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Detroit’s season opener was a tough re-entry after 310 days away from NHL competition. The 3-0 score didn’t really tell the tale of Carolina’s dominance, thanks to outstanding goaltending from Thomas Greiss.
Summary of the third - an up and down period, all over the ice. The Fabbri line looked good, and was very good on the power play. Zadina’s assists on both Ryan and Fabbri goal was beautiful. He is much more physical and willing to setup a teammate than I thought when drafted. He’s hungry. Fabbri line did everything we need to give Larkin line some breathing room. Larkin with 2, gave up the chance for a hat trick to get Namestnikov on the board. Sign of a leader.
Glendening was huge on faceoffs, especially at the end. His usage with Larkin and Bertuzzi was a really good move by Blashill. Faceoffs so much better, and led to better chances, as well as better zone clearances. Everything looked better tonight. The whole team came wanting to redeem themselves. Bernier stopped 30 of 32 and gave the team a huge opportunity. This goalie tandem looks so much better.
**side note - Howard offered a job by Edmonton, turned it down and will retire. Enjoys time with the family, doesn’t want to give that up.
Third period
Trochek on the power play at 30 seconds
Usually played well agains Detroit
Larkin deflects off of Trocheck. Ironic. trying to center puck
HUGE flurry with 2 goals scored in the first 2 minutes
2:45 - Namestnikov gets stoned on a breakaway
Larkin wins faceoff with help from Wingers
Nasty collision with Bertuzzi and McGinn
Big play by defense to stop a goal
Carolina wins neutral zone draw and gets a couple chances
3:43
Carolina wins neutral zone draw, gets puck down with a sharp angle shot on net
Staal and Stecher make a nice play to get it out, Carolina off side
Carolina 21 shots Detroit 16. Much closer tonight
Better flow for Detroit in all zones
5:39 - offside Carolina
Faceoff - larkin loses, Carolina dumps the puck in. Larkin clears it out. Carolina changing their tactic, a testament to better Detroit play
6:20 - Dekeyser shot blocked by Pesce, still some rust on setup by Mantha/Larkin
7:18 - Slavic with a hard tho on Bernier. Leads to Carolina cycle. Huge stop by Bernier down low
7:33
Faceoff in zone won by Glenny, puck all the way down to Carolina zone
Carolina gets back down, Detroit outlets and dumps into O zone for change
Carolina comes back and gets two really good shots on net, barely miss
Larkin gets the puck out, drop pass to Bertuzzi for shot
Carolina takes the puck all the way back down and scores
Svechnikov with a nice shot. Bernier got a piece, not enough
*the up and down play is going to benefit Carolina more. Detroit needs to establish O zone pressure
8:56
Red Wings get puck down after faceoff. Fabbri line playing well, but not getting the puck on net.
9:34 - Carolina gets puck into Wings zone, they are jumping. Detroit gets it out. Back and forth up and down the ice. Carolina much more dangerous on the rush than Detroit
10:40 - Brome turns over puck and leads to good pressure for Carolina
Detroit having trouble getting the puck, ices the puck at 11:19
Faceoff - Detroit gets the puck out, but Bertuzzi gets hooking penalty in O zone
11:30 - Carolina power play
Faceoff - Glendening wins and clears the puck
Carolina can’t break in, good play at the line
Svechnikov dumps the puck in and Carolina sets up cycle
Detroit clears it all the way down
Carolina breaks in, can’t get out of the zone
Bernier without stick
Carolina shoots wide and puck clears out. Lucky break
Carolina gets no shots on power play
Mantha with a horrible turnover, bailed out
Fabbri gets a breakaway, save by Mrazek
Right back down by Carolina
Wings can’t play this up and down game
Hronek draws tripping penalty, Wings on the power play
15:15 - Larkin wins draw, puck cleared by Carolina
Offside, center ice win for Larkin
Mantha goes for a one timer, blocked, puck all the way down
Wings can’t get zone entry twice in a row
Aho gets breakaway, big stop by Bernier
Wings can’t set up in the O zone
Fabbri gets pipe
2nd unit looking much better
Zadina shot gets Fleury
Fabbri scores off of beautiful feed from Zadina!
17:18
2nd unit was getting way better chances on net
Fabbri gets redemption
Carolina gets puck into the zone after neutral zone faceoff
Bernier makes a save
Carolina outshooting Detroit 30-20
17:44 -
Faceoff in Detroit zone
(Carolina empty net)
Larkin wins the faceoff, Bertuzzi ices the puck going for the empty net
Faceoff - Glenny wins it
Larkin gets the empty net!!! 4-2 Wings
Faceoff
Detroit ties up the puck in the neutral zone.
Mrazek out, Detroit can’t clear the puck.
Merrill does
Brome can’t get empty net
Namestnikov misses empty net too
Larkin passes to Namestnikov instead of getting hat trick
Namestnikov misses again. Ouch
19:11 - Larkin wins faceoff,
Carolina gets in zone, empty net again
Glenny out there again, gets helmet ripped off
3 seconds left
PP for Carolina
31-21 shots in favor of CAR
Faceoff, Carolina wins, gets a shot, Bernier saves 30 of 32
2nd Period - summary - continued improvement and a Bobby Ryan goal to show for it. Zadina made a heck of a steal and a feed. Play was preceded by Detroit D interception Carolina dump in and stretching the puck all the way down the ice. Faceoffs are so much better tonight. Much better flow for Detroit, and Carolina plays are getting broken up more.
2:30 - Detroit intercepts Carolina zone entry
Leads to Bobby Ryan goal!!
Zadina with a beautiful steal and dish
3:00
Faceoff in Wings zone
Filppula able to to get puck out and into o zone
4:00- Erne turnover leads to a shot on goal Bernier saves
Wings faceoff win leads to puck getting down ice for a nice shot on net by Glendening
4:30 - generous icing call goes the Wings way
Faceoff - Detroit wins, starts to cycle. Leads to a shot on net. Larkin
Carolina wins next faceoff gets puck down ice, Detroit gets it out, Larkin with good wheels tonight
Larkin keeps puck in O zone, nice attempt for Mantha/Bertuzzi
6:40 - Detroit has much better jump, but Svechnikov gets a sneaky good wrister on net
Staal stops Carolina from zone entry, better job interrupting the flow
**NHL trying to get revenue, sells division naming rights
7:47 - shot from the point by Stecher, good pressure
Namestnikov handling well in O zone
Detroit is really holding momentum, just not converting to high danger chances
8:56 - Erne with another turnover turns into a shot on net
Faceoff - Glenny wins, puck is sent to the line not out
Detroit gets it out of the zone. Glenny really solid tonight
10:00 - blatant hold on Mantha, not called. He’s doing a good job getting the puck in and retrieving
Faceoff
Larkin loses, but puck goes into Carolina zone
10:45 - Bertuzzi intercepts puck and gets a nice looking rush
Can’t get a shot
Larkin shoots off Stecher deflection.
11:38 - Carolina shoot puck out of play
Faceoff - Fabbri loses draw, Carolina all the way down the ice
Bobby Ryan good work in the corners, but ices the puck
12:04 - faceoff
Carolina wins, controls, really good scoring attempt
Detroit hemmed in, Ryan gets the puck out, Fabbri line gets a shot on net out of it
12:47
Carolina zone faceoff - Detroit wins, Staal shot wide
Back to the point, Stecher gets a shot on net, Mrazek holds
12:56 - Carolina wins faceoff, puck all the way down
Wings get the puck out, get limited in zone pressure
Carolina ices the puck
14:02 - faceoff in O zone
Larkin wins draw, shot from Merrill goes wide
Mantha gets puck below the goal line, puck tipped on way back to blue line, out of play
Glendening wins faceoff, Hronek shot goes wide
Puck all the way back down, Detroit having a hard time , finally gets puck down the ice
15:20 - Merrill shot from the blue line on Mrazek, puck goes down to Wings zone, Bernier with a nice clear
Detroit gets the puck back into Carolina zone for faceoff
16:50 - Carolina starts a good cycle in Detroit’s zone, Detroit clears
Stecher dumps into the Ozone, Bertuzzi gets a really nice shot on net
17:00 -
Detroit loses faceoff, gets puck back in own zone and down the ice. larkin steals and Mantha gets a shot in tight, stopped
18:10 - Glendening gets a feed from Mantha but goes just off side
Faceoff - winger helps Glenny win, puck dumped into Carolina zone
Carolina ices the puck
18:23 - Glenny faceoff win with help of Erne, can’t control puck back out. Line change and Brome ends up getting a shot attempt
18:42 - faceoff
Fabbri wins, shot from point goes wide, puck out by Carolina
Peace with a point shot on net, Svechnikov with a good shot
19:29 - Dekeyser penalty for cross checking
Faceoff - Larkin loses, leads to Svechnikov shot,
19:54 - Larkin gets puck out, but it hits a player’s glove on the bench
Faceoff - Glenny loses, but Carolina can’t get in the zone
First Period - much better period. Glendening is a faceoff beast in the D zone. Detroit is doing better at limiting shots and breaking up plays. Power play looked way better, Fabbri with an important faceoff win. Best opportunities may have been short handed. Bertuzzi is invaluable. Physical play is cranked up, way more physical. Good to see
Wings open with Glendening line. Ice the puck at :11
:11 - Detroit controls, gets puck down into offensive zone
Erne makes a nice hit
1:22 - LARMANZZI makes a nice zone entrance, Mantha misses pass to Bertuzzi, could have been a nice chance.
2:28 - Carolina goalie ends attack with a nice clear
2:45 - Namestnikov line unable to get in and control the puck. Peace getting hit frequently
3:09 - Wings faceoff after Carolina ices
Wings lose faceoff, gain control, get back into the zone and seeing much better Ozone time. Good shift
4:02 - Carolina faceoff in Detroit zone
Wings get control, Brome and Erne get down ice. Turnover, but Carolina ices the puck
4:23 - Detroit faceoff in O zone
Wings win, defense misses the puck and leads to Carolina rush and multiple looks. Dekeyser just a bit off pace
Ottawa not quite as sharp, Detroit looking better for sure
6:38 - Carolina quick into the zone catches Detroit on an odd man rush. Bernier looks sharp holds onto the puck
*Detroit is being much more physical. Bobby Ryan with a nice hit on Trochek. Still finding their legs, but a much better compete level thus far.
Faceoff - Carolina controls and gets several high danger chances. In zone faceoffs so important still. Hronek saves a goal, Bertuzzi clears the puck. Very good defensive effort
Still no shots on net at 7:30 for Detroit. Carolina only has 3 listed, but much better looks
7:54 - tripping penalty on Dekeyser
Faceoff - Detroit wins and clears. Very good effort.
Bertuzzi gets a nice rush, killing time.
Wings clear again, 50 seconds killed
Really good zone entry by Carolina.
Namestnikov gets a short handed shot! First of the period at 9:53
Wings control faceoff and get a short handed chance. Glenny is a valuable faceoff guy
10:03 - Brome off for tripping
Faceoff - Carolina wins faceoff (Larkin) gets a shot, Bertuzzi clears.
Carolina sets back up, Filppula gets the clear
10:52 - Hamilton with a nice shot, Bernier saves it
Detroit wins the faceoff, sends it down the ice (Glendening)
11:18 - Glenny with a block, puck out of zone
Faceoff - Larkin wins, puck down the ice. Much better D zone faceoffs tonight
Carolina just barely misses a wraparound, beats an icing call
Glenny wins faceoff, Carolina holds, Larkin gets it out
12:13 - jStecher makes a great play in the corner to maintain possession, Detroit gets it down the ice
Wings controlling puck better in the D zone
13:25 - Stecher draws tripping penalty
Power Play Detroit
Faceoff - Fabbri wins the draw. Merrill pressured and out
Merrill skates the puck back in. No shots yet but better possession
Shot wide twice
Zadina with a nice shot, stopped
Hronek with a shot, stopped
Much much better PP
Mantha and Larkin with good work in the corners
Zone entries vastly improved
16:24 - big shot by Larkin
16:55 - nice drive by Filppula, mishandles the puck
Detroit hemmed in, Carolina with several chances
17:52 - Carolina ices the puck
Changed to offside
Neutral zone draw - Carolina wins and gets puck in
Detroit hemmed in, Merrill skates it out
Newly minted captain Dylan Larkin and co have had 2 days to chew the gristle on this one. The one thing we know for sure, Larkin cares a lot about this team. This group is refreshingly devoid of apathy, and the first 10 minutes of tonight’s rematch will be a study in how the group attempts to rebound from a rough outing.
I’d let you all know that I will be reaching out for some thoughts before games. I was, unfortunately, unable to get a Carolina fan perspective this time. However, the mighty Gergeswillems was kind enough to offer his own take. Here’s what he had to say:
“I hope to see the Red Wings compete harder. As in actually have a pulse. It's like they dedicated the season opener to the late Ernie Harwell. They swung and missed and were left standing there like the house by the side of the road. We know we're a bad team. But the least we can do is give all of what we have. Carolina is very good defensively but they're not the '95 Devils or the '99 Stars. I expect a much better effort tonight in the battle of former Leafs goalies Mandela Bernier and Busta Reims. Get Methuselah Staal off the ice and tell Hronek to hit the net. Stop trying to stick handle through the entire team Zadina. You're not Pavel Datsyuk!”
Thank you so much, G, for putting that together! There are some interesting nuggets that are in line with what many of us hope to see today.
1 - compete harder. Very well put. I will attribute a lot of issues to rust and a team that has had a bit of personnel turnover. Brome and Glendening (and of course Greiss) stood out and seemed ready to rock.
2 - Carolina’s defensive structure - it is a five man effort, and it is impressive. Detroit is going to have to win in zone faceoffs (especially on the power play) to try and get some sustained pressure. Carolina makes zone entries very difficult. They collapse very well around the skater. It may be a case of having to chip and chase. Get behind the defense and make sure everyone gets to their places ready to retrieve the puck.
3 - faceoffs on defensive zone and offensive zone - Neutral zone draws are important, but part of Detroit’s inability to get any sort of “flow” was Carolina’s ability to win the in zone draws, or retrieve the puck quickly after losing it. Wingers need to step in and help. If you can get Carolina standing still and spread them out on the cycle, you can start to open up lanes.
4 - stop looking for the perfect pass. If someone is blocking the lane and you don’t have a pass, shoot hard. I don’t want anyone to get injured, but you can make them a bit gun-shy. Carolina has a ton of swagger and toughness. You can get a team to start thinking twice by upping the physical tempo.
Jonathan Bernier is in net today, and my hope is that Detroit can limit the shots against. Bernier did a good job to keep Detroit in it last year, but what Greiss had to do on Thursday was borderline miraculous.
We’ll see how it all comes together tonight. Let me know what you’re looking forward to, or what you’re hoping to see.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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