Nov. 2, 2024
Game 11: Buffalo @ Red Wings
1-2 Red Wings Win
SOG: 32-23 Buffalo
Starting Goaltenders: Cam Talbot v Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Lineup vs. the Sabres. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/S160ovIdJk
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 2, 2024
The Red Wings came into this game looking to snap their three-game losing skid while the Sabres were looking to snap their two-game losing skid. Justin Holl would be the healthy scratch for this game with Gustafsson coming back in and pushing Johansson to the right side.
The first period started with Cam Talbot having to make two "Vezina-caliber" saves 58 seconds into the game. "Oh no, it's gonna be one of those games," I thought to myself. Thankfully, they managed to settle things down pretty quickly and were able to get pressure in the Sabres zone soon after. Both teams would go back and forth with putting pressure on each other until Beck Malenstyn would try to hold Gustafsson closer like a tiny dancer forcing a Red Wings power play.
The power play looked good to start with a sequence of events that in pure Red Wings fashion, Luukkonen would make an initial good save, the puck would get behind him, bounce around a few times off of three players' sticks and the Sabres would clear. The Red Wings would then collect the puck again and Seider would drop it back to Dylan Larkin, who would make a play he's made hundreds of times on the power play. Unfortunately, Alex Tuch would read that play perfectly and poke-check Larkin to give himself a breakaway that he would score on making it 1-0 for the rest of the period despite the Red Wings best offensive efforts.
The second period was the same formula, The Red Wings and Sabres had some really fun back-and-forth play for the first seven minutes until Owen Power decided that Jonatan Berggren needed a bit of a chiropractic back adjustment and gave the Red Wings their second powerplay of the night. it took all of 30 seconds for Larkin (6) to tie the game by throwing it underneath the pad of Luukkonen assisted by Patrick Kane (6) who stripped the puck from a Sabres defender to get the puck to Larkin in the first place.
We had some more back and forth with some incredible saves by both goalies took place. Until Jack Quinn decided that a fan deserved a game puck mid-play, sending the Red Wings back to the power play with about just over five minutes left in the period. Just 13 seconds later, Dylan Larkin (7) would score his second of the game, assisted by DeBrincat (4) and Raymond (10), with some beautiful puck movement to take a 2-1 lead which they would hold going into the third period.
The third period was essentially a copy and paste of the first two periods minus the goals—a great back-and-forth with good chances for both sides. Alex Tuch, who was a massive thorn in the Red Wings side in this game, would show off his skill by making two incredible saves It's in the crease and managing to get the puck away from the net all on his own. The Sabres would pull their goalie with a bit over two minutes left in the period but, unfortunately for the Sabres, Cam Talbot and the Red Wings defense would hold on to break the three-game skid with a 2-1 regulation win.
This was the team we were promised before the season started. A high-octane top six who can take the reins of a game when needed. The entire defense played well today, although, the Chiarot/Petry pairing has failed Time and time again. I've been saying for a while now, separately they're good to great players, but together their styles don't mesh well at all and the only player slower than them is Justin Holl.
Kasper and Berggren continue to get good chances, but nothing the puck luck just isn't there for whatever reason. One thing I do know for sure. If you get that line going along with the top line, this team is gonna be an issue to play against.