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Wings outmuscle Kings for victory |
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It’s getting close to Thanksgiving, so perhaps the time is right for the Detroit Red Wings to start feasting on seconds.
It’s been a priority with coach Jeff Blashill, getting his team to pounce on more secondary scoring chances and in Friday’s 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Joe Louis Arena, those second-chance opportunities played a primary role in the outcome.
Tomas Tatar hammered a Justin Abdelkader feed home on a first-period power play to open the scoring. In the second period, Mike Green pinched down from the point to grab a clearing attempt away from Los Angeles defenseman Jamie McBain and bury it, and then Dylan Larkin drove an Abdelkader rebound into the net for the eventual game winner.
“I thought we were certainly harder in front of their net,” Blashill said. “They make it hard on you in front of your own net, but we seem to battle. I don't think that part's been an issue. I don't think we've given up lots of second opportunities.
“I don't think we've given up lots of those, but we haven't been hard at their net and I thought we were better at that tonight.”
The play on which Tatar scored was something they’d worked on in practice and naturally, the Wings loved it when the plan came together.
“We were practicing that on the power play and it’s nice to see when the plans work,” Tatar said. “I just be in the right spot at the right time.”
Tatar was another who felt they upped their determination level around the opposition goal area.
“We battled there in the crease,” Tatar said. “We tried to stand in their for net front presence, waiting for bounces of pucks, second and third chances.
“We need those kind of goals when the puck is just laying around and you pick it and score. We were missing those, so we were glad they came tonight.”
That this determined effort came against the super-sized Kings, notorious for being heavy on the puck and tough to play against, only served to satisfy the Wings even more.
“Its’ a heavy team, they were skating well, heavy on the forecheck, but we handled it OK,” Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “They had a little push in the second and we got kind of behind a little bit but found a way to get two points.
“We wanted to be heavy in front of both goalies. I think we were there tonight. It’s nice to see that we can get an ugly one.”
Larkin Hobbled
Detroit rookie Larkin briefly left the game in the third period after his right leg buckled under him in the corner, but returned and even got into a tussle in the Kings’ end of the rink with Los Angeles center Jeff Carter.
“He’s a feisty little guy and his compete level is extremely high and he’s always moving and always has his feet going,” Green said of Larkin. “I think that makes other teams so frustrated because he is so fast and he competes hard.”
It did appear that Larkin was laboring to skate after he returned to action and his status for Saturday’s game at St. Louis is uncertain at this time.
“When he left the ice I didn't actually see it great, I just saw it quick and I knew there was some kind of lower-body thing,” Blashill said. “But he was able to return.
“I don't know any further than that he finished the game so my mindset is that he'll play but we'll find out tomorrow.”
On The Green
Green’s goal was his first as a Red Wing and exhibited the kind of offensive IQ that he possesses.
“He's got good offensive instincts for sure so he knows when there's a lane to jump, he jumps,” Blashill said. “Obviously he kind of smelled a little blood there on the goal that he scored where he crouched down near the net and was able to get the rebound.
“I think we're just at the tip of the iceberg for him. I think he's going to continue to get better and better as he gets more and more comfortable.”
Green’s previous goal was also registered at Joe Louis Arena. Playing as a visitor with the Washington Capitals last April 5, he drove a high slapshot from the point over the shoulder of Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek, who was also in goal for the Wings in Friday’s win.
“I do remember it now that you mention it,” Green said. “That’s way too long so hopefully they keep coming.”
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