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Big Stops, failed power plays and a bizarre goal as Wings fall to Panthers |
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Summary:
I let this one marinade for just a bit before doing the summary. Florida has had Detroit’s number for a long stretch. Bobrovsky has confounded the Wings in Ohio and Florida. The Panthers gapped up incredibly well throughout the game. The reality truly feels like the better team won. The winning goal was as strange as it gets, and Reimer gave the team an opportunity to stay in this one. The open goal whiff by Rasmussen is the burn that will stick as the very real opportunity to potentially walk away with 1 point.
That said, Detroit’s start was as bad as it has been. 10 minutes before their first shot on net. The team looks like they need most of the first period to get going and that has to change. For at least the last 4 from the players to the coach there is an acknowledgement of a bad start. That has to change, and it’s not a new issue. I don’t know where this starts. Is it on the players to come up with a series of head butts, secret hand shakes, chants, etc or do the coaches need to shake things up?
Beyond that, I’m going to give kudos to Veleno (again). He is making plays, and seems to engage early on as much of the team just seems out of sync. Seider was also engaged and physical and when skating with Walman the two look good.
Boston is coming to town, and they’re missing some important blue liners. It’s interesting to see Zetterberg (yes I know he’s doing some business as well) but the team had him come in last year after the Bertuzzi trade. The former captain has a tangible effect on Larkin but is also another set of eyes for Yzerman. He and Lidstrom both looked like they were making a list of notes as they watched the team. We’ll see how Detroit comes out to start Saturday’s game. It’s a talking point that has made its way through the organization and the press around the team. We’ll see if the team has a different look at puck drop on Saturday.
First Period:
6 minutes in Detroit outshot 9-0 after killing an early penalty to Kostin. Florida has carried all the offense, but Reimer has been sharp and has kept Detroit in this. Nearly 8 minutes in still no shots for Detroit.
Wings ice the puck with 10:54 left in the first as they were trapped in their own zone. Still no shot, but Florida hasn’t added to the total yet. Seider stopped Verhege on an attempted break in with a big hit. The team got their first shot at near the 10 minute mark. Shots 9-2 with 9:40 left and Detroit iced the puck. They survive another possession by Florida as an offside was called. Detroit still doesn’t have their legs moving near enough on another rough start for the group.
Florida seems content to play dump and chase and have gained possession enough times to make it work. Panthers ice the puck at 11:31. Detroit not good enough on the faceoff as the puck ends up back in their end and Reimer opts to halt play. The point is being made by the broadcast team that 10 new faces are in the lineup, but bad starts have plagued the team throughout Yzerman’s tenure as GM and in the rebuild. The answer has to come from inside the room.
Shots now 9 to 3 with just over 6 minutes left and Detroit looks like they’re skating in mud compared to the Panthers. Walman had Detroit’s best chance with 5:07 left as the top line finally dictates the tempo for a shift. Apparently Walman has broken 100 mph 6 times this year on his slap shot. He skates into the puck well on those shots.
Czarnik, Fischer and Kostin force Florida to take a penalty as the 4th line may have just played the best Detroit shift of the period. 3:21 left in the period, Florida clears the puck immediately, and then again on the re entry. Good movement on the advantage, but a familiar ring the only result as Sprong hit the crossbar. It was very close as Detroit has closed the gap on shots 9-6.
With 7 seconds left Florida added their first shot in a while and Reimer had to be sharp. 5.4 seconds left. Detroit ices the puck but the clock runs out. Very lucky to be in this one still for Detroit.
Score: 0-0
Shots: 10-6 FLA
Second Period:
Wings look better but Florida quickly starts to take over.
At 2:52 Wings get another power play chance. Shots now 12-7. Debrincat gets sent off 26 seconds in for hooking. 4 on 4 for 1:34. Veleno skating great nearly goes coast to coast after strong back checking.
More strong work by Veleno along with Sprong sends Detroit to another power play at around 8 minutes. With 19 seconds left Perron nearly scored. Shots now tied at 13 apiece. No score but good movement.
With 8:39 left Detroit goes short handed. Wings kill it off, 3 shots for FL. Detroit now to the power play as Gostisbehere just lost a twig to forces beyond his control.
6:11 left, shots 16-13 FL. Detroit doesn’t score and gives up way too many short handed looks. Debrincat’s shot on net the only one and was a beauty between the legs. Shots 18-14 FL as Tkachuk goes down and Copp makes the skate of shame.
Great puck movement by FLA but Wings catch the bounces and kill the penalty. Big clear by Veleno and no shots on net.
With 51 seconds left Florida scores as Reimer couldn’t hold onto the puck, it pops out of his glove, over his head and into the net. 1-0 FL. Panthers winning faceoffs 3 to 1 and get another strong opportunity in the dwindling seconds.
Score: 1-0 FLA
Shots: 19-14 FLA
Third Period:
Rasmussen missed on an empty net standing point blank at the side as he shot the puck behind the pipe. The big man said enough to himself regarding the whiff that I don’t need to add anything.
Shots are 21-17 FLA with 14:44 left. Veleno with another good look. He and Sprong could be moved up as both seem to have more jump and better looks than many that are higher in the lineup. Opinion only, of course. Just seems that those two try to make something happen in limited minutes and may have earned even a temporary move up. Something has to change, particularly in the starts.
At 12:56 Larkin to the box for interference. Not an ideal time, Wings still within 1 and need this kill. Shots are 23-19 FLA. with 32 seconds left in the power play Walman almost had a breakaway and got tied up with Cousins. Feels like a makeup call. 4 on 4 for 32 seconds.
Raymond made a nice drive to the net but good backchecking kept him from getting a shot off. Detroit power play starts with 5 minutes left. Wings need to stop going to the slot when Larkin is covered 2 on 1. Time to rework the man advantage.
With 2:44 left score still 1-0 and shots are 24-22. Wings 0 for 7 on power play, Panthers 0 for 9.
Wings pull the goalie with 1:38 left. 26 seconds later Florida scored. 2-0.
Final:2-0 FLA
Shots: 27-22 FLA
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