WINGS POSTGAME: Third period mistakes results in first loss of the season
By Cameron Kuom
4 years agoCan’t win em’ all.
The Red Wings fall to the Ducks, 3-1, for their first loss of the season. This one is rather disappointing, as they were in it all game long. At certain moments of the game they were the clear better team. But a dominant game from John Gibson kept it close all the way to the end.
The third period is when the wheels started to fall off. A go-ahead goal being called back, plus two quick strikes squandered all of Detroit’s momentum. One could argue the Wings were the better team, but a few too many mistakes leads to the first defeat of the season.
As Jeff Blashill said in his postgame interview: “We beat ourselves.”
Thoughts and Highlights
- The Red Wings dominated the first period of play. They out shot Anaheim 11-7, but dictated play for much of the first frame. The forecheck was especially noticeable. All four lines were buzzing — even the 4th line — and really made John Gibson work.
- Madison Bowey made his season debut tonight and its clear Jeff Blashill doesn’t have much trust in him. Just a few shifts in and Blashill was already relying on Filip Hronek to extra minutes. Bowey finished the game with a TOI of 10:12. I don’t think he stepped on the ice once in the third period.
- Speaking of Hronek, he really stepped up tonight. He scored the Wings only goal late in the second period, coming after hitting the post twice on the same shift. You gotta love how much heat he gets behind those one-timers.
- Hronek played over 22 minutes, and was out there for most of the third period. Its pretty clear the trust Blashill has in him. By midseason he’ll certainly be the official go-to guy on the back-end.
- The third period was wacky, to say the least. Tied 1-1, Detroit thought they took the lead on a Dylan Larkin goal, but after further review video showed Anthony Mantha was a hair offside. No goal.
- Anaheim immediately responded with two goals, one coming off a face-palm worthy Tyler Beruzzi turnover. Mistakes like that cost Detroit, blowing all their momentum from the first two periods.
Gif of the Game
When the go-ahead goal is called back for being an inch offside…
Motor City MVP
Tyler Bertuzzi
Aside from his costly third period turnover, Bertuzzi was awesome tonight. He showed he can be more then just a digger on the top-line, having plenty of skill himself. If not for a post and an offside call, he would have two primary assists added to his stat sheet.
The top-line as a whole played a strong game. And Bertuzzi was the one that made them go tonight. Detroit has a keeper in this kid. He’s proving last season was no fluke.
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