Red Wings Fly Over Blackhawks

Familiar Faces

The Red Wings’ and Blackhawks’ lineups tonight contained a few familiar faces in new(ish) uniforms tonight. Former Blackhawks Alex Debrincat and Patrick Kane are in their second seasons suiting up in the winged wheel. Meanwhile, former Red Wings Tyler Bertuzzi and longtime veteran goalie Petr Mrazek are playing in their first season together for the Chicago Blackhawks. All of them have played for a team or two in the stops between, but tonight they were all reunited on the ice in completely opposite uniforms from their first meeting on January 14th, 2018. That game netted Bertuzzi his first professional goal. Tonight he settled for an assist as his old team beat him and the Blackhawks 4-1.

Larkin and Debrincat continue to display offensive chemistry

Due to injuries and sickness, the Red Wings top lines have been looking different game to game. One pairing that hopefully continues to be a staple however, is Larkin and Debrincat. The two had a goal each with the primary assist coming from the other tonight in the 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks. Debrincat struck first off a deflection from Larkin at the end of the first period. The Blackhawks tied it up in the second, but Larkin pulled the Red Wings ahead again a couple of minutes afterwards after Debrincat forced a turnover off Bertuzzi. Joe Veleno got the Red Wings up 3-1 after that, and Andrew Copp scored when the Blackhawks pulled Mrazek off ice late in the third. Hopefully some of Detroit’s other lines will begin to see the same goal scoring and consistency.

Defense Still Relying on Goaltending

Cam Talbot has certainly been getting his workout in in net. The Red Wings have been outshot this season for nine straight games this season. Detroit did manage to kill a Chicago power play in the late second period with no shots on goal by the Blackhawks, but their general defense still leaves much to be desired. The Blackhawks goal earlier in the period came about after a bad Red Wings read that left Bertuzzi with the puck and no one nearby to challenge as he directed a pass to Nic Foligno to tie the score up. In the Red Wings’ first power play of the night they spent as much time in their own zone as they did in the Blackhawks’.

Quick Notes-

-Dylan Larkin continues his three game goal streak with his goal in the second period.

-Mo Seider and Simon Edvinsson are playing some of the hardest minutes on defense in the NHL. Outside of them, it’s a lot of question marks on the blue line.

-Veleno’s goal in the second period was his first of the season.

–Vladimir Tarasenko returned from his bout of illness but had a relatively quiet night.