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One goal to rule them all, Wings win 4-3 in shootout vs resilient ‘yotes |
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Game Summary:
9 shots. Larkin, at this point, is credited with 9 shots in the game. He’s having his best ever first quarter and gave a very energetic LCA crowd a shootout win as two team saving goalies continued their calm control of the blue paint.
But, Hronek. 6 goals in 6 games for a defenseman for the first time since 1981. I turned 5 in December of 1981. If you see a transient looking near sighted 6 footer in the Waterford/White Lake area that’s your boy.
So, what is so different this year? Of course, a lot of things. A goalie that keeps us in when the team has lapses. Unfortunately, Arizona had the goalie equivalent of what Apollo Creed would call “the south paw jinx”. In Hockey, left handed players are the majority (unlike baseball and boxing). A right hand catching goalie can really throw your game off. As a lefty myself, I hold a right handed hockey stick. Pretty much what I’ve run into. Right handed players use a lefty curve. That’s life on the ice.
The big difference, for me, is more forwards who can score. The defense are finding time and space and Hronek, for one, is cashing in. When you have more than 2 or 3 players to concern yourself with in the forward core, the game changes. I’m also incredibly happy to see a positive goal differential. That’s been a nasty bit of kit (as my British step dad would have said) for the past several seasons.
I think Perron got bit a little by the right catching AZ netminder. He shook his head more than once. Stick side, he may well have cashed in on some of his opportunities. Regardless, another game where our goalie gave us a chance to win, but 3rd period lapses cost the team. Yes, the refs call things differently based on situations. Regardless, you have to be careful not to give them something to call.
Chycrun continues to return to form and his well known trade request still includes a hefty tag of 2 first round picks. Hronek is starting to look like a better and better get at this point, and Seider is making some good defensive plays. Paying a premium for and oft injured (though quite talented) defenseman that I have personally really wanted is now not quite so attractive. A tribute to the work of Yzerman and co.
One last thought. AZ is currently playing in a stadium that seats 5k while money is spent on a new facility? How many buildings has this team been through? The net loss numbers from start until now have to be staggering. A credit for the team playing hard and finding a way on a ridiculous road trip. I still wonder if a more “hockey hungry” destination outside of the desert is appropriate. The last (and now abandoned) arena was built with a lot of tax dollars mixed in. Several different owners (including the league) and just a myriad of issues. We’ll see how it all pans out.
First Period Red Wings goals:
At 12:01 Copp grabbed his 2nd of the year on the power play. A shot block by AZ dropped right onto his tape right in front of the AZ net. Raymond and Hronek are credited with assists (though I thought the block would negate those). Regardless, Hronek has really come alive and Raymond continues to build his totals.
Shots:11-8 Detroit
Score:1-0 Detroit
Second Period Red Wings goals:
At 4:02 of the second, Hronek continues his hot streak as he scored on the power play. First Detroit D man with 6 goals over 6 games since 1981. Berggren and Bertuzzi get some apples as Berggren continues to make a case for himself as an East side resident.
At 8:32 Schmaltz cut the lead in half with a nice tip off the shaft of his stick.
28 seconds later Oesterle ripped a wrist shot from behind the faceoff dots and regained the 2 goal lead. Another assist for Bertuzzi and Raymond
With 4:29 left AZ closed the gap to 1 again
Shots:23-6 Detroit
Score:3-2 Detroit
Third Period Red Wings goals:
With 25 sec to go AZ ties
No Detroit goals
Shots:32-21 Detroit
Score:3-3
Overtime:
No goals
Shots: 36-23 Detroit
Score: 3-3
Shootout:
Schmaltz - miss
Raymond - save
AZ - save
Perron - save
Keller - save
Larkin - score! Wins!
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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