Thursday, October 17, 2013

Gustavsson leads Wings to 3-2 win in Boston.

**I'm a little backed up with everything going on in Detroit sports right now plus work obligations but I will be catching up asap!!**

The Red Wings were not happy with their performances against Boston and Phoenix so Mike Babcock switched up his line up against Philadelphia and it paid dividends with a 5-2 victory.  The
Red Wings were hoping that their line changes would help them avenge a loss just 10 days earlier in the same building against the Bruins.  Lets break down the action in each period:

First period:
One line up change was made for this game and it was an unexpected one, as the newly activated Jonas Gustavsson got the start for Jimmy Howard, who is nursing a bruised left hand.  Boston  had the first chance and tested Gustavsson early as Chara hit the post to the right of Gus and the puck bounced harmlessly to the corner and was cleared by Detroit, who came back down the ice as
Abdelkader skated up the near boards and threw a pass over to Franzen on a two on one but Franzen sent the wrist shot wide of the net glove side.  Marchand had a great scoring chance as he was able to walk into the slot from the half boards and send a wrister on net but Gustavsson made the save, and Chara skated in from the blue line but sent the rebound just wide of an open net.  Drew Miller had a good chance at the other end, throwing the puck from the slot between a bunch of legs that Rask had to fight off with his right pad, then Brian Lashoff, playing his second consecutive game replacing Brendon Smith, jumped in from the blue line to keep the puck in the zone and had a blast on net that Rask was able to hold.  Chara had another big rip from the point with a screen set in front but Gustavsson was in the right position to make another save on the big defenseman.  Datsyuk then stole the puck from Bergeron at center ice and turned back into the Boston zone, dipped his shoulder to get around the 6'9 Chara and backhanded a pass across to a streaking Zetterberg, who was patient before taking a sharp angle shot that beat Rask and rattled in off the far post.  Boston responded by ratcheting up the pressure as Siedenburg blasted a shot from the point but Gustavsson flashed his glove and held on.  Boston pressured Detroit behind the net and forced a turnover that came back to the half boards to Boychuk who stepped in and threw the put towards the net and it deflected off of Loui Eriksson's knee and past Gustavsson to tie the game 1-1.  Kindl was called for interference and Boston went to the power play for the first time with 4 minutes left in the period but they created no significant chances and the period closed with the score still tied 1-1. 

Second Period:
Jonathan Eriksson got the first chance of the period but his slap shot from the right point sailed over the net.  David Krejci tipped a shot into Gustavsson on the other end but the Red Wings goalie was able to cover up.  Dekeyser had a nice shot through a Bertuzzi screen but Rask was in position and was able to make the save.  Iginla took a cross ice pass from the half boards into the slot and was wide open for a one timed snap shop but Gustavsson came across the crease and made a huge save.  Daniel Paille streaked up the near boards and blasted a shot at from the top of the circle but again Gustavsson was in the right position to make the save.  Tory Krug had an opportunity to give Boston a lead as he came in from the point after a scramble in front of the Detroit net and collected the puck but his shot was denied the open net by Alfredsson saving Gustavsson, who was sprawled on the ice.  Back down the other end Franzen entered the zone and pulled up waiting for help, he found Weiss behind two Bruins defenseman and Stephen Weiss was able to chip the puck over the far shoulder of Rask into the top corner for a 2-1 Red Wings lead.  Just two minutes later, Alfredsson controlled
the puck behind the Boston goal and centered to a streaking Dan Cleary, who snapped the puck passed Rask to push Detroit's lead to 3-1.  The Bruins went back to the power play after Tory Krug's
shot from the point was tipped over the net and into the corner, Brian Lashoff was called for cross checking.  The Bruins power play was set up in the Detroit zone and they moved the puck well but it did not lead to many open chances or shots on goal as the Detroit penalty killers closed down shooters and blocked shots all game long.  After the penalty kill Thornton skated up the right wing and blasted a shot on Gustavsson that he kicked aside with his right pad.  A turnover off of a linesman by Franzen at center ice led to a Krug chance and a scrum in front of Gustavsson that ended with matching roughing minors for Dekeyser and Krejci.  It was 4 on 4 for the last 30 seconds of the period but nothing of note transpired, the period ended 3-1 Detroit.
     
Third Period:
Bergeron Started the period with a good chance from the top of the circles but Gustavsson made the save.  Jordin Tootoo made his presence felt as he flew around the ice in his limited action but he
had a good shot on Rask and Datsyuk followed up with a spinning backhand that Rask had to stop with his right pad.  Kronwall was called for a penalty 5 minutes into the period and Boston went to their 3rd power play of the game.  Six seconds into the penalty, Dan Cleary was called for a tripping penalty as he took out the skate of Matt Barkowski giving the Bruins a near full 2 minutes of 5 on 3.  The Bruins peppered the net with heavy shots as Chrara had four blasts from the point that were either stopped by Gustavsson, blocked in front or shot wide of the net.  Iginla also had two chances blocked in front, and one knocked away by Gustavsson.  The Wings were able to escape unscathed from the danger and killed off both penalties.  Shortly after, Bertuzzi intercepted a pass in the slot and went right in on Rask but he was stopped and pushed over top the Boston goalie and his face smashed into the far goal post, then the ice.  He left to receive 9 stitches on a cut over his right eye.  The Bruins, trailing by two had zero shots on goal for nearly 10 minutes after the 5 on 3 kill, until the Wings were called for their 5th penalty of the game when Alfredsson was whistled for boarding.   Boston could not create any chances again on the 5 on 4 advantage as Glendening and Miller had big clears for the Wings.  With 1:30 left in the game, a bouncing puck found its way to Milan Lucic in the slot and he was able to back hand it past Gustavsson's left shoulder into the top corner to cut the Wings lead to 3-2.  The Red Wings would hold on under the Boston pressure the last 90 seconds and escape with a 3-2 win in Boston.

Game notes:
  • Shots: Detroit 27, Boston 30.
  • Faceoffs won: Detroit 24, Boston 22.
  • Power plays: Boston 0-5, Detroit 0-0.  Seriously, no penalties for Boston?
  • Abdelkader's streak is broken after just 5 games, recording only 2 hits.
  • Gustavsson was outstanding in net in his first start of the year.  This will be a big confidence booster coming off an injury in the preseason. 
  • Detroit blocked 22 shots, they were much better as a team defensively then the last time they played in Boston.  
   
Up next:  The Wings return home Tuesday night to host the fellow newcomer to the eastern conference, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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