Red Wings Drop Third Straight, Fall to Chicago 8-5

Before you could sit down, the Detroit Red Wings were in a 3-0 hole to the Chicago Blackhawks. It was the absolute worst way they could try to snap a two game losing streak.  I could barely finish this lede and it was 4-0. Detroit would fight back but ultimately fall 8-5

The Red Wings started strong, but the Blackhawks kept finding the back of the net during a four goal first period. Detroit would storm back to pull within 4-3, then fell back to a 6-3 deficit. They would draw close to 6-5, but yield another goal, ultimately sealing their fate.

Calvin Pickard relieved Alex Nedeljkovic in the second period and it stopped the bleeding, but the deficit was hardly Nedeljkovic’s fault. In what has happened at points this season, the Red Wings looked overwhelmed, slow, and too cautious instead of aggressive. Even down 3-0, Detroit appeared tentative.

Robby Fabbri got Detroit on the board when a poor pass from Calvin de Haan was intercepted and Fabbri made a backhand move past a sliding Marc-Andre Fleury, sliding into the net to get the Red Wings within three.

Tyler Bertuzzi was next, potting his 20th of the season on a rebound chance following a nice give and go with Filip Hronek. Suddenly, Detroit was down by only a pair.

Both teams received abbreviated power plays but neither could cash in. The Red Wings got another with about six minutes left in the second and had two great chances but couldn’t cash in. But the Red Wings answered again with snipe from Pius Suter that pulled Detroit within a goal.  The end of the second period saw a one goal deficit and a chance to break even in the third.

Dylan Strome would get his third goal of the game and fourth point on a powerplay goal, giving Chicago a 5-3 lead. Minutes later, the Blackhawks had a three-on-two, with Jonathan Toews feeding Alex DeBrincat for another goal and a 6-3 lead. The Red Wings had a chance seconds before the rush, but Bertuzzi had the puck stripped and Chicago went the other way.

Moritz Seider would get his fourth of the season on the power play, pulling Detroit back within two and then Dylan Larkin would get his 20th of the season, pulling the Wings back within a goal–again.

Detroit could barely try to tie the game when Nick Leddy made a pass that went right to Brandon Hagel who made a move and ripped it by Pickard, giving the Hawks a 7-5 lead.

Debrincat would add an empty netter, securing the victory over Detroit 8-5.