For the 2nd time this week, the Detroit Red Wings played the New Jersey Devils.
Last time, the Wings lost 4-3 after Stephen Gionta scored the game winning goal for the Devils with 40 seconds left in the game.
This time, the game and the final result would be quite different.
Here’s how it all went down:
- The first period was a good one for the Wings. The play was incredibly high-tempo, which you would think would hurt the Wings, considering that they had a game last night. Despite their possible fatigue, the Wings took the lead midway through the period after Brendan Smith scored on a blast past Cory Schneider.
- Today was Smith’s 100th career NHL game. His goal gave him three on the season, two of which were against the Devils.
- The 2nd period, while maintaining the high-tempo play from the first period, would be as different from its counterpart as possible.
- The period began with a beautiful pass from David Legwand to Gustav Nyquist. Nyquist would then take a shot that would deflect off of Johan Franzen before heading past Schneider to give Wings the 2-0 lead.
- Not too long thereafter, the Wings odds would change. Patrick Elias would cut the Wings lead in half after scoring on a Tomas Tatar turnover. To make matters worse, Elias scored while the Wings were on the PP.
- Moments later, Jaromir Jagr would tie the game up for the Devils. Jagr managed to dangle past the Wings’ defense before shooting the puck past Gustavsson. I don’t blame Jonas Gustavsson for either of these two goals, as the Wings defense was nonexistent on these plays, but one has to wonder. Would Jimmy Howard have saved those shots?
- At this point the Wings looked lost, and the Devils managed to capitalize on this lack of composure. Adam Henrique would score, giving the Devils the 3-2 lead.
- And then it began…Franzen would score his second of the night, this time on the power play, to tie the game up again. Just a little over a minute later, Gustav Nyquist would score his first of the night, which would give the lead back to the Wings.
- With six goals in the 2nd period, you knew that something incredible was going to happen. I mean, Brendan Smith had already scored! But a Smith goal wouldn’t equal what was about to happen. Kyle Quincey would score to give the Wings a 5-3 lead. Quincey gets a goal, Smith gets a goal, everyone gets a goal!
- Wow! That was a hectic period, surely the goal scoring would end in the third period…
- Or, maybe not! David Legwand, who already had two points on the night, would score, giving the Wings a 3-goal lead, and Legwand his first goal as a Red Wing.
- But wait, there’s more. Joakim Andersson, who had been amazing on the faceoff dot this game, would win yet another faceoff, getting the puck to Todd Bertuzzi, who in turn got the puck to Drew Miller. Miller didn’t hesitate, and shot the puck past Schneider to seal the deal for the Wings.
- The Devils did score a last-minute goal through Adam Henrique. But, in the end, it didn’t matter. We won.
- Remember guys, don’t stop believing!
Overall, the Wings played a great game. It had its low points, there is no doubt about that, but it also had some moments of utter brilliance.
I can not reiterate how important this game was for the Wings. We may have 19 games left this season, but, this game certainly had its importance. The Wings now have a 4 point advantage over the Devils, and have 71 points in total. Toronto and Montreal better watch out, because we are coming!
Next up for the Red Wings are the New York Rangers on Sunday.
Let’s Go Red Wings!
