Weekly Review: March 4th-10th, 2012

Weekly Review: March 4th-10th, 2012

Another disappointing week puts the Red Wings at 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, but luckily they are still in 4th place in the Western Conference. Some of theses losses can be chalked up to injuries, but the lack of secondary scoring is somewhat concerning if the Red Wings want to go deep in to the playoffs.

Game 1: Chicago @ Home (Loss: 2-1)

Both teams were missing some big guns in this game and Detroit also lost Jimmy Howard to injury after just 4 shots. Despite injuries Chicago was the team to prevail in this one. Off of a Kyle Quincey interference penalty Mariam Hossa set up Patrick Sharp who had a slap shot from the point which gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead. However Niklas Kronwall would answer with a point shot of his own set up by Darren Helm to even the game. Late in the 2nd period Brad Stuart would lazily clear the puck from behind his own net which was picked off by Patrick Sharp and centred to Patrick Kane who sent it into the net giving the Hawks the 2-1 lead. Ray Emery played spectacularly in this game holding off several good chances by the surging Wings. This game was a tough loss to a Divisional Opponent and saw the loss of Jimmy Howard. Detroit had lots of chances out shooting the Blackhawks 24 to 18 but couldn't seem to burry the puck.

Game 2: @Philadelphia (Loss: 3-2)

Claude Giroux showed everyone why he was one of the best players in the game in this contest, and Ilya Bryzgalov showed why he was one of the most highly sought after UFAs last summer with excellent play (he stopped 47 of 49 shots) against the Wings in this one. Henrik Zetterberg though, would be the first to open the scoring with a beautiful backhand over Bryzgalov's shoulder giving the Wings a 1-0 lead. A miscommunication between Joey MacDonald and Doug Janik behind the net would leave the puck sitting there for Jakub Voracek to score with a wrap-around equalizing the game. Claude Giroux would break up the ice accepting a pass from Brayden Coburn fake the shot and backhand the puck past Joey MacDoanlad. Then there would be more Giroux on the Penalty Kill he stole the puck at the blueline from Ian White and broke down the ice, his shot was stopped but Maxime Talbot would bang the puck in for a Short Handed Goal. In the 3rd it seemed as if the Wings would mount a comeback with Johan Franzen snapshot set up by Brendan Smith and Kyle Quincey. Detroit's Power Play has been awful as of late and giving up a goal with the man advantage is simply unacceptable and was the cause of their demise in this game. The team plays great 5-on-5 hockey but they will need to up their special teams to remain a top the league.

Game 3: Los Angeles @ Home (Win: 4-3)

Detroit had a sluggish start and played that way most of the game but were able to end up the victors in this contest with only getting 15 shots on goal. Jeff Carter would open the scoring on LA's Power Play backhanding in his 18th of the year, but Henrik Zetterberg would equalize the game with his 17th of the year set up by Filppula and Hudler. Former Red Wing Justin Williams would accept a Dustin Brown pass and then wrist in the puck restoring the LA lead. Zetterberg get his 2nd of the night set up by Filppula and Kronwall. In to the 3rd period tied 2-2 Dwight King would get set up by Jeff Carter to give LA the 3-2 lead but that would be the end of the night for LA's offence. Zetterberg would set up a Brendan Smith point shot that would get tipped in by Valtteri Filppula tying the game at 3 a piece. Then for the Game Winning Goal Darren Helm would tip-in a shot from Franzen with less than 2 minutes left in the game.

The sluggish play of the Wings was evident in the fact they only got 15 shots on net, however it was enough to hold of the LA Kings and give the Wings a much needed 2 points.

Game 4: @Nashville (Loss: 3-2)

Another disappointing loss to a Divisional opponent in this game as the Red Wings played well but ran in to some hot goaltending in Pekka Rinne. Recent call-up Gustav Nyquist coughed up the puck to David Legwand who broke down the ice and passed to Patric Hornqvist who wristed it passed Joey MacDonald. Detroit would even the scoring thanks to Drew Miller who got the puck out of the corner and skated out wresting it passed Rinne for his 13th goal of the year. Doug Janik would take a high sticking penalty which lead to a Nashville power play goal. David Legwand centred the puck to Sergei Kostitsyn who one touch passed it to his brother Andrei who swept the puck in passed MacDonald giving the Preds the lead. No scoring in the 2nd period but Nashville did take 2 penalties which Detroit's power play failed to capitalize on. In the 3rd period off of a Brad Stuart interference penalty Legwand and the Kostitsyns would connect for another Tic Tac Toe passing from Legwand to Sergie to Andrei for Andrei's 2nd goal of the game. Gustav Nyquist would get his 3rd assist of the year by playing tough in the corner and skating out with the puck before centring it to Justin Abdelkader who netted his 8th of the year. The game would remain 3-2 as the Red Wings would again lose despite out shooting the opponent by a wide margin, 37-20.

***

It was a tough week for the injured Red Wings going 1-3-0, and the only game they won was a game they should have lost. Their power play has struggled tremendously and they have even given up a few Short Handed goals as of late. They have run in to some hot goaltending but that shouldn't be an excuse for their play with the man advantage. Hopefully Datsyuk and Lidstrom return soon and add some zip back to this stagnant lineup.