It was a chippy, ugly scene in Detroit on Thursday night.
The Arizona Coyotes eliminated two important forwards from the Red Wings' lineup with greasy, questionable hits.
The Red Wings persevered, rose above the influence, and dropped a serious ass kicking on the Coyotes. On the scoreboard that is. The Red Wings won the game 5-1, however, lost two key contributors in the process.
It all started in the first period when Arizona center Martin Hanzal wrecked Detroit Teemu Pulkkinen with a nasty boarding collision.
Pulkkinen was ruled out of the game after the Hanzal hit. Amazingly, Hanzal was assessed only a two miniute boarding minor for his recklessness.
Hanzal recently injured Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher with a questionable body check.
Later in the first period, Red Wings winger Drew Miller was knocked stupid by a high hit delivered by Klas Dahlbeck. It sure looks like a Rule 48 violation to me. Miller's head was the principle point of contact of Dahlbeck's shoulder shot.
Former Buffalo Sabres tender Anders Lindback replaced Mike Smith at the beginning of the second period.
Nik Kronwall's goal was followed up by a Gustav Nyquist goal from center ice.
What the hell was Mike Smith thinking? How do you allow a 100 foot goal in the last minute of play just 18 seconds after the Kronwall marker?
The Coyotes will likely have to play without Hanzal and Dahlberg in Buffalo.
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Look for Lindback to get the net in Buffalo.