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NHL 20 Simulation: Red Wings Embarrassed by Coyotes

By John Manzo

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 12: Brad Richardson #15 of the Arizona Coyotes in action during the third period of the NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Gila River Arena on October 12, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 12: Brad Richardson #15 of the Arizona Coyotes in action during the third period of the NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Gila River Arena on October 12, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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We continue our simulated NHL 20 Detroit Red Wings season because of the postponed games due to COVID-19.

It’s just a video game. How accurate can it be, right Detroit Red Wings fans?

Well, kudos to EA Sports because the Red Wings are just as bad virtually as they are in real life.

Loss after loss becomes demoralizing for team morale as we’ve seen many Red Wings visibly frustrated at points throughout the season. So, a win against the middle-of-the-pack Arizona Coyotes is obtainable and would give the team a reason to crack a smile amid this disastrous season.

Damn.

For a minute there I felt like the Red Wings needed a win to “crack a smile amid this disastrous season,” but then I realized there isn’t any more hockey for the foreseeable future.

Cue it up again, damn.

OK, back to the virtual game. Friday night the Red Wings began a back-to-back stretch of west coast games starting with the Coyotes, followed by a little fun in Sin City against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

The Red Wings looked ready in warm ups, doing the same virtual motions as every pre-game in NHL 20.

Inside a packed “Arizona Arena” aka the game doesn’t have the naming rights to Gila River Arena, the crowd was loud, and they didn’t let up.

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Two quick first-period goals from forwards Nick Schmaltz and Taylor Hall basically signaled the end of this one, but the egg-on-face moment was when Jonathan Bernier gave up a goal to19-year-old Barrett Hayton, his first-career goal, that is. Ouch.

Dylan Larkin gave hope to the future with a meaningless goal in the second, and then Frans Nielsen added a goal late in the third, but it wasn’t nearly enough. This game was Coyotes from the get-go, and the Red Wings left the state-of-the-art “Arizona Arena” with its third-straight virtual loss since the season was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Final: Coyotes 5, Red Wings 2.

Tomorrow is another day, though.

Join us Saturday in Sin City. Who you have your money on?

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