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Recap: Detroit Red Wings 6 – Pittsburgh Penguins 3

The Detroit Red Wings return home after a five game road trip where they dropped their last three games. Joe Louis Arena has not been kind to the Wings as they have a 3-10-3 record in their last 16 home games. The Pittsburgh Penguins come to Detroit on a two game losing streak of their own, but they still hold onto the third spot in the Metropolitan division.

1st Period

Holy jumpin’, 30 seconds in Kris Letang snipes Jared Coreau to take the early lead. Anthony Mantha with a turnover that leads to the opportunity. Pittsburgh leads 1-0.

Justin Abdelkader goes after Evgeni Malkin and both receive two minute minors.

After serving his penalty, Abdelkader seems to be off on a 2v1, but can not get the puck out from his skates and nothing comes from the opportunity.

Thomas Vanek and Andreas Athanasiou set up a great chance for Luke Glendening but a huge pad stack save by Marc-Andre Fleury thwarts the opportunity.

The Red Wings response to the goal was very impressive. The offense was spurred on by the Vanek-Athanasiou-Nielsen line.

Conor Sheary takes a holding penalty with 10:21 left and the Wings go on the power play. Henrik Zetterberg gets a nice opportunity from the slot and that ends up being the only chance on the advantage.

Riley Sheahan gets another good chance, but can’t put it past Fleury. A good bounce back period for him after being scratched in Dallas.

Nick Jensen is creating on offensive, transitioning quickly and moving up the ice well. This is his tenth NHL game and will now have to clear waivers to return to Grand Rapids.

The period comes to a close with a Glendening opportunity. He has half the net wide open and he can not get his backhand on the puck. Glendening and Sheahan had some very good opportunities this period, but will need to start seeing the back of the net.

Letang was injured early in the period. He came back to the bench for a bit, but finished the period in the locker room.

After 1

Score: DET-0 PIT-1

Shots: DET-12 PIT-10

Period 2

One minute into the period, Gustav Nyquist pulls down Sheary for a penalty. The Red Wings end up with the best opportunity on the Penguins power play when Sheahan ends up alone in front of the net, but snipes the glass.

After the Wings kill the penalty, Vanek sends a pass up to Mike Green on the hash marks, but he turns his head the wrong way and Carl Hagelin picks up the puck and finds Malkin in the slot for the goal. Pittsburgh 2-0.

Vanek interferes with 15:36 left in the period, but the Wings kill is working well and Pittsburgh moves to 0-2 on the advantage.

Zetterberg wins a draw in the offensive zone and Nyquist scores on a slap shot with Jensen and Xavier Ouellet getting the assists. Detroit 1-2.

Right after the goal Nyquist gets another opportunity, but he fans on the puck in the slot.

Too many men penalty for Detroit, but the kill is keeping the Wings in the game.

Tie game! Vanek gets to the front of the net and chips a puck over Fleury. The Wings have fought their way back to even it up. Detroit 2-2.

Detroit is playing with the momentum until a bad pass by Green leads to an Abdelkader slash and the Wings go back on the kill. The penalty kill effort has been heroic, and it take a Jonathan Ericsson own goal for Pittsburg to finally capitalize on the advantage. Pittsburgh 3-2.

A minute and ten seconds later the Red Wings answer again! Green makes up for his terrible pass that lead to a penalty with a beautiful slap pass to Frans Nielsen for the goal. Detroit 3-3.

After 2

Score: DET-3 PIT-3

Shots: DET-23 PIT-24

3rd Period

Okay! I have gathered myself and put all my clothes back on. Coast-to-coast goal for Athanasiou. Absolutely filthy. Detroit 4-3. I can not get enough of this goal. A damn masterpiece.

Malkin knocks Abdelkader into Coreau and Warsofsky floats a shot in from the point. Blashill challenges the play and the call is reversed.

The Wings are not playing confidently in their own zone. Weak passes up the boards make easy pinch opportunities for the Pittsburgh defense.

Zetterberg-Athanasiou-Vanek miss a good opportunity, but Vanek is slashed by Warsofsky. A Cullen hook puts the Wings on the 5v3 for 1:34. As the second penalty is about to expire, Green sends one right through the armpit of Fleury for a power play goal. Detroit 5-3.

Coreau makes a big cross crease save on Hagelin. Detroit takes the puck down to the other end and Zetterberg finishes in front of the net on a nice play set up by Nyquist and Mantha. The party is on at JLA! Detroit 6-3.

The last five minutes of the game are a little chippy. Crosby takes a penalty with 1:47 left. Nothing comes of the power play as the Wings wrap up a 6-3 win over the defending champs.

Final

Score: DET-6 PIT-3

Shots: DET-34 PIT-32

Final Thoughts

The Wings really needed a home win after the long trip and struggling to win at the Joe. I think the fans will fill the Joe for the final games regardless, but it would be nice to see a team performing better at home because it had been a dismal stretch of games. Tonight was very satisfying. Mantha, Vanek and Green all made bad mistakes in their own end, but were able to redeem themselves with good offensive plays. And a feisty come from behind win against the damn Penguins is always pleasant.

The Athanasiou goal was one of the few moments this season that has actually gotten me out of my chair to celebrate. This goal will be one of the highlights of the year and I hope it keeps pushing AA forward as he continues his great play since he was scratched.

Coreau played well in his first home start. He is putting pressure on Mrazek for playing time, so hopefully Petr can respond and pick up his game because the Wings need it.

Jensen was superb tonight. He moved the puck very well and looked poised in the offensive zone. He lead the Red Wings with a +3 tonight. There will be good reason for a major freakout if he is lost on waivers.

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