DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings didn’t need much offense that night, so they didn’t get any.
The Carolina Hurricanes lost 1-0 due to an opponent with a stifling defense, a hot rookie goaltender, an ineffective power play, and the absence of their leading scorer in the third period. This year’s Red Wings (13-9-6) offense is better because they have more scoring options and a deeper team.
They have been eliminated for the first time this season thanks to Pyotr Kochetkov’s 27 saves. Goals may be harder to come by if Dylan Larkin is idle for any length of time. Larkin did not return after being shot in the right hand late in the second period. Following the game, coach Derek Lalonde did not know the extent of the injury, but he did say that Larkin would not play Wednesday against Minnesota (7:30 p.m., TNT).
The Red Wings struggled to generate offense despite having Larkin, their leading scorer with 27 points in 28 games. Andrew Copp, a center for the Red Wings, stated, “That’s the film they’re going to show when they start training camp, just being on top of guys.” They’ve been doing that for the past five years, coming down the walls hard, pinching, and playing man-on-man. They’re just over the top of it all night. I didn’t play poorly tonight, but when you kind of let them play, it’s a frustrating game.
“Forecheck those guys, force them to go back for pucks, and always hit them. We simply did not perform enough tonight. David Perron stated: They hit the net with a lot of pucks. Regardless of whether it raises a ruckus around town, they only sort of continue to edge it around. Sometimes it seems almost overwhelming. After a sluggish first period, the Red Wings took control of the game in the second with a 13-6 shot advantage. During the five minutes of power play time, however, none of them showed up.
Perron stated, “I don’t think we did a good enough job of that.” “It’s definitely bringing momentum, and it’s not just goals for sure on the power play.” We had a few good looks, like a seam play to Dominick Kubalik, who has been scoring a lot of goals like that recently. That’s how the night sometimes goes. In contrast, the Hurricanes (16-6-6) scored during their first of two power plays against Ville Husso (26 saves).
At 17:20 of the first period, a one-timer from Brady Skjei was successful. Lalonde said, “They just defended inside.” We could have out-risked them. The special team’s match went to them. The first time around, we didn’t really give ourselves much of a chance, so it was disappointing. A little push, a much better second, but it didn’t go in for us. We did not score on the power play, but they did. In the game, the difference.”