While the merit of faceoffs has been hotly debated in this forum, in Overtime there seems to be little doubt that possession during 3 on 3 is crucial. A lost faceoff led to a Drew Doughty shot and a friendly bounce put the puck on Alex Iafallo’s stick at the side of the net for a quick tap in. Man on man coverage is also critical in OT. A lack of communication caused Larkin to miss coverage in a soft area where a tie up was greatly needed. Those lessons, while painful, are a big part of becoming a better player.
The Wings still possessed a 2-1 lead with 2 minutes left in regulation. L.A. pulled their goalie and successfully cashed in with the extra man. Adrian Kempe, clearly relieved, managed the game tying tally. In a matter of 3 minutes of game time, the Red Wings lost the lead and lost the game.
The positives. Bernier helped keep the team in the game. Mike Green made some sound defensive plays and saved a goal. Tyler Bertuzzi’s two tallies showed the ability of this young core again. Anthony Mantha’s assist on the first goal was set up by his ability to skate and get a backhand pass over a defender’s stick. Bertuzzi made a beautiful shot. The second game was full LARMANZZI as Mantha made a strong play behind the net getting the puck to Larkin who fed Bertuzzi for a shovel shot. It’s one more glimpse into the talent those three are developing.
The Kings were the busier team on the shot clock with 11 and 13 shots in the first and second periods respectively. Detroit had only managed 5 and 7 in those periods. Detroit’s PK was able to kill of 3 penalties but the power play was unable to cash in on their single attempt. In 4 games the PK has only surrendered one goal.
While this type of loss can sting, the positive is that Detroit still has points in 4 consecutive games. The team did not get the start they needed and were, at times, badly outplayed. However, Bernier gave them the opportunity to come back. That’s a large factor in the confidence this team needs to find success.
The team will look to bounce back on Saturday for their tilt in San Jose. It would do a lot for this group to grab a win on the final part of this road trip. The benefit of this group having time on the road seems evident as rapport and chemistry continue to build. The hope is that it will translate to more success on the ice. Positive strides are being made. This group has a chance to alter the conversation on a nightly basis. The desire to win is clearly there, and the tools are being crafted to help them achieve it.
Thanks to everyone who stops by to read and comment. Keep it coming!
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