COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 27: Goaltender Thomas Greiss #29 of the Detroit Red Wings stops a shot by Oliver Bjorkstrand #28 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena on April 27, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
A goaltending duel was the story of the night, as the Red Wings and the Blue Jackets both struggled to find the back of the net through regulation and overtime. Both goaltenders earned shutouts, and it was Thomas Greiss‘ first of the season.
The first two periods were relatively uneventful, with both goaltenders keeping the game scoreless. However, after a game where the defense gave up over 50 shots and the offense failed to get 20, Detroit’s play was certainly improved, especially in the second period. Perhaps the most exciting play for fans was Joe Veleno’s steal and the subsequent shot on goal. The best scoring chances through two both came at the hands of Vladislav Namestnikov, but he ultimately failed to cash in on any of them. Through two, the Red Wings outshot the Blue Jackets 27-23.
The third period was very similar to the first two. The Red Wings outshot Columbus, yet goaltending ruled again. Although both teams finished the third with over 30 shots on goal (Detroit 35, Columbus 32), the game remained scoreless.
Again, goaltenders kept points off the scoreboard in overtime, despite fantastic scoring chances for each team. The Red Wings best scoring chance came with just seconds left in OT, as Filip Zadina overshot a Jakub Vrana pass on an odd man rush.
The game finally ended in a shootout, as Columbus walked away with the extra point.
- With the end of the season approaching, draft lottery odds are starting to become more solidified. Currently, the Red Wings sit at the seventh best odds – the Blue Jackets sit sixth.
- The lines heading into the game were odd, to say the least. Jakub Vrana and Filip Zadina were split apart, Adam Erne was top-line, and Namestnikov centered the top line. With the amount of injuries to the lineup, don’t be surprised if the lines look pretty shaken up down the stretch,
- It seems Greiss has found what he was missing in the first half of the season. Although Jonathan Bernier has been the Red Wings primary goaltender all season, Greiss could very well start a majority of the last five games.