Follow me on Twitter Follow @TheJeremyLaura

GAME 1 = WIN! pic.twitter.com/tcZ94V8209

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 15, 2024

Dallas got on the board in the first period and there didn’t seem to be much room on the ice after the power play tally. Going back and forth with a friend throughout the game it’s clear these kids rush to get into position and muck up the 3 zones as much as possible.

The second period saw Detroit start to pick up play as they hit their 20th shot on net with Dallas at 15. Still, there wasn’t anything on the board to show for the effort. Then, the third.

A set faceoff play at 3:07 in the Dallas zone saw Pacquette grab the puck and walk it to the net for a tap in. 2 minutes and 8 seconds later Finnie and Seger broke into the zone 2 on 1 as Finnie got a shot off and Seger collected the rebound for a tap in. 2-1

At 7:20 Detroit was the beneficiary of a 5 on 3 power play and 5 seconds in Rychlovsky was on the goalie’s right at the post. A shot rebounded to him and was patiently lifted up and over the sprawled out goal tender to make the lead 3-1.

At 14:46 Lombardi skated the puck into the O zone and through the left faceoff dot. He found Doucet net front with a nice pass that was tapped in to take the lead to 4-1.

At 16:13 Doucet would get his second and Detroit’s 5th on an empty net shot. The team that finished the game looked like a completely different set of players.

Hunter Johannes made a HUGE hit in the second, Shai Buium had some nice deceptive edge work as he created space up near the blue line, and Danielson seems to have a long reach and can make tight plays and behind the back passes that were impressive to see.

I don’t envy the teams in these tournaments. You come together from all over. Everyone from 18 year old draftees to a “veteran” like Buium. Hockey still has two intangibles that can shift a game. Goal tending and momentum. The first one is obvious. When a goalie is locked in and they see everything. Momentum is just something you feel as the ice “tilts” in favor of one team. Detroit was a different team after the first goal. By the end, they were on the same page and looked ready for another period of play.

Kudos to Ken Kal and Bob Kaser for the call as well as to the fans in Traverse City that showed up. The sign for Don’s Traverse City Drive In is still on the boards. Fantastic place for shakes and a reminder of those crisp September days spent hanging around the town.

We’ll see what Dallas brings in tomorrow’s tilt. The Stars always seem to be well coached and start on the right page. For 2 periods it felt like the old days of Detroit vs. Nashville where you just couldn’t get anywhere. The third period changed everything around. Detroit will want a hot start and Dallas won’t want to leave without at least one ‘W’.




First Period
Score: 1-0 Dallas
Shots: 8-7 Detroit

2nd period
Score: 1-0 Dallas
Shots: 20-15 Detroit

3rd period

At 3:07 Charlie Pacquette grabbed the puck off of an O zone face off and went 5 hole for Detroit’s first of the games 1-1

At5:15 Finnie and Seeger cashed in on a 2 on 1 as Finnie’s shot went straight to Seeger who tapped it in. 2-1 DET (shots 27-16 DET)

At 7:20 Detroit was on a 5 on 3 and scored within a few seconds Rychlovsky got to a rebound and patiently lifted it over the Star’s goalie who was down from making an earlier save. 3-1 DET

At 14:46 Lombardi skated the puck into the faceoff dot and found Doucet in front of the net for a tap in. 4-1 DET

At 16:13 Doucet found an empty net for his 2nd of the game. 5-1 DET

Final Score: 5-1 DET
Shots - 38-18 DET

Join the Discussion: » 11 Comments » Post New Comment

» Detroit down 2 for 2 in California, can the team turn it around?

» Wings watch Anaheim score 4 in the 3rd, loss starts road trip.

» Detroit vs Anaheim - DVR vs. extra coffee

» Edvinsson gets the OT winner as Talbot steps up stopping 32 of 34

» Wings vs Penguins and one more “Broadcast Buzz”