Red Wings-Blackhawks Tweetcap: Bertuzzi’d

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 2-game losing streak as they hosted the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon. Chicago entered today’s game on a 2-game winning streak, and they boasted a 7-5-and-3 record.

At Little Caesars Arena, Detroit laid an egg on Sunday, losing 5-1 to a Chicago Blackhawks team that is, save Connor Bedard, no more talented than the Red Wings.

What was the difference? Arvid Soderblom stopped 44 of 45 shots, because he saw almost all of them;

Detroit’s power play went 0-for-4 in 10:00 of PP time;

Chicago’s power play went 3-for-3 in 1:19 of PP time;

And Wings alumnus Tyler Bertuzzi got under Detroit’s skin as the Red Wings tried to make the same plays over and over again at both even strength and with the man advantage.

Everybody is of course freaking out and suggesting that the Red Wings need to blow up the team or throw it into the Detroit River, but as far as I’m concerned…

Coach McLellan was right 3 losses ago. Detroit’s soft between the ears, and a team that can play with anyone is losing because it’s losing the mental game and it’s playing lazy hockey.

PREGAME: John Gibson and Arvid Soderblom led their respective teams out onto the ice at LCA…

The Red Wings don’t do “rookie laps,” but Nate Danielson also made his NHL debut today:

The Blackhawks only post their starters…

And the Red Wings posted their lineup at 1:04 PM:

1ST PERIOD:

The teams dressed the following starters and lineups:

PENALTY: Only 26 seconds into the game, Tyler Bertuzzi took a flop, and Dylan Larkin was called for tripping.

GOAL: IN a nightmare scenario, Connor Bedard shot a top-shelf goal over John Gibson at 59 seconds to open the scoring, on the power play.

Chicago 1, Detroit 0: Bedard (9) from Levshunov (8) and Teravainen (8) at 59 seconds 1st period, PPG.

Marco Kasper then hit the crossbar over Arvid Soderblom, but the puck bounced away from Soderblom and out…

GOAL: Simon Edvinsson smartly waited and 3-line-passed the puck to Lucas Raymond, who raced up the right wing side, and Raymond’s shot on Soderblom slid behind the Hawks’ goaltender, and Dylan Larkin poked the rebond home at 4:19.

Chicago 1, Detroit 1: Larkin (9) from Raymond (9) and Edvinsson (3) at 4:19 1st period.

The first period was incredibly fast-paced, and John Gibson had to make TWO tremendous stops on Oliver Moore, who was sprung on a breakaway behind Nate Danielson, as both teams peppered each other with shots.

PENALTY: Dylan Larkin drew an interference call on Connor Murphy at 9:46 of the 1st period.

The period continued at a fast pace and the Wings sure as hell tried to beat Soderblom for a go-ahead goal, but the Hawks’ goaltender was good, the Wings couldn’t quite finish, and at the other end, Gibson was steady as the Wings surrendered a couple of grade-A chances.

There was this, too:

PENALTY: Murphy was then penalized for cross-checking James van Riemsdyk at 19:11 of the 3rd period…

2ND PERIOD:

Detroit began the 2nd period with 1:11 of PP time, and Detroit did not score on the power play, though they held the offensive zone for most of their time on ice.

PENALTY: Tyler Bertuzzi drew a power play at 2:51 of the 2nd, with Travis Hamonic sitting for roughing, when Bertuzzi was the one who started the scrum and tried to go after Marco Kasper. Bertuzzi got headlocked by Hamonic to stifle the scrap.

GOAL: Teuvo Teravainen scored his 3rd goal of the season at 3:22 of the 2nd period on the PP, from Burakovsky and Bertuzzi, after Bertuzzi high-sticked Larkin and dumped Seider away from play.

Chicago 2, Detroit1: Teravainen (3) from Burakovsky (7) and Bertuzzi (5) at 3:22 2nd period, PPG.

The Red Wings attempted to even the score, but between Soderblom’s stop on Larkin and Detroit playing tentatively, the Wings just didn’t have any “oomph” in the 2nd period.

PENALTY: Tyler Bertuzzi got 2 for roughing Dylan Larkin and 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct at 16:24, whining all the way to the penalty box.

There were some boos as the 2nd period ended with Detroit down 2-1 and with only 24 seconds left on the double minor.

3RD PERIOD:

Detroit would begin the 3rd with only 24 seconds of the double-minor power play remaining…

PENALTY: And some time later, at 4:54, Simon Edvinsson made a dumb play by slashing the stick out of Artem Levshunov in the offensive zone.

GOAL: And Tyler Bertuzzi of all people would score a 3-1 goal as he was untouched down low.

Chicago 3, Detroit 1: Bertuzzi (9) from Bedard (15) and Levshunov (9) at 5:09. Power play goal.

PENALTY: Louis Crevier tripped Emmitt Finnie at 5:37, presenting a needed power play for Detroit.

Detroit did not score on the power play.

Detroit was one-and-done in the offensive zone and was letting Chicago cycle in the offensive zone, which is not a recipe for winning, regardless of whether you’re good or bad on special teams.

GOALIE PULL: John Gibson exited the goal with 3:46 remaining.

GOAL: Andre Burakovsky took a giveaway by Detroit and chipped the puck down ice into Detroit’s goal at 16:35 of the 3rd.

Chicago 4, Detroit 1: Burakovsky (7) from Bedard (16) at 16:37 3rd, empty net.

GOAL: Oliver Moore scored his first NHL goal at 19:44 from Donato and Grzelcyk.

Chicago 5, Detroit 1: Moore (1) from Donato (5) and Grzelcyk (4) at 19:44 3rd.

STATISTICS: Here are the Game Summary and Event Summary:

Published by

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!