Apr 22, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Jakub Vrana (15) hugs right wing Filip Zadina (11) after scoring a goal during the first period against the Dallas Stars at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Red Wings found themselves dealing with a rash of injuries. Both Tyler Bertuzzi and Frans Nielsen were shelved for the season while captain Dylan Larkin was scratched for the game. How would they respond?
Quite impressively.
The Red Wings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and never looked back as they had a resounding victory over the playoff contending Dallas Stars. Jakub Vrana continued his tear, recording four goals in a night that baffled even the most hardcore Wings fan.
Vrana opened the scoring off a beautiful feed from Filip Zadina. Luke Glendening redirected a shot and added his sixth goal of the season–along with the argument that maybe he should remain in the Wings lineup beyond this season. With 11 seconds left in the first, Richard Panik scored his first goal as a Red Wing on a bizarre play and they were staring the Stars down with a shocking 3-0 lead.
Dallas answered in the second to cut the deficit to two. Vrana responded for his second of the game, and sending a shot across the bow to Anthony Mantha and Washington. Somewhere, even though it was costing draft spots, Steve Yzerman was smiling.
There may be something there with the Filip Zadina-Vrana connection.
Dallas scored seconds after a Detroit penalty expired, cutting the Wings’ lead to 4-2. But it was Vrana again with his third of the game on a breakaway.
The Stars scored again on the power play, pulling within two again at 5-3. But Vrana potted his fourth of the game, the first Wing to do that since—-Anthony Mantha two seasons ago. Sam Gagner added an empty netter and the Red Wings were victorious 7-3.
Thomas Greiss held his ground in a game that saw the Stars outshoot the Wings at nearly a 2:1 clip. Finally getting the goal support that’s evaded him all season, Greiss recorded 39 saves on 42 shots.
Red Wings Final Thoughts:
- So Vrana now has five goals with the Wings while Mantha has four with the Caps. If there was any debate that Yzerman didn’t win the trade, it ended Thursday night. It once again shows just how good Stevie is at his job, and is willing to make the deals that are necessary to improve this team, without blind loyalty that crippled the final few years of Ken Holland‘s decision making.
- You have to wonder what’s going through Yzerman’s mind. This lineup is decimated and looking prime to move up the lottery list. Instead, Detroit nets seven and defies the odds in an unlikely victory against a Dallas squad trying to solidify a playoff spot.
The Red Wings and Stars wrap up this four game series Saturday evening.