The Detroit Red Wings went from their most complete game of the season to a complete and utter disaster one night later.
The Wings, who whipped the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 Wednesday, surrendered two goals in the first 2:44 of Thursday’s game at Boston and ultimately fell 5-1 to the Bruins.
Detroit will now need a regulation or overtime win Saturday afternoon at New York against the Rangers in order to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 25th successive season.
“You looked to the schedule probably two or three weeks ago and figured it might come down to the last game,… Detroit forward Brad Richards said. “In a way it’s a good thing.
“You always wish you would have clinched but we still have a lot of to play for.…
The Wings, who’ve never enjoyed much success in Boston, sought to put a positive spin and only look forward to getting the job done on Saturday.
“We could be in a much worse situation,… Detroit forward Luke Glendening said. “If you said at the beginning of the year you’d have to win one game to get in, you would take that every time.
“Here we are and we’ve got to win a game.…
“We put ourselves in a position yesterday by winning a game to control our own destiny, so let’s go win a hockey game on Saturday,… added Detroit coach Jeff Blashill.
No Excuses? After Wednesday’s win, Blashill insisted that there would be no excuses made by the team for a poor effort in Boston on the second game of back-to-back games.
Then the Wings lost, and they made excuses.
“That was a tough turnaround,… Richards said. “They were sitting there waiting for us. We have to park it and move on.
“They probably really concentrated on a good start, as did we, but that’s hockey. When a team sits and waits for you, they’re going to put a lot of pressure on you early.
“We could have maybe scored on the power play in the first period to maybe get ourselves settled into the game. It just seemed like we chased it most of the night and they controlled it.…
Goaltender Jimmy Howard channelled his inner Curly Howard, insisting that the Wings were the victims of circumstance.
“I think it's just a little bit of everything,… Howard said. “Having such an emotional high last night, coming off a big victory, getting in relatively late last night and having to get up for another emotional game, it was tough and we just didn't have our 'A' game tonight.…
Captain Henrik Zetterberg was one player who re-emphasized his coach’s point of view.
“There's no excuses,… Zetterberg said. “We've played 17 back-to-back this year so I think we're used to these turnarounds.…
The Wings are now 1-9-2 in their last 12 games that were the second of two games in two nights.
Abdelkader Absent Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader went to the dressing room early in the third period with what the team called a lower-body injury and did not return to the game.
“I’m not sure,… Blashill said of Abdelkader’s status. “He’s being evaluated, so I’ll have more information tomorrow.…
Mrazek In, Howard Out When Boston opened the third period with two goals on the first two shifts to make it 5-1, Blashill sent Petr Mrazek in to replace Howard in net, Mrazek’s first game action since being pulled from Detroit’s previous loss, a 4-3 setback at Montreal against the Canadiens.
Blashill indicated there was a twofold plan behind his move.
“Get Petr some work and Jimmy some rest,… Blashill said.
Up until that point, Blashill felt the Wings still had a shot at a comeback.
“I thought we were still very much in the game going into the third period and you can’t give up that goal right off the bat,… Blashill said. “Biggest thing we’ve got to do is – it’s a disappointing loss but it’s a loss.
“Let’s put it behind us and get ready to win a game on Saturday.…
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