The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a notebook article on Saturday afternoon discussing the Red Wings’ ability to at least stay in difficult-to-win games, like Friday’s narrow-margin loss to Washington:
The Red Wings were right there at the end Friday against a Stanley Cup contender, and saw the Washington Capitals make the big plays to win the game. More specifically, Alex Ovechkin with two late goals. Regardless, it was a reminder of how it’s done and how a good team closes out games.
The Wings have been better in such situations this season. They’ve beaten quality teams such as the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and Washington, making key plays late and taking a good team’s best punch. As long as the Wings continue to be in those kind of positions, coach Jeff Blashill will be satisfied.
“You’re talking about razor thin margins when you’re in these tight games, and ultimately it’s the greatest power-play scorer of all time that scores a power-play goal (Friday, to give Washington the late lead),” Blashill said. “I’ll take that game over and over again. We had the chances about exactly equal. They have one of the better records in the league and it’s a team that’s considered to be a contender for the Stanley Cup. We just have to keep playing good hockey and the more you’re in those spots, the more position you’re in to win. It’s a large part of the process but you want to be in those spots as much as possible.”
Forward Pius Suter said t took an elite shot from Ovechkin to put the Wings away.
“We’ve shown we can win those games,” Suter said. “They get a power play and it was a great shot, last second of the penalty kill, and otherwise we had a good game. It can happen the same way with us, we can score and it’s a tie game. It’s close, small things that make a difference.”
Continued, with discussions of the importance of Sunday’s matinee vs. Boston, and Pius Suter’s surprisingly scrappy side…
