DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings played their first home game of the 2007 exhibition season Thursday night, dropping a 3-2 decision to the visiting Minnesota Wild.
Dominik Hasek started the game in the Detroit net, surrendering power play goals to Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Brent Burns on 13 shots against before Jimmy Howard took over in the Detroit crease.
Mark Hartigan got the Red Wings on the board, banging in the rebound after a shot from Matt Ellis rang off the post.
Minnesota picked up another power play goal when Brian Rolston was left all alone to pick up a pass at the back door, whipping a shot past Howard.
Mattias Ritola added Detroit's second goal, puting a quick shot from the left circle off of a Minnesota defender and over the shoulder of Harding.
Harding finished the night with 28 saves on 30 shots. Howard made seven saves on the eight shots he faced.
The Red Wings will hit the ice again tomorrow when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins before visiting Pittsburgh on Saturday.
For those in the Detroit area, don't forget that this is one of FSN's preseason games, so we'll be able to see it live.
Brian Rafalski will be scratched to rest the hip flexor injury he picked up at the "Wings for Lunch" practice in GR yesterday. Brad Ference takes his spot in the lineup.
The Wings are expected to dress about a half-and-half lineup, part NHL and part AHL. The Wild are going mostly NHL, with three of their normal forward lines, both of their goalies, and most of their defense.
I am so excited I am bouncing in my seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOCKEY'S BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKk
For the love of the lord! It's returned! YAYY!!!!!
I am so happy you came on, I was going to post a topic but I decided not to. xD Happy I didn't, now. =)
I wonder how well the Wild will do compared to Monday?!?!?! 
HAHAHHAYESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
edit;; my guess on how I like the jersies are right: I almost hate them =)
their numbers look funny, everything is smaller. I was reading about how they were too tight on RWI, I believe. D= Eww.
The jerseys don't look bad to me. Remember that one thing that looks weird is the font for the nameplate, which will change for the regular season. The Wings always use a different nameplate for the preseason.
Mickey's in rare form, complaining about the refs just minutes in.
xD hahhahaha so true. =)
I was scared a few times but luckily Dom is the GREATEST goalie ever
I am surprised they missed the one shot, the net was almost wide open. No complaining here though, as long as the Wild doesn't win.
Wings power play looked awful just then. How do you get one shot on a five-on-three?
....pardon my french(I should know) but WTF WAS THAT?
All four of them around the goal?!?!?!?! AND THEY STILL score? D= I may not be a great player, or know that much about the game, but that was just....wow. Not even gonna finish =.=
edit;; I bet if Pavel was there, it would be different =/
Any information to why he's not there?
The difference between Minnesota and Detroit in the first? The Wings kept firing away from the outside while the Wild got it down low and made the Wings scramble.
bleh. D= True.
I hope they shape up in the third period, as usual. But hoping doesn't bring much. D= I am fearful.
Qunicey got absolutely burned on the second goal. Ouch.
Qunicey got absolutely burned on the second goal. Ouch.
good. I don't like him. xD (most biased thing I've said today)
holy cow. Nick Lidstrom got a penalty not sure if I have seen that before. =)
HAHAHAHAHAH YES!!!!!!! I had a good feeling about Mark Hartigan. He has pretty eyes <3(0_o lots of the players do) Maybe I gave him luck by posting that topic last month or whenever? xD hahah I wish!
Way for Hartigan to be on the ball, that rebound got to him quick and he banged it right back in. Great shot by Ellis, too.
Wild are doing a good job of pressuring the points on the PK. Wings aren't able to set up at all.
D= They compare Kyle Quincey to Mathieu Schneider, and then Minnesota scores. Coincidence maybe?
(Biased statement)
T_T I wanted a fight.
Another one with a player left wide open to come in down the far side. Not good.
Easy to laugh in the preseason but damned if Samuelsson isn't looking snake-bit already.
Easy to laugh in the preseason but damned if Samuelsson isn't looking snake-bit already.
Hahahaha, well said, Clark. =D I was just saying that to someone. xD
I believe he hit the post a lot last year too, didn't he?
The only time where I actually considered him good was May 5th vs. San Jose. =) Only time. Maybe it was because I was there though, so I let up a little? xD I dunno.
Oh well. I hope the score is not 6-1.
To start the third, the Wings are already getting shots off more quickly. Nothing to show for it yet but they're looking faster.
Those are the kind of shots the Wings hadn't been getting, ones from inside the circles. The nice bounce off the d-man helps, of course.
who got the second goal? the name was unknown and foreign, so I will not guess it's spelling. x]
Mattias Rittola (sp?). Swedish prospect.
Puck seems to be rolling tonight. Either that or the young guys aren't handling the puck well, but it seems to be happening to the vets too.
it's over D=. xD I don't think they can score in 9.2
Well, I can't feel bad about a preseason loss to Josh Harding since I've got him on my DFHL team.
Well, I can't feel bad about a preseason loss to Josh Harding since I've got him on my DFHL team.
lmao! that gives me something to smile about right now hahaha. That league is confusing @.@ I'll figure it out...in years to come? xD Probably
Shouldn't be too confusing. It's all simulated. It's like the computer playing against itself in a game of NHL 2008 (or whatever your preferred year is) and we get to see the result.
Dan Cleary just interviewed that he's hurt. Going to get an x-ray tomorrow. He's having trouble breathing. We'll see what comes of that.
(NHL '07 <3)
Ok. Thanks for the tip. I'll try reading the joining thing again, I was half asleep last time I read it, maybe that contributed to it?
D= I hope Dan Cleary is ok. He's a good player. Hahaha, I love how on Red Wings' Live their head line was " 'Ritola' Me This " Fun saying.
Cleary apparently does not have any broken ribs so they're listing him as day-to-day.
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