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Detroit Red Wings: Thriving Power-play leads to Third Straight Win

By Bob Heyrman

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 01: Luke Glendening #41 of the Detroit Red Wings fights Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils next to the net in front of Cory Schneider #35 of the Devils during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on November 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings defeated the Devils 4-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 01: Luke Glendening #41 of the Detroit Red Wings fights Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils next to the net in front of Cory Schneider #35 of the Devils during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on November 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings defeated the Devils 4-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Red Wings power-play was humming tonight against the New Jersey Devils en route to the Wings third straight win.

Special teams pace the Detroit Red Wings to a third straight victory, a 4-3 win over the Devils.  The Wings started the night off rolling along but trailed early 1-0 although carrying the pace of play.  The boat began to take on some water early on, but they were able to plug the hole late.  After two periods of the game, the Wings actually outshot the Devils 22-15.  Yes, the Wings outshot an opponent believe it or not.

They finished the night 2-5 on the power-play and outshot NJ 31-28.  A stat no one will talk about is the Wings winning the faceoff circle.  They won 58% of the draws tonight.  It’s always much more comfortable to play when you start with the puck rather than consistently hunting the puck.  In addition to the successful PP, the Wings scored their other 2 goals while short-handed.  It was an odd night, but we will take it.

Martin Frk opened the scoring for the Wings on the power-play in the “Alex Ovechkin” office.  He drilled home a one-timer from the circle to record his first goal of the season.  During his intermission interview, he mentioned to the folks of Fox Sports Detroit that it was good for him along with the team that he was able to get onto the score sheet.

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He sure seemed like he had a sense of relief to finally record his first goal.  I mean for a guy often scratched and used almost primarily on the power-play and only in the lineup because of a handful of injuries, you can understand his excitement.

Michael Rasmussen buried the garbage in front also on the power-play recording his second goal of the season and second goal in as many games.  Rasmussen made his living out in front of the goal, scoring on the power-play in junior.  The confidence is growing, and the goals are starting to come for the 19-year-old.

We saw something tonight we don’t often see anymore.  A fight.  I mean it wasn’t much of a dance, but Luke Glendening was jostling with at the side of the New Jersey net with defenseman Mirco Mueller, and it led to fisticuffs.  Glendening drilled the defender with a pair of right hands, and it was all but over.  Mueller was on the ice, and the Detroit Red Wings bench was up drilling their sticks on the boards.  Jeff Blashill and Dan Bylsma exchanged words, and both had a smile on after the exchange.

Justin Abdelkader scored a nifty short-handed goal assisted by Luke Glendening.  It was a traditional two on one, Glendening connected with Abby, and he did not miss.  It was Abdelkader’s second goal of the season and first with a goaltender present.  His only other tally was an empty-netter.

We’ve been critical of Abdelkader in recent weeks.  He was one of the best players tonight for the Wings.  He was buzzing and engaging physically recording 4 hits.  Jeff Blashill noticed his jump tonight and continued to send him out onto the ice.  Good on him for that.

Trevor Daley scored a very unique goal.  It will go down as the fourth short-handed goal already for the Detroit Red Wings on the young season.  The Wings were down a man with under a minute to go in the game.  There was a scrum in front of Jimmy Howard with a bunch of Devils banging away at a loose puck which sprawled out Jimmy Howard would not allow in the goal.  A scrum ensued after the whistle that leads Jonathan Ericsson to cross-check a Devil and end up in the sin bin.

The Detroit Red Wings would have to defend a 6 on 4 Devils advantage up by a goal.  Dylan Larkin won the key defensive zone draw, and Trevor Daley ripped it off the glass from behind his own net.  It took a funny carom and directed right into the New Jersey empty net.  It was another one of those “Joe Louis Arena” type lucky bounces.

The bounce proved to be the difference though.  The Devils would add a goal with 4 seconds remaining in the game.  Jimmy Howard thought he was interfered with and he may have had a case but the war room in Toronto allowed the goal to stand.  Howard would bang his stick loud in his crease, a sign of his displeasure but the officials saw Nik Kronwall assisting a Devils player into his own goaltender.

Jimmy Howard was good again.  It is starting to become a common theme.  Howard even in the losses with an exception here and there has been fantastic for the Detroit Red Wings early on this season. Something I wasn’t confident would be possible if you were to ask me this offseason is starting to bubble to the surface. If he can remain healthy he could become a nice trade chip sooner than later.

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Impact Stats;

  • Dylan Larkin – 2 Assists, 21:51 TOI
  • Justin Abdelkader – 1 Goal (SH), 20:39 TOI
  • Michael Rasmussen – 1 Goal (PP), 14:07 TOI
  • Martin Frk – 1 Goal (PP), 10:13 TOI
  • Trevor Daley – 1 Goal (EN,SH), 18:56 TOI
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