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Bertuzzi made his preseason debut against Pittsburgh. It’s a welcome return, for sure. You can read some pregame thoughts in that blog as well. After a rough outing against Blue Jackets, the home team was looking for a bounce back. They got it.
Game Summary - Joe Veleno looked like the best player on the ice for much of the night. His skating, 6 shots on goal, 2 hits and a block were evidence of a player who wants to make this roster. Raymond was quiet tonight, but has done a lot thus far to show that he’s ready for the team. Mickey Redmond conceded that he thought the young winger would likely be on the opening roster. Depending on injury, it’s possible we could see both. If not right away, as the season wears on.
A much better game. Essentially a script reversal to last night’s loss in Columbus. The team started on time, got pucks to the net early. Seider is starting to get a bit more physical, and had a single shift last 2:47. His conditioning and strength are impressive. As he gets more comfortable, expect to see more physicality. Barber had several good looks, really works hard to create offense. Berggren looked better tonight. He took some hard hits but played through. That was the fastest I’ve seen the #52 skate in over a decade.
I will post the Bertuzzi goal as soon as it’s available.
First Period:
Better start already. Team has more jump. Renouf with a huge hit at about the 2 minute mark. Berggren with some nice skating. I’m guessing the got Ericsson’s #52 sent back from the HOF… 4 shots in the first 5 minutes. Ryan’s almost got a tap in by Bertuzzi.
9 shots in 11 minutes. Completely different feel tonight. Barber looks good out there. Goes hard to the net, seems to have a hard shot. Seems to create quite a bit. Good sequence at 12 minutes. Bertuzzi a bit shaky, but keeps getting up. Raymond’s passing continues to impress me. Just made a beautiful pass along the blue line. Mickey now feels Raymond has done enough to be on the opening night roster. I agree.
Detroit gets its first power play at 15:20. 3 right shot shots on the opening group with Ryan, Raymond and Hronek. Bertuzzi and Suter round out the group. Lots of puck movement. Veleno sets up for Suter to score, just after the power play expired. Veleno with a between the legs move with a friendly bounce and Suter taps it in.
Suter’s goal:
Veleno really trying to avoid the Grand Rapids Express, having a nice first period. Red Wings back on the power play with 20 seconds left. Couldn’t cash in, but plenty of carry over. Wings with 13 shots (Penguins 6) and a much stronger first period tonight.
Second Period:
While on the power play, Detroit drew another minor off of a dump in and have a 55 second 5 on 3. Wings lose the opening draw and skate the puck back in. 30 seconds in Bertuzzi gets a shot on net, DeSmith holds. Good puck movement but DeSmith is up to the task. 2 seconds on the 2 man advantage left. Detroit gets the puck on net, freezes and 1:00 of regular power play time left. The puck goes all the way down and Greiss gets a delay of game for playing the puck in the trapezoid. 4 on 4.
Suter made a fantastic drive to the net in tight at 2:49. DeSmith freezes. Detroit to the kill and seems to be having stronger coverage tonight. They kill the shortened advantage. A random shot in from outside the blue line gave DeSmith some trouble, but he was able to cover. Detroit outshooting Pittsburgh 19 to 6 5 minutes into the 2nd.
Veleno with another nice attempt at 5:38. Detroit getting plenty of pucks on net. Need to get DeSmith moving or get a tip in. As soon as I finish typing that Hronek breaks in and scores a beauty on a breakaway. Beautiful feed from Gagner right at the blue line. Interestingly, they showed shot velocity on Hronek’s wrister. 81.1 MPH. Pretty impressive for a non slap shot
Hronek goal:
Shots now 25 to 6 with 13:10 left in the period. Pittsburgh gets its 7th shot and Greiss hold on. The Penguins are gaining momentum with sustained pressure 7 minutes in. Bobby Ryan skates the puck all the way down. Detroit ices the puck at 8:30. Detroit goes to the box at 9:43.
Detroit clears 15 seconds in after a lost faceoff. O’Connor scores at 10:20 and makes it a 1 shot game. Pittsburgh now has all the momentum (as well as the puck). Detroit needs to buckle down and create some pressure. Pittsburgh ices the puck at 13:14.
Seider apparently did a shift of 2:47, that kid is a machine.
Wings up 29 -17 in shots, DeSmith doing some really good work and keeping things tight. Stephens had a nice chance at 18:20, DeSmith just has fantastic positioning.
Third Period:
Pittsburgh with plenty of jump early on, and Simon cashes in on a breakaway. Game tied 2-2. Bad passing by Detroit turned the puck over in the O zone and went all the way back down. Wings look gassed and Pittsburgh has more energy and is playing with more urgency.
Teams go to 4 on 4 with 8 minutes left. Detroit still has edge in shots 32-23. afterward Hronek almost netted his second with a shot off the post at 15:20. Veleno had a breakaway at 15:10, De Smith handles it easily. He gets it back just 18 seconds later and scores on a nice slap shot that went quickly in and out. Seider and Lindstrom with assists on that. Wings up 3-2
Veleno goal:
Veleno has been a standout tonight, to be sure. 4 minutes left, shots are 33-24. With 3:17 left Boyle will go off for interference. He went ahead and put the puck in the net after the whistle for good measure.
Wings power play. Penguins take the puck down teh ice early for a short handed attempt. Wings get back in the zone, but can’t hold the line. Suter makes a nice keep in and gets a shot. 1:28 left in the game, 20 seconds left on the power play.
Penguins kill it off as the game enters the final minute. DeSmith to the bench. Detroit gets the puck out, 35 seconds left, Bertuzzi scores on an empty net from just inside his blue line. 4-2.
Bertuzzi Empty net goal:
Wings hold on to win 4-2, 37 shots to 24. Almost a complete flip in script from last night in CBJ. Pittsburgh had their B team, for sure, but DeSmith played really well in net.
Check out my previous blogs:
Bertuzzi made his preseason debut against Pittsburgh.
Columbus beat Detroit 4-2
Wings vs Blue Jackets pregame
Hurrican Raymond
Detroit lost an exciting preseason game to Chicago.
Detroit vs Chicago pregame
Detroit lost to Pittsburgh 5-1
Wings vs Jackets post game
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 
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