Larkin’s retaliation, Tampa resolve and a game gone horribly wrong (Red Wings)

Red Wings

Larkin’s retaliation, Tampa resolve and a game gone horribly wrong

By Jeremy Laura

Oct 14, 2021 • 10:58 pm

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Summary - the obvious, Larkin shouldn’t have retaliated. However, Joseph intentionally boarded him, hitting him in a spot that almost ended his career earlier this year. The same spot that Benn injured and put Larkin in a neck brace. The league probably won’t do anything more about Joseph, but Larkin could well be suspended and may well have a concussion. His eyes were blurred. Joseph got up and didn’t miss a shift. There are already people mocking the hit, mocking the injury. Joseph will likely get off scott free (as did Benn).

Detroit imploded, and even a 4 goal night couldn’t end the contest in regulation. Tampa Bay was all over the Wings in Overtime. The Wings were gassed and completely hemmed in. They got a clear 2 minutes in and avoided an icing. It didn’t matter. The damage was done. Tampa won.

I know I’m going to get a lot of hate for my stance on Joseph’s hit. Going after a player like that, into the boards and Larkin going face first. But the league decided it wasn’t a major. There’s not much you can do. Tampa outplayed Detroit, there’s no doubt. Ned kept them in. The Captain is hurt, probably suspended, and this should leave a sour feel in the room. A night that started out good ended with a nasty thud in OT.

First period:

Early double minor opportunity shut down. Wings lose 30 seconds off the bat with a lost faceoff and zone entries just not enough to get by TB. Those faceoff plays on the man advantage make a difference in settling things down. PK looks good, lost faceoff but Ned keeping things settled down.

Ned good early on stopping a breakaway and a point blank Stamkos attempt.

What a crazy way to start the scoring! Zadina makes a nice play at the line and gets the puck to Fabbri. Fabbri rips a knuckle puck, it trickles behind Vasilevsky and Larkin taps it in! All that’s missing is Roy doing the Statue of Liberty with an empty glove. Fabbri shot may have made it in, but good on Larkin to get in there. Larkin’s goal:

Good to see Raymond back out after Joseph caught him at knee level. I don’t think it was an intentional “submarine…, just an unfortunate situation that seems to have turned out ok.

Nightmare turnover almost converts for TB at 17:20. TB with a burst of pressure and Bertuzzi looks gassed out there. Ned sharp but this is a bad scenario. Wings survive and get it out. Fresh bodies on the ice and Detroit gets it down the ice for a shot. Givani Smith and Maroon would like to dance. Clock winds down with Tampa outshooting Detroit 15-8.

Second Period:

Tyler Bertuzzi blew the roof off splitting two of the best defensemen in the league after a stretch pass from Leddy, goes in and scores. What a shot as Detroit goes up 2-0. Seider with the 2nd assist, his first NHL point, with a sweet back hand pass off the boards to Leddy.

Bertuzzi goal:

Zadina with a nice steal after the 4 on 4 ends and sets up a nice sequence down low. Would love to see him rewarded for some of these plays. Some other opportunities, and Detroit gets a power play off of a weird delay of game call. Wings can’t keep puck in the zone, go back and regroup. Puck is bouncing like crazy. Vasilevsky stops the puck and there’s a brawl at the net. Fabbri got shoved into the goalie and then gets jumped. TB in a bad mood all around. Joseph with another breakaway and Ned bails out the team again. Power play looks really bad.

Just as the power play is expiring the team gets possession and Bertuzzi nets his second of the night (and the season) after Ernie rang the pipe. Lindstrom with 2nd assist.

Bertuzzi’s 2nd:

TB comes right back and scores. That’s a response Detroit doesn’t want right now. They had all the momentum and that’s a big one to get back.

Larkin got boarded, he took it into his own hands and laid Joseph out on the ice. Joseph made a nasty hit on someone who barely avoided surgery. Larkin may be really hurt. Joseph indignant about Larkin striking back, but that hit was dirty and dangerous. I wish Larkin hadn’t retaliated, impossible to get things sorted with a punch like that. League decided to eject Larkin and only minor penalties for Joseph.

Resulting 4 on 3 Bertuzzi completes his hat trick. Really nice passing, Raymond to Fabbri to Bertuzzi tic tac goal.

Bertuzzi’s third of the night:

Stamkos comes back and scores. Stamkos scores again and makes it a 1 goal game.

3rd period:

Bert to the box early. Wings kill the penalty, and the guy who’s only played twice since January scores his 4th of the night. Not bad at all. Seider with his second assist

Bertuzzi’s 4th:

Two and a half minutes later Namestnikov restores the 3 goal lead. A quick snapshot that was in and out. Rasmussen and Leddy on the assists:

Namestnikov goal:

Palat with a dangerous hit on Rasmussen, Wings to the power play again, but this game is going to get someone killed if things don’t tighten up. Wings don’t convert and then go short handed due to a trip by Gagner. 3 seconds of 4 on 4.

Bertuzzi nearly gets his 5th, but TB comes back and scores to bring it within 2. This team is barely hanging in there with the pressure from the bolts.

Fabbri goes off for a trip, TB gets within 1 on the power play. Not a good look to the finish tonight. TB ties it up with 2:20 left to go. A game Detroit could have put away is on its way to overtime. Very disappointing.

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