lit the lamp at 9:06 on a pretty shot through Chris Osgood's five-hole. Three minutes later, Matt Duchene scored the first goal of his NHL career when he put a 40-footer just past Osgood on the far side. The game was tied, and the Red Wings seemed to fall into a rut. Fortunately for them, less than two minutes after that, Valtteri Filppula takes advantage of a scrum in front of the net, finds the puck, and puts it into a wide-open net to give Detroit the lead back.

But McLeod wasn't done. With 2:32 left in regulation, the Red Wings were caught on a line change. Taking advantage, the Avs pushed the puck off the boards, and McLeod put it past Osgood to tie things up at three.

After both teams couldn't take advantage in overtime, Marek Svatos and Milan Hejduk each put backhanders past Chris Osgood. Zetterberg tried to go right but instead went into Anderson's left pad. Finally, Ville Leino's weak backhander was easily blocked by Anderson to give Colorado the win.

The Avalanche continued an interesting streak: they have been outshot in all eight of their games, but have managed to win seven of them. Detroit had a 31-29 shot advantage.

The Red Wings are off until Thursday, when they begin a five-game, west-coast road trip, starting with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Player Of The Game: Todd Bertuzzi. He gets his first goal as a Red Wings on four shots and a hit. He looked sharp thoughout the game, and seems to be finally settling into his role with the Red Wings

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Snoozing Ozzie

I can’t take it, this is driving me crazy. Ozzie stones them for two periods, some great saves and then the 3rd period snoozing Ozzie lets in two softies. Come on, last year the 3rd period was our strongest. Every time the camera shows Babcock in the 3rd he looks like he’s lost his best friend, or maybe he is sleeping also. Obviously someone needs a kick in the a$$.

by Jim P on Oct 17, 2009 9:52 PM CDT reply actions

Two of those goals his defense hung him out to dry entirely. That was a horrible line change and he got stuck on a 2 on 1.

by hallock on Oct 17, 2009 11:23 PM CDT reply actions

2 goal lead blown geez

come on guys get it together

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

thanks for a great season Rockies!

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Oct 17, 2009 11:57 PM CDT reply actions

Frustrating

Losing is always frustrating, but against the Avs is worse (even when it is “only” a SO loss) I don’t like them since the mid-90’s.

And now this boring California trip (with very unfriendly game-times for european followers).

Go Wings

Greetings from Germany. Dirk

by Germantiger on Oct 18, 2009 10:43 AM CDT reply actions

where was ozzie in the shootout

could have used a save there. The regulation goals werent all his fault, but how bout a shootout save. just one? they used the same move 2wice. clearly they know his weakness’s…i seem to remember us losing in shootouts to the Avs more than once last year…

by OriginalRecipeIzzy on Oct 19, 2009 9:34 AM CDT reply actions

Well...

…honestly it’s getting less and less suprising as painful as it is to say it.

It’s just that much more glaring this year when all the games are coming in a row like this rather than spread throughout the season like it was last year.

Maybe they’re just getting them all out of their systems now?

Please?

by 42jeff on Oct 19, 2009 11:55 AM CDT reply actions

Shootouts

I just have one request. PLEEASE… Babcock… Stop putting Zetterberg out there for shootouts. He is just not good at them. Never has been. Give him a breakaway and he’s lights out, but he just can’t do the shootouts. When Pavs is back the three that should be thrown out there are Pavel, Williams, and Filppula or Leino.

I know you put your best players out there for the shootout, but when is it going to be enough. When he goes 0 for 7 on the year??

by dewman8810 on Oct 20, 2009 3:12 AM CDT reply actions