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Summary - Detroit did a lot of things right this time out. They outshot CBJ 45-23. For the first 33 shots, Korpisalo was unbeatable. Raymond’s first of the season was a nice wrist shot, knuckled, and over the glove. Bertuzzi gets his 5th in 3 games. 2 empty nesters (with a bizarre and unselfish assist by Namestnikov) and the game wraps up 4-1.
The Red Wings are in referee trouble. Third time a hit hurts a player in 3 games, no penalty and Wings end up in the penalty box for trying a little vigilante justice. On the faceoff following the Jackets PP goal, Larkin was sent to the bench by the Ref. They’ve stopped listening to this team. It’s not a good situation.
Because the result was good, it’s fine for now. Hopefully, Raymond isn’t hurt. His face went into the board. after Roslovic came in behind him. Detroit’s problem, now, is complaining. Yes, I think it was a missed call. But, we know what happens when you try to “make it good”. The Jackets get into a game that saw Detroit outshooting them 40-20. Guys are getting hit in nasty ways, refs are ignoring it. I don’t have the answer for it. You can’t complain in an interview, it will cost you 10K or more. Refs don’t answer questions, it’s part of their own CBA with the league. No one can ask them anything, and no one can criticize them. They are protected and well paid, so there is nothing you can do.
Part of me wants to tell the guys to shut up and play. Stop going to the refs. Let the coach do it. Let the GM talk to the league. Those talks will do more for you than making refs want to ignore you. It stinks, but 3 games in it’s clear that they’re not going to listen right now.
So many things went well in this game. Greiss is just phenomenal. Detroit started on time and kept the pressure going. Seider made some fantastic plays. Raymond’s assist was such a cerebral and high skill pass up the middle. The team has a lot to feel good about tonight. I did worry that this could be the flip side of the Vancouver game. CBJ is getting stellar goaltending. Fortunately, tonight went the way that the effort would dictate it should.
Calgary is coming to town Thursday, and it has me concerned. That is a team that can get a third of Detroit’s bench sitting in the penalty box. Luckily, we don’t see them much. Larkin needs to step up as a leader and get the team to shut up and play for that one. Givani Smith, I feel like you should sit him for this one. His after the whistle stuff is causing more problems than it’s worth right now. He’s got upside, but right now it feels like he’s on the Ref’s list and that’s not helping.
First Period:
Better start. 5 minutes in and CBJ still without SOG, Wings have 7. Seider made a nice play on Laine earlier in the period. Definitely looked ready to try and avoid getting burned again.
Game feels like it’s dragging as wings ice puck at 8:56. Resulting faceoffs saw CBJ get 2 high quality scoring chances. All of a sudden CBJ with a lot more jump.
Anyone else get the feeling that Bally is having trouble selling ads? Feels like half the ads on Bally Sports are for, well, Bally Sports.
Bertuzzi knocking on the door at 10:27. Good shift by Larkin line.
CBJ gets a penalty in the O zone, Laine got a slashing call (probably his 3rd total penalty in the past 2 years).
Detroit Powerplay. Leddy turned puck over and he and Seider were able to shut down a breakaway (barely) and managed not to get a penalty. Korpisalo with a huge save on Zadina. Seider skated the puck in but sent right back out. 50 seconds left, puck cleared by CBJ again. Powerplay ends with no score. Nyquist and Laine go 2 on 1 as Laine jumps out, Dekeyser shuts down passing lane nicely.
Gagner with a nice chance around 14 min, Greiss shuts down a high danger chance at the other end. Turned into a battle of goalies.
Bertuzzi and Larkin with a nice 2 on 1 after a Laine giveaway at 15:26. Korpisalo still standing tall.
Staal with a dangerous giveaway at 16:30. Luckily didn’t burn the team. Wings Smith ends up in the box for cross checking, ends up looking like a liability. Is in scrums every shift and the refs are focused on him. Probably best to sit him a bit at this point.
Jackets Power play:
Wings win opening faceoff, clear the puck. Jackets gain the zone again, hand pass (should have been negated) called and sends faceoff outside. 1:15 left, Jackets on attack. Blocked pass puts puck out of play, 1:09 left on pk. Faceoff ends up out of the zone, CBJ back in the zone with 45 seconds left. Wings can’t clear. 25 seconds left, shot is tipped wide, penalty kill is successful. 45 seconds left in the period, shots now 13-8 Detroit. Period winds down, still at 0-0
Second Period:
Detroit looks good in the first 3 minutes. Korpisalo is just fantastic. Turning away shot after shot as the Wings have outshot CBJ 6-0 in the first 3 minutes.
CBJ with some very good chances (including ringing the post). Wings are dealing with the type of frustration Vancouver had the other night. Seem to be outplaying CBJ, but Korpisalo is just a wall right now. Playing really well.
Seider in the box for delay of game, PK ends up with a decent breakaway chance. CBJ back in teh zone with. 20 seconds left, puck right back out. 10 seconds left. Wings kill the penalty but look hemmed in. Wings finally clear. 10:20 left to play in second.
Zadina crashed the net at 10:45, puck went off the inside of the pipe and Korpisalo froze as it came back out.
22:13 into the second and Detroit is outshooting CBJ 27 to 12. The longer they’re off the board, the more it feels like a flipped script from the Vancouver game.
Seider takes a high stick, right in the teeth. That stings. Wings on the power play and Mo getting some attention on the bench. Teeth and nose, for whatever reason, hurt so bad when they get hit.
Wings zone reentry 26 seconds in results in a tripping call on Kuraly, 5 on 3 for 1:34. Seider on the ice for this faceoff. Seider shot an easy stop after an impressive spin around by Bertuzzi. Bad decision making on that shot. Raymond with a much better look but missed the net. Larkin tried to tuck the puck in on a nice move, Korpisalo closes up and holds his ground. Shots 30-12
Nyquist with far too good of a short handed attempt. Only 2 SOG on the 5 on 3. Powerplay over with not much to show.
Detroit outshoots CBJ 18-5 for a total of 31-13, but still no score on the board.
Third Period:
At 6:17 Lucas Raymond got his first NHL regular season goal. Absolutely picked the top corner after Larkin opened some ice for him. Seider made a nice play at the other end to get the rush started, passes to Leddy who collects 2nd assist.
Raymond’s first NHL goal:
Wings need to get another as CBJ will be bringing it for the final 13 minutes. Rasmussen makes a terrible pass instead of shooting. Fabbri and Zadina with really good chances at 8:00 and 8:12 respectively. They’re buzzing. Korpisalo just looks unshakeable even after giving one up. Seider wasn’t at the point after a shot, turns out he was backed into the neutral zone and shut down a rush.
Larkin, Bertuzzi and Raymond get down the ice and at 8:53 Bertuzzi scores! Raymond got the puck to Larkin with a beautiful pass.
Bertuzzi’s 5th:
Detroit will be short handed with 10:42 left as Namestnikov goes to the box for roughing. Opening faceoff ends up going all the way down the ice. Wings clear again with 1:20 left in the kill. Werenski with a high shot and the puck leaves the zone. 30 seconds left to kill. Shot on goal with 2 seconds left for PK, Greiss freezes it. Wings clear on resulting faceoff, PK comes through.
8:20 left, shots 40-20 for Wings. Raymond gets injured after a big hit from Roslovic. It was from behind. Bertuzzi takes lone penalty as he tries to square with Roslovic. Hits from behind still not being called for Wings. Instead, team ends up in teh box for roughing afterwoard.
CBJ scores on the resulting Powerplay as Jenner is able to backhand puck over goalie. Again, Wings get the short end of officiating but lose their cool over it.
Larkin asked to leave the ice on the resulting center ice faceoff. Refs letting him know they are not going to listen to him at all. Raymond not on the bench, may be in concussion protocol. There has to be a way to get communication going with the officials, but nothing is working. Right now, they don’t like this team and are telling the players that while they go by the bench and at faceoffs. NHL refs can’t be criticized and won’t be interviewed. Apart from international soccer, some of the most powerful officials in sports.
1:45 and CBJ pulls the goalie. Namestnikov skates down and gets the empty net with 1:14 left. 3-1, shots are 43 -22
CBJ with a shot on net, 37 seconds left. Greiss holds, CBJ pulls the goalie again. Wings get the puck out, Namestnikov could have had his second, but he passes to Erne. 4-1, 10 seconds left. Shots are 44-22. Wings wind down the clock for a big, and well deserved win. Final shot tally is 45-23
Read my previous posts:
Wings vs Columbus pregame
Larkin back at Practice 
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