The Detroit Red Wings Finally Record Win Number One

The Detroit Red Wings finally were able to notch their first win of the season last night in Florida.  The Wings skated to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers.

It looked all but sealed until Mike Hoffman shot a fluttering shot from the half wall that somehow found its way through Jimmy Howard to tie the game at 3 late in the third period.  At that point, it felt like the Detroit Red Wings would go on to lose again.

It is a difficult pill to swallow a minute or two away from finally recording the first victory of the season and having a weak goal allowed which ties the game.  If you’ve never been in a  similar circumstance, it feels like an anvil has fallen from the sky right onto your chest.

Jimmy Howard who was brilliant in Tampa Bay two night prior seemed shaky all evening long in Florida.  Howard seemed to be fighting the puck although only allowing 3 goals.  He did stop a breakaway in overtime that led to the breakaway the other way for Gustav Nyquist of the Detroit Red Wings.  Gus did not miss, notching the first goal of the season for him.

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The Dan Bylsma driven power play went 2 for 3 for the Detroit Red Wings.  They scored back to back power play goals 18 seconds apart.  The Wings had a two-man advantage when Dennis Cholowski closed in from the point and rifled a shot past Michael Hutchinson.  Eighteen seconds later Thomas Vanek cranked up his wheels in his own end and cruised into the offensive zone blistering a shot past Hutch.

Dylan Larkin would score within the next two minutes to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 lead.  Larkin sent a pass to Darren Helm who was straddling the offensive blueline.  Larkin was entering the zone with speed so Helmer just one touch tapped the hard pass back to the streaking Larkin.  Larkin then would find Gus Nyquist laying in the weeds on the right wing half boards.  Nyquist with a beautiful give and go back to Larkin, still streaking towards the far side of the goal.  Larkin found the gaping net and delivered the goal.  It was a thing of beauty, a wonderful tick-tack-toe type of goal.

It was an awful three or four minutes for the Florida Panthers in the second period.  The events would lead Panthers head coach Bob Boughner to call a time-out to try and settle his group down.

The overtime was quite entertaining, just wide open hockey with all kinds of speed and scoring chances.  Everyone likes OT except the goaltenders who are often left on an island alone, looking for their own “Wilson” to comfort them.

After the teams exchanged many chances, Gus Nyquist delivered the bread for the Detroit Red Wings scoring his first goal of the season.  The Detroit Red Wings players poured over the boards to greet their four teammates on the ice.  You could see the smiles, and it became apparent they were relieved to get a win after seven straight winless games to start the season.

Impact Stats;

• Dennis Cholowski- 1G, 1A, 2Points- 5 Shots, 20:23TOI
• Dylan Larkin – 1G, 1A, 2 Points, 3 Shots, 24:23TOI
• Gus Nyquist – 1G, 1A, 2 Points, 3 Shots, 17:39 TOI
• Frans Nielsen – 2 A, 19:28 TOI, 10 FO Won
• Jimmy Howard – 34 Saves, 3 GA .919 Save %