Ville Husso looked to get back on track after last week. With Detroit headed to Columbus to play the last place Blue Jackets, he was able to do just that. Husso stopped 32 of 34 shots he faced, as the Wings won 4-2.
Dominik Kubalik and Lucas Raymond each had a power play goal and Austin Craznik contributed the other two goals for the Wings.
The Blue Jackets tried to make a mini-rally late in the second when they got goals from Marcus Bjorne and Kent Johnson put the puck in the net. However, 3-2 at that point in the third was the closest Columbus would get.
Red Wings – 4
Blue Jackets – 2
Three Stars:
1. Dominik Kubalik (1G)
2. Lucas Raymond (1G)
3. Ville Husso (32 Saves)
Tuesday, the Red Wing headed down to Tampa to face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Lighting. Tampa is also just ahead of Detroit in the standings this season.
The Wings were able to get the better of the defending champions, 4-2.
The first period was scoreless and the second only saw Michael Rasmussen find the back of the net very early in the second. However, this game (or all of its action) took place in the third period the two teams combined for five goals in the period.
Ville Husso made 28 of his 44 saves in the third period alone! Jonatan Berggren got the scoring started for Detroit in the third. Then scoring got quiet but the offensive attacks at both ends just kept coming. Adam Erne was the meat in between two Tampa goals. And David Perron put in an empty netter when the Lightening pulled their goaltender trailing by one.
This was a big win for the Wings who moved into a tie for third in the Atlantic Division. Putting them in the playoff picture for right now.
Red Wings – 4
Lightening – 2
Three Stars:
1. Ville Husso (44 Saves)
2. Jonatan Berggren (1G)
3. Andrew Copp (2A)
Thursday the Wings traveled further south to take on the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are just a few points behind Detroit in the standings and they came ready to play. The problem is that the Wings countered by starting Alex Nedeljkovic in net.
The result, in the end, was on par with how most games go when Alex starts…a lopsided loss, 5-1.
The first period saw its only goal late in the period when Florida’s Chris Tierney scored making it 1-0. Then in the second, Florida completely broke the game open with four more goals, while Detroit could only manage to sneak one puck past the Florida goaltender, although it was of the power play variety by Jonatan Berggren.
Detroit had nothing for Florida on this night and it was another embarrassing loss for Alex.
Red Wings – 1
Panthers – 5
Three Stars:
1. Jonatan Berggren (1G)
2. Andrew Copp (1A)
3. Lucas Raymond (1A)
Detroit (13-8-5/31 points) continue to work and win more than they lose. However, games like the Panthers contest are games that must be won because of the closeness of the standings. Putting your backup goaltender in for a game to give Husso a rest does not make much sense. Understandably, Ville cannot play every game, however, a rivalry game in the standings is questionable.
David Masters