A thrilling first period saw Detroit fall behind 1-0 then come up with a 3-1 lead. The Blue Jackets, boasting a phenomenal home scoring and win capacity came back to lead 3-3. The third period was the roller coaster. Detroit regained the lead on the power play, but with just under 3 minutes left Columbus scored to tie it up. Todd McLellan challenged for goalie interference but lost the challenge and put Detroit on the PK with the score now tied at 4-4 and a highly potent home power play ready to wrap this up.
In the waning seconds of penalty kill, a net front block led to a diving pass by Motte who found Berggren newly sprung from the penalty box and for the second straight game he had a 1 on 0 rush on the net. For the second straight game, he made good on it. There was plenty of drama in the final 40 seconds, but Detroit ultimately held on for their 3rd straight win and there were some dinner plans made, aggressively, around the net.
The game went from one to a hope for at least a 1 point overtime appearance to an unexpected lead that spanned the spectrum of stresses in a wild finish. The new execution on the PK, as with defensive zone coverage has found some simplicity and efficacy though some of the old breakdowns crept in. It was interesting as this blog has gone through the over-coverage of one side of the ice to hear the idea echoed in a wide open tap in for Columbus. McLellan has done a lot to improve in a short time, and the first new year’s miracle came on the stick of…..Gustafsson. He scored his first as a Red Wing skating into the puck and ripping it far side from near the blue line.
Larkin collected another goal after Raymond’s goodwill empty netter in the last contest, Debrincat drew a penalty and scored on it, Kane poked home a tally during a net front scramble and Jonny Burgers got his 2nd straight breakaway tally in as many games. Good things have happened.
**a quick note about the WJC U20. Sweden made the game far too interesting after their 4th goal was overturned on an offsides review. Outshooting their opponent 30 to 4 around that point, the team held on for a 3-2 win and during that game Axel Sandin-Pellikka grabbed an assist making him the current (at the time) point leader in the tournament with 9.
Two games that were that close so it’s time to take the heart meds. Let me know your thoughts as Detroit prepares to face an impressive Winnipeg squad. Sooner rather than later the team will know what is a “bump” and what changes have actually taken root. Regardless, a 3 game win streak is a welcome change.
1st Period goals:
At 2:42 CBJ scored on power play. 1-0 CBJ
At 6:55 Detroit evened things up as a rejuvenated Kane pokes the puck in through the crowd gathered around the front of the net. 1-1
At 14:39 we had our first New Year’s miracle. Gustafsson got his first goal as a Red Wing! He just stepped into the shot and ripped it for his first goal in 43 games. 2-1 DET
At 17:09, 7 seconds into a power play, Debrincat (who drew the penalty) got a pass from Seider after a faceoff win and the cat was right next to the goal post on his off wing. Scored his 16th of the season. 3-1 DET
At 4:54 Detroit regained the lead on the power play. Kane got the puck to Debrincat on the right wall and Larkin was skating toward the net front and tapped it in. 4-3 DET
With just 2:41 left CBJ tied it up. 4-4. Goal is challenged for goaltender interference. Challenge failed, now CBJ on the power play.
With 36 seconds left, Motte makes a diving pass to Berggren who leaves the box and gets a breakaway after the PK succesfully killed the penalty and scores his second 1 on 0 in 2 games. 5-4 DET
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