It’s late, I have coffee, and it’s time for hockey again. Hope you fancy doing this two nights in a row, gang. The Red Wings dominated this game, through and through. But of course, they could not complete the process in regulation, or overtime. After being heavily out-possessed the past two games and somehow winning, it only makes sense that Detroit would lose a game where they seemed to have everything figured out as far as having the puck goes. Score effects doomed them in the third period, and that is just stupid. Here we go..
1st Period:
I thought this game started at 10:30? Oh shit! Hold on.. *turns off video games* (just kidding)
Game started with a good pace, Detroit generating good chances, but it’s definitely a defensive game. Both teams saw equal chances on the power play, but Detroit’s special teams squad definitely looked more dominant. Only problem? Tim Peel effect. Who knows what could happen. Jimmy Howard made a handful of big saves to keep it scoreless. Justin Abdelkader made a real nice breakaway chance when the team was shorthanded, but was back-checked and thrown off stride to nix his chance of scoring. Still really liked the way Detroit came out and played this first 20 minutes. Keep it going. Detroit has the edge in shots after one period, 11-7. Shot attempts (Corsi For) stand at 20-15, also in favor of the good guys.
2nd Period:
Big 20 minutes for the boys in red. Big 20 minutes for the Magic Man. Seriously, age need not be a factor for this guy. Two goals in the 2nd period, one unassisted, and another on the power play from Justin Abdelkader and Niklas Kronwall to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. Jimmy Howard continues to stand tall and keep Anaheim scoreless.
Here are both of Pavel’s goals in Vine form!:
Is it just me, or is Teemu Pulkkinen just holding a loaded gun every time he’s on the ice? Seriously, I felt like he had his stick up in the air calling for the puck every time he was on the power play. Something I really like to see.. A player who just wants to shoot the damn puck. Goals will come with time, just keep shooting, Pulk.
At the end of 20 minutes, the shots are 22-10, in favor of Detroit. Shot attempts sit at 41-35 (Corsi For), Detroit.
3rd Period:
Well, this period sucked a lot. Anaheim capitalized on three unanswered goals courtesy of Andrew Cogliano, Emerson Etem, and Francois Beauchemin. A couple of ugly rebounds by Jimmy Howard, after playing a very strong 50 minutes. You’re welcome, Anaheim. Score effects are one hell of a drug.
Detroit, SOME HOW, SOME WAY, managed to take this to overtime on a beautiful pass by Gustav Nyquist, which fed Riley Sheahan to score his career-best 10th goal of the season. Make that $100 more the Michigan Humane Society. I guess we’ll figure it out in overtime?
Overtime:
No goals, no curly fries. I has a sad, but I like the point, I guess.
Shootout:
Jimmy gets burned every time, of course.. Pavel Datsyuk misses, Gustav Nyquist scores, Tomas Tatar misses. Wings lose a game they should have won.
Wings really fell apart in the 3rd period, and that is bad. Defense was a mess after being air-tight for 50 minutes. Definitely let one point get away tonight, but still gained just a little bit of ground in the standings. Five points since starting the West Coast trip, which is good.. But every game has been decided in overtime/shootout, so I mean, eh. I am tired, and this loss sucks. Let’s do it again tomorrow, yeah? Like we have a choice. HA!
LGRW
