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The Breakdown: Red Wings Lose “Painful” Game in Overtime To Chicago

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Pius Suter, Detroit Red Wings

CHICAGO – A pair of two-goal leads evaporated twice, and then a costly turnover in overtime sent the Detroit Red Wings to their second consecutive overtime loss. It’s the hallmark of a young team learning, but it doesn’t ease things.



“Painful,” head coach Derek Lalonde said following Detroit’s 4-3 overtime loss. “We got exactly what we deserved tonight. I’m interested to see how this team will respond.”

Detroit held 2-0 and 3-1 leads but could not put the pesky Chicago Blackhawks away for good. Lucas Raymond lost control of the puck as he skated through the neutral zone, giving Chicago its chance to go the other way.

They did–and Max Domi converted. It’s a tough lesson for the second year forward and was one that Lalonde will help his young team learn from.

“It’s one of many things we’re going to talk to him about,” Lalonde said. “In this NHL, you’ve got to develop guys on the fly, and that’s what we’re going to do with him. He’ll go back out there, he’ll get plenty of opportunity on Sunday, and he’ll get better from this.”

Kubalik, and Suter Score Against Their Former Team

The Red Wings got a goal from Pius Suter while Dominik Kubalik assisted on the Dylan Larkin goal. The former Chicago Blackhawks got the Red Wings on the board early. Kubalik would score again in the second period. The assist? Former Blackhawk defenseman Olli Määttä.

Former Red Wings Andreas Athanasiou would get the Blackhawks their first goal courtesy of a penalty shot. At the other end of the ice, former Detroit netminder Petr Mrazek surrendered three goals and was pulled after the second period due to injury.

Excuse fans of either team for doing a double take.

Kubalik and Suter were Chicago castoffs, allowed to explore the market instead of being tendered. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman didn’t waste time signing either, Suter in 2021 and Kubalik this past summer. Kubalik at $2.5M AAV for the next two seasons, has been a bargain so far, notching a point in every game this season and currently has five in four games. Suter notched his first goal of the season.

In spite of his good performance, Kubalik talked more about how the Red Wings could use the game as a lesson for closing out future contests.

“We have to learn how to manage those kind of games,” Kubalik said. “We’re going to do it, bur right now, it’s all about puck decisions, make simple plays. If nothing’s there, just get it in, get it out. That’s the biggest point right now.”

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Red Wings Facts and Observations

  1. Larkin took a cross check from Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy in the first period, which then saw the Red Wings captain fall over Lucas Raymond, who was on the ice. Larkin stayed down for a few seconds, labored a bit, and then slowly skated off the ice. He went down the tunnel and didn’t play the rest of the first period. He returned for the second.
  2. The aggressive penalty kill had a great two-on-one chance in the middle of the second period holding a 3-1 lead. It wasn’t converted into a goal but it was another sign of Detroit’s willingness to push play when shorthanded.
  3. It was a chippy game and forward Michael Rasmussen found himself in the midst of most of the battles. Rasmussen engaged in fisticuffs during the first period and then had plenty to say during another little skirmish during the second period. Midway through the second, Athanasiou skated over to Larkin and exchanged words as they were separated by the referees.
  4. Faceoffs continued to be an issue for the Red Wings. Chicago held the advantage in draws with a 62% conversion rate, something that will continue to hurt Detroit in close games.
  5. Filip Zadina had a golden opportunity to score and put Detroit up for good, but was stuffed by Chicago netminder Alex Stalock. Chances keep coming for Zadina. Will they eventually find the net?