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Wings vs Blue Jackets pregame - the rebuild vs the resistance
Summary: Detroit let CBJ skate all over them after they got back in the game. It was Werenski, the player who refuses to accept a rebuild, that put the nail in the coffin. In the final frame, Detroit gave up rush after rush and you could feel this one coming. The tying goal (after the lead was restored) had the Veleno line on the ice with some decent pressure. But, the puck got behind all 5 skaters and turned into a 1 on 0 breakaway.
Greiss kept the team alive even while CBJ outshot them nearly 2 to 1 at the end of the 2nd. Detroit handed the reins of the game to the Jackets over the span of about 1:38 in the second and never really got the momentum back. Detroit’s top line tallied for 2 of their 3 goals, but were on the ice for 2 against.
The Jackets raise their game when Detroit comes to town. I touched on that a bit. Even though high end players continue to leave, the leadership will not bow to any hint of a “rebuild”. Tonight, they made Detroit pay for a lack of compete. Werenski grabbed the win to push off the inevitable. CBJ will fall off, but they still have Detroit’s number. The goalies have to work hard to keep the Red Wings in it. Greiss just couldn’t carry the team with such an onslaught from CBJ.
No rest for the Wing-ed - Detroit plays tomorrow night in Dallas. Jamie Benn will likely take another dirty shot at Larkin (he repeated the nasty cross check that put the captain in a neck brace for more than 2 months already this year). Honestly, part of me wants Larkin held out of this one.
The team put up an effort that is a punishment to watch. Not a great start to the road trip but trips to Dallas and Vegas may not be any friendlier. AZ may be the highlight of this roadtrip for the rebuild.
First Period:
5:15 into the first, the top line of Larkin/Bertuzzi/Raymond are creating chances in front of the CBJ net. Raymond grabs a loose puck just outside of the net mouth and dishes quickly to Larkin who taps it in the side of the cage. Raymond gathers his 10th assist of the season on Larkin’s 7th goal.
Larkin’s goal:
Second Period:
Four minutes into the second, Hronek skates the puck out of the Detroit zone, drops to Namestnikov. Namestnikov skates into the Blue Jackets zone, drops to Rasmussen who nets his first of the season on a quick shot from the boards that goes far side on Merzlikens.
Rasmussen’s first of the season:
**Detroit see a 2 goal lead vanish in the span of 1:38 as Jenner and Boqvist both score at 13:08 and 14:55 respectively. CBJ with a wide margin in SOG.
3rd Period:
*Wings appear to regain lead but puck had been played with a high stick by Bertuzzi.
Bertuzzi felt bad about the waived off goal, so he helped get it back. At 13:31 grabbed the puck after a poke check moved it up the boards. He quickly delivered it to Raymond who was set up in front of Merzlikens and the puck is delivered in for the Rookie’s 7th. 2 point night for both Raymond and Larkin. Raymond now with 17 points to lead all rookies, Seider with 12 is in second.
Raymond’s 7th of the season:
Jackets tie it back up after Veleno line had some good pressure, but the puck got behind all 5 players for a 1 on 0 chance as Chinakov got his first.
With 1:19 left Werenski scores to take the lead.
Some of my previous posts:
Wings vs Blue Jackets pregame - the rebuild vs the resistance
Nedeljkovic and Larkin star in OT win
Hard Hab-it to break - pregame
Power Play awful, PK very good in loss
New Enthusiasm for Wings, Ovi on Mt. Rushmore 
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