The hard work the Detroit Red Wings put in over the past four weeks showed as they opened the 2022-23 season.
Hosting their Original Six rival Montreal Canadiens Friday at Little Caesars Arena, the Wings played an up-tempo, in-your-face style that bodes well for their success. The new guys impressed — especially the biggest one — and fans were treated to an entertaining performance that ended with a 3-0 celebration.
The Wings had topped 35 shots on goal by the time they finally scored, and what a goal it was. Rookie Elmer Söderblom, the 6-foot-8 late-round 2019 pick who earned a spot out of camp, scored in his NHL debut when he tapped the puck in from the front of the net. Desperate for offense, the Habs pulled Jake Allen with 2:26 to play; it was Söderblom’s linemate Michael Rasmussen who took advantage and scored into an empty net. Defenseman Olli Määttä followed up with a shot from the red line that also sank into Montreal’s empty net.
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Strong start
Goalie Ville Husso had to be on his toes the first few shifts, but on the whole the Wings had a good opening period. There is always a good deal of emotion to a home opener, with players introduced one-by-one amid fanfare and flashing lights. Once they settled down, the Wings played up-tempo and did a good job creating chances. Jakub Vrana drew a penalty just past the five-minute mark, and the Wings’ power play units generated multiple looks and kept possession the entire two-minute stretch. A second power play again yielded multiple chances. The Wings were credited with 25 shots in the first period, while the Habs had 10.
Sizing up Söderblom
Elmer Söderblom’s parents, Susanne and Martin, were at LCA to see their son make his NHL debut; they flew in from Sweden on Wednesday, two days after he made the 23-man roster. Söderblom, a sixth-round pick in 2019, beat out Filip Zadina, a 2018 first-rounder, for a spot on opening night thanks to a strong preseason and reinforced that decision Friday. Söderblom played at even strength on a line with Rasmussen and Oskar Sundvqist, was part of the second power play unit and had three shots on net in the first period. He’s fun to watch, because at 6-8 — call it 7-foot on skates — he has a monstrous wingspan and seems to cover half the width of the ice when he extends his stick. He finished Rasmussen’s setup to earn a goal 2:33 into the third period.
The new guys
Söderblom was among multiple players playing their first game in a Wings uniform. Dominik Kubalik earned cheers when he checked Rem Pitlick into the boards on a shift in the second period. Chiarot was another abrasive guy; he looks like he’ll be a good partner for Moritz Seider, allowing him to play on his toes. Likewise, Määttä looks like he’ll be a good partner for Filip Hronek — Määttä plays a safe, defensive game that complements Hronek’s offensive instincts. David Perron is going to help the Wings on the power play — he had a couple good looks Friday unleashing one-timers from the left circle on the second unit.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.
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Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.