The Detroit Red Wings faced off with the Buffalo Sabres, which was a good test for the Red Wings. Both teams have been entrenched in a rebuild, and while the Sabres are ahead in the rebuild track, the Red Wings are looking to hang with them.
They are without Marco Kasper, as it was announced the Detroit Red Wings’ top prospect will be out for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. The Red Wings are just looking to finish the season on a high note.
Things got a little chippy, and the Red Wings did not back down. The Red Wings battled, even after giving up a three spot in the first period. Even though the Red Wings gave up a goal in the second, they continued to battle and found two to tie it up after the second.
The Red Wings continued to battle back in this game and forced overtime and as shootout after being down by two twice. However, the Red Wings were unable to finish the comeback effort and win in overtime.
Detroit Red Wings battle back, but it’s not enough.
1st Period
Early on, Buffalo earned a penalty shot after Dylan Larkin got the stick under the arm of Alex Tuch, who was on a breakaway. Tuch would earn a penalty shot, going in on Husso, making a move, and then missing the net on the shot, keeping things 0-0 very early in the first period.
It’s certainly no shock to anyone that Tage Thompson was able to pick up a goal. The Sabres forward showed off the quick release cutting through the middle of the ice in traffic, letting one rip to beat Detroit Red Wings netminder Ville Husso on his glove side. Thompson’s 45th goal of the year put Buffalo up 1-0 right around five minutes into this game.
The Detroit Red Wings were able to answer back. There was a goal from Austin Czarnik, who was able to let one rip to beat Devon Levi. He was able to tuck one past Levi, sending it off the twine for the Red Wings tally to tie things up at one.
Right after that, the Red Wings were able to pick up the lead courtesy of a powerplay goal. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin re-directed a shot from Lucas Raymond that beat Levi and made it a 2-1 game in favor of the Red Wings.
It did not stay that way for long. Casey Mittlestatdt let one rip from the circle, and Husso coughed up a rebound. Henri Jokiharju cleaned up the rebound, beating Husso to tie things back up at two. But things got interesting after that. Larkin abandoned the play and turned up ice to get involved in a scrum caused by a dirty and late hit from Jeff Skinner on Lucas Raymond.
There was a scuffle at center ice, with Jake Walman getting involved in the anarchy. The result was a four-minute powerplay for the Sabres, which allowed Dylan Cozens to find the back of the net for a powerplay goal. He beat Husso and gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead. They carried the 3-2 lead into the first intermission.
2nd Period
The Red Wings and Sabres had quite an eventful first period. Things got busy once again early in the second period. After a good save from Levi in the Sabres zone, a clearing attempt from Owen Power made its way up the boards to Kyle Okposo.
Okposo made the zone entry and created some space and a gap for Zemgus Girgensons to slip through. He fed one through towards the net, and Girgensons got a stick on it to re-direct it into the back of the net to make it a 4-2 game.
The Red Wings got a late power play in the second period and made the most of it. This time it was another beautiful feed from the point. Lucas Raymond made a great feed to Dylan Larkin, who was set up around the goal line to Levi’s left; he made a blind feed to the net front to none other than Alex Chiasson. He was able to rip it home into the back of the net for the powerplay tally to make it a 4-3 game.
It took just 48 seconds for the Red Wings to tie the game up at four a piece. Simon Edvinsson grabbed his second NHL goal, letting one go from the point. The puck looked like it hit a Buffalo Sabres skate, but it squeaked through and ended up in the back of the net.
The Red Wings collected a two-goal rally, tied things up at four a side, and kept the pressure on as the second period came to a close.
3rd Period
The Sabres wasted no time grabbing the lead in the third period. It was Sabres forward Jordan Greenway who let one rip from just above the face-off dot. He beat Husso, though it looked like he was screened. Nonetheless, it made it 5-4 in favor of the Sabres early in the third period.
The Sabres wasted no time extending their lead, either. On a quick break and a good pass from Thompson. Cozens is able to create some space and squeak one between the legs under the pad of Husso. It sneaks across the goal line and gives the Sabres a two-goal lead.
Jonatan Berggren made it interesting. He was able to catch a converted shot from Matt Luff, who drew Levi way out of the Sabres crease before feeding it to Berggren, who was able to fire it into the back of the net and make it a 6-5 game.
The Red Wings would not quit. With the goalie pulled and Red Wings getting ready for an offensive zone draw. David Perron was able to let one rip and tie things up at six. Another great setup from the kids as Lucas Raymond crashed the draw, fed one to Moritz Seider, and then Perron sent ‘er home.
Another great setup from Raymond for his third assist of the day. He has been all over the ice and consistently finding ways to get involved, resulting in the Red Wings being able to hang in this one and continue to fight.
Overtime/Shootout
Both teams traded blows in overtime. The Detroit Red Wings had the puck possession battle, doing a good job of maintaining control early on. The Sabres had better scoring chances and took control of things in the second half of the five minutes of 3-on-3.
The Sabres had better scoring chances, but Husso held them off. Jonatan Berggren had a last-second breakaway but was unable to beat Levi for the goal. The shootout was forced. Buffalo ultimately took it home with a backhander from a wrister by Jack Quinn and a backhander from Alex Tuch.
Lucas Raymond scored for the Red Wings with a great goal, but Larkin was unable to cap things off and keep the shutout alive. Red Wings are back in action on Saturday.