Weekly Review: March 18-24th, 2012

Weekly Review: March 18-24th, 2012

Detroit has finally ended their losing streak at 6 games! This is great news despite the fact that they went 1-1-1 on the week the important things are they have got back into their winning ways and remain in the 4th spot in the Western Conference above the Nashville Predators. Let's look at how the Wings did this week...

Game 1: Washington Capitals @ Home (Loss: 5-3)

Detroit looked sluggish as their skeleton squad chugged on through to a 5-3 loss against the Washington Capitals. The scoring was started on a Washington Power Play as Marcus Johansson took the puck down low and centred it to a wide open Alexander Ovechkin who slapped the puck past Jimmy Howard for his 31st of the year. The Caps would add to their lead as Jason Chimera skated into the Red Wing zone with both Defence on him and dropped the puck to a wide open Mike Knuble who snapped it past Howard. Detroit would then again find themselves on the Penalty Kill and watch as Ovie skated through the middle of the ice, slapped a puck on net, got his own rebound and banged in his 2nd of the game. Detroit would show some life early in the 2nd period as their Power Play got to work. Some nice cycling from Hudler and Brendan Smith would see the puck end up on Kyle Quincey's stick who unleashed a cannon of a slap shot finally putting the Wings on the board. No real momentum was gathered from that goal however, as Washington would score next. Marcus Johansson would flip the puck out of the corner hitting Dan Cleary, Cleary looked stunned as Semin picked up the puck and sent it to Keith Aucoin who wristed it past Howard making it 4-1 Capitals. Detroit would inch closer to tying the game as Gustav Nyquist would send the puck on net and Caps' Goalie Braden Holtby tried to lazily pick the puck up but it was quickly batted in by Bertuzzi. Brendan Smith would then take the puck down low and shoot it on net, Justin Adbelkader would take a whack at it but it would be Dan Cleary who would bank the 2nd rebound in to bring the game to 4-3. That would be as close as the Wings would get however, as Jason Chimera would add an Empty Net goal to secure the win.

Detroit showed some life in this game on offence but their defence and Penalty Kill was bad and led to a loss in this game.

Game 2: @ New York Rangers (Loss: 2-1 OT)

Detroit headed into Manhattan having lost 5 games in a row, and facing the East's best team things did not look good. At least they managed to earn the extra point in this contest to move ahead of Nashville to take 4th place in the Western Conference.

Detroit would open the scoring as Ian White would get the puck at the blueline and sent it to Henrik Zetterberg who sniped his 19th of the year from the top of the face-off circle. Detroit would once again fall asleep on the Penalty Kill and let Brad Richards take the puck from Henrik Lundqvist and skate through the entire Penalty Killing Corps and slide the puck past Conklin. Each goaltender would play perfectly in the 2nd and 3rd period, sending the game to OT. Some nice Tic-Tac-Toe passing from Dubinsky to Del Zotto to Callahan would see Ryan Callahan snap in his 27th of the season and give the Rangers the win. Ty Conklin started for the Wings in this game after clearing waivers due to Jimmy Howard and Joey MacDonald being both out with injuries. Conklin had his trademark wonky plays that made the game "extra exciting" but still managed a great game in a losing effort. Detroit's offence was thwarted by excellent goaltending by Henrik Lundqvist and several goalposts shots. Once again some momentary Defensive lapses would send Detroit home without a win.

Game 3: Carolina Hurricanes @ Home (Win: 5-4)

Detroit finally snapped their losing streak and returned to their winning ways as their ageless captain Nicklas Lidstrom returned to the lineup. However this win would come in sloppy fashion. Jiri Tlusty would score on Ty Conklin only 17 seconds into the game. then in the 2nd period Chad LaRose would sneak in front and score 26 seconds into the 2nd period. Down 2-0, Detroit would finally get on the board after Val Filppula and Hudler cycled the puck down low and sent it to Henrik Zetterberg who broke in all alone and wristed the puck past Cam Ward. Detroit would then go down 2 men giving Carolina a 5-3 advantage. Jamie McBain would score with 1 second left on the first penalty and Jiri Tlusty would score on the 5 on 4 making the game 4-1 Hurricanes. However, Zetterberg would again break into the slot and pick up a pass from Filppula to make the game 4-2. Todd Bertuzzi would bat in a rebound from a Gustav Nyquist shot making the game 4-3 sending the game into the 3rd period. Val Filppula would pass to Brad Stuart who sent the puck to Jiri Hudler in the high slot who slapped the puck in to tie the game. Drew Miller would give Detroit the lead and first win in 2 weeks as he accepted a Dan Cleary pass, broke to the net and backhanded the puck over Cam Ward. 

***

It was good to see Nicklas Lidstrom return against Carolina and seeing him pick up an assist on the Bertuzzi goal was a bonus. Hopefully he can add some poise to this team and they can stop have defensive lapses which costs them against New York and Washington earlier this week.