WINGS POSTGAME: Late game push not enough as Red Wings lose 5-3
By Cameron Kuom
4 years agoThe losing streak has now reached 11 games, following the Red Wings 5-3 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first two periods were as even as it gets, but poor goaltending gave Pittsburgh the advantage on the scoreboard. Detroit responded with an excellent third period, potting two goals in the final 7 minutes.
However, I will say, of all the games in this losing streak, this was the game they deserved to win the most. The way they played in the third period was quite promising.
Thoughts and Highlights
- What was a rather unexpected moment in the first period didn’t come on the ice. Instead, it was a remark from Ken Daniels, who mentioned the possibility of Justin Abdelkader moving to center when he returns from injury. That would be…interesting, to say the least.
- Jeff Blashill brought out his notorious line “blender” and got very experimental with the combinations. At one point we saw a Bertuzzi-Filppula-Athanasiou line. Filip Zadina saw playing time on the second, third, and fourth line. Adam Erne got some reps on the third.
- After failing to convert on their first powerplay opportunity, the first unit came back with a goal on the next man-advantage. Zadina dropped the puck off to a cutting Dylan Larkin whose shot redirected off Tyler Bertuzzi right to Robby Fabbri for a wide open net.
- Eric Comrie entered the game in relief for Jonathan Bernier with 10:38 left in the third period. It was a rough outing for Bernier. He allowed 4 goals on 19 shots, a good portion of which he should of had. This was Comrie’s first appearance in net since being acquired by the Red Wings back on Nov. 30.
- A late game push started with a fantastic play from Darren Helm to set up the Red Wings second goal. With exactly 7 minutes to go, Helm came flying into the zone, eventually finding a wide open Filip Hronek to make it 4-2.
- Not too long after Dylan Larkin scored to make it a one goal game. Converting on the powerplay, Larkin beat Matt Murray from distance with a wrist shot.
- The final shift of the game was quite eventful. Larkin took over and nearly willed Detroit to a tie game. The result was disappointing, but you have to love the “play to the final buzzer” attitude they brought tonight.
Gif of the Game
They came so close to snapping the now 11 game losing streak. A valiant effort, but it just wasn’t good enough.
Motor City MVP
Dylan Larkin
With a goal and an assist on the night, Larkin had a monster game, maybe his best performance of the season. #71’s final few shifts really stood out. One play in particular came on the last shift when he stripped Evgeni Malkin of the puck, keeping the play alive in the offensive zone and preventing Malkin from scoring on an empty net.
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