Wings Squander Opportunity, Lose 3-2 To Capitals
by joehass on Jan 19, 2010 8:59 PM CST
in Game Recaps
Email
PrintHad you seen these two stats prior to watching the Red Wings take on the Capitals Tuesday night, you would have been overjoyed:
* Jose Theodore would have to face 46 shots.
* Alex Ovechkin would have no shots in 22:13 of ice time.
And for 53 minutes, it looked just that good for the Red Wings.
But in a period of 81 seconds, everything changed. An ill-advised Todd Bertuzzi penalty with goals from Nicklas Backstrom and David Steckel turned the 2-1 lead into a painful 3-2 loss: their third straight loss.
The key difference for the Capitals was that Theodore made 44 saves, on a night that he stood on his head. Meanwhile, Chris Osgood made 20 saves on 23 shots, and the question that will come out of this is whether you blame Osgood or the team in front of him for this loss.
Even the vaunted Capitals power play, ranked first in the NHL at 25.1%, seemed stifled tonight with only one shot. But that shot would prove to be the difference.
The Red Wings scored first on an incredible effort by Dan Cleary. After a Valtteri Filppula shot that was blocked by Theodore, the puck went to Theodore's right. Cleary skated up, missed the open net, but doubled back, regained possession of the puck and, in one motion, flicked it back in from almost along the goal line. It was Cleary's 10th goal of the season, making him the fifth Red Wings player to hit double digits in goals.
In the second period, the Capitals tied it up. Mike Green make a cross-and-up-ice pass to Boyd Gordon, who passed it to a streaking Matt Bradley. Before Osgood could react to the defensive collapse, Bradley had it in the back of the net for his eighth of the season.
The Red Wings struck back in the third, as just after a Capitals power play expired, Filppula was near the far boards when he found Brian Rafalski slowly moving in. Rafalski ripped a shot that seemed to freeze Theodore, despite having plenty of time to prepare for it. The puck found the back of the net to get Rafalski his fourth of the season.
But Washington would respond hard, with a pair of goals. First, with Bertuzzi off a penalty at the opposite end of the ice, Backstrom skated around Brad Stuart and put the puck past Osgood to net his 20th. Then 46 seconds later, it was Steckel who deflected a shot from Alexander Semin that froze Osgood again for his fourth of the season. Suddenly a 2-1 lead flipped to a 3-2 deficit, which the Wings couldn't overcome.
The Red Wings head to Minnesota on Thursday to take on the Minnesota Wild.
Player of the game: Valtteri Filppula. A pair of assists and some heads up play, but it wasn't enough.
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Frustrating loss
need 3 points these next 2 games…i’ll be happy with that
TULO = 2010 MVP!
LETS GO WINGS!
I still support Bertuzzi. Every player takes dumb penalties (Lebda). And we all make mistakes. Bertuzzi played a solid game up until that penalty. Remember though, it’s a team effort. Stuart has been letting us down (especially tonight), and Osgood is as good as a damp paper towel in net. Everyone needs to play well, and only a couple of guys did. Thank you Rafalski, Fil, Cleary, Helm and the sons of Hermes.
Oh, and our Power play is atrocious still. We really need to start shooting more, and stop passing it.
by von Awesome on Jan 19, 2010 10:43 PM CST up reply actions
This was brutal
To lose when you carry the play of almost the entire game is just painful. Especially when we needed these points, and came away with zero.
Interesting Quote
Boudreau after the game:
“We’re resilient,” Boudreau said. “We also need to know that we need to play much better if we want to win the whole thing. I thought that was the best team we played all year and I’m shocked that they’re in ninth place right now.”
On the first Capitals goal, the Capitals kept trying their up-ice passes and they kept getting away with it. The Red Wings have tried that a lot this season; it almost never works for them.
Osgood should have prevented the second Capitals goal.
I did not see the third Capitals goal.
Some people will blame Osgood for the loss and say he sucks, but the Red Wings played a very different game in front of Osgood than they have at all this season in front of Howard (and I know that was not because Leino was in the lineup). Bruce Boudreau said of Theodore, “Without him, it could have very well been 6-0 after the first period.” If the Red Wings played how they have been playing in front of Howard, allowing at least 30 shots and getting outshot each game, the score could have very well been 6-0 in favor of Washington after the first period.
Patrick Eaves was the only -2 player.
Does Leino expect to get lots of ice time with only one shot on goal? Abdelkader played less than half as much and he had the same number of shots.
I was at the game last night…lots of wings fans…but many of them are Caps season ticket holders and cheer for the Caps all year…how does that work? Those are some confused Michigan to D.C transplants.
Same color I guess—they just deck out in red.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Jan 20, 2010 9:11 AM CST up reply actions
As watching it, I noticed mostly they were under control and putting a lot of pressure unto Theodore. With a revved up amount of shots onto the opponents goalie things were going fine. They forced ‘luckily’ a small amount of shots towards Ozzie. I wasn’t absolutely thrilled by him in goal, but he was under control (that impressed me). A fair amount of goals a game that is expected for a team like the Detroit Red Wings is three. Yeah three. I wanna see it next game. LETS GO WINGS.
Someone seriously needs to tell Osgood to STFU
Asked if the loss is tougher to take because the team is desperate for points, Osgood said, "I got him (Babcock) a lot of points. I got him to the (Stanley Cup) finals twice.’’ -Mlive.com
Seriously, WTF? Yes, Osgood, it was all you and didn’t have anything to do with the rest of the team. You have absolutely CARRIED us, without you we would have been shit outta luck. Seriously wish Osgood would be waived again like when the Islanders picked him up.
Osgood
When you are only asked to make 3 big saves all night, and you fail on all three, the blame lies on you for the loss. Had Howard been in goal, he would have made two of the three big saves at worst…and the Wings would have had the 2 points they earned as a team. Thanks for the memories Ozzie. It’s time to hang them up.
WOW
Alot of ozzie trashin going on… remember in 08 when he was the hero. Of course he is going to be upset.. hes a competitor, which is probably why he is a professional athlete. The wings are fine.. alot of hockey left. Last year at this time no one would have even thought the pens would come close to the playoffs, And they WON it in case you forgot. Just remember that ken holland is in the driver’s seat… so chill out ppl.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Puck Headlines: Accused coach Pravilov dead; more Tim Thomas heat; Junior team goes nuts post-shootout
- After Scott Gomez scored, other candidates for NHL goal drought obsessions
- Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Game Show Friday, Mats Sundin debates and did Gomez score (yes)?
- Boston Bruins’ Nathan Horton has a concussion rehab setback
- Trending Topics: Stay out of NHL fighting, Ralph Nader
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
