In a matter of moments, it was a microcosm of how the season has been for the Detroit Red Wings, a quick turnaround from the joy of victory to the agony of defeat.
Well, OK, if you want to nitpick, from the joy of tying to the agony of defeat.
Yeah, that about sums up how it’s gone for Detroit in 2016-17. Winning wasn’t even part of the equation.
Tomas Tatar tied the game with 1.8 seconds left in regulation but then in overtime, his shot was blocked and he got caught up ice as the Calgary Flames broke the other way on a two-on-one, leading to Mikael Backlund’s game winner in the 3-2 Flames victory.
“I saw what was on the scoreboard,… Tatar said. “It was five seconds and I was thinking he (teammate Henrik Zetterberg, who had the puck) was going to shoot again. He made a nice fake and passed it to me and I just tried to put it on net.…
The end result quickly tarnished any elation that Tatar’s goal created.
“We obviously wanted two points tonight,… Tatar said. “We get one but I think we played pretty good.…
Emotional Night Their first game since the NHL trade deadline and the Wings entered a dressing room minus several very familiar faces. Forwards Steve Ott, Thomas Vanek and Tomas Jurco and defenseman Brendan Smith were all dealt to other teams in the lead up to Wednesday’s deadline.
“Since I’ve been here, even going back to my junior career, I’ve always been in the playoff picture,… forward Darren Helm said. “We’re not out of it yet but it’s going to be a tough battle.
“It is a different feeling, seeing some of your friends get traded off. We still want to play hard and play with pride.…
Helm opened the scoring for Detroit, his first goal since Feb. 3.
Howard’s In While the Wings travel to Edmonton Saturday to face the Oilers, Jimmy Howard will be deep in the heart of Texas.
Out since just before Christmas with a knee injury, Howard is slated to play for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins on an injury rehab assignment, seeing action against the Texas Stars and San Antonio Rampage.
“Two games, just to make sure everything is fine and healthy before I come back up here,… Howard said.
If all goes well, he could be playing for the Wings by the following week.
“That’s the game plan, I believe,… Howard said. “We’ll see how it goes. It feels exciting. I’m excited to get down there and starting playing again and get myself back up here.…
Just a week earlier, after he’d endured a second setback in his recovery, the Wings feared they’d seen Howard’s end in terms of playing this season but it turned out to be only a minor issue and this week he was able to practice without difficulty.
“It was just some movements where you’re leaning on the MCL and where the joint line is, just trying to eliminate the pain from there,… Howard explained.
Eliminating the frustration and disappointment of a lost season isn’t as easily rehabbed.
“Nobody wants to be out this long,… Howard said. “It’s the hand I’ve been dealt, so I try to deal with it as best as possible, in the most positive ways, and now I’m just looking forward to getting back out there and playing.…
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