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Another Buffalo OT win, Larkin gets 2 as top line now has 99 points

January 17, 2022, 6:12 PM ET [21 Comments]
Jeremy Laura
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Previous post: Bertuzzi’s 3 point night

Summary - A season sweep is nice when you can get it. Buffalo has a lot of transition, but Detroit has had its share of that. Moritz Seider is probably not getting a lot of love in Sabre-land as he seems to be able to put points together against Buffalo.

Larkin added to his total and matches his linemate Bertuzzi with 18 goals. The top line with Raymond has 47 goals and 52 assists just before the halfway point. 99 points is not shabby halfway through.

Fabbri and Namestnikov continue to fight for their ice time, and I don’t think Seider can get enough credit (though he gets a lot). There are plays he makes look effortless at 20 that are jaw dropping. Goals and excitement aside, he’s my Calder favorite. I’m wrong a lot about things like this. If Raymond wins it, it will still be a fantastic push for this organization.

The second half can be brutal for teams. The grind of hockey is the mental toughness it takes to keep going for 82 games. Hopefully, when we hit the final 20, this team will still be making fans jump for all the right reasons.

First period: - no Detroit goals

Second period - No Detroit Goals

Third Period:

One minute after Skinner scored Buffalo’s second goal, things were starting to look bleak. Detroit is now on the PK (after a failed challenge), and it is starting to look like Buffalo will avoid a season sweep. And then, Bertuzzi gets the puck out of the zone onto Seider’s stick. The smooth skating rookie defenseman skates down to the Buffalo net, dishes the puck to Namestnikov who scores his 11th as a short handed tally. Seider got his 25th point, the third fastest rookie D to do so in Detroit history (see tweet up top).



Larkin has nothing but respect for his linemate (Bertuzzi) but perhaps a little bit of competitive juices are flowing too. Bert got his 18th goal of the season yesterday, Larkin got 17 and 18 today. For #17, the Captain came fresh off the bench, skated between the circles and ripped a backhand pass from Fabbri to tie things up. Fabbri’s hard work behind the net made things possible. Again, just seems to be such a complementary part of this team.



Overtime:

“The Untouchables” have accounted for all 3 OT goals against Buffalo this year. Seider got his first NHL goal in OT vs the Sabres. Raymond got the next one and today was Larkin’s turn. Larkin passed the puck to Leddy, got it right back and zipped a wrister in for the win. The “top line” now has 46 goals, Seider has 25 points in 40 games and Raymond has 32 points in 39 games. Watching the things Seider can do as a defenseman, he should get some healthy consideration in Calder voting.



Some of my previous posts:

Bertuzzi’s 3 point night

Lidstrom’s role becomes official

Catching up

Larkin’s role and Larkin’s roll

Wings bounce back vs Isles
Some of my previous posts:

Lidstrom’s role becomes official
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