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Wings explode for 5-1 win over young and talented Chicago squad |
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Game Summary:
Over the years, a deep appreciation has manifested for teams that understand their strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly. With the drafting of Bedard combined with losing some of the veterans that were brought in to help it is in the first overall pick that you can see how Chicago will approach the game. This is a team built to attack.
Detroit early looked to get the puck behind Chicago as the blue line has a lot of youth and can be a position where one player is faced with eliminating passing lanes for one or two others. All this while skating backward and trying to give the goalie a clean line of sign without opening too large a shooting lane. No pressure.
In honestly, this was a game Detroit needs to be able to win. As Chicago builds, Detroit is in the midst and spending closer and closer to the cap. With Larkin and Gostisbehere out, it becomes more and more evident that J.T. Compher may well be one of the best acquisitions in recent memory. 2 goals for the center, 2 goals for Fabbri and one for Chiarot. Compher has eased the deficit greatly up the middle.
His chemistry with Copp in all 3 zones is palpable and in particular at times on the power play. To their credit, Chicago didn’t quit or make it easy. Lyon’s performance saw him stop 34 of 35 shots and that makes it easy to overlook how many opportunities Chicago created for themselves.
The expectations for Lyon were a bit all over the map, but he can look unbelievably stable. Seider and Walman do a lot of little things in their own zone to stop the flow of the play and unlike years past, there seems to be a forward ready to take the pass and get it out of the zone.
Detroit saw a disproportionate of goals scored for shots taken. It’s fantastic to see, and the goal differential is definitely headed in the right direction. If Kane is feeling like himself at all, there could be some exciting times ahead. (BTW, if you want to watch a resurfacing, WWE did a documentary called “The Last Ride” about the Undertaker and show an uncomfortable amount of the surgery in which titanium was inserted into his hip socked at attached to the ball joint. Episode 1)
It is so different to see a team that looks so calm at times as they make strong plays. The concern is still the shot differential. As far as the physical game tonight, that wasn’t nearly as as much of a part of the contest as it was against MN and NYR. Kostin wants to show that he is the guy that can carry the load, but can daw an unnecessary penalty. Murphy has grown quite a bit and didn’t bite on a lot of the extra hits.
Final thoughts, Seth Jones can skate and join the rush as well as nearly any D in the game today. He makes it look effortless, but has huge strides and soft hands in tight. Just finds the quiet areas but can speed back into defensive posture. I’ll give Chiarot some credit as well. I’ve given the defenseman a lot of grief, but tonight he made a lot of smart plays. Good game, and not a dry eye in the rink as that young man rang the bell. Nick Foligno cheered him on, fantastic reminder of how precious each day really is.
First Period Detroit goals:
Compher’s short handed tally
Fabbri takes the lead
First Period Summary:
Game started with some concern with an early penalty, but Detroit scored a short handed tally early on as Compher and Copp were sprung on a 2 on 1 by Walman. Compher collects his 5th. However, Reichel scored for Chicago just a minute later. 1-1. Shots 5-2 CHI
At 8:42 Fabbri skates the puck in from center ice, through a defender and roofs a nice backhand shot. 2-1 DET. Shots 7-4 CHI. Fabbri has really been a welcome boost since his return to the lineup. I do admire someone who keeps battling no matter how many times the injury bug bites.
Score:2-1
Shots:12-10
Second Period Detroit goals:
Chiarot’s second of the year
Compher’s power play goal
Second Period:
At 2:29 Fabbri had made a solid definsive play at his own blue line and looked to be going 1 on 0. Good back pressure from Chicago was enough to keep #14 for finding his second of the night.
At 5:09 Chiarot scored as there was a bit of a jumbled play. Raymond stumbled into the O zone, passed to Chiarot who got the puck to Debrincat. Debrincat’s shot in tight was saved, but Chiarot was able to elevate over a sea of red and white jerseys for his 2nd of the year. 3-1 DET, shots 16-15 CHI
At 5:24 Detroit heads to the power play as Reichel is called for hooking. Perron connected with Compher just about 32 seconds in as Compher just held his stick against the ice and it was a simple on ice redirect to give Detroit a 4-1 lead. Shots 18-16 CHI
** regardless of score, I am impressed at Chicago’s self awareness as a team. They work relentlessly to keep the puck in the attacking zone as they have Bedard and a stronger forward core than the very young defensive group. That is a result of a coaching staff sitting down and trying to emphasize the clear strength of a team. Detroit has had to build in every single area so it’s been a bit more painful in the rebuild.
At 11:52 Kostin went hard after Murphy after a hard (but clean) hit on Copp. Murphy didn’t look like he wanted to further engage, but Kostin threw some extra shots and got not just penalties but a 10 minute misconduct. Chicago to the power play. Murphy stayed in control in that one. Kostin has to reel it in a bit. Not every game needs a fight.
Wings kill off the penalty, now Raddysh to the box for cross checking, Detroit back to the power play for the minor, as Mickey says, “very minor”. Even I had to laugh at that. Not like the abuse Homer used to take. If you’ve ever seen his titanium leg braces, they are partially caved in by goalie sticks and those same paddles got him across the back more than once.
Chicago kills it off and are outshooting Detroit 24-18. Good pace in this one. Foligno all over the ice. Nick and his brother Marcus both noticeable on the ice. Both solid, stick with the play.
Score: 4-1 DET
Shots: 25-19 CHI
Third Period Detroit goals:
Fabbri’s 3rd period power play goal
Third Period:
Bedard was robbed by Lyon and the rookie already expects a lot of himself. He took a couple shots at the bench. Was disappointed in the missed opportunity, but he creates chances out of nothing. Good future for that young player.
Wings get a 4 minute power play as Berggren was cut by a high stuck at 7:09. Chicago killed the first 2 minutes and are quick to get the puck up ice if they have the opportunity. Definitely built to attack.
24 seconds left in the double minor and the puck goes out of play. Mrazek had a fantastic stop early on , but in just 8 seconds after the faceoff Fabbri went to the net and capitalized on a rebound from a Sprong shot that went off the left arm of Mrazek. 5-1 Detroit. Shots 29-24 CHI. Fabbri continues to contribute as Larkin heals up.
With around 8:30 left Bedard set up a beautiful play and almost did a spin and backhanded a rebound in. He continues to look for what’s available, even it it’s a play a lot of skaters at this level couldn’t make. Kid could spin in a phone booth.
Final: 5-1 DET
Final Shots: 35-29
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