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Summary: Full marks to Detroit. After being outshot 9-5 in the first the team seemed to control the flow of the game. Gostisbehere had the game winner on his first of the year and was complemented by goals from Rasmussen, Larkin and Copp.
The team seemed to be driving the bus from the start of the second period until the end. Lots of interceptions, stolen pucks and a solid start by Reimer that helped the team find their legs.
CBJ is in a different scenario as the offseason saw 2 coaching changes in strange form. Laine seems very comfortable at center and more than one of you wanted to see Detroit try and get the former second overall pick. The top line had some good looks and the power play moved the puck well.
The shot tally looks much closer than the game felt, especially after the first period. Some physicality, Kostin dropped the gloves and Sprong continues to get chances in front of the net. Compher’s ability to read a pass and jump in is impressive. Copp found the back of the net and the Wolverines were represented in Ohio.
The team has a different feel, to be sure. Veleno’s skating and continued pressure into the O zone helped the team as this feels like an important year for one of Holland’s final picks for the organization. A much smoother looking team that seemed to be able to transition quickly and gap up well. A good game that should make the coaches fairly happy. As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments.
First Period:
At 8:51 Veleno powered into the O zone Gostisbehere got Detroit on the board after getting a nice cross ice feed and hitting a quick snapshot in. 1-0 DET
After a close call by CBJ Detroit goes to the power play at around the 16 minute mark. No goal but good puck movement by Detroit.
Score: 1-0 DET Shots: 9-5 CBJ
Second Period:
At 7:45 Rasmussen scored a nice far side low shot after a sequence that saw him lose the puck, then Compher intercepted a pass from CBJ and got it back to Ras who stayed with the puck and got his first of the year. 2-0 DET.
Detroit is heading to the power play after Jenner heads to the box for cross checking at 10:51. CBJ cleared the puck, it was corralled by Seider, sent to Raymond who handed it to Larkin at the blue line. Larkin skated straight to the net, slid the puck back hand 5 hole and got his first of the year. There was a penalty on the play and Detroit stays on the power play.
Raymond takes a couple of shots on net and on a shot from the top of the circle, there’s a bounce right to Copp who taps it in. 4-0 DET
Wings end the period on the power play after killing off a CBJ man advantage.
Score: 4-0 DET Shots: 18-13 DET
Third Period:
Wings didn’t score on remaining power play, but at 2:06 Raymond was sent into the boards putting Detroit back on the power pay. Wings fail to convert, high stick from Sprong puts CBJ on the advantage at 4:35. Wings able to kill off the power play.
At 7:43 Kostin had a big hit that was answered by Gudbranson dropping the gloves. Both get 5 minutes of ice after a decent tilt.
At 9:33 CBJ back on the power play as Copp sits for hooking. Wings kill it off. Copp gets out of the box and got hooked, now has a penalty shot. Save by Martin.
Game winds down as Reimer gets a shutout in his first start.
Score: 4-0 DET Shots: 28-23 DET