CHICAGO — Head coach Derek Lalonde said the Detroit Red Wings “got exactly what we deserved in the third” after blowing a two-goal lead.
It was a lesson in puck management for the Wings, who left the United Center Friday ruing a 4-3 overtime loss after taking a 3-1 lead into the third period.
“It doesn’t feel good,” Dylan Larkin said. “We let our foot off the gas. They came out to play in the third and we didn’t.”
Larkin missed part of the first period after getting knocked over from behind. He returned to finish the game and said afterwards that he was “OK,” but Lalonde noted Larkin appeared to be bothered by upper-body pain and that he will be re-evaluated Saturday. The Wings next play Sunday at home against the Anaheim Ducks.
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Larkin scored on a power play in the first period. The Wings put themselves in a position to win, but the Blackhawks, playing in their home opener, scored early in the third period, and then tied it up when they scored during a Detroit power play.
“Executing is all part of want and doing it right,” Lalonde said. “We saw parts of that in the third to give us opportunities to get that fourth goal, but giving up a shorthanded goal, you just can’t do that. It’s all part of it. Some unfortunate growing pains.”
It tarnished Dominik Kubalik’s night, as the former Blackhawk had a goal and an assist.
“It hurts a lot, especially against them,” Kubalik said. “We did a pretty good job half the game, then we stopped doing what we are supposed to do. They got energy from that, got a goal on our power play. It’s a big lesson and we have to learn from it.
“We have to battle through and find a way to get it back on Sunday.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. 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.