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I wrote an entry earlier today for the pregame. Just in case you want to catch it.
Summary: Well, I’ve said multiple things regarding tonight’s game. 1 - Detroit needs to let in fewer than 4 goals 2 - Detroit needs to win. While 4 goals made it in (on 24 shots at the time), Detroit still won. Fabbri’s game winner saw him jump into the play, fresh off the bench a la post season Doug Brown back in the day, and scored the game winner. Joe Veleno absolutely muscled the puck out of the zone with Detroit short handed and Ras trailed then applied the needed nudge to get a 2 goal cushion with 1:39 left.
I’m not going to revamp my notes (below) as I write them in the moment and don’t think that the outcome changes the issues. We’re still letting in too many goals. The goalies are left out to dry, but you still need those “big time saves… at times. That said, the defensive zone structure just looks awful at times. Very easy for an opponent to get to a wide open area on the ice opposite the play, take a pass and get an opportunity. The zone coverage is a mess and this is a portion where Compher is sorely missed. He has good instincts in the zone and seems to know where to look.
Detroit dedicated the summer to adding goals. That was on repeat at nearly every press offering. Now that next step of keeping a couple more out needs some attention. The loss of Larkin, Compher and Perron all hurt. There’s no denying that. At this point the team may need to move to man on man defensive coverage (which is exhausting). Kane is ringing iron like he was forging a sword, he’s getting closer. He and Debrincat do make some plays already that are fun to watch. Between the legs drop pass, etc. it was odd to see that they had a rotation of centers as the staff are hesitant to break up the duo.
Fabbri and Sprong continue to make plays. Fabbri has come back well from this past injury. The loss is on the defensive core. Whatever the answer is in terms of strategy, it’s still not clicking. A win is always welcome, but is hard to come by with so many defensive lapses. At some point, let’s hope that something clicks either in net or in D zone structure. I’m sure St. Louis feels like scoring 4 goals should be enough. Tonight, and to the good of the Detroit fans, it wasn’t.
First Period Detroit goals: Walman scores off the rebound.
The Wall, man! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/xGk7ArqISL
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 13, 2023
Berggren taps in a rebound, this time off the pipe.
Jonny Burgers! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/2DSlffXs6A
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 13, 2023
First Period: Interesting to see Veleno swapped with Copp from yesterday’s opening lineup. Veleno definitely complements Debrincat and Kane in terms of speed.
Blues go to the power play at about the 2 minute mark. Wings manage to kill off the penalty. Seconds later Kane rang the post at the other end.
At 5:56 St. Louis scores first. Detroit seems to be leaving one entire side of the ice unattended defensively. 1-0 STL
Wings go to the power play at 10:43. Wings give up another short handed rush opportunity. The power play just looks rough in the early goings. Better puck movement by 2nd unit but unable to score.
At 13:33 the Wings had a nice drive to the net, a rebound landed on Walman’s stick and he picked the far side of the net. Good sequence and example of Walman’s ability to jump in.
At 15:31 Berggren scores as Rasmussen and Sprong helped set up a shot that bounced off of a goal post and onto the stick of Berggren. May be the night of rebounds. 2-1 Detroit.
At 17:19 Blues back to the power play. Wings kill it off.
Score: 2-1 DET Shots: 11-9 DET
Second Period Detroit goals:
Seider’s equalizer.
Mo picks up the rebound! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/18ePWuVhG2
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 13, 2023
Second Period:
Blues score just 1:40 in off icing faceoff. 2-2
Seconds later they score again due to poor defensive play. 3-2 STL
Detroit to power play at 5:43.
At 9:47 Seider scored to tie the game at 3.
Detroit back to the power play at 15:26. Gostisbehere breaks his stick, wings give up a short handed goal. The power play is embarrassing right now. 4-3 STL. Another 4 goals against night. They almost gave up another short handed goal with 2 seconds left.
Detroit’s coaching staff has been unable to clean up the defensive issues and the team can’t outscore the holes they’re digging night after night. 4 goals on 24 shots. Whether you feel like the goalie had a chance or not, that is way off base
Score: 4-3 Shots: 28-24
Third Period Detroit goals: Raymond’s power play equalizer
Ray on the power play! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/uqP95yNtPd
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 13, 2023
Fabbri’s go ahead goal.
ROBBY FABBRI! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/p6qffgZfy6
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 13, 2023
Rasmussen’s EN insurance tally: Video not up yet
Third Period: Detroit got an early power play, nearly gave up a short handed goal, but made it back and Lucas Raymond tied the score with his 10th of the year. 4-4
Detroit gets another power play at around the 3 minute mark. Unable to score.
However, at near the 7 minute mark Fabbri, fresh off the bench, goes to the net hard and gets his stick on a pass from Raymond scoring Detroit’s 5th of the night. 5-4 DET
With around 4 minutes left Copp ends up drawing a penalty. To make things interesting, the Blues call a timeout after a stoppage and pull their goalie. Joe Veleno simply overpowered the puck out of the zone and Rasmussen tapped it into an empty net. 6-4 Detroit.
Final Score: 6-4 Detroit Final Shots: 37-32 STL