Wings Stop Skid With Win Over Oilers

Coming off the first back-to-back regulation losses of the season, the Red Wings looked headed for three straight. In what may have been the single worst start of the season, the Red Wings found themselves down 1-0 after only 2 minutes and were out shot 11-1 in the first 10. However, as they have done time and time again the team would respond. Kronwall and Sheahan scored in the 2^nd to give the Wings the lead and in the 3^rd we would see the goal scoring that brought Teemu Pulkkinen fame in the AHL. While the Oilers would battle back and cut the lead to 1 with under 2 minutes remaining, Abdelkader and Datsyuk would both register empty netters to end the game.

In a year full off ugly starts this may have been the worst. Despite being in full tank mode, the Oilers showed no signs of having played the night before, forcing bad passes by the Red Wings and jumping on turnovers to create offense. As a result, it took only 2 minutes for the Oilers to capitalize on a Jimmy Howard mistake and get on the board first. Off a bad angle shot, Howard didn’t completely cover the puck allowing Klinkhammer to drive the net and whack it in to make it 1-0 Edmonton. Despite having a opportunity on the power play, it took over nine minutes for the Red Wings to register even a single shot on goal. It was not until after the halfway point, with the shots 11-1, that the Red Wings finally started to apply some offensive pressure. While the opportunities began to present themselves, the team was unable to capitalize. Zetterberg rang a shot off the crossbar, Pulkkinen tried to force a pass across on a 2-1 and Abdelkader lost the puck on a breakaway after an incredibly pass for DeKeyser. As a result the team was forced to head into the locker room down a goal.

Starting the 2^nd period with 28 seconds remaining on the man advantage, the Red Wings wasted no time making up for their lackluster opening frame. After a great zone entry by Hank, Kronwall received a drop pass from Erik Cole and sniped it high blocker to tie the game, 1-1. The Red Wings continued to dominate after the goal, holding the Oilers without a shot through the first 9 minutes of the second. With 6 minutes left, it was the new kids line that finally capitalized on the Red Wings’ extended zone time. Nyquist jumped on a rebound and slid it backdoor for Sheahan to make it 2-1 Detroit. With only 30 seconds to go the Red Wings avoided what could have been a scary moment as Klinkhammer blindsided Zetterberg, thankfully the captain was able to finish the game.

Down a goal, the Oilers came out for the third period searching for the tying goal and had a number of chances early. Thankfully, Jimmy Howard rebounded from the weak goal and was there to save the day. Just after the 10 minute mark, a quick line change found Teemu Pulkkinen on the ice with Datsyuk and Tatar. After Datsyuk’s attempt was blocked down in the slot, Pulkkinen found it and fired it over Scrivens to make it 3-1 Detroit. With 7 minutes left, already down a man, DeKeyser was called for cross-checking to give the Oilers a shortened 5 on 3 advantage. Despite getting two grade A opportunities Howard was able to hold off the Oilers to maintain the two goal lead. Despite Howard's best efforts, the two-goal lead did not last long. After the Oilers pulled their goalie for the extra skater, Hank was whistled for delay of game with only 2:20 minutes remaining. It took only 25 seconds for Nail Yakupov to fire a one timer past a screened Jimmy Howard to cut the lead to 3-2 Detroit. The Oilers would again pull the goalie looking for the equalizer but both Abdelkader and then Dastyuk, from his own end, would get empty netters to get the Red Wings two points.

Observations:

We have heard it repeatedly but it cannot be understated how different the Red Wings are without Darren Helm’s speed on the top line. Despite the well-earned reputation of possessing stone hands, his offensive improvements are obvious after observing Glendening’s recent stint on the top line.

While the Power Play got the attention on Sunday after giving up two shorthanded goals, the penalty kill is starting to become a major concern of mine. Since February the Red Wings are the worst team in the NHL at preventing shot attempts when shorthanded. While the team has been able to survive lately, that is not a formula for winning in the playoffs. The biggest problem I can see is the inability to prevent teams from entering the zone. Early in the season, the Wings were incredibly aggressive in the neutral zone, but they seem to have lost some of that aggression as the season has gone on.