Red vs. White Game 1 quick take: encouraging signs and some discouraging injuries mark Wings’ ‘return to play’

The Red Wings held their first of three scrimmages today (hopefully, the Red Wings said they’ll try to upload it later this evening). The good news? The pace of play, level of execution and even, to some extent, anyway, a level of spit and vinegar slowly rose upward over ten months’ worth of rust.

The bad news? Turner Elson (knee) and Evgeny Svechnikov (arm) got hurt, and Luke Glendening took a puck to the face that required one of those lovely sinus tampons to stem the bleeding.

The score doesn’t really matter, but Team White defeated Team Red 6-4, a full 5-minute 3-on-3 OT and several rounds of shootout shooters for both teams included.

Overall, the white team was more solid, but the Mantha-Larkin-Bertuzzi line took control of the game over in the latter stages of the 3rd period. Players like Cholowski and a lot of the Griffins’ guys working their way toward jobs on the taxi squad played superbly well, and Danny DeKeyser looked no worse for wear after back surgery. Thomas Greiss and Jonathan Bernier also played the entire game, and played well.

FSD already has a highlight clip up:

As do the Red Wings:

All the highlights from today ⤵️?

Catch the next Red & White scrimmage Friday night! #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/HkdIOSCbwR— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 5, 2021

Among the highlights, in Twitter form:

Tyler Bertuzzi with the “game winner” in OT in the Red-White scrimmage today… pic.twitter.com/mFDFANsqdE— John Keating (@JohnKeatingFSD) January 5, 2021

Here’s a Mantha SO goal, featuring a modified (?) goal horn pic.twitter.com/9MUhVgxbJB— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 5, 2021

Mathias Bromé shootout goal pic.twitter.com/pc9Qlq2F3S— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 5, 2021

That goal horn, which at least sounds better than the awfully canned, recorded version of the Joe Louis Arena goal horn, may be the biggest news not involving injuries today.

This game was about the Red Wings shaking off a significant amount of rust and grinding it out to find themselves as they battle to get into game shape some 10 months after playing meaningful hockey, and that’s why there are two more scrimmages, scheduled for Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Team Red takes the W! #DRWTC #LGRW

(Highlights from 3v3 and shootout to come soon!) pic.twitter.com/g4fQxgBCLR— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 5, 2021

Who scored, who got hurt in Red Wings first scrimmage of the 2021 season

https://t.co/nnbNOtmHFa via @freep— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 5, 2021

WATCH: The entire shootout from the Red Wings first scrimmage at @LCArena_Detroit

?: https://t.co/NzfBrkwZQD pic.twitter.com/PQrZ4cZaCx— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 5, 2021

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

One thought on “Red vs. White Game 1 quick take: encouraging signs and some discouraging injuries mark Wings’ ‘return to play’”

  1. The 2 Goalies would have gotten a good workout with 3 on 3, LOL..Especially with nhl caliber players

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