Zadorov Mocks Walman’s ‘Griddy’ in Vancouver Win

VANCOUVER — For the second time in less than a week, the Detroit Red Wings trailed Vancouver 3-1 on Thursday.

But, unlike Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win, a comeback wasn’t in the cards as the Canucks took a 4-1 win at Rogers Centre. That opened the door for Vancouver defenseman Nikita Zadorov to mock the Jake Walman ‘Griddy’ dance after scoring a goal. Walman did the Griddy after scoring on a penalty shot in the Detroit win.

Zadorov mocking Walman with a little griddy action.

See? This is how you settle these things. Not with blatant cross checks to the face. With accidental high sticks and revenge dances.

Morgan Reilly has a lot to learn. pic.twitter.com/wKONYJeNha

— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) February 16, 2024

Some of the Vancouver players didn’t appreciate the Walman ‘Griddy’ when they lost.

Two early goals gave the NHL-leading Canucks the lead in the first period, and they never looked back.

“Going down 2-0, I don’t care what team you’re playing against. It’s going to be a battle to come back,” Christian Fischer said. “That’s just not the way you want to start on the road.”

Wings 0-2 on Four-Game Road Trip

It was the second loss in a row during a four-game Western road swing for the Wings, who play at Calgary on Saturday.

The loss left the Red Wings in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of New Jersey and four points behind seventh-place Toronto.

J.T. Compher scored in the second period, his 100th career goal. It was the 66th by a Red Wings player who wasn’t on the team last year, the most in the NHL.

The Canucks went into the game downplaying news that Phil Kessel had begun skating with their Abbotsford (AHL) farm team, but ended the night showing the form which has lifted them to the best record in the NHL.

J.T Miller and Elias Lindholm scored less than two minutes apart in the first period. Nikita Zadorov made it 3-0 in the second before Compher’s goal. Lindholm ended the scoring with his second goal of the game in the third period.

Red Wings Shut Out on Power Play

The Wings outshot the Canucks 27-21, but Thatcher Demko shone in goal. He’s been the epitome of red-hot in net recently, improving to 18-2-1 in his last 21 decisions.

“I think for holding a team like that to 21 shots, we’re gonna look back and probably gave up maybe six chances the entire night,” coach Derek Lalonde said.

The Red Wings were 0-for-5 on the poser play.

“We didn’t finish on the power play,” Lalonde said. “A lot of that has probably to do with Demko as a lot of a five on five game too, so probably need to do a little bit more maybe generate a little bit more around the network a little bit harder offense when the goalie’s on like that.”

Vancouver became the first team to record 80 points this season with the win.