Posts 4 Panthers 3 Red Wings 1

With a game against Tampa Bay looming tomorrow night this was a big opportunity for Mrazek and the Red Wings to pick up points against a struggling Florida team that has seen their playoff chances disappear in recent weeks. While Detroit struggled early, they improved and began to control possession as the game went on. Despite generating more scoring chances the Red Wings were continually stymied by the posts and Roberto Luongo while an off game by Mrazek was enough for the Panthers to take the win.

As usual the Red Wings were slow to get started, resulting in a 7-2 shot attempt advantage, including a breakaway, for Florida before the game was 5 minutes old. The Panthers really crowded the neutral zone, preventing the Red Wings from creating any forecheck. Near the end of the period the Wings finally started to wake up as the new kid line and the Zetterberg line started to generate some offense and offensive zone time. However Detroit was unable to capitalize and the period ended scoreless despite holding Florida without a shot attempt for the final 7 minutes of the period.

The 2^nd started the same way the 1st period ended, with the Red Wings dominating possession but unable to capitalize. Despite generating 8 different scoring chances the Red Wings found themselves with only 3 posts and 0 goals to show, and it was the Panthers who broke through first. A bad step by Cole lead to a quick Panther counter attack. Zetterberg was a step late to switch onto Jagr, giving the future hall of famer just enough time and space to get Mrazek moving and give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Only 4 minutes later the Panthers struck again as a seemingly harmless shot from the point snuck through Mrazek allowing Pirri to jump on the loose puck in the crease to make the score 2-0 Florida.

The third period started with the Panthers doing a great job of keeping everyone to the outside and the Red Wings seemed unable to press through. With 13 minutes left a Panther’s chip past a pinching Zidlicky created a puck battle at center ice. In the battle Abdelkader was knocked down creating a 2-1 and the opportunity for Upshall to snipe Mrazek high glove to make it 3-0 and effectively end the game. Halfway through the period the Red Wings would finally find some life after a power play. Tatar would control the puck behind the net just long enough for Erik Cole to find some space in front to cut the lead to 3-1. Despite starting to press forward, any comeback attempt was foiled when Teemu was called for interference with under 4 minutes remaining.

Not a horrible game for the Red Wings as this loss can mostly be attributed to puck luck. However this game demonstrates the problem with dropping so many winnable games lately. These games are inevitable, some nights the bounce just won't go our way which is why it is so vital to bank point when possible. With a difficult schedule the Red Wings will really need to dig deep and find a way to get points down the stretch.

Observations:

After being a healthy scratch for a number of games this season, Joakim Andersson was promoted to the 3^rd line with Pulkkinen and Nyquist thanks to the injuries. While the line was somewhat frightening in the defensive zone they were one of the bight spots in the offensive end, particularly early in the game. Heading into the offseason as an RFA I'm not sure if there is space on this team for him. That said it is good to see him perform well now that he has been able to play with some more offensively gifted players.

Sheahan tried admirably to fill in for Pavel but with a rusty Helm on the win they were destroyed in the possession game today and provided little offensive threats. With Pavel only out for the weekend Babcock may try to keep the consistency in the lines. However if Datsyuk is out long term the lines will be in need of a major shakeup.

Finally, this game should put an end to the ridiculous talk of a goaltender controversy in Detroit. If it was not obvious enough after seeing Babcock give Jimmy the start against Tampa this game we have now seen that Mrazek is not invincible. He is an incredibly talented goaltender and I am excited to see him push Jimmy in the coming years. But for now it is, and always has been, Jimmy's net.