Back to work after a big win against Tampa.
This wasn’t an easy match-up for the Wings. Dallas has fed Detroit its lunch of late, and they have another win to add to their record due to a really sloppy second period from the Red Wings. If it weren’t for that, I think Detroit pulls off a win here.. Coulda-woulda-shoulda, I guess. Let’s get into it.
The Good: Power Play
The Bad: Defense Optional
1st Period
All-in-all, the Wings played a really good period of hockey to open this game, but Dallas was the first on the board. The Stars were granted a power-play about three minutes into the game and it led to a goal from Jamie Benn.
After the goal from Dallas, Detroit showed plenty of resilience. The Wings were given a power play around five minutes left in the period, and it took the entire two minutes to turn a goal. It was one heluva shift from this PP unit, and David Perron:
Jamie Benn found his big dumb a** in the penalty box just minutes later and that’s when the Cat got involved. Daniel Sprong pulled off about as nice of a play you’ll ever see to feed Alex DeBrincat, who made no mistake with his shot placement:
So yeah, three goals in the first period — all on the power play. It’s 2-1 Detroit.
2nd Period
This next 20 minutes of hockey…. not so kind for the Detroit Red Wings.
The Dallas Stars did just about everything right while the Wings were doing just about everything wrong. It took just 22 seconds for the Stars to score the game-tying goal. The floodgates would open and Dallas would rattle off three more unanswered goals.
I could sit here and pin blame on specific players, but everyone was doing their part of stinking up the ice in this period. Sloppy, uninspiring hockey. 5-2 Dallas after 40 minutes.
3rd Period
They’ve shown it quite a bit this season — these Wings don’t go down without a fight.
With James Reimer now in net, the Wings set out to do the unthinkable and erase a three-goal deficit. They would have succeeded if it weren’t for a then-goal from Christian Fischer that was called back for offsides. It took just over 10 minutes for the Wings to get one back, thanks to Dylan Larkin on the power play:
Dallas gave the Wings a TON of time and space but at times it seemed like the puck was just a half-second ahead of Detroit. at 16:46 of the third period, JT Compher scored a clutch goal that gave Detroit a shot at taking the game to OT:
Detroit would end up with a 6-on-4 advantage in the closing stages thanks to a delay-of-game penalty. The Stars managed to out-muscle the Wings and keep a cap on their one-goal lead. The comeback falls short and Dallas wins 5-4.
The Wings are back Thursday night to host the Flyers at LCA.
