The first game for Detroit for almost a week against a Columbus team that haven’t won a game all season to date. If the Redwings win they will go 5-0 going into Saturday’s game against a Washington team that are 6-0 so far. Columbus have won 1 in 28 regular season games over this season and last.
Mason got the start for the Blue Jackets and Howard for the Redwings and it was Howard who had to make the first save, smothering the puck after only 15 seconds. Mason then made a big save 15 seconds later on Zetterberg as both teams came out fast.
Both teams exchanged powerplays in the first 10 minutes and it was Franzen who took advantage on Detroit’s PP as he put the puck high, glove side on Mason to make it 1-0 Detroit.
Howard made a huge save on Mackenzie just over the 10 minute mark to keep the game at 1-0 as the Redwings defence made a mistake to cough the puck up to leave him free infront of the net.
Mason made a good glove save on Franzen with just over 7 minutes left as Detroit tried to take a 2-0 lead. Columbus were still sticking with the Redwings but Detroit were starting to get on top.
Detroit made it 2-0 as they took advantage on another powerplay. Franzen again getting the goal as he cut in at the side of the net and managed to fire the puck in past Mason off the defenseman infront.
Brassard quickly made it 2-1 only 57 seconds later as Howard deflected a shot against the post but the Columbus forward was quickest to react to put the puck behind the Redwings netminder to halve the deposit.
Detroit finished the period on the powerplay but Mason came up big again and Detroit took a 2-1 lead into the 2nd with a handful of seconds remaining on their 3rd powerplay of the game.
It took 27 seconds for Datsyuk to make it 3-1 to Detroit as First White and then Zetterberg had shots saved by Mason only for the rebound to leave Pavel an open net to fire the puck into to make it a perfect 2nd period start.
Ericsson and Dorsett decided to drop the gloves around the 17 minute mark as Dorsett tried to spark his trailing Blue Jackets team but Ericsson came out on top, landing some good blows to the back of Dorsett’s head.
Columbus had the best of the 2nd period as they outshot the Redwings early in the period 11-4 and finished the period outshooting Detroit
The 3rd period started with Lidstrom in the box and a 2 minute powerplay for Columbus. The 1st chance of the period went to Detroit as Darren Helm used his pace to go from blue line to blue line and in on Mason, with the netminder staying strong.
Johnson made it 3-2 on that powerplay though as he got a free shot from the edge of the circle and placed the puck past Howard to make the game closer than it should be at the start of the third.
A 5 on 3 powerplay led to Detroit dominating the offensive zone and as the 5 on 3 finished with Detroit still in the ascendancy, Captain Nick Lidstrom got the puck inbetween the circles to fire a 3rd Redwings powerplay goal of the night high past Mason to make it a 4-2 game with just over 12 minutes left.
The 3rd period calmed then as Detroit had the game in the bag after that 4th and they made it 5-2 on an empty net goal as Filppula set up Franzen for his hatrick. Franzen got caught on the back check though and had to make a great pass back to Filppula as he scored on the open goal to make it a 1 + 3 night for him and a 2 + 2 game for Franzen.
So, Detroit go 5-0 to start the season and face the Washington Capitals tomorrow who are 6-0 so far this season. An early clash of the titans?? Lets hope so!
- Adam Yates
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