The Red Wings are hoping to snap a three game losing streak tonight against the Rangers — in fact, they will be looking for any points really as they have just one win in their last 12 games overall.
Jimmy Howard could be the guy to backstop them to that elusive victory as he sure does playing against their Original Six foes. In 16 career games against the Rangers, Howard is 10-3-3 with a .948 SV% and 1.77 GAA.
Between the pipes for the home team will be Henrik Lundqvist who has also had much success against the Wings. In 18 career games, Lundqvist is 7-5-6 with a .936 SV%, 2.01 GAA and four shutouts.
It’s safe to say that goals could be at a premium in this one, although that’s nothing new for the Wings as it’s been a challenge all season long to find any secondary scoring.
1st Period
The puck is about to drop on this one and what a treat tonight with the sultry tones of Mike “Doc” Emrick up in the press box.
With the injuries to Trevor Daley and Mike Green, did anyone else find it odd that Dylan McIlrath was their first choice for a call-up tonight? I guess he brings some toughness, considering they’ve been pushed around enough the last few games.
Not much going early on, but I mentioned this on the weekend, Brendan Perlini has a lot of potential with his skating ability. I wouldn’t mind seeing Jeff Blashill move him into the top six as an alternative for some secondary scoring. We’ll see.
Seven defensemen in the lineup tonight. Blashill just threw them in a blender and said have at it boys. He doesn’t care which duos mesh good together.
Nice to see Blashill went back to old reliable at the top of the lineup — Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha — because it’s their only chance to stay in any hockey game offensively. I’m really looking forward to the days when Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina join the roster permanently.
Andreas Athanasiou finally got his first goal the other night and nearly had another after taking the pass from Christoffer Ehn. The puck jumped on him a bit and he just couldn’t pull it back to slide it by Lundqvist with 6:43 left. Still no score.
The play goes back the other way and a loose puck finds its way to Jesper Fast, but he fires it over the top of the net. No idea how he missed that as he had the entire top half of the net to beat Howard.
Back-and-forth we go as Darren Helm rings one off the goalpost. Lundqvist didn’t see it at all through the screen.
Helm is now out with Larkin and Mantha. Blashill continues the line juggling as we near the end of the period. Offensive zone draw with 45 seconds left.
Lundqvist has looked pretty comfortable during the first period and the Wings have actually been quick on the forecheck to create some high danger chances.
Shots: 11-7 NYR
Score: 0-0
2nd Period
Early penalty to start as Jacob Trouba goes off for interference just 19 seconds in. He got tangled up with Bertuzzi on the defensive zone draw. Let’s see if the Wings can take advantage here.
Perlini on the top unit and I like it. He’s working well with Larkin on a couple give and go plays. Adam Erne on the top unit though…that leaves something to be desired.
And, speak of the devil, Erne gets pressured by Fast at the blueline and ends up holding his stick on the giveaway. Rangers powerplay at 2:26 of the second period.
Brendan Lemieux makes a nice spin move to the slot, Howard makes the first save, but Tony DeAngelo puts home the rebound. 1-0 Rangers with 15:35 left.
Well, the flood gates are starting to open as Pavel Buchnevich finds some space in the Wings’ zone, makes a nice crisp pass across to Chris Kreider and he buries it top shelf. 2-0 Rangers with 13:56 left in the frame.
Nearly 3-0 as Fast breaks in alone, spins around to his forehand, but Howard is equal to the task. A penalty is coming to Justin Abdelkader as he gets his elbow up on Lemieux in the corner. He goes off for roughing at 7:19 and this game is starting to slip away from the Wings.
Okay, it’s now 3-0. Adam Fox leans on a wrist shot from the point and of course, it goes off Ryan Strome and in. Just the bounce the Wings needed…not. Powerplay goal for the Rangers at the 8:49 mark.
Hey! The Wings actually answer as Athanasiou and Valtteri Filppula breakout on the odd man rush, AA blows by Trouba and Filppula makes no mistake on the quick pass. 3-1 Rangers with 10:19 left.
Does anyone else hate watching a game on television when it’s at Madison Square Garden? I’ve always found the lighting very dull and it make for a challenging view. Maybe it’s just me? I feel the same way about watching the Islanders if that makes a difference?
Back to the game…
Larkin with a nifty toe drag, but a deep wrist shot that’s easy for Lundqvist to smother. Still 3-1 Rangers with 3:11 left.
AA with another great move along the boards and finds Madison Bowey down low, but he can’t corral the pass for a strong shot on Lundqvist. All Red Wings to close out the period.
Shots: 24-20 NYR
Score: 3-1 NYR
3rd Period
A few fireworks early on as Erne and Lemieux exchange some words. Erne might be trying to get a spark for this team to start the third down two goals.
Taro Hirose has been very quiet this year, but he makes a nice pass through the neutral zone in stride to Erne who then fires one on Lundqvist and he steers the puck to the corner.
Perlini intercepts the Kreider pass in the Wings’ zone, skates up the ice and drives to the middle only to be shut down by Lundqvist. Perlini has been very good tonight.
Bertuzzi corrals the pass along the Wings’ bench, cuts to the middle and gets tripped up by Micheal Haley. Dangerous play there as he just stuck his leg out — reminds me of the Bryan Marchment days. Red Wings go to the powerplay at the 8:08 mark.
Larkin with a nice entry into the Rangers’ zone. Some nifty moves, but his backhand is stopped by Lundqvist.
Greg McKegg comes back and floats one in on Howard, it goes off the shaft of his stick and takes a weird bounce to settle in the slot. Bertuzzi swiped at it and missed, McKegg cleaned up the rebound. Short-handed goal and it’s 4-1 Rangers at the 8:44 mark.
What a strange bounce that was and that’s just how it’s gone for the Wings this year.
Another penalty coming to the Wings. McIlrath is going off for interference — great sell job by Lemieux there — with 8:25 left in the third period.
Oh boy. Blashill has pulled Howard with about six minutes left down three goals. The desperation is real.
Lots of chances for the Wings with the empty net, but Artemi Panarin finally buries one on the open cage. 5-1 Rangers with 2:37 left.
The Rangers have won three of their last four games and the losses continue to mount for the Wings.
Shots: 36-31 DET
Final Score: 5-1 NYR
