Once again, the Detroit Red Wings were wonderful ones.
For the 27th time in 42 games this season, the Wings played a one-goal game. And for the 24th time, they came away with something from it.
Riley Sheahan’s goal with 3:44 left in the third period earned the Wings a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Sunday at the Honda Centre and improved Detroit’s mark this season in one-goal games to 17-3-7.
“Well, a lot of those we’ve had the lead,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill reasoned as to their success in one-goal games. “I think when you’ve had the lead it’s a better chance by percentages that you’re going to come out on top.
“We’ve found a way in a lot of them, I mean, it’s the way the game’s gone. I think we’ve had some opportunities to maybe make some of those two- and three-goal leads. We haven’t, so as a result it may have been one goal, but as we’ve talked earlier in the week, we’re comfortable in that because we’ve been in that spot so much.
“For me it doesn’t matter. We’ve got to score one more than they score at the end of the night, and we’ve got to find a way to win.… An area where Blashill figures the Wings are winning these close battles is in scoring chances, a stat he feels is vital to come out on top of if success on a regular basis is to be gained.
“Every game is tight, it’s real close,… Blashill said. “We’ve got to find a way to create as many positive chances and limit the other team’s chances the best that we can.
“I just think the league is so tight and we’re finding a way to make one more play than the other team. It comes down to probably something as simple as that.
“I don’t know if they’re all as tight as they were the other night (in San Jose) where one play goes one way, our goalie makes a huge save and we go back the other way and score. But it seems like a lot of games are where it comes down to just a little play here and there, and that’s why the emphasis is making sure we take care of it on every puck and every play.…
Puck control is another facet of the game where the Wings feel they are able to ensure positive outcomes from close contests.
“I think the more you manage the puck the better we play,… said forward Dylan Larkin, who set up Sheahan’s game winner. “I think you saw how crucial it was in the third period to manage it.
“I’m sure there’s been times this year where it’s come back our way but I think any game you’ve got to manage the puck.…
Was It Or Wasn’t It? The Wings were certain that Sheahan’s second-period shot had gone through the net. Some felt that replays proved their theory to be correct.
“I saw the net jump up so I thought it went in,… Larkin said. “When you saw the overhead look, it looked like it went in.
“You never know, so you’ve got to check.…
The NHL did and ruled that there was no conclusive evidence to overturn the call of no goal made by game officials.
The shooter thought that they got it right.
“I just saw it kind of went up in the air,… Sheahan said. “I saw it hit off something and went up. I figured it wasn't in.
“Our guys in the locker room looking at video saw something different so we took a chance.…
Kindl Clears Defenseman Jakub Kindl is likely heading to AHL Grand Rapids on Monday after clearing NHL waivers at noon Sunday, but more must be done before the Wings can activate defenseman Kyle Quincey (ankle surgery) from injured reserve in time for Monday’s game at Los Angeles, which is their plan.
By sending Kindl down, they will only gain $950,000 in cap relief from his $2.4 million salary, and would still need approximately another $1 million in cap relief to make room for Quincey.
The Wings desperately sought to trade Kindl prior to placing him on waivers but could find no takers for a player who has another year after this season left on his contract that will pay him $3 million in 2016-17.
Teams wanted the Wings to take a salary back in any trade talks and that simply wouldn’t have solved their cap issues, so it was a non-starter.
Miller Hurt Forward Drew Miller, in just his second game back from a fractured jaw, left after one shift Sinday due to a lower body injury.
He definitely won't play Monday in Los Angeles and the team was trying to schedule an MRI to get an assessment of the damage.
Miller, who earns $1.35 million, would have to go on long-term IR to provide cap relief in order to activate Quincey.
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