First Period
I forgot I was recapping because I was posting about the broadcast being stupid. But I’m here now, don’t worry. What was I mad about? Glad you asked. Fabbri got hit from behind into the boards and the comment was about how the Sabres are happy with that, that’s what they need more of, etc. Sure.
Funny moment where a Sabres player ends up in Lyon’s net and you can hear the ref bellowing “ALEX. STOP IT.” for not letting him out. He’s just being silly leave him alone.
However, Larkin makes the many Wings fans in the building roar with a great goal 4 minutes in. Our Captain makes it 1-0 Wings! He didn’t bat it out of midair, he smacked it out of midair. Miguel Cabrera. The Sabres started coasting thinking the puck was in the netting but there was no whistle. Always play until you hear a whistle kids. Sabres considered challenging but didn’t.
Wings controlling the game, everybody is rolling, love to see it.
Not even to the halfway mark and FABBRI SCOOOOOOOOOORES! 2-0 Wings. Perron does a lot of work on that goal too. Wings bench is fired up. Lyon has only made two saves but they were both big ones.
Another big save from Lyon. Ghost in the Bad Bear Box for hooking. On the penalty kill with 8 minutes to go. ESPN+ describes Sabres home powerplay as “rancid”. They have a 3 for 34 success rate. Lyon another big save! Big slide across and pouncing out of the paint. Typical Lyon behavior. Penalty is killed but Sabres got some energy out of it and are all over the Wings now.
Thank you blessed saint goalpost.
2:37 to go and Raymond goes to the Crimes Cabana. Another Sabres powerplay. For a few seconds anyway. Copp charges his way to a breakaway and draws a holding penalty on Dahlin. Dahlin the Degen Den and it’s 4v4 for 1:30. Back and forth and back and forth but nobody getting a good shot on either end. Penalties are killed and the period is over.
Wings have the lead, the second half of the period wasn’t great, but the score is what counts.
Sabres fans are loudly booing.
Second Period
DeBrincat gets hit in the face by something. Puck? Stick? Refs don’t care whatever it was. Patiently waiting for the Wings to have some time in the Sabres zone.
It’s time for a Rrrrrred Wings powerplay! Skinner in Jerk Jail for tripping. Wings wearing the Sabres down playing keep away for a minute, Seider has a critical keep in to keep it going. Seider eventually says ok that’s enough and fires a slapshot into the net. Mo makes it 3-0 with a powerplay goal!
That was fun, let’s do it again. Larkin draws a holding penalty and we’re back on the powerplay! Petterka in the Party Pooper Penitentiary. The second unit does get some time on this powerplay. Puck on the goal line but just won’t get across, how rude. Best chance we had and the powerplay is killed.
FINALLY. FINALLY RASMUSSEN SCORES!!!! 4-0 Wings. Gets a mini-breakaway and doesn’t even try any tricks. Just snaps a shot through the 5-hole on Comrie who can’t believe the audacity. We all needed that goal.
Sprong breakaway but he just kinda dekes himself into Comrie instead of the puck into the net. He’s still getting used to wearing 17, growing pains.
Copp goes to the Loser Locker for a slashing penalty and it takes about one blink for the Sabres powerplay to score. 4-1 Wings. The ol’ give up a goal with a minute left strategy. All part of the plan. ESPN is desperately wishing for a Sabres comeback victory.
Third Period
Mittelstadt takes a penalty in the first minute so he’s in the Maligners Madhouse. Red Wings powerplay! Larkin gets hit from behind and is slow to get up. Heads to the bench and down to the room. Apparently, I’m crazy to think there’s something wrong with a Jost taking a three-stride wind-up and hitting Larkin in the numbers and into the boards. He hadn’t even gotten to the play yet. The powerplay does not go well.
11:40 to go and Mittelstadt makes it 4-2. ESPN is elated. Lyon almost had it and might be kicking himself a bit.
Larkin is back on the bench!
9 minutes to go and Chiarot goes to the Offender Office for high sticking. Wings penalty kill! As you would expect, the Sabres score. 4-3 Wings. Larkin angry at himself.
Wings hanging on for dear life.
5 minutes.
3 minutes.
2 minutes. Comrie to the bench. Walman going to the Evildoer Enclosure for high-sticking and regulation will end with a Wings penalty kill. He deserved the penalty it was very obvious and a dumb thing to do.
Block party! Wings scrambling and diving all over the place to protect the net.
1 minute.
LARKIN SCOOOOOOOORES!!!! 5-3 Wings. 45 seconds to go.
GAME OVER. RED WINGS WIIIIIIIIIN!
