Post Game Analysis: Bertuzzi wins it again

by Casey Richey on Dec 13, 2009 10:43 AM CST in Analysis/Reaction

Todd Bertuzzi wins it again in overtime. Yes you read that right, Todd Bertuzzi won it AGAIN. If he keeps this type of production up then we will be in good shape. Do I expect it to stay like this? No, not really but I'll take it for now. Detroit needs secondary scoring and he's starting to get the confidence needed to do so.
Chris Osgood had some pretty sick saves last night. To quote Winston Churchill (sort of), Osgood is "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." There are nights when he can't stop the easiest of shots but then there are nights when he looks like he should have about 8 Vezinas on the mantle. He wasn't really either last night (why he's an enigma) but he was solid and kept the game within reach for the Wings with some incredible saves.
Remember the time when the Red Wings were absolutely dominant in the circle? I miss those days. We did better last night--winning 29 to Nashville's 28--but I sure miss the days of winning about 75% of the draws taken. Can't wait for Fil to get back in the circle that's for sure.
Drew Miller, you were a quality find. Out shadowed by Bert's 4 in 2, Miller had a goal and an assist last night in 12 minutes of play. Sure, he only has 4 points on the season but he brings more than just points. He has been great on the forecheck, PK, and in the corners. Unfortunately, I don't know if there's room for him when Filppula, Franzen, Williams and Cleary come back.
I'm glad I didn't play a drinking game last night for everytime I heard the word "Smashville" used. I was forced to watch the Nashville broadcast (thanks Center Ice) and every commercial break there was someone saying something or other about Smashville. Yeah, I get it. It's a cool nickname but you can't over do it. If I had played a drinking game for that, I surely would be in the ICU or morgue right now.
Bertuzzi's second goal was a thing of beauty. The play started with Datsyuk forcing a turnover and giving Bertuzzi a great outlet pass. He was neck and neck with Nashville defender Klein and protected the puck on his stick before sliding it past Rinne's poke check attempt and then a backhand into the net for the second straight win for Detroit. Highlights of the goal below.

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Drew Miller

I think when guys start coming back, that Abdelkader should go to GR for a while and get big minutes… that was the idea for this season all along. Also I would play Miller over Leino too. IMO, the reason Leino was successful last season in his short stint was because he was playing with Draper and Maltby. He didn’t have to play against the top lines then and gave some scoring touch to the Grind Line. Hudler’s progress was exactly the same. They played him on the 3rd line for the most part. Leino should be a third liner.

by dewman8810 on Dec 13, 2009 11:40 AM CST reply actions

maybe not

Abdelkader’s number in Grand Rapids was given to someone else – maybe they don’t expect him back at all this season.

He was supposed to stay in Grand Rapids, but he’s played his butt off, is getting better and more confident, and has earned a spot through his hard work, not just because other people were hurt.

Besides, I’m fully expecting that as players come back, others will go down in their place to take up room on IR. I can’t believe this team will be healthy at all for this entire year, so who should be sent down will likely be a moot point.

"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero

by Baroque on Dec 13, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions

Disagree about Hudler...

Unless you mean early on…

He was on the second line the last few years.

by ZWC11 on Dec 13, 2009 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, I did mean early on. Even as late as the 2008 playoffs he was on the fourth line with Helm and Maltby. But the last few years, while you could call it a second line… he was still behind Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, Franzen, Holmstrom, and Cleary or Filppula. Sure he played quite often with Flip and Sammy, not really a third line skill wise, but with Detroit’s depth it was. Maybe I’m not remembering correctly, but he didn’t play with Datsyuk or Zetterberg very often.

by dewman8810 on Dec 14, 2009 9:30 AM CST up reply actions

Keep Miller

Miller came in as just an extra body but has, in my opinion, earned a spot even after that’s no longer needed per se (hopefully there will be a time, at least a bit before the playoffs). Even if he has been quiet for much of his TOI, he’s generally had good positioning and been defensively responsible. If he can contribute a point here and there, that’s all the better.

At this point, I’d gladly take Miller’s 4 points and +3 over Leino’s 6 and -8. Babcock agrees.

by bleep bloop on Dec 13, 2009 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

I like how the “Smashville” announcers took two minutes to figure out that it was Bertuzzi who had scored the OT goal and not Zetterberg since only 15 seconds before Bert scored they had specifically said Datsyuk and Bertuzzi were out on the ice.

by breakaway on Dec 13, 2009 5:24 PM CST reply actions