Red Wings-Avalanche quick take: Georgiev, Avs stifle Detroit’s meager offense

The Detroit Red Wings hosted the Colorado Avalanche at Little Caesars Arena for the Wings’ only home game for almost two weeks’ worth of play.

The 14-13-and-0 Avalanche have lost 4 of their past 6 games, but the Avs believed that the return of Ross Colton would stabilize their lineup. The 10-12-and-4 Red Wings hoped to snap an 0-2-and-2 streak while continuing to play without the services of goaltenders Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon, who will likely remain out until the Wings host the Maple Leafs next Saturday night.

On Saturday evening, the Red Wings dropped a particularly frustrating game to the Avs, losing 2-1 as the Avs took a 2-0 lead on goals by Nichushkin and Makar, and while Lucas Raymond’s chest tipped in a Dylan Larkin shot at 18:13 of the 2nd, Colorado out-shot Detroit 11-1 over the first half of the 3rd period, and Detroit rallied with 7 shots in the 2nd half…

But Alexandar Georgiev stopped 28 of 29 shots, Detroit was only afforded 1 power play, which went 0-for-1, the Avs scored on theirs…

And that was the game. Detroit sure tried hard to make their own breaks, but sometimes they couldn’t get out of their own way, and Colorado persisted and prevailed because they earned the upper hand.

Detroit is now 0-3-and-2 in its last 5 games, and the Wings head to Buffalo on Monday and Philadelphia on Thursday.

In pregame warmups, Ville Husso and Alexandar Georgiev (yes, that’s how he spells his first name) led their teams onto the ice at Little Caesars Arena…

The Avs dressed the following lines…

The Red Wings iced the following lineup…

The starters and scratches were as follows:

In the 1st period, the puck hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena at 7:09 PM, and Kasper tied up the draw and Holl chipped so that the Wings could chase, but Georgiev set it up for the Avs’ fourth line, Gustafsson jabbed and lost the puck, regained control and Tarasenko and Kasper went back to Holl and Gustafsson as Detroit changed 30 seconds in.

Colorado set up as Toews set up behind the net for MacKinnon, who was stifled by Larkin, he passed up to Rasmussen and the Avs took over at center, chipping the puck in vs. Seider and Edvinsson. Larkin helped clear the zone and Detroit almost iced it, but Georgiev played it to his D, Compher came back to help Petry and Chiarot, and the Avs regrouped at center ice.

1:30 into the 1st, Nichushkin got off the first shot from the high slot, and Husso made an easy glove save.

The first faceoff went the Wings’ way and Detroit pushed the puck up for Motte LW side, he sent a shot in on Georgiev and was stopped as the Avs dumped Veleno for no particular reason.

Copp drew in for an offensive zone draw, held the puck in deep for Veleno, and the Avs cycled, but Gustafsson pinched for Copp and then Gustafsson fired a shot wide, Veleno battled an Avs defender and they iced the puck at 2:18.

Compher won the next draw to Kane, DeBrincat was blocked, Chiarot and Petry watched the Avs ice the puck again at 2:33, and the Compher line dialed in for an offensive zone faceoff that Compher tied up, but did not win.

DeBrincat backchecked to restart the Wings’ offense, Edvinsson fired a shot wide and Detroit began to change as Rasmussen hopped over the boards, Edvinsson repelled an Avalanche rush, and Rasmussen battled at center, but Makar swiped a puck, the Avs chipped deep and Detroit regrouped and charged into the Avs’ zone without possession.

Raymond tapped the puck back to Petry and Chiarot as the Wings changed one more time, and Kelly fired a shot wide, Berggren gave to Kasper, the Avs dumped and did not chase, and Kasper raced through center, shot a shot on Georgiev, and the Avs gave it up to Kasper, Berggren jabbed a puck in on Georgiev short side, and the Avs’ goaltender held the puck with his blocker.

As play continued, Colton, Mittlestadt and the rest of the Avs generated a good scoring chance on Husso, but Detroit repelled the Avs once, twice, and Kane set up Holl for a screened shot that Georgiev stopped;

Seider was stifled by an errant stick, but Larkin nearly set up Motte for a great scoring chance;

The Larkin line got pushed back into its own zone, but Makar and the MacKinnon like was blocked into the crowd at 6:40 of the 1st.

Colorado did a really nice job of keeping a cycle going as Makar helped Kiviranta send a shot on Husso with the Wings losing a broken stick from Seider, who went to the bench to swipe a new stick, and he was unable to clear the zone, but Edvinsson cleaned up Seider’s mess;

Husso made a good stop on Valeri Nichushkin on the next exchange, Husso bumped a rebound up to DeBrincat and Compher, they cycled deep for Holl, but the Avs regrouped and chipped and chased vs. Gustafsson.

Joe Veleno fired a wrap shot wide, and Motte was blocked wide by MacKinnon 9:24 in;

Rantanen nearly wrapped the puck on Husso, but Larkin’s line and the Seider-Edvinsson pairing were able to repel the best the Avs ha, albeit momentarily;

Sadly, Valeri Nichushkin chipped a puck off a Red Wing between the hash marks, the puck went off Chiarot’s glove and right back to Nichushkin, and he fired a shot through Husso at 10:48.

Nichushkin scored from Girard and Mittlestadt at 10:48 to make it 1-0 Colorado.

On the bump-up shift, the Wings utilized the Kasper line and DeBrincat came over the boards to generate a TREMENDOUS offensive chance that Georgiev stopped just short of 12:00 into the 1st.

The Wings persisted with the Larkin line opposite MacKinnon’s, with Edvinsson and Seider on defense opposite Toews and Makar.

The Wings’ “chip and chase game” had a lot of chip and not much chase, however, so Rasmussen, Raymond and Larkin had to cycle deep without much help, and the Avs broke deep and changed, with Rantanen stifled by Edvinsson and Seider;

Colorado regained control of the puck and cycled down low in the Wings’ end, with Ivan Ivan blocked off by Holl;

Motte, Veleno and Kasper cycled deep into the Avs’ zone, but not much came from that particular foray;

Instead, Husso had to stop Logan O’Connor, Berggren cleared, De Haan pushed the puck deep and Detroit regrouped, but Tarasenko couldn’t get the puck Berggren set up, Edvinsson set up Tarasenko to BERGGREN IN FRONT and Georgiev stifled him with 5:18 left in the 1st.

After the TV timeout, Kane set up DeBrincat off a Compher faceoff win, and DeBrincat came RACING in, but he was stifled by Georgiev;

Larkin and Rasmussen were also trying to jab the puck deep past the Avs’ goaltender, but Georgiev made a block;

With 5:09 gone in the 1st, Detroit was almost called for delay of game, but Seider got away with a chip-out, so play continued as MacKinnon’s line was checked well by Larkin’s line, and Larkin, Raymond and Rasmussen cycled with Edvinsson, who slid deep, and Raymond flipped a shot off Georgiev’s shoulder in the RVH, but the puck went out of play.

The Wings then surrendered a 4-on-3 rush in which Chiarot and Motte had to bail out the Wings’ defense as Colorado seemed to be entering the Wings’ zone and cycling deep without any push-back;

Veleno and Motte fed Seider for a TREMENDOUS scoring chance, but Tyler Motte was called for embellishment at 17:56, negating Cale Makar’s hooking penalty.

On the 4-on-4, Tarasenko charged in off a faceoff win and pass from Chiarot on a great cycle, but Georgiev squeezed the glove side shut;

The Avs won the net deep defensive zone draw and MacKinnon and the Avs went to the races, but Seider blocked Rantanen off as he and MacKinnon tried to split the Wings’ D;

The next shot by Girard went off the post off an Avs faceoff win, MacKinnon slithered a shot through the crease but wide of Rantanen, and Girard battled Raymond in the Avs’ zone to attempt to get some offensive zone traction;

A defensive blueline draw yielded Chiarot and Petry dropping to Kane through center, Petry supporting Kane after he was repelled at the Avs’ line, and Kane walking back in, dropping to Compher and Compher being blocked off twice by an Av that was stood up by Chiarot…

And that was the first period.

In the 2nd period, Kasper took the opening faceoff and won it to Gustafsson, who chipped deep for Tarasenko, but the Avs regrouped, Holl slid the puck deep and Georgiev played the puck to his defensive partner, who flipped the puck out of play off the glass.

Larkin, Rasmussen and Raymond cycled to Edvinsson, who fired a shot wide of the goal, and Seider held the line for Raymond, who tried to tuck the puck to Rasmussen in the slot, and that was blocked away;

Raymond regrouped and slid the puck for Larkin who was stopped, and Rasmussen’s rebound was stifled as well 59 seconds into the 2nd.

Kasper’s line returned to the ice opposite Colton and company, and Toews was given a drop pass in the slot that was fired wide;

Makar was blocked off man-on-man by Chiarot, however, though the Avs retained possession, and Berggren had to charge up the ice, with Ross Colton selling a hook on Tarasenko 2:16 into the 2nd, yielding an Avs PP.

On the penalty-kill, the Avs won the draw to Makar, MacKinnon cycled and sent the puck down low, Seider and Edvinsson could not clear, the Avs worked the perimeter and cycled high to low, and Cale Makar fired a 2-0 shot over the top corner of Husso as Nichushkin screened Husso completely.

Makar scored from MacKinnon at 2:44 on the power play.

Husso had to blocker-save an Avs jab on the bump-up shift;

The Avs continued to press after their power play, and the Wings looked pretty listless, poking and hoping far too regularly as MacKinnon deked and dangled and dazzled on the ice, but Raymond and Larkin and Rasmussen battled hard in the Avs’ zone…

Seider and Edvinsson found Larkin for another short side stop by Georgiev…

Berggren did a great job of cycling hard through center, into the Avs’ zone, back out to center, and in for Tarasenko under pressure from De Haan and the Avs, but Berggren got no help when Kasper went offside, negating a tremendous chance for Berggren to race in 1-on-1.

Motte, Veleno and Copp did an OK job of cycling with Petry and Chiarot, but the Avs won the battles and forced the Wings wide, affording Petry a shot that was blocked, a cycle for Compher and DeBrincat coming off the bench, and a flip-out that Rantanen and MacKinnon nearly turned into a goal for Lehkonen.

Detroit received its first power play after a lengthy six-on-five in which Larkin nearly scored, Seider and Raymond cycled, back to Kane it went, Seider, Raymond, Kane, DeBrincat and Larkin exhausted the Avs before Rantanen sat for slashing at 8:16.

On the power play, the Wings won the initial draw and cycled to the point for Seider, DeBrincat and Tarasenko fed DeBrincat, Seider fed Raymond, off a skate it went, Seider could not hold the line but retained possession, and Detroit regrouped;

Larkin, Rasmussen, Raymond, DeBrincat and Seider tipped a shot attempt wide;

Detroit mucked in the corner, Seider walked the line for DeBrincat, he fed Raymond, to Seider, wide, Raymond rimmed and the Avs took over, but Seider took the puck and regrouped with Larkin cycling hard, Seider fed Tarasenko, and he was blocked off, affording the Avs a clear with 25 left in the PP;

Compher raced through center, chipped and chased, Tarasenko fed Gustafsson, to Kane it went, Tarasenko went to Kane but the shot was high and wide, Gustafsson could not hold the line and Rantanen nearly broke out of the box for a breakaway before Gustafsson stopped him.

4 on 2, Veleno, Motte, Copp and Chiarot could not convert with 10:55 gone;

Veleno was stifled by Georgiev all alone in the slot;

Detroit changed 11:27 into the 2nd ,and instead, MacKinnon raced into the Wings’ zone, fed Girard, and Detroit could not clear initially, and MacKinnon backchecked to stop Raymond’s attempt to cycle.

Rasmussen fed Larkin for a great chance that Georgiev stopped;

It was just one of those games, or so it felt.

By the time we hit the next TV timeout at 12:53, well…

Kane swipe an Avs D pass when play resumed, but Compher and DeBrincat were unable to settle the puck down, and that frustrated the Wings;

Tarasenko and Gustafsson exchanged passes as the Wings tried to push deep with the Kasper line on the ice, they cycled to Gustafsson and his shot was blocked over the net and into the netting…

Copp, Veleno and Motte generated a scoring chance for Edvinsson off a turnover, but the Avs tipped that one out of play, too…

Husso sealed up an Avs attempt to beat him blocker-hand side at 14:54, and the Wings won the defensive zone draw, but Gustafsson and Holl did a better job of cycling the puck deep than Compher, Kane and DeBrincat, so the Wings had to regroup, DeBrincat got a shot off that Georgiev actually had to stop, and Kane fed Compher for a shot that SOMEHOW Georgiev stopped it.

The Red Wings were trying to score, but they seemed to be unable to earn any luck.

Edvinsson’s pinch helped Motte, Veleno and Copp generate some zone time, but Copp fired a shot wide, and Seider had to regroup at his own blueline to afford Detroit a change late in the 2nd…

Kasper walked Georgiev and Petry fired a shot in on Georgiev, but Tarasenko missed the rebound, and it went all the way back down into the Wings’ zone;

Kasper also did a good job of cycling vs. Mittlestadt in the Wings’ zone, preventing the Avs from getting all but a roller in on Husso at 17:52.

Thankfully, Dylan Larkin did a great job of cycling out to the point and flittering a shot into traffic, where Rasmussen and Raymond both screened Georgiev and the puck fluttered through the goaltender to give the Wings their first goal of the evening.

Detroit’s Lucas Raymond was given the goal from Larkin at 18:13 of the 2nd. 2-1.

At the other end of the ice, Jeff Petry couldn’t kick away a puck that went to Ross Colton at the top of the crease, and Husso fought off the shot attempt;

With 45 seconds left, Copp blasted a shot through Veleno and wide, Edvinsson and Seider worked together to help Veleno and Copp, but the Avs’ Lehkonen stifled that line’s attempts, so Detroit changed;

Colorado sort of dicked around with the puck for the final 10 seconds of the 2nd, and that was the end thereof.

In the 3rd period, Detroit’s Kasper line started the 3rd period, too, and while the Avs won the initial faceoff, Berggren, Holl, Gustafsson and company prevented a rebound from being stuffed on Husso, though they could not clear their zone easily…

50 seconds in, Makar, MacKinnon and Toews cycled, but Larkin’s line came over the boards and battled hard to clear their zone; Seider and Edvinsson sent the puck up for Larkin, his shot was blocked, the Avs regrouped and Edvinsson was pressured off the puck by Mittlestadt, but Nichushkin was stopped by Husso;

Compher, Kane and DeBrincat set up Kane for a break-in 1-on-1, and the Avs had to ice the puck to prevent Kane from breaking in;

Jeff Petry then got a shot off the faceoff in the offensive zone that Georgiev had to stifle;

Copp, Veleno and Motte had to back out of the offensive zone after the Avs won a deep defensive zone faceoff, and Holl and Gustafsson could not clear the zone, but Husso made a good stop on the giveaway.

Kasper fed Chiarot for a wonderful shot attempt that was blocked off by Kovalenko;

Seider and Edvinsson came over the boards and worked with Berggren and Kasper , Larkin hopped in to help, and the Wings completed their change as Edvinsson and Seider set up;

But the Avs’ MacKinnon broke in, to find that Larkin was waiting for him, but the Wings spent that shift in their zone regardless;

Detroit was losing the territorial battle, but defending with some tenacity, and that was good to see.

Kane and DeBrincat NEARLY connected for a goal, and Compher sent a shot in that was blindly saved by Georgiev…

When play resumed after a TV timeout, Veleno, Motte and Copp couldn’t get things going, so MacKinnon set up Lehkonen for a Grade-A chance that was sent wide of Husso;

After the Avs’ Colton threatened, the Wings’ Larkin line went the other way, gave the puck back to Colton, and Nichushkin and Girard threatened Husso, who had to make a good stop;

Larkin’s line defended well, however, and stifled most of the Avs’ chances against Husso, who had to make a gobble-it-up belly stop instead of something spectacular.

Colorado dominated possession and control through the middle of the period, and a hook by MacKinnon on Compher yielded an offensive chance that Husso had to stop;

Kane, DeBrincat and company gave up the puck to Makar, and he was poke-checked away by Husso on a breakaway…

Larkin, Raymond and Rasmussen were blocked off by Mittelstadt, Petry held the line but the Avs tipped the puck out of play, and we hit a TV timeout with 8:41 remaining.

When play resumed, the Copp line at least drew an icing against the Avs’ Kiviranta line, but the Avs took control of the puck and pushed it deep repeatedly, with Gustafsson and Holl bailing out the forwards;

Lehkonen got a great chance on a breakaway and he was stopped, as was Makar dancing in from the point with 7:33 left.

MacKinnon then generated an opportunity that went over Husso, against Edvinsson and Seider, no less…

Nichushkin was stifled by Husso after getting away from Chiarot and Kasper with 6:35 left;

The Avs really got cycling in the Wings’ end, and looked to be fending off the Wings and then some with 5:55 left in regulation time;

And Husso got a stop with 5:48 left in the 3rd to slow the game down and give the Wings a reset through a TV timeout, with the Avs out-shooting Detroit 11-1.

Even Raymond, Larkin and Rasmussen struggled as Edvinsson was tied up by a falling Lehkonen and Rantanen with 5:20 left in the 3rd.

Off a DeBrincat faceoff loss (Compher was tossed) in the defensive zone, Detroit could get to center ice, but no further, and Husso helped Chiarot and Petry set up; Kane walked through center, but lost the puck to Mittelstadt, and the pass for Compher was dumped and not chased.

The physicality ramped up as the game clock wound down, with Petry and Chiarot throwing their bodies around, and the Avs held the puck in vs. the Compher line, got a couple of wide chances, and Toews had to be blockered away by Husso;

With only 3:38 left in the 3rd, Seider fed Tarasenko, and he flubbed a pass that was blocked by Lehkonen, Seider gave the puck up to Makar, MacKinnon fed the slot and Detroit raced up with Tarasenko, Copp and Kasper trying to cycle deep, but instead, the Avs chipped away and Seider had to regroup…

And the Wings iced the puck with 2:55 left.

En route to another 1-goal loss, Seider and the Wings on teh draw, Seiderr raced out for Larkin, and Husso exited with 2:35 left, Seider sent a shot in on Georgiev that was stopped, and the Avs tried for the empty net but went wide and iced the puck.

6-on-5, Larkin won a draw, Rasmussen and Raymond swept the puck for Kane, but he could not hold, Seider fed Raymond and he chipped deep, Seider held and Seider spun for Raymond, across to Kane it went, back to the slot and MacKinnon hit the goalpost going for the empty net…

Detroit chipped, Raymond fed Rasmussen behind the goal, Kane fed Rasmussen and back, DeBrincat was stood up by Larkin walked in and fired stopped, rebound DeBrincat stopped, Raymond and Seider shot stopped rebound Rasmussen stopped Seider for Raymond stopped again…

Georgiev was stealing the game.

Detroit called timeout with 1:05 left, and thereafter, Larkin drew in for a crucial offensive zone draw.

Larkin tied it up and DeBrincat and Raymond cycled, Larkin jammed for DeBrincat Tarasenko backhanded it wide Seider shot off Tarasenko pinball for DeBrincat tapped down with a high stick.

Lehkonen with the check on DeBrincat.

Detroit took a draw at the blueline and lost it but it went wide of the empty net;

Seider fed Raymond, Larkin blazed up LW side, Makark checked Larkin but Seider held the line, Makar was stopped by Seider, and the Avs’ Rantanen blasted the puck wide of the empty net.

15 seconds left and the Avs chip it out, Larkin sweeps in but that’s the game.

Statistics: Here are the Game Summary and Event Summary:

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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!