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Wings dig deep, rally to beat Canucks |
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How do you spell relief?
Saturday in Vancouver, it was spelled Red Wings.
The banged-up, beaten-up Detroit Red Wings rallied to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring twice in the third period to come back from a 2-0 deficit and win when Gustav Nyquist’s goal 3:50 into overtime gave them a 3-2 victory Saturday at GM Place, ending Detroit’s four-game losing skid.
“It’s a huge victory for us,” said Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek, who made 30 saves and drew an assist on the game winner when his long pass up ice to Nyquist at the Vancouver blue line caught the Canucks on a bad change.
“We had four games where we didn’t win so the last game on the trip it’s nice to have the two points.”
Minus injured defensemen Kyle Quincey and Mike Green and ailing forwards Brad Richards, Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings meekly fired 11 shots at the Vancouver net over the first 40 minutes and trailed 2-0.
“We weren’t good enough in the first two periods,” Mrazek said. “After that we were talking in the dressing room that we have to be better and play smarter.
“In the third period I think we played really well. We didn’t give them any chances. We tied the game and win in overtime.”
Tomas Tatar, who netted the goal that sent the game to OT, felt the second intermission heart to heart ignited the team.
“We didn't play good enough first two periods,” Tatar said. “Then the third, I feel like everybody were thinking about it in the locker room. We step out, and I think the Red Wings showed up.
“We played a way better game, everybody was battling and put their heart on the ice. I think it was how it should look like.”
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill was proud of the way his team pulled together when it could have so easily pulled further apart.
“I think the big part of becoming a real good team is growing as a hockey team,” Blashill said. “I think you learn from lots of things. You certainly better learn from adversity.
“We talked about two things being real keys to success and that’s the inner drive and perseverance, showing up to work every day and persevering through tough times. We’ve had a little bit of both, a tough stretch here and I thought we showed great perseverance in the third and found a way to win.”
Petr Playmaker
The value of a playmaking goaltender in three-on-three overtime was frequently discussed during the pre-season and Saturday, Mrazek, a solid puckhandler, gave the Wings their money’s worth when he set up the game winner.
“When you can play it like that it’s certainly an asset,” Blashill said. “When it’s hard to change and guys get tired … I don’t know how many guys they had on the ice there, I thought it was lots.
“Good for Nyquie to finish that but it’s certainly good to have.”
Mrazek just did what came instinctively to him.
“I saw Gus the first thing on their blue line and guys were changing so I just wanted to play it off the boards and get it to him,” Mrazek said. “It was a nice goal by him, a nice finish.”
Brotherly Stuff
It was a night for brothers to go head to head. Detroit forward Drew Miller, again got the better of older sibling Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller, but that was just one of four brother vs. brother showdowns on Saturday’s NHL card.
Zbynek Michalek and Michael Stone got the better of Milan Michalek and Mark Stone in Arizona’s 4-1 win over Ottawa and Stephen Gionta and the New Jersey Devils downed Brian Gionta and the Buffalo Sabres 4-3.
Drew owns an 8-2 record vs. Ryan in NHL play. He’s 7-1 against his brother as a Red Wing.
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Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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