The Detroit Red Wings came away with two points Monday night, sending the Anaheim Ducks back home with a 2-1 overtime loss. Let’s take some observation’s from the matchup.
#1: Larkin is red-hot. The captain continues to score like a number one center, netting the Red Wings first goal and tacking on an assist for the game-winner. Larkin leads the team in both goals and points (23 goals and 20 assists). He’s been the best player on the roster this season.
#2: Offense wasn’t stellar. Detroit scored just one goal in regulation. They managed to get 28 shots on goal, but they just couldn’t find the back of the net.
#3: Defense stood strong. Fortunately, the offense wasn’t pressed to score. The Red Wings defense had an excellent game, holding Anaheim to just 15 shots on goal. For a team that’s struggled all year on the blueline, it was an extremely impressive showing.
#4: Alex Nedeljkovic finally looked like himself. In Neddy’s last four starts before last night, he failed to secure a save percentage above .900. But against the Ducks, Nedeljkovic was solid in the crease, making 15 saves and finishing the game with a .933 save percentage.
#5: Jordan Oesterle scored his first goal as a Red Wings. The 29 year old defenseman and Michigan native scored his first goal wearing the winged wheel – and it was an over-time winner. Oesterle hasn’t been flashy for Detroit, but he’s been a good bottom-pairing/seventh defenseman. It’s a well-earned goal.
#6: A little confidence for Filip Zadina? Zadina didn’t have an especially great night, but he notched an assist with an impressive pass to Larkin and had stretches of strong play. Zadina’s underperformed so far, but after scoring against the Penguins, he seems to be heating up a bit. Let’s so if he can finally start to step things up.
#7: Shocker: Moritz Seider leads the Red Wings in ice time again. The rookie defenseman was on the ice for 25:35 against the Ducks, the most on the team. Seider has been thrust into the role of of a number one defenseman (deployed in key situations, quarterbacks the power play) and he’s still exceeding expectations. The German defenseman is firmly cementing himself as a Calder Trophy finalist – if not the front-runner.
#8: Finally stopping a losing streak before it happens. When the Red Wings have lost this season, it’s usually not a one-off incident. The team seems to skid after a loss, dropping a few at a time. However, Detroit finally bucked the trend, following up the 7-4 loss to Toronto with an overtime win against Anaheim.