Author: 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!

Red Wings-Bruins Tweetcap, rematch version: The squeaky win gives the Wings some ‘grease’

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap an 0-3-and-1 streak against the same Boston Bruins team that delivered a 3-2 shootout loss to the Wings on Saturday evening, all ahead of a 6-game road trip that will test the team’s resolve.

On Tuesday nigh at Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings prevailed in a 5-4 decision over the Boston Bruins, nearly blowing 3-0 and 5-2 leads in the process…

But John Gibson, 2 bad 5-hole goals included, stopped 31 of 35 shots, Detroit was able to yank Jeremy Swayman, who gave up 5 on 23, and James van Riemsdyk, Moritz Seider, Alex DeBrincat, Ben Chiarot and Lucas Raymond all scored…

Seider had a goal and two assists, Kane had 2 assists, DeBrincat and Raymond both had a goal and an assist, Danielson of all people led the Wings with 5 shots, Bernard-Docker had 6 hits, and there was this, too:

PREGAME: John Gibson and Jeremy Swayman led their respective teams out onto the ice…

Continue reading Red Wings-Bruins Tweetcap, rematch version: The squeaky win gives the Wings some ‘grease’

Red Wings-Bruins Tweetcap: Shootout loss, momentum win

The Detroit Red Wings opened a 2-game home-and-home series against the Boston Bruins while battling through a 3-game losing streak. Boston wouldn’t have the services of David Pastrnak, but when you’re struggling like the Red Wings, the enemy within is often more difficult to battle than the enemies you face.

On Saturday night at TD Garden, the Red Wings lost a very literally hard-fought game to the Boston Bruins, dropping a 3-2 shootout decision.

Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 of 28 shots and 3 Red Wings shooters; Cam Talbot stopped 17 of 19 and afforded Casey Mittlestadt the shootout winner.

However, the Wings rallied from 2 1-goal deficits (both on goals from Morgan Geekie) in a low-event game, via goals from Lucas Raymond at 6:38 of the 3rd and Michael Rasmussen at 18:06, with Cam Talbot pulled for an extra attacker.

Dylan Larkin also had 2 assists, and Moritz Seider worked his ass off to rally after getting into a scrap which Mark Kastelic won handily.

PREGAME: Cam Talbot and Jeremy Swayman led their respective teams out for warmups…

Continue reading Red Wings-Bruins Tweetcap: Shootout loss, momentum win

Red Wings-Lightning Tweetcap: The easy blame’s on Gibson. The real truth is that the Wings’ defensive game sucks right now.

The Detroit Red Wings headed into today’s match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning having lost 3 of their past 4 games, and having surrendered 18 goals over their past 4 endeavors.

Sitting just outside the NHL’s playoff picture, it isn’t necessarily time for the team to panic, but it’s definitely time for the Wings to recommit themselves to playing sound defensive hockey.

Tampa Bay came into today’s game boasting a 5-game winning streak, so the Wings faced a stiff challenge today.

On Friday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings laid another egg, bluntly, dropping a 6-3 decision to the depleted Lightning.

J.T. Compher would open the scoring 11:29 into the 1st, off a fine assist from Michael Rasmussen (who had his best game of the year), but Raddysh, Goncalves and Gourde would give Tampa a 3-1 lead by 3:01 of the 2nd period, and while the aforementioned Rasmussen would make it 3-2 at 3:13 of the 2nd…

Yanni Gourde was able to hack a rebound over a prone Gibson at 16:09, and after Dylan Larkin scored the 4-3 goal at 18:26, Tampa held Detroit off the scoreboard during a mid-3rd-period power play, and just after killing it, Jake Guentzel tipped the 5-3 marker at the top of the crease at 12:37 of the 3rd.

Detroit pulled Gibson with about 3:30 left in the 3rd, but Brandon Hagel simply scored an empty-netter at 17:13 to afford Tampa a larger margin of victory than perhaps was needed.

While Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 of 36 shots, I’m not blaming John Gibson for this one. Tampa had too many looks that were either involving traffic, rebounds or tips, and it’s unfair to blame the goalie alone when the defense in front of him was so very atrocious.

Detroit’s got to clamp down defensively if they are to head into Boston and snap that 3-game losing streak tomorrow night.

PREGAME: John Gibson and Andrei Vasilevskiy led their respective teams out onto the ice for warmups:

Continue reading Red Wings-Lightning Tweetcap: The easy blame’s on Gibson. The real truth is that the Wings’ defensive game sucks right now.

Red Wings-Predators Tweetcap: pre-Thanksgiving setback to Nashville due to mental mistakes

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to bounce back from Monday night’s loss to New Jersey as they hosted the struggling Nashville Predators on Thanksgiving eve.

In the jam-packed Atlantic Division, every win matters, and as they started a set of 3 games over the course of 4 days, the Wings needed to earn a “W.”

On Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings lost, and they lost a WEIRD GAME. Nashville may be last in the league in points, but they’re not last in the league in terms of talent, grit or execution, and all three aspects of their game played into the Red Wings’ 6-3 defeat.

While Michael Bunting would open the scoring at 15:48 of the 1st on the power play, the Wings would answer 5:30 into the 2nd when Alex DeBrincat scored his 12th on the power play, and James van Riemsdyk would add another at 16:34 to give Detroit a 2-1 lead…

And when Nick Blankenburg and Roman Josi scored at 2:05 and 2:20 of the 3rd, Ben Chiarot answered with a fine goal at 3:04…

But at 14:14 of the 3rd, the Wings’ defense got caught all clumped on the right side of Cam Talbot as Ryan O’Reilly hung out near the left goalpost, and he stuffed in a Luke Evangelista pass at 14:14 for a 4-3 lead…

And only 28 seconds later, at 14:42, Erik Haula caught the Wings’ defense stuffed below the goal line, standing at the top of the Wings’ crease, and he stuffed a Filip Forsberg pass past Cam Talbot to make it 5-3.

Steven Stamkos’ goal was an empty-netter, and it gave the Preds the 6-3 win.

Justus Annunen stopped 28 of 31 shots for Nashville; Cam Talbot stopped 21 of 26 for Detroit.

PREGAME: Cam Talbot and Justus Annunen led their respective teams out onto the ice at LCA…

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators Tweetcap: pre-Thanksgiving setback to Nashville due to mental mistakes

Red Wings-Devils Tweetcap: defensive mistakes bedevil the Wings, but grit, scrappy demeanor nearly yields another comeback

The Detroit Red Wings aimed to keep the good times rolling as it faced a difficult match-up with the unbeaten-at-home New Jersey Devils on Monday evening, kicking off a week in which the Wings will play 4 games over the course of 6 days and nights.

New Jersey has built something of a powerhouse team, so the Wings would find themselves facing a significant challenge.

On Monday night in Newark, defensive mistakes doomed the Red Wings. Timo Meier opened the scoring 12:54 into the 1st, and while Alex DeBrincat tied the game at 16:33, off a set of passes from Kane and Seider, Nico Hischier (at 17:58) and Cody Glass (at 19:04) would respond to give the Devils a 3-1 lead exiting the 1st period…

And after James van Riemsdyk scored 1:30 into the 2nd on a power play, a terrible defensive mistake by Travis Hamonic yielded Connor Brown’s 4-1 goal at 8:38 of the 2nd.

The Wings rallied in a huge way in the 3rd, with Larkin scoring at 10:12 and the Wings unleashing 13 shots in the 3rd and 27 over the 2nd and 3rd periods–of 35 total shots on Markstrom–and after the whistle, the Wings were pissed off at the Devils and their shenanigans:

Too many defensive mistakes doomed Detroit, but their process was great, their effort was great, their toughness was fantastic, and the star players didn’t need anyone riding shotgun.

The Predators, who are losing 5-2 to Florida at 9:53 PM EST, are going to be in for a beating on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena.

PREGAME: Cam Talbot and Jacob Markstrom led their respective teams out onto the ice at the Prudential Center…

Continue reading Red Wings-Devils Tweetcap: defensive mistakes bedevil the Wings, but grit, scrappy demeanor nearly yields another comeback

Red Wings-Blue Jackets Tweetcap: Detroit rallies from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Columbus 4-3 in overtime

Detroit headed into today’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won 4 of their past 6 games, hoping to battle back into 1st place in the Atlantic Division.

Given the Red Wings’ inconsistencies and unreliability of performance, as illustrated in Thursday’s blowout loss to the New York Islanders, it’s hard to tell which Red Wings team will hit the ice at LCA.

So today’s game would present both a challenge and a bit of a puzzle…

On Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings rallied from a 3-1 3rd period deficit to defeat Columbus 4-3 in overtime, and it was a remarkable comeback, led by Cam Talbot, who stopped 30 of 33 saves…

And a a set of unlikely scorers. Lucas Raymond scored the only Wings goal of the 2nd period, tying it at 1 at 36 seconds, but Columbus would tie the game only 18 seconds later as Miles Wood scored at 54 seconds of the 2nd…

Zach Werenski (at 8:38) would make it 3-1, and as Columbus had the territorial advantage and was suffocating the Wings’ offense, while preying on Detroit’s turnovers, it looked like a fait accompli that Columbus would win…

But at 10:23 of the 3rd period, Ben Chiarot of all people would score the 3-2 marker, from Kane and Seider;

Seider would tie the game at 13:25, from Finnie and Danielson…

And in overtime, Alex DeBrincat blazed up the right wing and stuffed a shot through Greaves at 1:50 to score the gamer–from Chiarot and Kane of all people.

PREGAME: Cam Talbot and Jet Greaves led their respective teams out onto the ice:

Continue reading Red Wings-Blue Jackets Tweetcap: Detroit rallies from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Columbus 4-3 in overtime

Red Wings-Islanders Tweetcap: Detroit gets smoked by the Islanders…again…

The Detroit Red Wings battled a plucky New York Islanders team on Thursday night, looking to earn a third straight win as the team navigates a jam-packed Atlantic Division.

The Wings also wanted to earn redemption after being embarrassed 7-2 on Long Island earlier this season, but Patrick Roy’s Islanders wouldn’t go down easily.

At Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings dropped a particularly frustrating game, losing 5-0 to Roy’s Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Hockey Robots (if you will) thanks to a terrible 1st period, a terrible 2nd period, more mediocre goaltending by John Gibson (who, fairly or unfairly, had 3 goals either tipped by or knuckle-pucked by him), terrible defensive play in front of the Wings’ goaltender, and in general, terrible preparation and readiness for the plucky Islanders team.

Oh, and awful attention to detail on the Wings’ behalf, too.

This game may have been arguably worse in terms of the way in which the Wings were shell-shocked by the Isles than the earlier 7-2 loss, and the teams meet again on December 16th at LCA, so it will be interesting to see how Detroit prepares for that one.

On the Isles’ side, Calum Ritchie, Max Shabanov (2), Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat scored goals, Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 Red Wings shots in the shutout…

And the Isles had 3 power plays and 8:00 of PP time to a measly single power play for Detroit, but I’m telling you that because I’m a little bitter.

Gibson stopped 22 of 27 shots, and the Wings finished at -25, which is very bad.

PREGAME: John Gibson and Ilya Sorokin led their respective teams out onto the ice at LCA:

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders Tweetcap: Detroit gets smoked by the Islanders…again…

Red Wings-Kraken Tweetcap: Danielson scores 1st goal as Detroit out-battles Kraken to 4-2 victory

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to sustain the momentum gained from their road win against the Rangers on Sunday as the team opened a 3-game home stand vs. the Seattle Kraken. Seattle was opening a 4-game road trip on a 2-0-and-1 streak.

At Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night, the Red Wings established a 2-game winning streak, defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-2.

The Kraken actually opened the scoring late in the first period as Jordan Eberle scored at 19:02 on a power play, but only 1:19 into the 2nd period, Lucas Raymond would tie the game as the plucky Kraken couldn’t stop a “Red Wings bounce” sneak through Joey Daccord…

Under a minute later, at 2:04, Nate Danielson would score his first NHL goal as the Red Wings would get another set of fortuitous bounces when Mason Appleton’s stick and then Danielson’s shin pad would tip pucks past Daccord…

And while the Kraken tied things up at 7:26 of the 2nd, when Ryker Evans blasted a goal through a screened Cam Talbot…

Detroit would score the go-ahead when Nate Danielson set up Emmitt Finnie at 10:56, on the power play, and after an up-and-down 3rd period, captain Dylan Larkin would score his 600th point on an empty-net maker at 19:30.

Cam Talbot stopped 20 of 22 shots, and Detroit went 1-for-2 in 3:19 of PP Time.

PREGAME: Cam Talbot and Joey Daccord led their respective teams out onto the ice…

Continue reading Red Wings-Kraken Tweetcap: Danielson scores 1st goal as Detroit out-battles Kraken to 4-2 victory

Red Wings-Rangers Tweetcap: DeBrincat, Raymond and Detroit out-duel Rangers’ Quick

The Detroit Red Wings had lost 4 of their past 5 games heading into a match-up with the New York Rangers on Sunday night, who were 7-3-and-1 in their past 12 games heading into Sunday night’s affair.

At Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, the Red Wings managed to defeat the New York Rangers 2-1, though there was a near-brawl at the end of the game…

Alex DeBrincat opened the scoring at 9:30 of the 2nd on a power play, scoring a gorgeous goal from Raymond and Kane, but Miikka Zibanejad would tie the game at 11:59 on the Rangers’ own power play–a borderline call on Moritz Seider for “delay of game”–and it took the Red Wings a 14-shot 3rd period to solve the tremendous Jonathan Quick, with Lucas Raymond finishing off the game at 16:13 of the 3rd from Larkin and Seider.

Quick stopped 40 shots for the Rangers, while Talbot stopped a sturdy 18 for the Red Wings, and Detroit went 1-for-6 on the PP and 1-for-2 on the PK.

PREGAME: Jonathan Quick and Cam Talbot led their respective teams out onto the ice at MSG:

Continue reading Red Wings-Rangers Tweetcap: DeBrincat, Raymond and Detroit out-duel Rangers’ Quick

Red Wings-Sabres Tweetcap: Thompson, resilient Sabres help Wings blow a 4-1 lead, lose 5-4 in OT.

The Detroit Red Wings looked to build upon Thursday’s victory against the Anaheim Ducks as they hosted the struggling Buffalo Sabres and returning captain Rasmus Dahlin on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena, kicking off a stretch of back-to-back games for Detroit (who will play in New York against the Rangers tomorrow night).

On Saturday evening, well, I don’t know what to make of this one.

10:23 in, Patrick Kane scored from Ben Chiarot, but Alex Tuch scored an unassisted marker only 29 seconds later to make it 1-1…

Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin and DeBrincat (again) would score 3 goals in 4:58 to give Detroit a 4-1 lead, commanding, no less, at between 3:52 and 8:50 of the 2nd…

And as DeBrincat looked en route to a hat trick, the Wings fell apart.

Josh Doan scored 17:58 into the 2nd, Tage Thompson overpowered the Wings at 4:25 of the 3rd and deked and dangled his way into the slot to score on Gibson, Ryan McLeod stripped Moritz Seider of the puck at 9:28 of the 3rd while on the PK, and blazed in on a breakaway…

And in overtime, Thompson mauled Alex DeBrincat with a legal check, passed back to Martin Samuelsson, and he fired the OT winner home at 1:05 of OT.

Buffalo out-shot Detroit 13-8 in the 2nd and 1-0 in OT after being out-shot 20-13 over the first 40 minutes of the game, and I guess the dangerous Sabres earned their win–as Detroit earned its loss.

Now the Red Wings head to New York tomorrow to play the Rangers.

PREGAME: John Gibson and Colten Ellis led their respective teams out onto the ice at Little Caesars Arena:

Continue reading Red Wings-Sabres Tweetcap: Thompson, resilient Sabres help Wings blow a 4-1 lead, lose 5-4 in OT.