Detroit Red Wings play better in Chicago but lose third straight

The Detroit Red Wings provided a much better effort today in Chicago, but the results were very much the same.  The Wings lost 5-2.

After an embarrassing effort in Buffalo, the Detroit Red Wings started the game this afternoon in Chicago the very same way.  The Wings played a substantial first period yesterday in Buffalo but fell completely apart in the second period yesterday as they do all too often this season.

Today in Chicago the Detroit Red Wings notched 16 first period shots, but it was a quiet 16, to say the least.  Oddly enough if you record that many shots in a single frame you would suspect you’ve played well.  The problem is the Wings finished the first period losing to the tune of 2-0.  They may have recorded 16 shot, but they allowed 18.

Head coach Jeff Blashill came out with Christoffer Ehn skating on the top line to start the second period.  Justin Abdelkader was banished to the fourth line.  I was immediately critical of the move and ate my words.  Don’t you just love hockey?

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I suggested Blashill should try Andreas Athanasiou or Michael Rasmussen alongside Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist rather than Ehn.  Wouldn’t you know, Ehn would score a beautiful goal from the left circle shortly after I expressed myself.

Ehn ripped an elegant snapshot from the left circle over the shoulder of netminder Cam Ward.  It’s just Ehn’s second goal of the season.  He’s a good skater and can skate with Larkin and Nyquist, he might be a better option with that group than Abdelkader is, but that isn’t exactly saying much.

That will remain Tyler Bertuzzi‘s spot whenever he is ready to return to the Detroit Red Wings lineup.  Ehn may not have many offensive instincts, but the 22-year-old is defensive sound and never lacks effort.  At the time of the adjustment, the Wings were playing a bit stale, and he was able to provide a spark.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kahun had himself a day.  He recorded a pair of goals and also added an assist.  The second line of Kahun, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome each filed a point on all three of the line’s goals.  That second line did the majority of the damage today for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gustav Nyquist made things interesting late in the third period trimming the Hawks lead to 1, but it would take less than a minute for the Chicago Blackhawks to answer that when Patrick Kane streaked in and beat Jonathan Bernier on one, he will wish he had back.  Shortly after that Jonathan Toews hit the empty net to seal it.

The Detroit Red Wings after winning three in a row, now have lost three in a row.  The Blackhawks are a team that is full of streaks at the moment.  The Hawks have now won 7 in a row.  Pat Kane extended his point streak to 14 games.  Toews extends his point streak to 7 games.  And Alex DeBrincat continues his 8 game point streak.

The Wings again have struggled in their own zone in all facets of the game.  They turn the puck over way too often and struggle with defensive zone coverage.  Dennis Cholowski has the pleasure of playing with Jonathan Ericsson, and the pair got picked apart today by Chicago.

The Detroit Red Wings recorded 45 shots on goal today, the most they’ve had in a game over the last three years but to no avail.  Things won’t get easier for the Detroit Red Wings who will travel to Nashville on Tuesday to take on the Predators.