All night long, this appeared as if it would be a game the Detroit Red Wings would remember as a key turning point in their quest for a playoff spot – and it will be, only not for the reason that it originally looked to be.
The Wings scored three second-period power-play goals to rally from a 2-0 deficit, but couldn’t hold their advantage in the final frame, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday at the Bell Centre to remain ninth in the Eastern Conference, on the outside looking in at the playoffs with just five games left to play.
“It stings a little bit just with how tight things are right now but we’ll see what happens throughout the league and we’ll refocus on the next game,… Detroit defenseman Mike Green said.
What happened around the league was that a huge door of opportunity opened wide for the Wings and they slammed it shut.
With the Boston Bruins losing at New Jersey, third place in the Atlantic Division beckoned for the Red Wings but they just couldn’t make it happen.
“We spotted them two goals and we end up losing by one, so I don’t think any team in this league you can spot two goals,… Detroit forward Dylan Larkin said. “I think it’s a tough game to lose, especially being up in the third and them scoring two. It does hurt.
“It was an opportunity but I think it’s a good sign that Boston did lose and we’re still only a point behind.…
It’s just the second time all season that the Wings have failed to garner at least a point when leading after two periods (19-2-7) but it’s also their eighth regulation loss during the month of March, far and away their highest total of the season.
Petr Pulled Petr Mrazek got the start in goal for the Wings but for the fourth time in five games, he was not the finishing goalie for Detroit.
Mrazek was pulled 11:25 into the game after allowing two goals on seven shots.
“I wanted to make the change for momentum,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “I thought at that point we needed some momentum difference.
“I thought he made two big saves but I wanted to change momentum.…
Mantha Tallies Playing his first NHL game in his hometown and with 40-50 friends and family in attendance, Detroit rookie Anthony Mantha scored in the second period to make it 2-2.
“It’s a great feeling but if you lose a game it doesn’t mean much,… Mantha said of his goal. “The goal was just banging rebounds all around, six or seven rebounds on that shift, so it was a good feeling.
“I knew I had a lot of friends and family so it was a good moment to have. It was just disappointing to lose.…
Skating as an NHLer in the rink where he grew up watching the NHL was an experience Mantha will never forget.
“It great,… he said. “I remember when I was young it was pretty loud in here and obviously when you’re on the opposite side it’s hard to play against the fans and to play against Montreal when they’re home.…
Power Players As if to add insult to injury, just as the Wings start to go south, their moribund power has engaged and caught fire. Detroit has scored power-play markers in six straight games and is nine-for 20 (45 per cent) over that span.
“We’re getting pucks to the net,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “We’re getting there and getting some puck luck and the puck is going in.…
Being more aggressive at the net is also aiding Detroit’s cause.
“I think we've done a better job of attacking,… Blashill said. “I think we've done a better job of getting pucks to the net with people to the net and it's a real simple formula and it seems like it's clicking a little bit that way.
“Sometimes it just goes in. We could have great power plays and not go in, but I think we've done a better job of being consistent in the process of it.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer