First period:
Carolina got the first offensive chance right off the opening faceoff as the Red Wings were changing the defense pairing in order to match up, the Hurricanes Nathan Gerbe brought the puck across the blue line and ripped a shot at Howard, who knocked the puck to the corner. The Wings first chance came from Kronwall as the puck bounced out from behind the net and the defenseman stepped in at the top of the circle to one time a slap shot that bounced off Cam Ward. The action was back and forth early as Carolina took the puck back down the ice and Nash almost snuck a wrap around past Howard, but the puck hit the outside of the post and stayed out of the net. Carolina started the game with a lot of energy and they play an aggressive fore-checking style, but Skinner was too aggressive drawing a penalty trying to take the puck away in the Detroit zone. The Red Wings power play didn't get set up for any great scoring chances because of Carolinas aggressiveness. Andersson gave the puck away in his own zone at the end of the power play and the puck bounced to a wide open Alexander Semin but before he could shoot he was knocked off the puck. Zetterberg had the wings best chance of the period as he wove his way through the Hurricane defense and around Cam Ward but his shot hit the short side post from a tough angle. back the other way, Andersson made up for his previous giveaway bye hustling back to stop an odd man rush, from there the Wings had a plethora of chances the last half of the period but just couldn't find the back of the net as Cam Ward stopped Zetterberg again after a Carolina giveaway, then a left pad save bye Ward off the faceoff. Alfredsson had a wrist shot into wards glove, Datsyuk an attempt knocked away by the blocker. While the Wings were dominating play, Carolina was able to light the lamp first, as Skinner threw the puck at the net from the blue line, just out of the reach of three Red Wings, including Howard and Dvorak chipped the puck up and over Howards glove into the back of the net. The Wings had more chances, but datsyuk fanned on a shot attempt after a great set up from Brendan Smith moving in with skill from the blue line and Quincy sent a shot just wide after a great backhand pass from Franzen under the goal line back to the top of the circle. The last four minutes of the period were up and down but no real cahnces materialized. 1-0 Hurricanres.
Second Period:
Detroit had the first chance of the period as Datsyuk dropped the puck crossing the blue line to a wide open Abdelkader but Ward was up to the task. Carolina came out of the intermission and started the second period with a lot of energy, the same way they started the first period and it led to some early chances, including their first real susstained pressure in the Detroit zone of the game. Carolina had a 3 on 2 but the shot bounced off legs in front of Howard and the puck wound up in the corner. Carolina had back to back wide open chances at the top of the circle and sent one wide and one was Jimmy Howards best save of the game up to that point as he came out, cut down the angle, and blocked the puck out of harms way, then shut the door on Dwyers wrap around attempt. Carolina continued to pressure as a big shot from the point bounced off Howards left pad and sat in the crease for the taking but Franzen was there to clear it to the corner. Cory Emmerton took the puck and went down the right side and created a nice chance getting around his defender but Ward was there to deny him again. Abdelkader then drew a penalty to give the Wings their second power play opportunity. A Carolina penalty killer broke his stick and the Wings took advantage, zipping the puck around and setting up a great chance for Alfredsson at the left face off dot but Cam Ward was there again and Carolina killed off the penalty. Ericsson was penalized for boarding but the Wings penalty kill unit didn't allow any real chances. Bertuzzi and Abdelkader had open shots but there was no traffic in front and Ward was easily able to get in front of the puck. Brendan Smith was whistled for interference when he was beaten in a one on one situation and had to hold up his man from getting to the front of the net. Datsyuk had a semi break away as Semin was closing in on him hard and datsuyk had to shoot from a little further out then he might have wanted and again Ward made the stop. Back in Detroit's zone, a shot from the point bounced off two legs, to a wide open Nathan Gerbe and he swept the puck through Jimmy Howards legs for a 2-0 Carolina lead to end the second period.
Third Period:
The wings opened the third with Datsyuk giving the puck away right in front of Howard but Stall sent the puck wide. The wings came right back up the ice and Zetterberg's pass that was intended for Datsyuk at the front of the net was deflected and went to a wide open Abdelkader cross ice and he fired the puck through Ward to close the gap to 2-1. On his next shift, Zetterberg controlled the puck up and down the Carolina boards, and drew a holding penalty but the Wings were unable to get set up and had no real threating chances on the man advantage. Ericsson blasted a shot after the power play had ended and Abdelkader was screening and Ward stopped both the initial shot and rebound attempt. Nathan Gerbe almost scored his second of the game as Stall stole the puck in the Wings zone and threw the puck at the net and Gerbe's rebound attempt was kicked aside by Howards left pad at the last second. Alexander Semin had back to back chances and hit both posts from nearly the same place on the ice, just inside the top of the right circle. Carolina went to the power play as Alfredsson was called for hooking. The Hurricanes had one big one-time shot from the point but Howard held on to the puck in his midsection. Zetterberg, then, had a great wrap around attempt but Cam Ward was there once again. Howard was almost burned behind the net again tonight as he played the puck and didn't get back fast enough after a Detroit turnover and had to make a shaky stop. Andersson took a shot from between the top of the circles, staking one way and shooting back the other way and Ward made a nice stop off his shoulder, the puck bounced free down at his feet but he was able to cover up. Alfredsson had a chance on the back hand after catching the puck out of mid air, dropping it but Cam Ward was up to the task. The Wings were in desperation mode and sent Howard to the bench with 90 seconds left. After a mad scramble in front of the crease, the Wings took five whacks at the puck and finally it bounced to Zetterberg, who spun and shot the puck through a crowd of sticks and bodies over Cam Wards shoulder to tie the game at 2-2 with 16.4 seconds left in regulation. On to overtime we go!
OT:
Daniel Alfredsson had the best chance in the opening half of the 5 minute overtime period as he let go a quick shot from the right faceoff dot, but it was also Wards best stop of the night. Just a minute later, Carolina decided to change and Kronwall took advantage as he skated the puck into the Hurricanes zone, threw it to the front of the net towards a driving Franzen and nobody picked up Stephen Wiess who banged home the loose rebound to score his fist goal as a Red Wing to win the game for Detroit 3-2.
Game notes:
- Shots: Detroit 38, Carolina 25.
- Faceoffs won: Detroit 23, Carolina 24.
- Zetterberg had 10 shots on goal tonight, he was clearly the wings best player tonight, dominating the puck in the Carolina zone, single handedly creating chances.
- Weiss and Kronwall were both +3 tonight.
- Abdelkader had 7 hits, leading the team for the second consecutive game. We may have to do an Abdelkader hits streak watch to see how many consecutive games he leads the wing in hits.
- Dekeyser had 3 giveaways, no other red wing had more then 1.
- Wings are 0 for 6 to start the season on the power play.
Up next:
Detroit is in Boston for an original 6 matchup with the Bruins Saturday night.
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