Well that blows.
There’s no other way to describe it.
Yet another third-period lead for the Detroit Red Wings, followed by another third-period failure for this team that can’t seem to hold an advantage.
This one came back to bite the Wings, who lost 2-1 Sunday to the Florida Panthers at Joe Louis Arena on Brian Campbell’s goal 1:20 into overtime.
It was the fourth straight game that the Wings have squandered a third-period lead, the fifth time they’ve done it in seven games and seventh time in 24 games this season.
So what’s the problem, boys?
“I haven't totally seen a commonality and I addressed that the other day a little bit,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “Some nights you’ve got to score that last goal, this was similar in a sense that I didn't think we played well enough in the third but I didn't think we had played well enough throughout the game.…
Finding a finishing touch and getting that much-needed insurance goal continues to be Detroit’s most pressing area of need.
“The biggest thing tonight was we had two power plays in a row (in the third period) and you’ve got to score on one of them,… Blashill said. “We didn't.…
Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg reiterated a point that Blashill made late last week – the Wings need to locate their killer instinct.
“It helps you score goals if you have that killer mentality,… Zetterberg said. “We’ve just got to get there. I don’t think we even got there today when we had our opportunities on the power play. It was tough to get pucks to the net and really get those good chances.
“Everyone is playing systems that aren’t really goal friendly. That’s the way it is. Goals against is very important instead of the goals for.…
Blashill, who addressed the occasional immaturity of his team in that they tend to give up too many easy goals, is also of the opinion that this club is still learning how to win as a unit.
“I don't think there's any question that it's part of the maturation process as a team,… Blashill said of holding leads. “First, early in the year we didn't have leads, then you build to where you do have the leads. Now you’ve got to make sure that you walk away with wins.
“I think we've built as a hockey team up until now, I think we can still continue to get a lot better. But part of that is certainly learning how to keep the lead. I think the biggest thing on that is getting that next goal.
“The commonality I guess through most of it is we've had opportunities to score the next goal and we haven't, whether it's been five-on-five or on the power play, and we've got to find a way to put the nail in the coffin.
“You certainly don't want to keep this trend up. You don't want to keep giving leads up late. I like having a lead late but we've got to find a way to make sure that we don't give away points.…
Larkin Again The bright spot for the Wings was that rookie Dylan Larkin scored a beauty for their only goal, intercepting an Aleksander Barkov pass and beating Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo high stick side on the breakaway for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.
“He was in the right spot at the right time right there,… Zetterberg said. “When he gets the opportunity, he puts the puck in the net.… Perhaps the most impressive stat with Larkin is that all 10 of his goals have come in even-strength situations. He shares the NHL lead in even-strength goals with San Jose’s Joe Pavelski, Vladimir Tarasenko of St. Louis and Tyler Seguin of Dallas, although it should be noted that both Seguin (three) and Pavelski (two) have benefitted from empty-net goals.
“It’s pretty good, I guess,… Larkin said. “When the puck’s going in it’s easier to shoot and you have that confidence where you think it can go in.
“I think just winning would be better.…
J & J Move In The Wings welcomed back forward Tomas Jurco and defenseman Jakub Kindl after lengthy absences as healthy scratches, including an AHL conditioning stint for Jurco, and Blashill liked what he saw from the two of them.
“I thought overall they both played good,… Blashill said. “I think it's a tough situation. Jurcs didn't get enough ice time there through a stretch with the penalty kills and that.
“I didn't probably get him enough to get in a real rhythm the way he'd like to get in a rhythm. But I think hopefully next game he's able to get in that rhythm and Kindl, I thought did a good job.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer