Wings Postgame: No ‘Kin, No Win

Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers/USA TODAY SPORTS

Fans of the Red Wings weren’t particularly optimistic from this game from the very start; while Ottawa are far from elite, Detroit were without teenage wunderkind Dylan Larkin for the night, as he recovered from an illness. Unfortunately for them, they had reason to be concerned, as the team eventually succame to defeat in a game that needed 65 minutes and a shootout to settle.

While it took a while for either team to open the scoring in this one, both teams posted their icebreakers within a minute of each other. Andreas Athanasiou put the Wings up at first, taking advantage of a nasty turnover by Norris favourite Erik Karlsson by absolutely blasting the loose puck past Craig Anderson. Zack Smith responded within seconds, though, crashing to the net to redirect a feed from Jean-Gabriel Pageau to tie the game up.

Late in the period, Detroit regained the lead when a puck from Brad Richards took a redirection off of Karlsson’s stick and into the back of the net. Not everybody on Ottawa’s point was feeling as generous tonight, though; Dion Phaneuf tied the game with his first goal as a member of the team, blasting a point shot which sent the game to overtime. Neither team scored in the extra frame, and when it came down to the shootout, Kyle Turris was the only one who had any success; beating Petr Mrazek low with Ottawa’s second shot.

Wings fans love to joke about how great Erik Karlsson would be if he wore the wheel, and tonight they got a glimpse of it. Despite captaining the opposition, the Swedish defenceman picked up an assist and a goal for Detroit that ultimately earned them a point. He must have been inspired by Nicklas Lidstrom.

The Wings have a quick turnaround, taking on the New York Rangers tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is at 7:00; be there or be, well, not in Manhattan?