WINGS PRESEASON POSTGAME: Detroit falls short of the Islanders, lose 4-3 in OT
By Cameron Kuom
4 years agoAfter a back-and-forth game with the New York Islanders, the Red Wings just came up short, falling 4-3 in overtime. They saw strong performances from their NHL regulars like Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha, but that is to be expected. Some of the prospects in this game are still trying to find their groove.
The bright side? We are now a third of the way done with preseason!
The Highlights
- The opening goal of the game came from Athanasiou on a partial breakaway, at 7:53 of the first period
- The goal was a thing of beauty, as Double-A managed to use his speed to beat the defender and cut to the inside, tucking the puck off the far post and going in off the New York netminder.
- Later on in the game, Anthony Mantha decided to join the fun, scoring off a wicked wrist shot while coming in on the rush. The goal was set up by a nice give-and-go with Tyler Bertuzzi at their own blue-line.
- Surprising, the two goals above might not have been the most skilled play made by the Red Wings. Newly acquired forward Adam Erne has been impressive through out all of training camp and has started to make a name for himself. This no-look, between the legs pass across to Filip Hronek was a great display of creativity and vision.
Final Thoughts
Despite the final result, there are still some key takeaways from this game that gives reason for optimism. Adam Erne, for one, is showing off his untapped potential on the offensive side of the puck. Already a strong defensive forward, if he can find another layer to his game, that would be a huge win for the Red Wings. I get the sense that Jeff Blashill will really take a liking to Erne. He plays that reliable, gritty game that coaches love.
On the front of returning players, Athanasiou and Mantha have both already made a name for themselves in Detroit, but having dealt with consistency issues in the past, generating some momentum in the exhibition period can’t be a bad thing. The team is hoping for another big year from both of them.
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