Forget the curly fries; everyone deserves a poutine tonight. The Detroit Red Wings stayed hot in Montreal as they knocked off the Canadiens 4-3 in overtime on Thursday evening.
The Detroit Red Wings traveled to Montreal fresh off an overtime victory at home against the Sharks. If the organization still has playoff aspirations this season, they need to start stringing together wins.
Detroit did receive some good news before the start of the game. Forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who had been day-to-day with a lower-body injury, took the warm-up skate and was healthy enough to return to the lineup. Thursday night was the front end of a back-to-back before getting a much anticipated extended rest for the All-Star break.
Michael Rasmussen got things going Thursday night for the Detroit Red Wings, scoring his ninth goal of the season. Rasmussen, a left-handed shot, busted into the Monreal zone and crossed in front of the net at the hash marks from the right-wing side towards the left, roofing a gorgeous shot past the glove of Montreal goaltender Jake Allen.
When you’re hot, you’re hot. Rasmussen has scored in back-to-back games and has accumulated seven points (2G, 5 A) over his last six games. The 23-year-old versatile forward is really growing into the player Detroit imagined when they spent the ninth overall pick on him back in the 2017 NHL Entry Level Draft. I recently mentioned that I wouldn’t be surprised if Rasmussen were the centerpiece of a deal between Detroit and Vancouver for Bo Horvat if general manager Steve Yzerman is interested in the pending free-agent scorer. For the record, I’d hate to see the 6-foot-6 forward go, but remember, you’ve got to give something to get something.
It was a short-lived lead for the Red Wings. How many times have we said that this season? Montreal forward Michael Pezzetta tied things up just two minutes after Rasmussen gave Detroit the lead. Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot sent a pass to Pius Suter, which he failed to corral, and Pezzetta shoveled a backhander from point-blank range past Ville Husso.
The first period would close with a score of 1-1, with Detroit outshooting Montreal 10-5.
The Detroit Red Wings would regain the lead at the 3:56 mark of the second period thanks to a power-play goal from rookie forward Jonatan Berggren. It’s Berggren’s eighth goal of the season; the rookie playmaker now has 18 points in 34 games with the Red Wings. Captain Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider would draw the assists.
Again, just about three minutes following the Berggren tally, Rafael Harvey-Pinard tied things back up for Montreal with a gorgeous short-handed goal that should not have counted. Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond was high-sticked on the faceoff and needed to head to Detroit’s bench for repairs, leading to a Montreal odd-man rush and eventual goal. Raymond would eventually return to Detroit’s bench with his nose full of cotton and, in some disbelief that the official who had been seemingly looking right at the play.
Later in the second period, the Red Wings would once again take the lead thanks to an Oskar Sundqvist goal in tight; it was his seventh of the season. Sundqvist nearly interfered with the goaltender Allen after a Dominik Kubalik shot seemed to bounce off the big forward’s midsection and into the net.
Montreal forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard struck again late in the second period scoring his second of the night and third of the season.
Oddly enough, there was no goal-scoring in the third period, but the goaltenders stole the show.
The Detroit Red Wings would get a game-winner in overtime from Robby Fabbri. Fabbri was the beneficiary of a beautiful cross-crease pass from Michael Rasmussen, leaving Allen with no chance.
Seider displayed tremendous patience as the Red Wings entered the offensive zone on the play and let Rasmussen do the rest. Just before the winning goal, Montreal had a breakaway from center ice. Husso made a spectacular right pad and blocker save, pushing left-to-right on the play allowing Detroit to head the other way and eventually get the victory.
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It was a much-needed victory for Detroit, and the Red Wings will head to New York to square off against the Islanders tomorrow evening in their last game before the All-Star break. Let’s make it three in a row; what do you say?