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In my
Wings and Blue Jacktes pregame post I looked briefly at this game in terms of starting a back to back to back scenario. The boys couldn’t have done much better getting this rolling.
Before I dive in, a quick note on Roslovic. What an impressive player, and a real boon in the deal with Winnipeg. If Laine can get going, that deal will look better and better. Roslovic just impressed me shift after shift. A lot of fun to watch.
When the game started, Larkin showed some rust. His line with Zadina and Raymond just weren’t clicking, but they got better as time went on. 3 power play goals (2 by Larkin) with Raymond getting a couple of nice assists including on Veleno’s goal. Nick Leddy continues to look like a good pickups with 3 assists tonight. He’s keeping the puck in the zone on the power play, and that is a big step forward for this group.
Veleno has a lot of confidence in all of his roles. His line had a better start than the Captain’s, for sure. However, I’m still just baffled at the creativity of Raymond. Curl and drags, no look passes, breakaway short handed. He just seems so smooth out there. Blashill has pounded the table saying that Raymond will have to be “head and shoulders” above everyone he’s competing with. It sounds, essentially, like a near guarantee that Raymond will travel down 96 to start the year. But, Larkin got his spot at 19 when Z went to Blashill and changed his mind. You never know how this will end up.
Seider had so many nice shifts. Even his recovery from mistakes belies his age. His skating, blocking, passing all just seem to belong to someone with more NHL games under their belt. Yes, it’s the preseason. Still, the kid is impressive. The more I watch, the more I like he and Leddy as the top pairing. Hronek and Deke work well together and that’s a nice middle pairing to have. Stecher will likely play tomorrow, and looked good in Chicago. The defense looks better.
You can see some of my in game notes. Newpower had some good shifts again. I like his skating and decision making. Hirose looked as confident as I can remember. Pearson had some nice looks as well. This was a fun game, and after Larkin scored his breakaway goal, it just kept getting better for him. The other squad will suit of for Pittsburgh tomorrow, which sounds like it is stream only. Back to LCA and Bally sports on Monday. Along with my summary I posted embedded video of the goals again. Enjoy it!
1st period:
Hirose tips a nice Riley Barber shot after a slick pass from Leddy. The play started with some nice work by Seider at the blue line. Leddy really communicating well. Impressive to see him sporting an ‘A’.
Hirose’s goal:
Some really nice work by Veleno behind CBJ net at around 16:00
Chase Pearson at 18:43 pushing the puck into the CBJ zone. Had the makings of a 2 on 1 with Veleno, but Blue Jackets defense ended up helping push the puck in. That line has looked good at times.
Pearson goal:
Larkin line looks a little rough. Maybe just shaking off the rust. Raymond skated more confidently with Suter/Fabbri. Hopefully they’ll come together better in the 2nd.
2nd period:
Veleno with a beautiful chance early on. Seider looks so smooth blocking and skating. Bailed out Leddy (full marks to Roslovic for a beautiful takeaway). Jackets dangerous early on. Detroit hemmed in.
Newpower broke up a 2 on 1 and Larkin had a beautiful chance around 8:42. Newpower’s skating and posture really impress me. He could work his way into this rotation at some point this year with injuries, etc.
Seider is into every play when he’s out there. Could hear him yelling for the puck at around 11:00. Lots of confidence.
Greiss leaves at 12:00 with a clean slate (faced 8 shots). Calvin Pickard is in the net.
Power play at 14:10. Not much happening and then Larkin breaks in all alone and scores a beauty! Welcome back, Cap. Another assist for Leddy and an apple for Veleno.
Larkin’s goal:
Wings now going short handed on a cross checking call at 14:57. Veleno with a really good block. Big cross check in the corner caused a fairly nasty scrum. Veleno headed to box, he was then buried from behind. Scary stuff.
At 17:15 Seider with a really nice takeaway to shut down CBJ pressure.
Nice bang-bang play at the end from the Larkin line. Raymond with a rip with about 50 seconds to go. That goal got Larkin going, for sure.
Third period opened and at 1:55, CBJ finally struck. Faceoff win leads to a goal. Even the skeptic would credit the faceoff for that one.
Detroit heads to the power play and can’t get much going. CBJ really doing well to jam up the ice. Larkin couldn’t 1 time a nice pass across the crease from Veleno. Back to full strength with around 15:00 left to go.
CBJ just has better jump and energy right now. Wings need a strong shift in the O zone. Wings having trouble with zone entries. CBJ collapsing quickly and moving the puck back out to neutral zone.
Raymond had a decent look at 7:20. No sustained pressure though. Leddy stopped a breakaway chance at 8:35 by intercepting an aerial pass in the neutral zone. CBJ heading to a power play at 9:10.
Wings kill it, Raymond and Veleno both got some PK time. Raymond had a look on a short handed 2 on 1.
Yan is a player I don’t know much about. He’s had some decent shifts tonight.
Detroit with another power play chance at 14:08.
Veleno with a nice tap in off of a Larkin pass. Leddy had several good keep ins, a nice no look pass by Raymond that Larkin couldn’t one time but got the goalie moving. Nice work by all.
Veleno goal:
Wings back on the power play with 2:41 left. 2 goals with the advantage so far tonight. Larkin makes it good for his 2nd of the night. He, again, got a pass from Raymond, this time he was able to play 3 post bingo off of a short side snap shot.
Larkin goal:
Big scrum at 18:55. Things a little chippy around the net. CBJ to the power play with 1:05 left. Detroit wins the faceoff but can’t clear. Newpower with a nice block and Pearson clears with 30 seconds left. CBJ nearly scores on a resulting rush. 21 seconds left. Detroit wins the faceoff and clears the puck. 10 seconds left. CBJ gets puck in, but clock runs out. Wings win 5-1.
Shootout:
Larkin comes in slowly, stopped by Elvis
Foudy with a beautiful fake and backhand scores
Zadina had some decent dekes but lost his handle
Pickard stop Danforth
Raymond skates in, quick deke and is stopped.
Elvis shut it down.
Hofman shoots last for CBJ, stopped by Pickard.
Check out my previous blogs:
Wings and Blue Jacktes pregame
Wings beat Buffalo 6-2
Vrana to miss most of the season.
Wings vs Chicago pregame
”Twas the night before Red Wings
Red and White game
Training Camp Day 3
Interviews from Seider, Nedeljkovic and Erne
Training Camp day 2
Edvinsson gets assist in Frolunda loss
Day 1 of training camp
Vrana should switch to Discover
Yzerman did a pre camp presser
Training Camp Preview
Bobby Ryan has signed a PTO Bobby Ryan has signed a PTO
My final thoughts on the Prospects Tournament
Another injury riddle tournament
St Louis had their way with Detroit
Pregame Detroit vs St Louis
Soderblom and Edvinsson combine for GWG
Detroit is looking for a 2nd straight win,
Detroit won its first game of the prospects tournament
Frolunda won 2-0
Detroit is streaming the prospects tournament 
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