After a strong win against the Lightning, the Red Wings simply needed to keep it going, and gain momentum. Despite having a very strong start to the game, they folded, and Petr Mrazek ended up getting shelled. Not exactly the most encouraging of games to watch as a fan, but it is what it is.
Here’s what we got…
1st Period:
I really hope you all had the chance to watch this period. So much WTF in so little time. Detroit came out and scored two goals in under two minutes, coming from Tomas Tatar (28) and Drew Miller (5). Some milestones here, as it’s Tatar’s 100th career NHL point, and Miller’s 50th career NHL goal. Felt pretty good to go up 2-0. Seemed like the team got their legs back and figured it out. Of course, that was all smoke and mirrors. They gave up three unanswered goals coming from Brock Nelson (PP), Ryan Strome, and Kyle Okposo (PP). The penalty kill was a complete mess. Couldn’t clear the puck, and the Islanders made them pay. The Wings were able to tie it back up at 3-3 on a goal from Niklas Kronwall (9). What a dumb period, with completely optional goaltending. Shots on goal are 10-9, Islanders.
2nd Period:
It took about 16 seconds into the 2nd to end Mrazek’s night. Frans Nielsen on the carryover power play, and boy was it ever an ugly goal on the goalie’s end. Petr let up four goals on 11 shots. Pretty terrible. In comes Jimmy Howard. three minutes and 41 seconds later, Cal Clutterbuck scored shorthanded to put to Isles up 5-3. Tomas Tatar really biffed the puck on the blue line and gave Clutterbuck a complete breakaway. Just sloppy, and completely unacceptable hockey from Detroit. Things settled down, and thankfully the Red Wings didn’t let up another goal for the rest of the period. What a damn miracle. The only goal to come was from Pavel Datsyuk (24) on the power play. Period ends with Isles keeping hold in edge of SOG, 22-20.
3rd Period:
It took the Red Wings nearly 10 minutes to register a shot on goal. They had zero urgency, and looked like they were playing to get out of there. Every time the puck went into NYI’s zone, it immediately got spat right back out. They got far too cute. Lots of no-look passing, which is just something you can’t do when you’re in a game like this. Jimmy Howard and Jaroslav Halak were able to keep it scoreless throughout the entire 20 minutes. Detroit managed to get a good chance at scoring when they had Howard pulled, but alas, it was not enough to knot this game up.
You’re not going to win many games when you give up four or more goals. With the way the game is played today, it’s just not gonna happen.
We have a crucial couple of games coming up against Ottawa and Boston, and hopefully we will get our full lineup back with Riley Sheahan and Erik Cole coming off of injuries. I don’t know, gang.. I’m just drained after this month. So much flash-in-the-pan, and not enough consistency. Let’s just hold on tight, and hope that they can pick it up.
Also, good on Jimmy Howard coming in and playing solid. He gave up that shorthanded breakaway chance, but that’s on the team. Those sorts of things should not happen, and it has multiple times this season.
LGRW
