The Detroit Red Wings were unable to snap the Boston Bruins’ hex over them, losing 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday night…
But the Red Wings displayed a hell of a lot of pluck over the course of the second 30 minutes of play, and Detroit rallied from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits to ultimately tie the game at 5-5 halfway through the 3rd period.
To the victors go the spoils–and the good feelings, as you’ll eventually read–and the Bruins spoke proudly of their efforts, as the Patriot-Ledger’s Mike Loftus noted:
Video via KK: I’m not sure what to think about this one. David Backes, something of a notorious head-hunter in Wings-Blues history, caught his shoulder on Frans Nielsen’s chin with this hit, and Nielsen left the game:
It started out as a pretty good night for Red Wings center Frans Nielsen.
Nielsen cut the Boston Bruins’ lead to 2-1 at 2:16 of the first period when captain Henrik Zetterberg found him in the slot. Nielsen beat Boston goaltender Anton Khudobin glove-side. It was his 14th goal of the season and 150th of his career.
Unfortunately, Nielsen was not able to build on that as David Backes hit him in the Detroit end along the boards with 11.2 second left in the first period.
Detroit athletic trainer Piet Van Zant rushed to Nielsen’s side and helped him off the ice.
Update:
#RedWings Blashill said he did not have an update on Nielsen.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) March 7, 2018
Jeff Blashill didn’t have update on Frans Nielsen (upper body) but said “I assume he might be out for a little bit but I don’t know that answer.” #RedWings
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 7, 2018
Henrik Zetterberg on David Backes’ hit on Frans Nielsen: “It’s an unnecessary hit to the head.”
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 7, 2018
Update: Here’s more from St. James:
The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 7-game winless streak against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday evening. Detroit faced a streaking Bruins team that attempted to battle through injuries to Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask and Charlie McAvoy.
The Red Wings are now winless in 8 games against Boston, with the Bruins scoring in OT to defeat the Wings 6-5, but Detroit rallied from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits to tie the game at 5 on a Martin Frk marker halfway through the third…
Anthony Mantha had 2 goals and 2 assists, Tyler Bertuzzi was a pest who had 2 assists, Dylan Larkin was excellent with 8 shots, 12 attempts and an assist, Mike Green had a goal and an assist, Henrik Zetterberg was inspired as well and Jimmy Howard bailed out Jared Coreau by helping Detroit salvage a point against a Bruins team now 15-1-and-1 against Detroit. The Wings were physical, heavy on the puck, determined defensively when they weren’t giving up goals, and the 3rd period was one of the Wings’ better periods over the last month.
A lot of Wings fans will complain about this game, but I feel that the Wings have earned some good marks for effort and execution despite the disappointing result.
DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner just posted the latest installment of the Wings’ “Red and White Authority” podcast, and it consists of a hour-and-five-minute-long interview with Joe Hicketts:
The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that the Toledo Walleye hope to add an offensive defenseman to the mix before the ECHL’s trade deadline passes on Thursday:
While Toledo has charged to the top of the overall ECHL standings with a 40-14-5 record, Walleye coach Dan Watson is not content with the current makeup of his roster. The second-year head coach has made it abundantly clear that he would like to shore up his defensive corps.
“I think we’re still a deal away,” Watson said. “Obviously with the amount of forwards we have right now, we’ll be looking to get a high-end D-man.”
The goaltending is more than solid with the ascension of vet Pat Nagle to clear-cut No. 1 status. His teammates and coaches have the utmost confidence in the calm and confident Nagle, who leads the ECHL in wins.
The offense remains as steady as ever with an average of 3.24 goals per night. In fact, Watson believes the abundance of quality forwards should allow him to let go of a high-end offensive weapon.
It’s clear it will be one of the team’s top producers. “100 percent,” Watson confirmed.
Here’s the Red Wings’ Game Day Preview video for tonight’s game vs. Boston:
Updated 3x at 3:03 PM: The Detroit Red Wings battle the Boston Bruins this evening (7:00 PM on NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA Sports/NESN/97.1 FM), and the morning skate revealed that the Wings will start Jared Coreau opposite Anton Khubodin, with Martin Frk drawing into the lineup as well.
The Bruins are a little shaken up after finding out that Charlie McAvoy will miss a month with a sprained MCL (Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask will also miss tonight’s game), but the Boston Globe’s Kevin Dupont notes that the B’s haven’t exactly had a hard time winning games this year:
Bruins 19-5-2 (.769) in ’18 calendar year.
— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) March 6, 2018
Newcomers:
Gionta, 2GP, 0-3–3.
Nash, 4GP, 2-1–3.
Wingels, 2 GP, 1-1–2
Holden, 2 GP, 0-2–2
Total, 10GP, 3-7–10#bruins— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) March 6, 2018
NHL.com posted a Bruins morning skate update:
Of very brief note from the Boston Globe’s Fluto Shinzawa:
Dylan Larkin on brother Colin Larkin signing with Edmonton after four years at UMass Boston: “It’s a good story. Tore it up for four years. It’s well-earned.”
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) March 6, 2018
From Griffinshockey.com’s Mark Newman:
Dominik Shine may share the spelling of his first name with one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, but it will be his ability to create good plays in front of the crease that will push his chances to graduate to the NHL.
“I like his speed and how he’s tenacious on the puck,” said Griffins head coach Todd Nelson. “I also like his physicality and how when he keeps the game simple, he’s really effective and creates opportunities in the offensive zone.”
Shine is not the biggest player on the ice – he’s a 5-11, 180-lb. forward – but he’s all heart, a gritty puck hound who isn’t afraid to stick up for himself, as he proved when he dropped Cleveland’s Joe Pendenza with an impressive two-punch knockout on Dec. 29 at Van Andel Arena.
His tough-nosed style fits his blue-collar mentality, which was borne out of his family roots as the son of a Detroit autoworker growing up on the city’s ethnic southwest side. “My dad was a big Wings fan, and although he never had the opportunity to play hockey, he made sure that I got the chance,” Shine said.
Shine remembers being “terrified” when he first started skating, but he quickly discovered that he loved playing hockey. “By age 7 or 8, I knew I had a knack,’ he said. “I loved playing baseball and basketball, but I knew from an early age that playing hockey was what I wanted to do. Other sports were just for fun.”
Updated 2x at 11:56 AM: Coreau starts vs. Khubodin.
The Detroit Red Wings face a stiff challenge in attempting to snap a 7-game losing streak against the Boston Bruins this evening (7:00 PM EST on NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA Sports/NESN/97.1 FM).
The Bruins preceded the Wings on to the ice at TC Garden, as is customary for the home team, per the Boston Globe’s Kevin Dupont…
