FINAL SCORE (Hi Dad!)
3-2 Red Wings in overtime
THE RUNDOWN
Man… Wings/Hawks games are fun. Great energy, lots of action, and a beautiful overtime victory after three unanswered (and unanswerable) goals by the good guys. A solid game from Ty Conklin, who stopped 29 shots — including a penalty shot — and earned his second victory of the season, and first in 92 days.
BULLETS OF IMPORTANCE
- I missed the first four minutes, but by the time I got to whateverthehell channel the NHL is on now, it was 2-0 Blackhawks. Ty Conklin was starting, so I just assume that they started the game with the score that way. All jokes aside, the other 56 minutes looked fantastic for the backup netminder.
- The Wings got a bit lucky with Seabrook’s penalty that led to Filppula’s first period goal. There’s no doubt that Homer got a stick on Seabrook — probably not enough to knock a grown ass man down like he got shot in the chest — but Seabrook retaliated as rejects are wont to do. It was 5-on-3 for a few seconds, and the Wings scored as the first period ended. They’d be down 2-1 heading into the intermission.
- The score would remain 2-1 into the third period, where some shenanigans took place. There was a scramble in the Red Wings crease — the initial shot hit the post and made it’s way behind a sprawling Ty Conklin. Tomas Holmstrom dove over him, put his hand on the puck and scooped it out to safety. The whistle was blown, the call on the ice was no goal — but a penalty shot. They reviewed it anyway to see if maybe it went in, and fifteen minutes later the call on the ice stood. Rookie Jimmy Hayes was selected to take the shot, which Ty Conklin stopped — so I suppose it was the best possible outcome to the play (since a second after the whistle blew, the puck found its way into the back of the net somehow… which, I guess, means that Holmstrom didn’t cover the puck in the crease now, did he?). It was the second penalty shot against the Red Wings in as many games, and third in five.
- Scramble in front of the Blackhawks net with less than five minutes to play results in a tying goal off of the stick of Dan Cleary who kind of “pool cued” it under the legs of Crawford. Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg made it happen, and a dirty goal results. Like I always tell the kids I’m coaching, they count for two if they’re pretty. Just put it past the line. UPDATED: Henrik Zetterberg has been given credit for the second Red Wings goal. I suppose it doesn’t matter, but that’s the official word as of this post. UPDATE, THE SECOND! The goal was changed back to Dan Cleary. Stick tap to @JeffHancock41 for the head’s up.
- Beautiful patience by the Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk to win it in overtime. The puck found it’s way out of a crowd and Datsyuk scooped it up, calmed it down, and flung one from behind the goal line, off of Nick Leddy. Booyah.
BULLETS OF LESS IMPORTANCE
- Kudos to Mike Commodore who blocked a shot and was hobbled but got up anyway and got back into the play. That takes nuggets. Later, someone from the Hawks was stepping a bit out of line and Commie went over to sheriff the situation. That’s all you can ask for from a third pairing defenseman. I’m particularly hard on him, but credit where credit’s due.
DISCH APPROVED “HORSECOP” OF THE GAME
Ty Conklin kept the Wings in this one much more than anyone thought he would. Hell of a game, and well deserved Horsecop for him.
THE RIGGY “SHITBOX” OF THE GAME
Niklas Kronwall was -1, took a booty penalty, and had a turnover that led directly to a Chicago goal. Winner!
WHAT’S NEXT / LOSS CANDY
Tuesday night against the Islanders, I’ll have your pre-game. You may be riding the crimson wave and have to haul ass to the ladies.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images