Red Wings get Secondary Scoring but fall to Dallas 7-3

You didn’t read the headline wrong. The much needed secondary scoring for the Red Wings came from one of the unlikeliest sources, Valtteri Filppula. Unfortunately, the Wings couldn’t stop Dallas from getting seven.

In spite of his first goal of the season, Detroit dropped its fourth in a row, sending the Wings to 2-5-1 and bringing back ugly memories from last year’s early season slide. To add insult to injury, Thomas Greiss relieved Jonathan Bernier in the second after Anthony Mantha collided with Bernier in the crease on a Dallas goal.

It was a similar start and feel to the game as the Red Wings fell into a 2-0 hole by the middle of the second. FIlppula cut the lead in half, but the third Dallas goal not only restored the lead, but bumped Bernier out of the game with an injury. Dallas went up 4-1, but goals by Tyler Bertuzzi and Danny Dekeyser pulled the Wings within a goal with just under seven minutes to play. But Luke Glendening took a penalty, Dallas capitalized on it, and then added an empty net goal to make it 6-3. Dallas wasn’t done as John Klingberg ripped a shot past Greiss, sealing a 7-3 victory for Dallas.

A Few thoughts on the Red Wings’ fourth straight loss

• I know there is a contingency of the fan base that is done with Jeff Blashill and want to see a change. But when the next man up is Dan Bylsma—sorry–hard pass. Just look at the power play, which at times, looks like the Red Wings skates are sinking in quick sand. One positive – I love on the lone power play goal that Bertuzzi and Michael Rasmussen were both low. That needs to happen more if there’s an insistence on taking long shots.
• When Mantha shoots first, he’s far more lethal. His shot on the Filppula goal generated a chance and they converted. When he tries to pass, as he did on a two-on-one early in the third, it never goes as intended. With the scoring issues this team has, I am in his ear as a coach telling him to fire away.
• Filip Hronek–be it even strength or on the man advantage–insists on taking shots that are blocked because he’s just shooting from outside the circle or near the blue line. Take chances, young man. I know they have to play overly conservative because they don’t have the skill to cover a pinching defenseman, but at this point, they just need to score goals.

The Red Wings head home to take on Florida this weekend in back to back games.