That’s right. The Wings won a game without scoring four goals. Goaltending came up big for both teams. Penalty kill remains perfect. Undefeated in 2024 baby.
First Period
Don’t even have a chance to settle in before the Ducks score. 20 seconds in and it’s 1-0 Ducks. Chipped shot from Troy Terry in his first game back after a short injury and Zegras tips it in. Lyon isn’t happy but wasn’t his fault.
Wings manage to get through 5 minutes without giving up another goal, but they also have not yet registered a shot.
Wings manage to get through 9.5 minutes without giving up another goal, but they also have not yet registered a shot. But it’s time for a Rrrrrred Wings powerplay! Silfverberg goes to the Bad Boy Box for interference and a big moment for the Wings to wake up. The Wings do start throwing the puck at the net. Gostisbehere even hits the goalpost. BINGO. LARKIN SCOOOOOOOOOOOOORES! Tie game. Perron the victim of a very enthusiastic Larkin hug/tackle but that’s what he’s there for.
Larkin gets cross-checked, hunches over in pain, storms down the tunnel, but at least it is called a penalty. McTavish in Jerk Jail. Another powerplay! DeBrincat hits the goalpost. Good looking powerplay but no goal.
Second half of the period has been all Red Wings. The Ducks haven’t had a shot since the Wings scored until the final seconds. Raymond shown shaking out his hand, on the replay we see the reason is he fell from getting the slewfoot from Gudas. Of course it was Gudas.
Second Period
Gudas is in the Asshole Asylum for “interference” for the hit on Raymond. Wings on their third powerplay. Better news, Larkin is back on the bench. Weak powerplay but as play continues after time expires Veleno makes a nice wraparound try. Ras is having some words with Gudas who didn’t appreciate Ras being in the blue. Nice try or nice goal? They’re giving Veleno’s play a closer look to see if the puck went over the line, it’s hard to tell since the goalie’s pads are dark purple. After looking at a lot of angles you can see one where the puck does appear to clearly go over the line. The refs agree. GOOD GOAL. VELENO! 2-1 Wings.
Wings smelling blood now, Compher sets up Kane off the next faceoff who rings the goalpost. Let’s Go Red Wings chant starts up.
5.5 minutes in and Lyon has to show he’s paying attention despite the lack of activity around him over the last 15 minutes of play. Makes the save and then the save off the rebound. He’ll have to be sharp now as DeBrincat is going to the Cat Crimes Cabana for hooking. Wings to the penalty kill! 30 seconds in and another penalty. Zegras was salty for Compher dropping him but they call Compher for the puck over glass penalty. Compher joins DeBrincat in the Offender Office. 5v3 for a 1:30. First penalty killed. Lyon and Walman are having a block party. BOTH PENALTIES KILLED!
Wings fans in Anaheim are hyped. And there are a lot of them.
Ducks back on the powerplay. Kane in the Loser Locker for unsportsmanlike conduct. Not clear what he did, hurt the refs feelings I guess. Kane looked like he was held up by Johnston a few times and Kane thought he should have gotten a call. Ref didn’t like whatever he said. You be the judge. But, no harm no fowl as the penalty is killed.
Lyon has closed the case for him to be the starter. Putting on a show. Wings do that thing where they really want to give up a last two-minute goal. Mo trying to lock things down and in doing so gets a penalty. He goes to the Sinning Seider Stall for holding. Ending the period with another penalty kill.
Still just 2-1 after all that activity. More penalty to kill in the third…
Third Period
Wings have 1:30 left of penalty time to kill. Penalty killed. Wings mucking it up to make sure the Ducks can’t set up anything pretty.
Lyon can only hold the Wings in the game for so long. Wings get caught puck-watching leaving Zegras wide open. Lyon makes a valiant effort but can’t get to it. Tie game 2-2. Wings having trouble getting any plays together.
Wings back on the powerplay! Vatrano in the Degen Den for holding up Ghost Bear. Wings desperate for a shot of energy. Powerplay does not help. But almost giving up a shorty is better than actually giving up one at least. As time expires Dostal makes a big save on DeBrincat, his best of the game. Jerk.
It hasn’t been all Ducks, but it’s been mostly Ducks this period.
However, with 4 minutes to go the Wings get another shot at some energy. Petry gets high-sticked and Vatrano is back in the Villain Villa. Bad penalty for him to take, you’re going to waste a penalty to hit Jeff Petry? Really? Wings control the puck the whole time but Dostal stands strong. Perron’s last shot stings Gudas who is down outside the paint. Wings aren’t happy the play gets whistled down and Gudas is helped off the ice.
With a minute left, we have a WINGS GOAL!!!! Seider throws in the puck from the top of the circle and Ras directs it in. 3-2 Wings. Duck, Duck, MOOSE. They’re taking a look to see if Ras kicked the puck in. He redirected but did not kick. The goal stands. Ducks fans scream and boo.
Ducks net empty. Larkin goes for it and just misses and gets icing instead.
RED WINGS WIIIIIIIN! And didn’t even need 4 goals! California sweep! Last time the Wings completed a California sweep was 2008.
