George Malik

Red Wings-Kraken wrap-up: by the narrowest of margins, Detroit prevails for 4th straight win

The Detroit Red Wings won over the Seattle Kraken by the narrowest of margins, defeating Seattle 4-3 in a shootout on Wednesday night.

The Red Wings surrendered a 1-0 lead, trailed 2-1 and then blew a 3-2 3rd period lead, and overtime was downright dreary “soccer hockey” as the Red Wings seemed to daydream elegant passes into would-be highlight reel goals instead of just shooting the damn puck at the damn net and chasing after it…

But Robby Fabbri, Vladislav Namestnikov and Lucas Raymond’s regulation goals stood up thanks to both Dylan Larkin and Adam Erne’s shootout goals, as well as a fine performance from Thomas Greiss, who earned his 150th career win in a 23-save, 3-of-4-shootout-save performance (with a couple of goalposts and crossbar ringers on his side).

Long story long, the Red Wings looked a little tired, more mentally than physically, coming off a big, emotional win in Boston the night before, but the Wings stuck with it against an undermanned but tremendously tenacious and pesky Kraken team.

So the Wings took the battle of Octopus vs. Giant Squid, Chapter 1, extending their winning streak to 4 games ahead of a more marquee Saturday match-up vs. the Islanders…

And yes, the Red Wings won without Tyler Bertuzzi for the first time. That must be mentioned, as must Bertuzzi’s soon-to-be 5-game absence due to COVID protocols.

For our friends from Seattle, as the Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker notes, taking a point from the now-12-9-and-3 Red Wings was tangible consolation, especially given the performance of their interim top line of Yanni Gourde, Joonas Donsokoi and a visibly stiff and sore (from blocking shots) Ryan Donato:

Tweets of note: Bertuzzi out for at least 10 days and 5 games

Ugh.

Blashill said Bertuzzi is feeling fine but will be in COVID protocol for 10 days. He’ll miss five games.— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) December 2, 2021

Jeff Blashill says Red Wings F Tyler Bertuzzi, who is not vaccinated, will be in COVID-19 protocol for 10 days, will miss 5 games.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 2, 2021

Red Wings-Kraken quick take: No Squid Game, a shootout win instead

The Detroit Red Wings aimed to win their 4th straight game for the first time this season at the expense of the injury-ravaged Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night.

The Red Wings tried to do so without Tyler Bertuzzi and Danny DeKeyser (COVID), which is an increasing concern, and with Thomas Griess in goal, despite Greiss having given up 5 goals apiece in the Wings’ last 4 appearances.

The Red Wings won, but ONLY JUST. Detroit was forced to a shootout by the sparky, sneaky Kraken, and Dylan Larkin and Adam Erne out-scored Joonas Donskoi to afford Detroit a 4-3 victory.

Over the course of regulation, Fabbri, Namestnikov and Raymond scored for Detroit, and Thomas Greiss stopped 21 shots to secure his 150th career win as the Kraken lurked, lurked, lurked and struck, struck, struck against a sleepy, day-dreamy Red Wings team that has earned its 4th straight win for the first time this season…

Again, but only just.

Toledo Walleye forward Matt Berry named ECHL Performer of the Month for November

Per the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

Forward Matt Berry, who recently played for the Toledo Walleye, has been named the ECHL’s plus performer of the month for November.
Berry led the ECHL with a plus-minus rating of plus-13 last month. He played at an even rating or better in 10 of the Walleye’s 12 games.
The 29-year-old leads the ECHL with a plus-16 rating for the season.
A player earns a “plus” each time he is on the ice when his team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal. He receives a “minus” if he is on the ice when the opposing team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal. The difference in the numbers is the player’s “plus-minus” rating.
Berry also finished with a plus-3 rating in three games: Nov. 3 at Indy, Nov. 6 versus Kalamazoo, and Nov. 20 versus Iowa.
On Sunday, Berry earned a call up to Toledo’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. Berry ranks second in the ECHL in total points with 24 (9 G, 15 A) in 15 games. He is tied for the league lead in assists.
Berry was named ECHL player of the week for Nov. 15 to 21.

Falkner’s notebook: Seattle radio announcer Everett Fitzhugh a Detroit success story

Detroit native Everett Fitzhugh is the Seattle Kraken’s radio announcer, and Fitzhugh spoke with the Detroit News’s Mark Falkner regarding his journey to the NHL radio booth:

A hockey trailblazer at the age of 31, Fitzhugh said the game in Detroit will be a tribute to his family, especially his mother, who adopted him on her own and raised him to believe in his dreams.
“I definitely will be shedding some tears before my first NHL game in Detroit, back home,” Fitzhugh said.
Fitzhugh grew up as an only child on the northwest side of the city at Eight Mile and Meyers and attended Tappan Middle School and Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor before starting his hockey broadcasting career an hour away at Bowling Green University in Ohio.
It was at Bowling Green after a game against Alaska Fairbanks in January 2007 that Fitzhugh told his mom about his dream.
“I remember calling her and saying, ‘This game went fantastic and I’m now putting all my eggs into the hockey basket. We’re going to the NHL,'” Fitzhugh said. “She kind of chuckled and said, ‘All right, well, you can do it. Let’s see if we can get you there.'”

Continued

A bit ‘o Al the Octopus…slinger

Red Wings building manager Al Sobotka spoke with the Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker regarding the art of twirling octopi:

As the Kraken made their first appearance in an “Original Six” market here Wednesday night, they had to hope Sobotka wouldn’t become a part of the show yet again. Besides driving the Zamboni, Sobotka, 68, is the guy in charge of picking up dead octopuses — yes, you read that correctly — thrown on the ice by fans at Little Caesars Arena. He is known to get somewhat rambunctious about it.
“Usually I grab it, give it a twirl and it riles up the crowd,” said Sobotka, who began working Red Wings games in 1971-72. “We had two this year, I believe, and I swung one here a few games ago. And of course the crowd got all going, and we won the game.”
That Nov. 13 game saw the Red Wings fall behind Montreal 1-0 before Dylan Larkin tied things up in the second period, prompting the octopus toss from the stands. After Sobotka got the crowd going with a lasso-style twirl, Detroit scored again a minute later and wound up winning in overtime.
The so-called Legend of the Octopus tradition dates to 1952 when Detroit fishmongers Pete and Jerry Cusimano realized the creatures had eight tentacles — then the number of playoff wins needed to capture the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings were 7-0 that postseason and looking to become the first NHL team to enjoy a perfect playoff run, which they did by winning their eighth game after the Cusimano brothers threw their octopus on the ice.
Initially, the creatures would be thrown only in playoff games, either after the national anthem was played or when the Red Wings had scored. But because the team has not made the postseason since 2015-16, some fans throw them after regular-season goals.
Things haven’t always gone smoothly for lifelong Detroit resident Sobotka during his performances.
“I’ve had a tentacle break off,” he said. “And once somebody threw one that was partially frozen, so I couldn’t really twirl it.”

Continued

Tweet of note: BSD’s John Keating interviews Kraken announcer and Detroit native Everett Fitzhugh

Enjoy:

The NHL’s 32nd franchise makes its FIRST visit to Detroit. The voice of the team is Detroit native, Everett Fitzhugh, who was named the first Black NHL team broadcaster, by the expansion club. Hear how the hockey trailblazer earned his start at 31. pic.twitter.com/yPHL4BOrLI— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) December 2, 2021