Twelve Games In

With yesterdays game against Los Angeles, Detroit is now twelve games, or 25% of the way, into this shortened season. The Red Wings have had a pretty mediocre start to this season, but are currently on a 3 game win streak and as a result sit in 5 place in the Western Conference with a 7-4-1 record. Let's take a look at Detroit's season so far.

Game 1: Detroit @ St. Louis (Loss 6-0) (0-1-0)

Detroit was crushed in their season opener. Not only did they get shut-out they only managed a paltry 14 shots. Rookie sensation Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for the Blues in his NHL debut. David Backes was a human wrecking ball and exposed the Red Wings' lack of size on their first line of Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Brunner. The best Detroit had to offer in this game was Brunner and Filppula who both recorded 3 shots. Though Detroit was flat in this game props must be given to the Blues who played excellent to open their season.

Game 2: Detroit @ Columbus (Win 4-3 SO) (1-1-0)

With injuries mounting up Detroit called up Defense rookie Brian Lashoff who scored Detroit's first goal of the season with a beautiful slap shot from the point. Johan Franzen weaved through the Blue Jackets and centred the puck to White who one-timed the puck passed Bobrovsky. With a 2-0 lead things were looking up for Detroit after the loss to St. Louis, but then Columbus scored 3 goals in a row -- 2 on the Power Play. Datsyuk would tie the game late in the 3rd period off of a some excellent grinding by Zetterberg who burst through Blue Jacket defenders along the boards and dished the puck to Kronwall who tapped it back to Datsyuk who buried it in the wide open net.

Brunner's "Datsyukian" Shoot-out Winner.

Damien Brunner showed the League his amazing skills paying homage to Pavel Datsyuk using his famous shoot-out move to win the game in the 4th round of the shoot-out.

This game was a nail biter but any way you look at it a win is a win and it looked as if Detroit's top guns were coming together. 

Jordin Tootoo also made his presence felt fighting right off the opening face-off, despite losing the fight his energy was much appreciated and this sort of fighting spirit has been missing from the Wings' lineup in recent years.

Oft-injured D-man Carlo Colaiacovo was injured in this game and has remained sidelined with a shoulder injury as a result of a collision in the 2nd period.

Game 3: Dallas @ Detroit (Loss 2-1) (1-2-0)

Detroit once again looked flat, and failed to convert on 4 power play opportunities in this contest. Perhaps it was a bit ironic that Detroit honoured the recently retired Tomas Holmstrom before this game, who made a career as being an effective "net-front-presence" on the power play. Michael Ryder scored 2 goals for the Stars and Damien Brunner ruined Lehtonen's shut-out with 3.4 seconds left. This was a tough loss as Detroit did manage to get 40 shots but were stoned cold by Kari Lehtonen.

Detroit signed veteran defenseman Kent Huskins to the lineup to cope with the injured Colaiacovo and they called up Gustav Nyquist from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Game 4: Minnesota @ Detroit (Win 5-3) (2-2-0)

This was a satisfy win for Detroit, especially since the new-look Wild were supposed to be a wrecking crew in the Western Conference this year. Detroit also scored their first power play goal of the season via a Damien Brunner wrist shot. Todd Bertuzzi who recently returned from the flu tipped in a Filppula shot to put up Detroit 2-0. Minnesota would even the game up at 2 but Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk would both add goals to end the 2nd period. Todd Bertuzzi potted his 2nd goal of the game early in the third period to make it 5-2, but Zach Parise would score his second of the game to get to the 5-3 final.

Jordin Tootoo again made his presence felt with a fight in this game as well, making Detroit undefeated when Tootoo fights.

Game 5: Detroit @ Chicago (Loss 2-1 OT) (2-2-1)

Chicago extended it's winning streak to 6 games from Nick Leddy's OT Goal. Johan Franzen would score his first of the season in this game from Brunner and Zetterberg, who now comprise the Wings top line.

Game 6: Dallas @ Detroit (Win 4-1) (3-2-1)

This game was a big win as Detroit redeemed itself against from their earlier game against Dallas. Filppulla would pot his first goal of the season off of a Datsyuk pass to tie the game at 1. Zetterberg would slap in his 2nd goal of the year on the power play off of a Patrick Eaves pass. This was Patrick Eaves first point in quite sometime as he has sat out quite some time with post-concussion syndrome.

Game 7: St. Louis @ Detroit (Win 5-3) (4-2-1)

This win was marred with a blown call by the refs. A match penalty was assessed to David Backes for a "hit-to-the-head" on Kent Huskins. The hit was hard and clean, but it did cause Huskins' head to snap back causing the ref to kick Backes out of the game. On the ensuing power play, Datsyuk scored the go-ahead goal by absolutely sniping the puck past the St. Louis goaltender. With 13 seconds left Henrik Zetterberg would complete his hat-rick with one of the most beautiful empty net goals I have ever seen. Zetterberg finished the game with 3 goals and 2 assists, getting in on each of Detroit's 5 goals.

It was an excellent effort by Detroit's new captain, avenging the season opener loss. Counting on Zetterberg to dig deep when it counts is exactly what the Red Wings need from their captain. 

Game 8: Detroit @ Columbus (Loss 4-2) (4-3-1)

Just as the Red Wings were gaining momentum they shouldered this loss to the Blue Jackets. Jimmy Howard was very critical of his play in this contest calling the 2nd Columbus goal "absolute garbage".

Damien Brunner added his 4th goal of the season, once again in meaningless fashion late in the game with 27 seconds left. It was a beautiful one-timer on a bouncing puck right off the face-off vial a Valtteri Filpulla face-off win. Brunner and Filpulla have both been playing exceptionally well in this shortened season. The Wings are in a new chapter of their franchise and are looking to these guys to be future stars of the team.

Game 9: Calgary @ Detroit (Loss 4-1) (4-4-1)

Once again Detroit put up a disappointing loss. Detroit was clinging to 8th place before this game and playing the Western Conference's worst team this game should have been a good way for Detroit to strengthen their spot in the standings. However they dropped this game and dropped out of the playoff spots. Now its still early and Detroit has a few games in hand over teams ahead of them but they really need to start winning games like these if they want to have a successful season. 

Johan Franzen scored the lone goal for the Wings for his 3rd of the season.

Game 10: Detroit @ St. Louis (Win 5-1) (5-4-1)

The story of this game was Petr Mrazek getting his first NHL start in net and after Detroit's season opener shelling it was clear Detroit was throwing Mrazek into the fire. Mrazek responded excellently stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced, and he stopped all 23 even strength shots he faced only letting in a lone power-play goal. The Red Wings got a lot out of their 3rd and 4th lines this games with Cleary, Kindl, and Emmerton scoring the first 3 goals. Damien Brunner and Valtteri Filpulla continued their great seasons by also adding goals.

Game 11: Edmonton @ Detroit (Win 3-2) (6-4-1)
On Hockey Day In Canada the 6 other Canadian teams squared off with each other and this left Edmonton as the odd man out as they travelled to the Joe Louis Arena to face the Wings. The offense on both sides of the ice were firing on all cylinders but the goaltenders at each end in Jimmy Howard and Nikolai Khabibulin rose to the challenge and stopped all even strength shots. Detroit's power-play clicked better than the Oilers and they converted twice via Datsyuk and Kronwall goals to out muster Justin Schultz's goal for the Oilers.

Game 12: Los Angeles @ Detroit (Win 3-2) (7-4-1)

Jimmy Howard played another superb game stopping 45 of 47 shots posting a 0.957 SV%. Datsyuk would pot the first goal on the power-play and Damien Brunner would score the second off of a Zetterberg pass to make it 2-0. However, LA would answer with an Anze Kopitar goal late in the first to cut the lead to 1. Jimmy Howard held Detroit in this one until the last minute of play when Alec Martinez backhanded the puck past Howard with 53 seconds left to play tying the game up at 2 a piece.  Despite this late comeback Jonathan Ericsson would spoil the Kings' comeback by slapping the puck past Quick with 5 seconds left in regulation to put the Wings up 3-2.

Henrik Zetterberg's 2 assists in this contest now put him at 13 on the season, good enough for 5th in the league.

***

Detroit's paltry star could be chalked up to either a new look team with no training camp, or a multitude of injuries but the way things have been going as of late it looks like the Wings are starting to shake off some of the rust . They aren't doing horrible but when they do lose they seem to play quite flat.