Offensive outburst

WOW!!! That’s what I have been waiting for!

With the start Vancouver had tonight I wasn’t too confident that the Wings would grab that elusive first road win of the season, but they responded to the line shake ups by Mike Babcock.

The biggest thing was tonight was the puck movement. Even a solid goalie like Roberto Luango, the line of Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Homer looked real comfortable, making plays and accounting for four of the Wings five goals. After struggling in the third period for most of the season, they put together probably the most successful final frame in the NHL so far with four scores. Not only did they get the power play going in the third, but they finally got a timely goal. A sign that maybe the hockey gods are starting to move the puck luck into their favor.

After suffering through one of the wors scoring droughts of his career, No. 13 had a big night, after assistsing on the first Wings’ goal by Holmstrom, Datsyuk tied the game in the third with a vintage Pavel move to make room and then, while falling down, put the puck through the five hole to tie the game again.

Getting one felt so good that Pavel decided another might be just as nice. Unlike most things in life, the law of diminishing returns does not apply when it comes to goals, and Datsyuk cashed in with his second goal of the game, this time on the power play.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that once the Wings got the first road win out of the way, I thought they might break throug the seal and the hard work might pay off. I am hoping that I am right. The puck certainly went the Red Wings way in the final period tonight. It was very nice to see, especially becuse of the way the game started, with Osgood allowing two soft goals in the first eight minutes, forcing Babcock to make the decision to pull him and bring in Jimmy Howard, who was brilliant until the third, but did enough to allow Detroit to get a huge win.

Howard has given the Wings a reliable back up early in the season, allowing Babcock to play him to either give Ozzy a rest, or like to night, pop him in goal in case No. 30 has an off night. His pressance, or Ozzy’s being pulled, seemed to spark the wings, who finally gave their goalie  some help on offense. I would stil like to see the defense step up and be a little sharper, but a wins a win no matter how ugly.

Also glad to see the game winner coming from the stick of Jason Williams who has always been one of my favorite role players in the NHL, and I am so glad to see him with a winged wheel on his chest again.

Before I go, just wanted to update you one Cunuck forward Ryan Johnson, brother of former Red Wings Greg Johnson, who toook that head and shoulder first slide into the boards in the second period. From what I saw on the ticker on ESPN, it said he is alert and moving normally so it looks like he will be OK. I wish a speedy recovery.

Wingnut 5013