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Summary:
Last night had something akin to the feeling of those old games we talked about. Low score and good tempo after the first where the Wings looked a bit flat. The team found a way and Lyon was in the form we’ve seen for the most part since the new year stopping 30 of 31 shots.
Don’t misinterpret the comparison, the “old days” were a brawl within a hockey game. It was the spirit and growing intensity last night that brought back some of those feelings. The captain is 5 goals away from another 30 goal season (will be his 4th assuming he crosses the mark) and Kane continues to be around a point per game. It was a boost to the team when he chose Detroit and his recovery seems to have gone extremely well.
Detroit also moved ahead of Tampa in the wild card race (66 points vs. 65) and have two games in hand. The Leafs have a 6 point cushion as they hold to the #3 spot and 3 teams all have 60 points with Pittsburgh at 58. It’s still going to be a tight race.
The pass in OT from Larkin to Kane was beautiful. A cycle in 3 on 3 did what it is supposed to do. There were two Avs jerseys in front of Larkin and a wide open Patrick Kane. An exciting end to the match as the team is still in the hunt with 6 days to go in February.
Money issues not resolving for some:
I spoke over the past year (ad nauseum) regarding the mounting debt teams were facing. Escrow is locked in, we have a player suing Canada over tax evaluation, and the league is just 2 years removed from a season that saw every team post a negative net gain.
Here is the link to the report from a year ago. The highest earning was -18m by Montreal with Nashville reporting -56m. Teams are still paying for debt that piled up during the shut down.
The Winnipeg Jets are letting it be known again that their financial situation is unsustainable. Bettman is scheduled for a visit. The irony is that the previous version of the Jets left for similar issues. For most of this year Canadian clubs have had to raise 30% more in the Canadian Dollar than their U.S. Counterparts. The Jets are in the eye of a tough storm.
Arizona is briefly mentioned as they continue to play in a stadium that can only hold 5k, and student tix are (or were) $25. When Ottawa was sold, discovery showed half a billion in debt which is why Deadpool isn’t running the franchise.
For the most part, people don’t want to talk about broadcast and finance issues. Unfortunately, they are now at the level that the end user is dealing with the fallout. VPN and pirate broadcasts continue to increase while the league moves closer and closer to full streaming from both the Bally (Amazon now) and ESPN partnerships.
Let me know your thoughts. First, Detroit is pushing hard to stay in this thing. Do you think they’ll be suiting up instead of golfing this year? Second, should the league step in and push for partnerships with franchises that aren’t able to stay afloat? The push for expansion early in the year has dimmed but that was really more of a chance for the league to vet different locations if a franchise needs to move. Luckily, the Pizza Palace is jumping right now. This is definitely a city that rises up when any of the teams are having some success.
Detroit First Period goals:
No first period goals for Detroit
Shots: 11-5 COL
Score: 0-0
Detroit Red Wings Second Period goals:
No Second Period goals for Detroit
Shots: 20-17 COL
Score: 1-0 COL
Third Period Detroit goals
The Wings had some nice puck movement on the power play. attorney 12:02 Larkin was in the lower left faceoff circle and scored his 25th of the year to tie the game at 1 after a nice pass from Gostisbehere. Perron with the second assist was battling in Homer’s old office.
Shots: 29-29
Score: 1-1
Overtime:
At 3:42 in OT, Chiarot got the puck to Larkin. The captain skated toward the net and dropped a beautiful pass to Kane who slammed it home for an OT win.
Shots: 31-30 COL
Final 2-1 DET
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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