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Greiss steals a game as Vancouver outplays Detroit, but Wings win 3-1 |
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Summary - Vancouver beat Detroit everywhere, except the scoreboard. Greiss was unreal, and stole a game. Gagner’s empty net goal was a big payoff as Detroit had just 6 shots in the third to 23 from Vancouver. The Power Play scored, and had some good looks. Seider’s spin o Rama keep in at the blue line should be a gif. The team has a bright future, for sure. This game wasn’t an ideal blue print for success, but you always celebrate a win.
Detroit is “sticking up” for each other, but it’s costing them power plays. This game turned out as a win because of an incredible goalie. Otherwise it would have been a blowout with Detroit looking like the Bad News Bears on ice. Good to see the team come together, but find a balance. Hit on Zadina was scary, glad to see him come back.
The thing Detroit did right tonight was win. Outside of the score and the goalie, not a ton of stuff to build on. Hopefully they can settle down and have clear heads as they head into their next game. Glad to see Zadina score, Seider had some beautiful individual moments and high minutes. Greiss was the hero, and better not be buying his own steak tonight.
First Period:
The opening was all Vancouver. Petterson making plays and guys tripping over themselves. All of a sudden, a Vancouver icing sets up a Detroit faceoff win, Wings hold the line and Fabbri deflects a shot from Staal beautifully. I know Fabbri gets a lot of hate, but he does make an impact out there for the team. Wings lucky to score first. Need to pick up the defense and win more faceoffs. Vancouver keeping them hemmed in and it all starts with a faceoff loss in the defensive zone.
Fabbri goal:
Wings passing looks really bad. Too many plays lost because of poor execution. Namestnikov hesitation at the line results in a turnover an Petterson all over it again. Constant change of possession and Vancouver jamming up the neutral zone. Anyone who still thinks faceoffs aren’t that important doesn’t actually watch games. Costs 2 minute shifts and more being hemmed in, wears players down, leads to SOG and attempts (not necessarily goals).
With 19 seconds left a holding call (very questionable) leads to Vancouver power play, Detroit loses the draw and dodge a bullet. Again, faceoff leads to control, defending team gets in trouble. Faceoffs matter.
Second period:
Wings kill penalty but are unable to clear. Finally get the puck out at 2:00 and get a change. Erne really struggling with passing decisions tonight. That line just not clicking yet. I know the tracking pucks have a different feel. Seeing multiple guys lose their handle. Not sure if that’s the issue or just nerves.
At 4:56 Garland ties up the game with a shot right from the goal line. Staal missed the coverage. Bertuzzi with a huge whiff in the offensive zone almost led to a turnover. The only place this game is equal is on the scoreboard. Raymond draws a hooking penalty and puts Detroit on the power play. Not a real strong penalty, refs must be over caffeinated.
Zadina with a beauty after some clumsy passing early on. Broken Vancouver stick definitely helped. Hughes with a tip (not eligible for an assist). Seider with a nice pass, Hronek with 2nd assist. Irony of Zadina making Hughes look bad and end up scoring because of him is very, very high level (and the odds are astronomical as Hughes is an all star).
Zadina goal:
(Quick glance at Griffins scoreboard, Griffs getting leveled 5-1 in the second period).
Good follow up shift for Suter/Erne/Zadina line. Vancouver right back with commanding shift. Another bobble by Staal nearly got Vancouver tied back up. He’s not skating well tonight. Detroit on the attack, Erne with a good opportunity. Lots of back and forth now. Detroit gaining confidence. Smith looking for a fight at 11:35 after a big hit. Leddy hit dangerously from behind by OEL, luckily avoided head contact with boards.
4 on 4 hockey - VAN with some of those vintage stretch passing the Sedins were so good with. Rasmussen with a big shot block got a stinger but helped stop the play. Faceoff win leads to another SOG. Detroit has Staal back out, that has me nervous tonight. Staal with a block, looked better that shift.
Greiss absolutely ROBBED Hoglander. Such poor decision making by Wings, again. If they benched Lindstrom/Staal for the rest of the night I wouldn’t be too upset. Huge opportunity for Raymond/Fabri/Bertuzzi after a nice takeaway by Raymond. Wings with good pressure again will head to the power play. This time Hughes is going off.
Greiss Save
Power Play opens with faceoff loss. Wings all the way down the ice. Back in and Seider looks like he’s doing tricks on the blue line to keep the puck in. This kid is something special. Wings can’t convert, but some good passing. Better period. Shots 18-15 VAN.
Third Period.
Vancouver kills remaining PP, gets SOG 40 seconds in.
Tripping penalty on Namestnikov sends VAN to the power play at 2:12. Stephens able to skate the puck down for a shot, Vancouver comes back and sets up. Detroit with another clear, 1:10 left as VAN starts up ice. Staal holds the line well that time, sends them back out. Gagner clears, 35 seconds left. Puck in, back out again 2 x quickly. PP killed. Wings hemmed in, Namestnikov blocks a shot. Wings need to clear. Finally do at 5:02. Canucks in offside, but go ahead and shoot the puck in. Causes a scrum.
Fabbri wins neutral zone faceoff, Bertuzzi gets a shot on goal. Vancouver comes back with a scoring opportunity, another scrum as Seider was speared. Drew a penalty on OEL, but penalties offset with roughing on Bert. 4 on 4.
Greiss with another big save as Vancouver is skating Detroit into the ice. Seider helped clear puck out.
Another icing on a broken play. Detroit comes back with a solid shift. 4 on 4 over, Rasmussen with a couple of shots. Vancouver down with speed, Detroit clears but gets another icing.
Vancouver faceoff win leads to another very good chance Wigns pressing their luck. Wings get an extended shift in o zone, but Vancouver gets back. Detroit ices again. Dangerous territory. Faceoff win by Vancouver leads to multiple opportunities. Too many icings, too many lost faceoffs in the D zone right now.
Veleno was laid out by an elbow to the face, difficult to tell if there was intent or not. Resulting scrum. Hour at throws some haymakers on Rasmussen. Garland went hard into the head, probably won’t result in any discipline. Horvat throwing punches with gloves on. Review on a possible major penalty.
Zadina’s head jerked back hard on that hit. If he doesn’t have a concussion he’s very lucky. Check to the head minor, all penalties offsetting. The offsetting tonight is insane. spear on Seider should have been a PP. Vancouver should be short handed on this one. Just all over the map.
Raymond going to get a penalty, Vancouver to the power play. Fabbri going after Garland could easily have been penalized. Detroit trying to stick up for each other, but it’s casing more problems than it is helping.
Thank God Zadina is back on bench. Staal with a brilliant stop and clear at the end of the penalty. His best play of the night. Wings get puck on net, another scrum ensues.
Erne gets away with a nasty helmet rip. I don’t want to see that play anywhere. Dangerous and stupid. Vancouver appears to score, but possible interference. The team still did the conga line trying to ignore the refs. Vancouver will be going hard at Greiss.
Icing call by refs pins Detroit down, goalie pull by VAN. Vancouver wins the draw, Greiss robs Horvat. Again.
Vancouver holds, but Detroit gets the puck out. 1:10 left. Gagner with the empty net! Detroit surviving unbelievable pressure and being outplayed by Vancouver handily.
Gagner goal:
Greiss freezes the puck, 31 seconds left, Vancouver has goalie pulled. Rasmussen shoots for the empty net, hits the post. 3 seconds left. Final faceoff gets snuffed. Vancouver with 23 shots in the 3rd to Detroit 6. Shots 41-21.
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