tl;dr – bad first period; Fabbri the junkyard dog bites back; find out why I make a joke about baseball; electric OT; Raymond, Kane and Lyon handle the shootout. The 6 game losing streak to the Kings is over!
First Period
Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, the other team scores in the first two minutes. 1-0 Kings. Wings got caught ignoring Kempe who was in the crease for the easy tap-in. Nothing Lyon could do other than find a miracle, which he did not.
Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, the other team scores in the first five minutes. 2-0 Kings.
Wings get some chances of their own, they haven’t rolled over and died. For the written record. They are turning over the puck a lot, however. Which is not optimal for setting up plays. Keep reading for more of my hard-hitting analysis.
Lyon stops a breakaway and the Kings whiff on a few shots to keep things from getting embarrassing. The Wings manage not to give up another goal and the period ends 2-0 and the Wings are lucky it isn’t worse.
Second Period
The Raymon-Larkin-Perron line kicks things off with two good shots. Wings buzzing the first few minutes, amazing what happens when you carry into the zone. Best part is, they do not give up a goal in the first 5 minutes.
Penalty called, first one of the game incredibly. Petry in the Bad Boy Box for interference. Wings to the PK! Penalty killed – a goal there would have been a disaster. Wings haven’t scored yet but it’s a much better team than the first. 10 seconds after I wrote that, WINGS SCOOOOOOOOOORE! 2-1 Kings. Loud cheer in the arena, a lot of Wings fans there. Junkyard Dog goal from Fabbri, scrapping away in front of the net. Halfway through the period.
Larkin now with DeBrincat and Kane. Line blender whirring with the 11F rotation. All Larkin, all the time, is always a good strategy.
Maatta is having a game, and not a good one.
Larkin draws a penalty behind the play, Wings get their first powerplay. Grundstrom in the Goon Garden for interference (hitting Larkin who didn’t have the puck so much that he wasn’t even on camera). Penalty killed but an ok attempt at scoring. It’s ok they didn’t score on the powerplay, because shortly after it expired Petry scores from the blue line. TIE GAME! It’s Dodgers night at the arena and they shouldn’t have played Take Me Out to the Ball Game because it only got Petry hyped.
We’re back in business. We end tied 2-2. But before going to intermission there’s a full team scrap at center ice. Seider gets into it by being himself (a professional pest) and Walman goes over to defend him and that sets it off. No real punches just some chitchat and hugs.
Third Period
That end-of-period conversation ends up as a Kings powerplay. Seems like an overreaction but it’s not an NHL game without a ref show. Seider in the Crimes Cabana for “slashing”. Penalty killed, no harm done.
Veleno gets high-sticked and Kempe goes to the Timeout Terrarium. Wings to the powerplay! Perron immediately having some words with the Kings who think he was too close to their goalie. Right after the penalty expires there’s Fabbri in the junkyard again. 3-2 Wings! A loud Let’s Go Red Wings chant is unable to be drowned out by all the boos.
Halfway point and both teams are flying. Dump and chase hockey is nowhere to be found.
Kings trying to draw a few penalties and the refs aren’t biting. Chiarot does maybe get away with holding the stick I’ll admit that.
4:17 to go and Kings tie it up 3-3. Kempe again and Lyon isn’t happy with himself about it. It was only a matter of time, we all know 3 goals isn’t enough.
2 minutes to go, Compher saves a goal there. Wings just hanging on for dear life.
1 minute.
Loser Point Achieved. 1am Eastern Time.
OVERTIME
DeBrincat had the game on his stick after a great long pass from Walman but off the goalpost. He gets a second breakaway, flubs it. This is not a boring OT that’s for sure. Larkin working his butt off. Unfortunately, this is going to a boring stupid shootout. DeBrincat is going to be kicking himself.
SHOOTOUT
Moore – No
Kempe – No
RED WINGS WIIIIIIIIIIIN!
