Dylan Larkin brilliant but the Detroit Red Wings surrender another lead late

After surviving a slow start and an onslaught from the Calgary Flames, the Detroit Red Wings held their own but blew another lead late. It was a 6-4 loss for the Wings.

Although the Detroit Red Wings continue to follow this slow start to games trend, they hung in there and decided to start skating about halfway through the first period and ended up playing a solid road first period. The ended the frame with a 1-0 lead behind an Anthony Mantha power-play goal.

The Detroit Red Wings entered the game receiving the third least power play opportunities across the league. Oddly enough they were able to draw three infractions in the first period alone. They were even granted a 5 on 3 advantage and were able to capitalize on it late in the first period.

Thomas Vanek was stationed to the left of the goal, down low on the goal line. Mantha was in the left circle; the pair played catch before Vanek sent it around the horn via Gustav Nyquist to the other point where Kronwall was waiting. The puck would eventually end up on Mantha’s stick as he sent a shot from the left circle past Mike Smith.

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It was nice to see the puck movement on the power-play. That particular PP allowed for plenty of space with two Flames sitting in the sin bin. Even the opportunities with only a one-man advantage the Detroit Red Wings moved the puck around very swiftly and created a lot of chances. Larkin had a glorious chance on a power-play right in the slot but merely missed the net.

The concern came later in the contest though, when the power-play suddenly went cold in the third period. Andreas Athanasiou turned the puck over at the offensive blueline which in turn ended with a Mark Giordano short-handed goal.

For how good the PP looked earlier in the game, particularly in the first period it seemed as bad in the third period. The Flames made a few adjustments, and part of it was crowding their blueline daring the Wings to dump and chase rather than trying to stickhandle through as much traffic at noon in times square.

I don’t know if Dan Bylsma is to blame for the lack of adjustments on the PP, or just the players being reluctant to dump and chase in this new-age NHL where puck possession is tracked so vigorously. Teams don’t like to play the dump and chase game anymore, but at times it can still be useful.

Dylan Larkin ranks 9th in the NHL amongst forwards in ice-time averaging 21:49 TOI per night. He is the Detroit Red Wings workhorse and he was able to bury a goal after cruising around the net and snapping a shot towards the Flames goal. The shot deflected off of Flames defenseman Mark Giordano in front and redirected over the glove of netminder Mike Smith.

Larkin was flying around all night for the Wings once again as he is each and every game. Mid-way through the third period, Larkin was credited with 9 of the Wings 18 scoring chances. He buried a pair of goals; he was very noticeable tonight. It just may have been his best performance of the season, and that’s saying a lot.

With his two goals tonight Dylan Larkin has now reached the 20 goal marker twice in his four-year career. His career high is 23, and he set that mark during his rookie campaign. Larkin has plenty of time to eclipse that mark and has his sights set on 30 next.

The Wings surrender another lead in the third period en route to another loss. The Calgary Flames scored three power-play goals and one short-handed goal tonight. The Flames have now recorded 15 SHG’s on the season. That is simply absurd.

As the Detroit Red Wings losses piling up will Blashill lose his team?. dark. Next

What we’ve found out tonight is that trying to keep up with the Calgary Flames in a track meet type contest doesn’t favor the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings head to Vancouver to take on the Canucks Sunday. I apologize I believe I wrote we played Edmonton next in an earlier article. It would make sense as they are already in Alberta, but we catch the Oilers Tuesday.

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