The Detroit Red Wings started the night sizzling. The Wings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period scoring in all facets of the game. They got goals on the power-play, shorthanded, and at even strength.
The Blue Jackets have had the Wings number of late winning the last 7 straight contests. It was a different story tonight in Ohio. It would end as a 5-3 final for the good guys. The Detroit Red Wings got off to a great start early on as the CBJ took a penalty in the first minute of the game.
Michael Rasmussen was able to bury a beautiful goal on the power-play. It was a couple of simple passing plays that led to Thomas Vanek behind the net receiving a pass from Gustav Nyquist. Vanek one-touched the pass to the front of the goal where young Rasmussen was waiting. He one-timed the pass past goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and into the Blue Jackets net.
Rasmussen was actually double shifted a couple of times by head coach Jeff Blashill. I expected to see a heavy dose of Jacob de La Rose and Luke Glendening but, at times Rasmussen was skating with Frk and Vanek and other times with Nyquist and Vanek.
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The Wings dressed 11 forwards and Witkowski who was used primarily as a seventh defenseman, but played up front for a few shifts when he needed him to do so. Thomas Vanek left early in the first period and was unable to return. We will monitor his situation throughout the next few days. Jeff Blashill mentioned after the game Vanek will be out for the next few games with a lower-body injury but wouldn’t elaborate on a timetable for his return just yet.
The Detroit Red Wings are already without AA and Nielsen. After the Wings started the season banged up on D, they have now become similar up front.
Dylan Larkin scored a beauty short-handed. He created his own break by blocking a pass and pitchforking the puck out into the neutral zone as he turned on his jets. He carried the mail with his head down pulling away from the Jackets’ defender Seth Jones. Larkin scored deking to the backhand beating Korpisalo through the five-hole.
Late in the first period the big power forward Anthony Mantha had a beautiful snipe while streaking in off of the right wing side. Mantha had a very nice night in Columbus last night. He had his feet moving; he was engaged, it looked like he had a red bull or something to boost up the energy before the game. Mantha was looking to create often, and it was nice to see Jeff Blashill continue to play 39 the proper amount of ice-time. It was sort of by default because of all the injuries, but it was still nice to see.
Jimmy Howard stood tall once again for the Detroit Red Wings. The second period mostly consisted of the CBJ carrying the majority of the play. He made a terrific right pad save on the bread boy, Artemi Panarin who had a clear breakaway but was denied by Jimmy.
Howard continues to play better than I admittedly expected. The Wings are not winning many games, but they are definitely not losing the games they are on Howard’s account. He continues to be peppered in every game and has been holding his ground.
Mike Green and Dennis Cholowski have been rock solid as the first pairing for the Wings until tonight. Cholowski mentioned he admired Green as a prolific scoring defenseman growing up. Now the kid is paired with him as the Wings top pairing, but they struggled to account for the proper defensive zone coverage on two of the Jackets goals.
It was just “one of those nights” for Green and Cholo in the defensive zone. Cholowski has looked so confident in the early going and even with the backend slowly becoming healthy again Dennis still plays top minutes night after night.
Tyler Bertuzzi nets the winning goal, but the play was made by Dennis Cholowski. He showed tremendous patience holding the puck in at the left point, faked a shot to coast around a Jackets player. He surveyed the ice as he cruised around the Blue Jackets goal before finding Tyler Bertuzzi in front who roofed a backhander up high for the go-ahead marker. It was a “dirty” goal in front but also a thing a beauty from Cholowski who struggled at times in his own zone.
Dylan Larkin would record an empty net goal to add some insurance. Larkin was fantastic all night long and proved to be the best player on the ice for either team all night. Larkin had one of his most significant performances of his career tonight; he flourished with a few extra shifts tonight with all the injuries to the Detroit Red Wings forwards. Larkin finished with a goal and two assists.
It was a nice win for the Detroit Red Wings. They will look to keep things rolling Thursday night returning home when they take on the New Jersey Devils. Back to back wins against the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets gives the young Detroit Red Wings some much-needed confidence.
Impact Stats;
- Dylan Larkin – 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 Points, 7 Shots, 23:04 TOI
- Tyler Bertuzzi – 1 Goal (GWG), 15:29 TOI
- Anthony Mantha – 1 Goal, 3 Shots, 18:19 TOI
- Michael Rasmussen – First career goal, 13:29 TOI
- Jimmy Howard – 34 Saves, 3 Goals Against, .919% Save Percentage