Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Daily: Penguins Rout Of Red Wings Brings Kapanen Chirping Pickard Out Of Mothballs

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2022

Bob Duff

An Instagram post from Pittsburgh's Kasperi Kapanen chirping Red Wings goalie Calvin Pickard resurfaced folllowing Sunday's 11-2 Pens win.

As the Pittsburgh Penguins were smacking 11 goals past Detroit Red Wings netminders Alex Nedeljkovic and Calvin Pickard on Sunday, an old Instagram post from Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen was resurfacing across social media.

Atop the post, there’s a photo of former Toronto Maple Leafs farmhand Jeremy Bracco standing in front of a net filled with pucks. Below, Kapanen comments “Looks like @CalvinPickard was in net.”

On Jeremy Bracco’s latest Instagram post, Kasperi Kapanen chirps former teammate Calvin Pickard into oblivion. pic.twitter.com/4Fv5gGvSwI

— Michael (@TheLeafsIMO) January 22, 2019

Considering Sunday’s outcome, there was some reaction was that this was a slam of Pickard’s performance during the game. Closer scrutiny, though, revealed that the post was from Jan. 22, 2019.

Further research ended up showing that Bracco, Kapanen and Pickard were all teammates with the 2017-18 AHL Toronto Marlies. The post was nothing more than a little boys will be boys playful fun between old friends.

Sometimes, timing isn’t everything.

Remember Mr. Hockey’s Century Season

Long before Tom Brady was showing Father Time who was boss, there was Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey achieved many milestones long after ordinary humans had long since hung up their skates.

Fun Fact: Gordie Howe had just 1 (NHL) season where he scored over 100 points, and it didn’t happen until 23 years after his 1946 NHL debut. 👀#MrHockey pic.twitter.com/uxDLu6Y0ql

— Old Hockey Cards (@oldhockeycards) August 24, 2021

Wednesday was the anniversary of one of Howe’s more impressive feats. Taking the ice for a March 30, 1969 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Howe sat with 99 points on the season. He scored Detroit’s first two goals of the game on Blackhawks netminder Denis DeJordy. The next day, Howe was celebrating his 41st birthday.

In doing so, Howe became the first Red Wings player to post a 100-point season. He remains the only NHLer to assemble a 100-point campaign beyond their 40th birthday.

Griffins Making Roster Moves

Detroit’s AHL farm club the Grand Rapids Griffins were adding three players to the roster on Wednesday. Forward Hayden Verbeek was recalled from the ECHL Toledo Walleye.

The Griffins also were signing two college free agents – forwards Trenton Bliss (Michigan Tech) and Drew Worrad (Western Michigan) – to standard player contracts for the remainder of this season and the 2022-23 campaign.

Hot Wings

Detroit forward Tyler Bertuzzi finishes the month of March posting 3-7-10 totals in 11 games.

Cold Wings

Adam Erne’s goal Wednesday was the first by the Detroit forward in 24 games.

In Case You Missed It

Longtime Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka was given his termination papers by the team

Groomer of Detroit prospects, Frolunda coach Roger Ronnberg is fighting to keep his job.

Around The NHL

Pittsburgh: The newest member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, former Plymouth Whaler Rickard Rakell, is skating on a line with his idol Evgeni Malkin

Boston: Bruce Cassidy, coach of the Boston Bruins, is vowing that lineup changes are on the way following their disappointing performance in a 6-4 loss to Toronto.

Philadelphia: Philadelphia Hockey Now’s Sam Carchidi believes it’s time for the Philadelphia Flyers to blow it all up and start the rebuild.

Florida: Is it wrong that every time I see the name of Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg I think of the movie Office Space?

Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon was skating and shooting pucks with authority, one day after the Colorado Avalanche star was injured in a fight with Minnesota’s Matt Dumba. But wait . . . I thought nobody ever gets injured in a fight?