The Detroit Red Wings lost a 2-1 overtime decision to the Arizona Coyotes that was controversial in nature, but the Red Wings’ 0-3-and-1 road trip record could not be denied, no could the fact that the Red Wings have lost 5 of their past 6 games (albeit the last in overtime).
The Red Wings wrap up their ugly stretch of 11 games played over the course of 17 evenings with an 4-6-and-1 record, which would be expected last year, but is not good enough this year–personnel and coaching concerns by the fan base included–and the Red Wings will finally be able to go back home and practice as the schedule lightens, and one of the league leaders in games played goes back to the pack.
Now the level of competition does not lighten up alongside the schedule as November turns to December, but Detroit (8-9-and-3) can at least push its way to .500 before Thanksgiving, and, as coach Blashill said on Bally Sports Detroit’s post-game interview with Trevor Thompson, the Wings will be able to practice and reestablish some good habits after playing 20 damn times in only 37 days.
That’s baffling, as baffling as the fact that this goal stood after Jakob Chychrun hacked Alex Nedeljkovic’s glove, and Phil Kessel pitchforked the Wings’ goalie to keep him at the lip of his crease:
The comeback is complete! @ClaytonKeller37 ends it in @EASPORTSNHL overtime. pic.twitter.com/dPsno1SomZ— NHL (@NHL) November 21, 2021
If you don’t win the game, however, you can only complain so much about its outcome, and the Red Wings did blow holding a 1-0 lead for 53:31 of regulation because the Red Wings also did not display a killer instinct against the Coyotes.
Instead of capitalizing on their opportunities, the Wings went 0-for-2 on the power play, and after out-shooting Arizona 16-6 in the 2nd period and 24-14 over two periods of play, Arizona out-shot Detroit 15-10 the rest of the way.
Long story long, the Coyotes earned the win, even if the Red Wings did not deserve the result, as ArizonaCoyotes.com’s recap noted:
Continue reading Red Wings-Coyotes wrap-up: no cash no trash