Follow me on Twitter Follow @TheJeremyLaura
Summary: What a game. I give Detroit full marks for playing to the end. New Jersey has the better team right now. This same effort will get Detroit some success this year.
I also want to give New Jersey full marks. The only “question… was in net (per the ESPN panel, not my favorite crew). Facing 34 shots and stopping 31 was enough to get it done. Jack Hughes is just fantastic skating with the puck, and there’s a lot of offense. Dougie Hamilton jumped into plays and made it look easy.
For the home town crew, this is a tough loss but it’s not out of laziness. It wasn’t created through a lack of effort. Sometimes you just get beaten on the scoreboard. Larkin needs to be lifting that room up. They showed up and made a solid go of it.
Walman and Seider, what can I say. Both made plays in the O zone to keep the puck alive. Walman looks fast at times, and Seider doesn’t mind mucking it up. Holl had a good play, and Gostisbehere looked solid defensively in several places. I don’t think you walk away feeling bad about this in terms of what your team is accomplishing. You walk away ready to up the ante and keep playing.
I really hope you enjoyed this. The game seemed to be going so fast, such a good tempo. It was what I love about hockey. I do miss having more of a Wings presence on the broadcast and look forward to that play by play in future outings. Let me know what you thought.
In reality, this was game one in a long season. The team is figuring out who they are. They want to defy expectation (per Larkin interview) and it’s good to see them hungry. Let’s see what they can do.
First Period:
Wings made a good choice to jump into the O zone and just fire pucks. NJ is loaded up front and if Detroit can push hard to keep them defensive minded it’s a good step. Kostin rang the pipe at 1:38. That was a strong wrister.
Wings to the box at 5:54 for interference on Walman. Wings kill it and Larkin got a SOG short handed. Only 1 or 2 shots for NJ during that PP At 8:38 Detroit gets their chance on the advantage. Decent pressure with shots heading toward net but not dangerous yet. Sprong rang the post with a slapper at 1 minute into the advantage. Wings moved the puck well but gave up a shot or two and it burned them in the end. Shots 10-3 DET at 11:00
Petry to the box at 14:38, Fisher went down the tunnel after a catching the follow through on a shot right in the nose. Play was being reviewed as the game headed to commercial. Was rescinded, wings short handed. 35 seconds in Mo Seider took a high hit from Jack Hughes. It’s called a “reverse…, and I think it should be moved out. Usually ends badly.
Wings to the power play for 35 seconds. Wings finally get into the O zone but unable to convert. Shots are 14-6 with 2 minutes left in favor of Detroit. Raymond fanned on an open upper net with the goalie down and out. A lot of disconnect, near misses etc. the pace is good though.
Score: 0-0 Shots: 14-6 DET
Second Period:
Very different start. Devils going hard to the net.
It looked like NJ broke through but goal waived off as a kick in. Both teams getting good looks, Wings cannot get past Vanecek.
With 7:46 left Sprong caught a bounce on a clear and the first one isn’t pretty, but Sprong has been buzzing. Good skating tonight. 1-0 DET. Shortly after the Devils go on the advantage.
Devils tie it up, Larkin lost his stick, but he abandoned the play. Even without a twig Larkin needed to stay on Hughes and in the play 1-1
New Jersey back to the power play as Detroit looks like they’re starting to crumble. Discipline has been a huge issue in the rebuild. They have to keep it together.
With 1:17 left Hughes grabs the lead with a beautiful move. Detroit is outmatched, it will take a lot to get back into this. 2-1 NJ.
Score: 2-1 New Jersey Shots: 26-21 Detroit
Third Period
At about the halfway mark Detroit gets a power play chance. After some really good work by Seider to keep the play alive, Debrincat gets his first as a Red Wing. 2-2.
With 7:23 left Perron goes to the box. Not ideal.
With 4:23 left Hamilton ripped a shot from the blue line and regained the lead for NJ. 3-2 NJ
Palat draws a penalty with 2:40 left, that should about wrap it up.
10 seconds in, Larkin drew a penalty and created a 4 on 4 situation.
Detroit pulls the goalie. 2:13 left and a tense situation. New Jersey scores on the empty net with 1:31 left. 4-2
Fabbri scores with just over 30 seconds left after good work at the blue line by Walman. 4-3 New Jersey
Final Score: 4-3 New Jersey Final Shots: 35-27 Detroit