First Period
Pretty good start for the Wings as they have not yet been scored upon in the first five minutes and there have been no whistles. Rasmussen has the first decent chance for the Wings as he makes himself a pest in Holmstrom’s Office. Pretty even game so far with a slight edge to the Wings if we are measuring “jump”. LGD sets up Erne but his shot is handled no problem. Shots are 5-2 Wings halfway through the period.
Who sets up another good scoring chance? Elite offensive dynamo Adam Erne! Can’t be contained. He was stopped, though. Temporarily. He was paused. His confidence is off the charts.
The hunt for goal #20,000 continues as we skate off tied 0-0.
Second Period
Zadina, Erne, and LGD teamed up for a nice shot but Reimer has been sharp. 5 minutes in and we have our first penalty of the game. Filppula is off to the Bad Boy Box for hooking. You can, and Mick did, argue against it being a penalty but gotta call someone for something sometime I guess. Penalty kill goes to work and does work. Barely. Bernier has to go snow angel and trap the puck under his back as Fast is fishing for a rebound. Biega gives Bernier a congratulatory pat-pat on the chest.
Niederreiter dodges a check from LGD and Helm falls into the boards. Canes bring it back through the zone and there’s Niederreiter again in alone but Bernier waits him out and makes the deflection. Wings respond with Larkin forcing Reimer to make a stand-up save.
Here’s an odd penalty – “shooting the stick”. A loose Canes stick on the ice and Morgan Geekie sends it flying up ice. Can’t do that, apparently. He’s off to the Crimes Cabana. We kill our own powerplay as Rasmussen is also hitting the Time-out Terrarium for holding.
Nielsen, Biega and Staal all on ice at the same time. Cool.
5 minutes left and the Bad Staal goes to the Bad Stall for holding Helm. Powerplay time again and a big save by Bernier!! Yes, a shorthanded chance nobody is surprised. Trocheck had all the time and space in the world but Bernier shows his patience again.
If I had to describe the pace of play in this game I would use terms like “bumbling” “scrappy” and “toilet clog”.
That’s it. Still 0-0.
Third Period
Buckle up, drop the puck, and ADAM ERNE SCORES! Rasmussen does a great job of the wraparound and passes the puck across to Erne who has an open net. Ras having himself a good setup man kind of game.
Carolina challenges for offside and it’s close.
But not close enough 🙂
YOU CAN’T STOP ADAM DENNIS ERNE. 1-0 RED WINGS!
Red Wings powerplay for the lost challenge penalty.
Take a breath.
Puck over the glass penalty and we are 5v3 for 30 seconds.
Take another breath.
FILIP ZADINA ON THE POWERPLAY! 2-0 RED WINGS!
We have played 2.5 minutes.
A few minutes later and Dylan Larkin, who did nothing wrong and would never, is falsely imprisoned for Sports Crimes. However, the Canes kill their own powerplay with Aho in the Den for Doers of Dastardly Deeds. Two of the players you want on your special teams locked away. Penalties all killed and we’re back to even strength.
Bernier still doing work. He’s definitely shaken off any rust and is dialed in.
Halfway through and Dylan Larkin goes all in on the hooking penalty but saves Bernier from needing to make a save. He’s off to the Vat of Villainy and we’re back on the penalty kill with 10 to go. And killed!
Larkin and Erne are at it again but Reimer has been just as good as Bernier tonight.
6 minutes to go and buckle up. Niederreiter scores cutting it down to 2-1 Wings.
2 minutes and Reimer’s on the bench. LGD did not take the faceoff.
1 minute AND EMPTY NET GOAL! Gagner from Filppula (he really did need to pass the puck). Red Wings up 3-1!
RED WINGS WIN!!!