In the ECHL, Shane Berschbach had 2 assists, Patrick McCarron, Christian Hilbrich, Mike Embach and Kyle Bonis scored goals and Pat Nagle stopped 44 of 46 shots as the Toledo Walleye won 4-2 over the Indy Fuel.
The Walleye’s website posted a recap:
In the ECHL, Shane Berschbach had 2 assists, Patrick McCarron, Christian Hilbrich, Mike Embach and Kyle Bonis scored goals and Pat Nagle stopped 44 of 46 shots as the Toledo Walleye won 4-2 over the Indy Fuel.
The Walleye’s website posted a recap:
The Detroit Red Wings lost a frustrating 3-2 decision to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, and they lost the game because of a controversial goal scored with 7.9 seconds remaining in regulation:
What Henrik Zetterberg had to say: “The inconsistency in this league right now, if it’s the refs or it’s the guys in Toronto or if it’s the suspensions or if it’s the fines, it’s hard for us as players to know what rules we are playing under.”
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) February 4, 2018
Justin Abdelkader on controversial Jonathan Huberdeau goal: “That’s insane they call that a goal. … It shocks me that they called that a goal.”
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) February 4, 2018
But the Red Wings made sure to point out that they lost the game to a team that now is tied with Detroit in the Eastern Conference and Wild Card standings. Detroit sits at 21-22-and-8, Florida at 22-22-and-6, with Detroit losing the tiebreaker because they’ve played in 51 games to Florida’s 50.
My take?
Get it right.
I don’t care how long it takes to review, I don’t care how embarrassed the league or the GM’s or the owners are because “It takes too long.”
Get it right. Consistently right.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) February 4, 2018
Our friends from Florida felt that the NHL’s situation room “got it right,” as they told FloridaPanthers.com’s Jameson Olive:
Continue reading Red Wings-Panthers wrap-up: controversial goal yields a lost opportunity
The Red Wings attempted to extend their fledgling win streak to three games while battling a pesky opponent in the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.
Detroit played rope-a-dope hockey en route to a 3-2 loss to the Panthers, who are now tied with the Red Wings in points…
And the Wings lost on a controversial call, with Jonathan Huberdeau first shoving Mrazek, perhaps involuntarily, and then putting the puck past Mrazek with 7.9 seconds remaining in the 3rd period.
.@FlaPanthers Jonathan Huberdeau puts away the final goal of the game! Cats win 3-2! #FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/9U1WEhQmhb
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) February 4, 2018
Mrazek was furious when the NHL-instituted review for goaltender interference played out, Blashill got kicked out of the game and the Red Wings left the ice reluctantly and left the ice irate.
Update: Here’s the Panthers’ call from NHL.com, 3:24 of it:
Update #2: YouTube version:
Continue reading Red Wings-Panthers quick take: Were the Wings jobbed? Maybe, maybe not.
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill addressed the media ahead of tonight’s game between the Red Wings and Florida Panthers, and the Sun-Sentinel’s Matthew DeFranks reports that Blashill didn’t name his starting goalie:
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill did not announce a starting goaltender. Petr Mrazek played last night in Carolina.
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) February 3, 2018
DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji confirmed:
#RedWings Blashill declined to announce the starting goaltender but when asked if Mrazek were to be selected, would it be because of his current run, he said, “Yep.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) February 3, 2018
Update: Here’s Blashill speaking with the media, via the Red Wings…
Coach Blashill addresses the media prior to #DETvsFLA. | #LGRW pic.twitter.com/imywQjVCVF
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 3, 2018
And…
Cheers from the Captain as he gets off the bus here in Sunrise, Florida. Henrik Zetterberg and the Wings play the Panthers tonight. Each team has won its last 2. Red Wings Live at 6:30. 7pm gametime on FSD Plus tonight. pic.twitter.com/8ghYr8mlFq
— John Keating (@JohnKeatingFSD) February 3, 2018
Of text-related note ahead of tonight’s game between the Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings (7:00 PM on FSD Plus/FS Florida/97.1 FM):
Okay, not just in text: here’s the Wings’ Game Day Preview…
And now, the text stuff:
1. NHL.com’s Alain Poupart does a nice job of setting up tonight’s game from both teams’ perspectives:
The Free Press’s Helene St. James penned an odd column, praising the surge of offense from the Red Wings’ defense on one hand, and offering the this as her conclusion:
These encouraging signs are good for the current team, but it doesn’t mean the organization should scrap plans to sell as the Feb. 26 trade deadline approaches. The Wings are not Stanley Cup contenders. When a good offer materializes for Green — and his offensive prowess is exactly what appeals to teams eyeing a run for the Cup — the Wings are better off long term taking it, even as it will negatively impact this season’s team.
The Wings need a high draft pick, and they won’t have a shot at the draft lottery if they make the playoffs. Defenseman Rasmus Darlin is the prize of the 2018 NHL entry draft, but there are also blue-chip defense prospects in Adam Boqvist and Michigan freshman Quinn Hughes. Andrei Svechnikov, brother of Wings prospect Evgeny Svechnikov, could go second overall.
Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers missed the playoffs by seven points, but moved up from 13th in the draft lottery to pick second overall.
Good for the Wings to play well down the stretch. Better for the Wings to still miss the playoffs.
I get the conclusion, but I’m not quite sure how St. James gets there…
Of mid-Saturday note from TSN’s Bob McKenzie, who was “thinking out loud” (and/or “ruminating,” as Mickey Redmond might say):
A couple of random pre-trade deadline thoughts, given the deadline is three weeks Monday: I’ll be keeping an eye on TB and NSH as perhaps the two teams who could/would conceivably make significant moves, given their firm status as legit Cup contenders…
In the TSN Coaches Poll last week, those two teams were clearly identified as favourites to contend for Cup, although WPG, VGK and BOS also got some support. Point is, given their recent histories (both losing in a Cup final) and rosters that are heavily constructed to win now…
Continue reading Mid-day deadline ruminations from McKenzie–intriguing stuff
The Detroit Red Wings will battle the Florida Panthers this evening (7:00 PM EST on FSD Plus due to a Pistons-Heat game at LCA/FS Florida/97.1 FM).
The Wings hope to push their winning streak to 3 games as they tangle with an opponent that’s vexed them in the 21-22-and-6 Panthers, who sit only 2 points behind the Wings in the Wild Card and Eastern Conference standings.
Florida comes into tonight’s game having won 2 straight games, including a 4-2 decision over Buffalo on Thursday, and the Panthers have won with a “green” goalie, as noted by STATS’ Wings-Panthers preview:
FYI from the Saginaw Spirit, assuming you don’t have any Saturday plans:
‼️TONIGHT‼️
The 11th Annual Shocks and Saves game featuring @RedWingAlumni begins today at 4:30 PM
Following the charity game, the #Spirit host the Flint Firebirds at 7:30 PM
Get your tickets NOW by calling 989-497-7747 pic.twitter.com/eeMLRN57qe
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) February 3, 2018
Red Wings prospect David Pope scored a hat trick last night for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, which lost 5-3 to Saint Cloud State University on Friday night. Red Wings Prospects on Twitter found a highlight clip of the game.
Pope’s wearing #12 for the Mavericks (in black):