Let’s go! Let’s do this! I’m excited, are you excited? I mean, I’m nervous… cuz ya know… Bruins and a 2-game skid… but I think the Wings can step up to the occasion.
1st Period
After the opera singer finishes (these guys are talented but I cannot express just how much I hate that version of the anthem), Boston jumps right in with possession off the opening face off. But the Wings seem to respond and some back and forth ensues before Brandon Carlo catches a friendly high stick and everything has to stop while he leaves the ice for routine maintenance. Once things start back up, both sides have their chances (DeBrincat with at least two) before McAvoy breaks a commandment and heads to the Sin Bin.
Unfortunately, the Wings never really get set up and McAvoy comes back on the ice after his full 2:00. Moments later, it’s Rasmussen’s turn to take a time-out after getting called for boarding. Husso and the posts make some good saves to keep things knotted at 0s, but a scramble leads to a Pavel Zacha goal on a wide open net to end the penalty early as the Bruins go up 1-0 about halfway thru the 1st.
Play goes back-and-forth for a bit before another scrambled play ends up with a loose puck on the side of the Red Wings goal crease. McAvoy finds it first and puts the boys in red in a significant hole with time fading in the period. Already down 2-0 now, Copp takes a high sticking penalty and heads to the box to feel shame. This time, the good guys do their job and Boston comes away from this man-advantage with nothing to show for it.
With less than 2 minutes left in the period, the Wings draw a penalty but quickly surrender the advantage as Larkin is called for high sticking. The period ends with a little scrum before everyone heads to their locker rooms.
2nd Period
I hope everyone follows my advice and moves past that 1st period with some goldfish brains.
But it doesn’t seem like that will be the case. Justin Holl is sent off for a tripping time-out almost 6 minutes into the period, and I’m begging the universe to help calm this team down. The penalty is thankfully killed off, and quickly changes to a delayed penalty against Boston. After about a minute of 6-on-5 hockey with nothing to show for it, Steen is escorted away for hooking Veleno.
It’s another big fat nothing-burger of an advantage. At this point, if I’m Boston, I’d start playing a little more aggressively as the Wings Powerplay obviously isn’t mustering much. There seems to be some progress at 5-on-5 though, but none of it is translating into a quality chance or goal.
Trent Frederick high-sticks Compher during a face-off late in the period and the Wings move back to the Powerplay. PP1 sets up and gets some movement going, but ultimately loses the zone when DeBrincat whiffs on a one-timer that allows Boston to clear. I feel like this is going to be an allegory for the whole night.
DeBrincat gets another chance late in the advantage but comes away with nothing to show for it as the period winds down. Husso makes a big save to close out the period, and the 2nd ends the same way it started.
3rd Period
Heading into the final frame, shots are in Boston’s favor 23-13. Yeah, it feels like we’ve put forth a 13-shot effort thus far. I think it’s about 50/50 that we’ll end up with 20+ shots and I’m prepared to be very very very disappointed.
The Wings seem intent on making me eat my words as they come out of the 2nd intermission with some fire. A couple chances don’t convert, but it’s obvious this team is trying to make something happen as opposed to just surviving. Every line is picking up the energy, and Joe Veleno finally makes something of it as he turns some fancy puck-work into a goal!
There’s blood in the water and the Wings can smell it. The ensuing shifts result in some sustained pressure across the lines, close chances, and even a post hit by Kostin. A scrum creates a 4-on-4 that opens up the ice, but the Bruins take advantage of it instead of Detroit. Pastrnak ends up with a breakaway, but is “slashed” on the effort and converts on the penalty shot. Down by two late is not where we wanted to be after how this period was going.
Things stagnate until time winds down far enough for Husso to head to the bench with about 3:00 left. The Wings get set up and test Swayman, but everything seems off by millimeters for the boys in red. Eventually, Boston gets a stick on the puck and they bank it out of the zone for an icing attempt that ends up finding the empty net. I do not miss this brand of hockey. Time expires, and the game ends 4-1.
Closing Thoughts
Whatever was said in the locker room during 2nd intermission needs to be bottled, mass produced, and drank by every Red Wings player before the start of every game. That’s the kind of pep they need to start out with to have a chance against other top teams. If they don’t spend most of the 1st reeling, we could have come away with a point (maybe even 2). When this team clicks, they can absolutely hang with the best. But when they don’t… well at least now it’s “they look off by a few millimeters” instead of “SOMEBODY JUST MAKE IT STOP”.
On to New York to face the Isles on Monday.
