Heading into tonight’s game vs. Boston, we have a few questions. Are Dylan Sadowy or Evgeni Svechnikov going to play their way into consideration this year?
Will Nyquist find his scoring touch again this season?
How many Matt Lorito puns can we make this pre-season?
First Period
We have Jimmy Howard vs. Anton Khudobin. Early on, Nick Jensen waved his right hand high in the air, indicating that he shoots right, before leading the play up ice. Aubry and Hickman interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to punch each other in the face. That’s your Home Depot Aisle 4 Sandpaper fight of the night.
Tangradi took an elbowing penalty because Riley Nash didn’t duck in time.
Howard comes up big several times on the penalty kill, although the Wings PK kept the Bruins to the outside. Sheahan in particular did a good job on the kill.
Svechnikov had a glorious chance, but he was stoned in front by Khudobin.
And we get a video package showing how awesome Frans Nielsen is going to be for the Wings.
Helm’s done a very good job on the PK so far.
Splat Sausalito had a really nice carry up the left boards, but it led to nothing.
7 minutes left, Boston leads 6-3 in shots.
Nyquist goes awkwardly into the boards, but he seems to be ok. He asked for a second round of smelling salts, then accepted that Sheahan and Helm were his linemates and returned to the bench.
Shots 8-6 Boston at the end of the first.
Second Period
Nick Jensen has taken a page from “The Dark Knight Rises” and has created a burning “Right hand shot” on the ice behind him.
Nyquist and Helm had a 2 on 1, but Nyquist shot wide. Good to get the chance, but he could have done better with it.
So far, the Wings have played better team defense, even though they are down in shots on goal, the Detroit has had the better chances.
Helm passes off the boards to himself, creating a scoring chance out of nothing, but Khudobin stones him.
Red Wings go to the power play 5 minutes into the period. Helm, Nyquist, Sheahan, Lorito, and Green.
Mike Green scores off the cross ice feed from Muskrat Burrito! Never mind. Sheahan tipped it in front, with assists from Green and Doormat Gran Torino.
1-0 Detroit.
Givani Smith driving to the net draws another penalty, and the Wings go back to the power play.
Howard makes a short handed breakaway stop on Spooner, but he’s hooked, so the power play is negated.
Jimmy Howard made four solid saves on the penalty kill to keep the score 1-0.
With 9 minutes left in the period, Howard has made 14 saves to Khudobin’s 16, and at least half of them have been good shots against.
The broadcast team had a quote from Jeff Blashill about players like Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha. He said that if they want to make the Wings this year, they need to prove they can make an impact, and not just make the team. Considering they made an impact last season when they played in the NHL, who knows what that means?
Givani Smith and Joe Morrow drop the gloves, with Morrow getting the takedown.
Sadowy has a nice move to the net, but the puck is cleared into the corner.
With three minutes left in the period, Ryan Spooner goes to the box for holding.
Nyquist nearly scores on a one-timer on the power play.
The period ends, still 1-0 Detroit.
Third Period
A drone is flying through the arena towing a sign that read: “Nick Jensen is a right handed defensemen.”
Nyquist had a glorious chance on an early power play, but he couldn’t get the shot off quickly enough to beat Khudobin. He’s putting himself in the right position, but he should have at least one goal so far.
Nyquist gets another great chance, but no go. Shortly after, Callahan drives the net, but Khudobin stands strong.
Halfway through the periods, shots are 29-22 Detroit.
Tangradi took a puck in the face and headed straight to the Red Wings dressing room. Fortunately it was from a clearing pass and not a shot, so it’s not as bad as it looked at first glance.
Callahan had a chance to clear the puck in front of the net, but he fanned on it, and Danton Heinen somehow scored from his knees.
Detroit 1, Boston 1.
Helm draws a penalty , and Green nearly scores on the delayed call. Riley Sheahan has another strong shift, and he’s looked great tonight.
The period ends 1-1 and we go to Overtime. 35-25 Wings lead in shots.
Overtime
Green loses his man, and Spooner is left all alone in front of the net, and he puts it by Howard. Boston wins 2-1 in overtime.
Pluses
Jimmy Howard, Mike Green, Riley Sheahan, Darren Helm, and Matt Lorito were the standout players tonight. Hronek and Svechnikov had several bright spots, with no glaring miscues.
Minuses
Givani Smith was rather invisible other than his fight, which he quickly lost. I was hoping to see more out of him, but it’s only his first year. Mike Green and Matt Lorito blew their assignments on the OT goal, so they are both plus and minus, which we all know is a great way to measure player performance. Jonathan Ericsson was consistent all game, unfortunately he was consistently bad.
