Detroit Red Wings Vs Boston Bruins – Thanksgiving Showdown.

Boston entered this game on a 10 game winning streak whilst Detroit were on a 3 game winning run themselves. Both teams had almost identical records and whilst Tim Thomas was just pipping his counterpart Jimmy Howard in both the Save % and GAA columns it was Tukka Rask who got the nod in the Boston Net

After a very scrappy opening 13 minutes that Boston dominated on possession and shots, Detroit got a quick break out and scored against the run of play. Fillpula entered the zone with speed, found Zetterberg on the wing who then fed it straight back to Fillpula as he went in on goal He stroked it past Tukka Rask for a fantastic break out goal. The Red Wings probably didn’t deserve this after the Bruins had started well but they took the chance when it came along.

You’d have expected  a tough, close 1^st period from 2 teams with similar records. The game certainly seemed to be going that way. The Bruins were more than edging the game on shots, 13 – 6 but it was the Red Wings who went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead. Howard looked like he was carrying on his great form whilst Rask hadn’t had much to deal with at the other end.

Boston got themselves level within the first 5 minutes of the 2^nd period as Jimmy Howard tried to throw a puck to a defenceman behind the net that was intercepted by Horton and he fed Paille who had Howard sprawling back across his net and he beat the netminder easily. Datsyuk had Detroit back in the lead 35 seconds later as Bertuzzi played a puck from the boards between the legs of the Boston defenceman and Datsyuk kicked the puck across the crease onto his own  stick and slid the puck into the gaping net behind Rask. An exchange of 2 minute minors with around 7 minutes of the 2^nd left saw Detroit exert some good pressure on the Boston net. A couple of great powerplay chances went begging, the most notable being a great chance for Fillpula to bag his 2^nd. Somehow the Red Wing forward put the put over the top of the net as he stood on Rask’s doorstep.

Detroit would take that 2-1 lead into the 3^rd period as Detroit had the better of the 2^nd period but couldn’t extend their 1 goal lead. Boston started the 3^rd period well and they nearly capitlaised on a chance where Howard lost his bearings in his crease. Detroit got some momentum back though as Sidenberg took a 2 minute penalty for a knee on knee collision with Emmerton mid ice. For all the possession and good set up play, Detroit couldn’t find a way through a solid Boston penalty kill and the game remained at 2-1.

Another bad play from Detroit in their own zone led to Boston tying the game again. Zetterberg seemed to casually turn on a puck right infront of Jimmy Howard and Bergeron stole it off him and put it past the hapless Detroit netminder. It wasn’t the best of passes to Zetterberg in his own zone and he seemed to think he had more time than he actually did. The Bruins aggressive forecheck worked again and the building was ignited as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

Danny Cleary created himself a great chance to put the Red Wings back infront as  he picked up the puck and went in on net, going forehand and backhand but he rattled the pipe behind Tukka Rask in the Bruins net and the game stayed tied. Jimmy Howard then made 2 huge saves, 1^st from Seguin and then Marchand as Boston threw everything they could back at Detroit to try and break the tie. Zetterberg, Fillpula, Franzen and Datsyuk all got the puck on net in the final 3 minutes but couldn’t break the tie either and both teams guaranteed themselves a point as the game headed into overtime.

4 on 4 hockey in the OT period saw this game intensify even more as both teams went out to try and get the extra point before penalty shots were needed. Zetterberg made a clever play to give Bertuzzi a great chance to win it for Detroit but he hit the glass and Zdeno Chara had a wrap around chance which was fielded away from the net by Howard as the game did get to the penalty shot stage. Tyler Seguin went 1^st as he chose to shoot from between the hash marks and Howard got a piece of it to deflect it over the top of the net.

Datsyuk faked a move to the back hand and went forehand to put the puck past Rask stick side and give Detroit the lead.

Peverley had Howard falling all over his crease but fired the puck wide which gave Hudler the chance to win it. Hudler  went back hand and fired it straight into Rask’s glove, an easy save for the Bruins netmnider. Horton fired the puck in off the pipe glove side on Howard to keep the shoot out alive. That meant if Bertuzzi scored Detroit would take the extra point and the Red Wing forward skated the puck wide before disguising going backhand and firing the puck forehanded to the glove side of Rask to win the game.

Neither team deserved to lose this one really. A great advert for the NHL as the Red Wings break the Bruins 10 game winning streak.

- Adam Yates