Sloppy play.
Self-inflicted wounds.
Another setback.
Sound familiar?
After perhaps their best game of the season, Friday’s 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings reverted to bad form, dropping a 4-1 decision on Sunday to the New York Rangers in a game that probably wasn’t as lopsided as the final score would indicate but the Wings have a way of making that so.
They surrendered a shorthanded goal, the eighth shortie they’ve allowed this season, during their first power play of the game to fall behind 1-0.
Late in the second period, deadlocked at 1-1, the Wings gave up two goals in a span of 37 seconds.
“I thought at that point in the game we had given up a little too much for my liking but I thought it was a real even game at that point,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “I thought we had a little momentum.
“We shoot ourselves in the foot twice, for no reason. So, it’s about continuing the process of making sure we don’t beat ourselves. I thought up to that point we had done a pretty good job and we’ve just got to make sure we don’t make those errors.…
One goal was the result of a turnover by defenseman Niklas Kronwall and Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg also opted to throw himself on his sword.
“I thought they got some timely goals, especially there in the second,… Zetterberg said. “I thought we played pretty decent, matched up pretty good against them. I made some boneheaded plays there in the second, turned the puck over a few times. They got full momentum out of that and scored two goals.
“I’ve got to be better than that. Definitely those two goals in the second is the difference.…
Hey Smitty For the second game in succession, the Wings said hello to a former teammate. It was right-winger Tomas Jurco on Friday with the Blackhawks and Sunday, defenseman Brendan Smith returned with the Rangers.
“A couple of times some of the boys were chirping back and forth,… Smith said. “It’s all in good fun but once the puck dropped, it’s business time.…
Looking across the ice at the team that dealt him to the Rangers on Feb. 28 was somewhat surreal for Smith, a Red Wing since 2011.
“It was really different, just being on the opposite side,… Smith said. “It was exciting to play back at the Joe again. I love playing here. It was just a little different playing against your buddies, but once the puck drops it becomes all business.…
The feeling was mutual on the Detroit side of the ice.
“He's a great guy,… Detroit defenseman Danny DeKeyser said of Smith. “He was a great teammate and competitor. We miss him.…
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