WINGS POST-GAME: Shooting Out The Canucks!
By Nick Seguin
5 years agoElias Pettersson and the Vancouver Canucks rolled into Detroit tonight to face the Detroit Red Wings, who were looking to get back into the ‘W’ column after a rough outing against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The game was a nail biter that ended with Detroit winning 3-2 in a shootout.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
- The Wings had a bad first period as they fell behind on a Pettersson slap shot that was perfectly placed in the top corner over Jimmy Howard‘s shoulder. They were badly out-shot and out-attempted.
- In the second, trailing 2-0, the Wings clawed back into the game with a powerplay goal from Justin Abdelkader. Abby actually played a decent game as he continues to bounce back from a rough start.
- Gustav Nyquist lifted the monkey off his back as he tied the game early in the third period. It wasn’t a pretty goal as it bounced off of a couple of Canucks, but Nyquist will take any puck luck he can get at this point. Jacob De La Rose assisted on the goal. It was his second point as a Red Wing.
- Dylan Larkin had a frustrating night as he got high-sticked, elbowed, taken down, and just beat up in general. All of the adversity didn’t stop him from creating chances and taking shots, though. He really has been the Red Wings best player this season.
- Jimmy Howard was great tonight, turning away XX Vancouver shots, including a few acrobatic saves like this:
- Speaking of Vancouver shots, they badly out-shot the Wings in the 1st period (17-7), but Detroit did well for themselves in the 2nd and 3rd periods, out-shooting the Canucks 22-21.
- The overtime period had maybe 2-3 exciting opportunities, but was otherwise surprisingly dull. It was Larkin’s goal that ultimately won the game in a shootout.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I really like how the Red Wings didn’t let their terrible first period haunt them for the entire game. They rallied hard to get themselves back into the game and into overtime. Then Larkin, after a very frustrating game, finally scored his first shootout goal of the season. It was a satisfying win, but lurking under the surface of my excitement is the knowledge that showing up for two out of three periods just isn’t enough to win consistently in this league.
Despite an uninspiring showing from the defence, the Wings played a good game. Howard kept them in it and Larkin finally sealed the deal. Whatever happened, they walked away with a win tonight. That’s always an exciting thought in Wings Nation this year.
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