WINGS POST-GAME: Red Wings 4, Blue Jackets 5 (OT)
By Nick Seguin
6 years agoThe Wings were in the midst of building on a 4-1 lead when the third period hit. That is normally where the breakdown happens for them. Columbus clawed their way back and tied the game on a late game powerplay, greatly helping their playoff odds. A loss in overtime for Detroit means another point, which is painful for those on #TeamTank. The final was 5-4.
Things Worth Mentioning…
- Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, both times on passes from Henrik Zetterberg, for the first multi-goal game of his NHL career. Zetterberg added a third assist to his night on a behind-the-back dish to Gustav Nyquist.
- The Wings converted twice on the powerplay tonight. It’s only the second time in ten games that they’ve scored with the man advantage and the first time they’ve scored more than one powerplay goal in a game since December 20th.
- Dylan Larkin assisted on Darren Helm’s first period goal. It was Larkin’s 60th point of the season. Per Helene St. James, $650,000 of performance bonuses kicked in with the milestone point.
- Jared Coreau was supposed to get the start tonight, but fell ill with the flu. Tom McCollum was called up to back-up Jimmy Howard. There was a scary moment in the second period where Howard got hurt and McCollum started to get ready. Apparently, nobody wanted McCollum on the ice because Howard toughed it out and finished the game.
- The Wings gave up two shorthanded goals. Nothing new here.
- The Wings were out-shot 41 to 27. Can you imagine what the score would have been if Coreau was in net?
FINAL THOUGHT…
I understand how the draft lottery works, but I can’t get behind the idea of tanking. I try to put myself in the players’ shoes. Losing sucks, whether you’re in the playoffs or not. The players and the coaches never want to lose. It’s not good for morale, confidence, or, dare I say it, culture. If winning games means the Wings pick 8th or 9th overall, then so be it. There are lots of great players picked after 5th overall. The team still has eight picks through the first four rounds of the 2018 draft and six picks through the first four rounds of the 2019 draft.
Basically, tanking is bad for business and doesn’t guarantee you a top-3 pick. You still need that luck, which can be incredibly hard to come by in this sport. Just ask the Arizona Coyotes.
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