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| (David Guralnick/The Detroit News) |
Overall, a great start for the Red Wings. Only negative was the 0 for 6 on the power play, but that will surely improve over time.
First Period
- Mule line good early - I really liked what I saw from the Franzen/Filppula/Bertuzzi line in the early goings. Hell, all four lines were rolling in the first period. Filp looked more confident out there. Franzen got his first of the 40+ goals he's going to score this season (Prediction #41). Bertuzzi wasn't trying to do too much either. I liked what I saw.
- MODANO! - Welcome home, Mike. His first shot as a Red Wing found the back of the net. I thought Mr. Willa Ford looked energized and excited to being playing tonight. He's 40? Looked 30 to me tonight. I liked what I saw from the 3rd line tonight as well.
- Like the D pairings - At times it looked liked Lidstrom was baby sitting Ericsson on a few shifts, but at least early on no one looked bad out there. Of course, Big Rig left the game with back spasms and the remaining five defensemen rotated for the rest of the game. Could we see Kindl get his shot starting tomorrow in Chicago? I say play him in Ericsson's spot next to Lidstrom and let's see what the kid can do.
- Jimmy being put to work - Howard didn't have much to do in the first, but the Wings were sloppy in their own zone at the beginning of the second. Howard didn't see too many difficult shots, but when he did, he came up big and made the save. Great performance out of him tonight. Very encouraging to see.
- Nice passing by Eurotwins - That Datsyuk goal was pretty. Pav and Hank never surprise me with what they can do out on the ice together. Hopefully they'll stick together on a line for awhile.
- That goal counted? - I was shocked (much like everyone else probably) that Danny Cleary's goal counted. Apparently, the ruling was that the puck was in before the net came completely off. Reasonable explanation. If the Ducks had scored that way though I probably wouldn't be happy. Jillian said the goal shouldn't have counted because Cleary didn't complete the process. The NHL probably thought (putting tin foil hat on), "Hey! Let's throw the Wings' a bone here and give them a break now in a game they are clearly going to win anyway. That way when we screw them over with some bogus intent to blow the whistle rule in March we can point back to this and say 'hey! breaks go both ways!" Or (taking tin foil hat off), the Hockey Gods and/or karma is just paying us back for the last few years of bogus calls. Personally, I didn't think it was a goal...but I'll take it.
- PAVEL FIGHT - First and foremost, thank goodness he didn't get hurt. How awesome was that though? Pavel dropped the gloves and held his own against a bigger Corey Perry. If you didn't absolutely love Pav before this game, you sure do now. Not to mention the fact he had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (Goal, assist, and a fight in a single game). Attention Martin St. Louis...the Lady Byng is all yours this season. Enjoy.
- Same old Ducks - The Ducks got down by four goals and resorted to their usual goon tactics. Shocking, right? Good to see the Wings' stand up for themselves during the game. Bert was in some scrums. Stuart dropped the gloves too. Nice job by the refs by tossing some of the Ducks late in the game.
Brendan Smith
In his first game as a Griffin -- at least on paper -- Smith did not disappoint. In fact, he scored his first goal very early in the game on the power play. I didn't see the goal, but it was described on Twitter by Matt Saler of On the Wings as 'Real nice individual effort. Pulled it down, put it through a block and under the goalie.' I couldn't ask for a better start for Smith. Not only was he manning the PP, but he scored. Smith ended the game as a +1 and his only shot came on his goal.
Let's Go Red Wings.
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