DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings improved to 5-0-0 on the young NHL season Friday night, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-2, to get off to their best start in nearly 40 years, when they started the 1972-73 season 6-0-0.
The Red Wings also turned their power play around, scoring three goals with the man advantage after scoring only once on their first nineteen power play chances to start the season.
Johan Franzen opened the game's scoring with one of those power play goals. Franzen sent the puck to the bottom of the right faceoff circle for Valtteri Filppula, who poked it back up for Franzen. From the faceoff dot, Franzen snapped a shot over Steve Mason's glove, past a screen by Danny Cleary at 9:03 of the first period.
With 5:39 remaining in the period, Franzen knocked a shot in from the side of the net. The puck bouced off defenseman Aaron Johnson to sneak past Mason, making it 2-0.
Derick Brassard made it 2-1 just 57 seconds later, left alone at the side of the net to lift the rebound of a Johnson shot over Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard.
Only 27 seconds into the second period, Pavel Datsyuk restored the two-goal lead. Ian White fired a long shot on net that Mason knocked aside, then Henrik Zetterberg couldn't score from the side of the net. Tomas Holmstrom swatted at the loose puck at the edge of the crease but it came back out to Datsyuk in the slot to fire past the scrambling Mason.
Johnson got the Blue Jackets back into it at 1:42 of the third period, left wide open in the slot to slap the puck past a screened Howard for a power play goal.
Nicklas Lidstrom scored just seconds after the expiration of a five-on-three to make it 4-2. Lidstrom's blast from the high slot deflected on its way through to get past Mason at 7:46 of the third.
Filppula added an empty net goal when he tapped in a chance from Franzen that was going wide.
Detroit's three power play markers came on five chances with the man advantage, including their one long five-on-three. Columbus' power play goal came on four tries with the extra man.
Howard made 32 saves on 34 shots against on the night. Mason stopped 28 of the 32 shots he faced.
The Red Wings meet the Washington Capitals in a battle of undefeated teams on Saturday night.
Notes: Patrick Eaves and Fabian Brunnstrom were the healthy scratches up front for Detroit... Brendan Smith was not called back to the Red Wings roster to serve another game of his NHL suspension. He remains with the Grand Rapids Griffins now that his AHL suspension is over.
The Red Wings - off since last Saturday - resume their OHL-like schedule with another set of weekend games. Tonight it's the Columbus Blue Jackets visiting Detroit and tomorrow the Wings are in Washington to face the Capitals.
Columbus is winless, suffering through injuries (Jeff Carter), suspensions (James Wisniewski) and indifference (averaging 11,394 fans in their four home games). The Wings are unbeaten (though they needed overtime to rally past the Minnesota Wild last week). With the similarly-undefeated Capitals up tomorrow, it's easy to see how tonight's matchup fits as a trap game.
Jimmy Howard gets the start against Steve Mason. Mike Commodore remains on STIR and will not play against his former team. With Brendan Smith's AHL suspension over, he's with the Griffins tonight rather than burning off a game of his NHL suspension with the Wings (he has two games of that remaining). Patrick Eaves and Fabian Brunnstrom are the healthy scratches.
On paper this should be an easy win however, as Clark mentioned, this has the making of a trap game. One of the keys to tonight's game will be to avoid overconfidence which triggers lazy play.
Ken and Mickey talking about "making up" for the off nights later in the season like it's a good thing.
Not sure what I think of that penalty on Homer. I feel like I've seen worse go uncalled but its a new NHL (again).
Helm going face-first into that block is terrifying.
Franzen has both Wings' PPGs on the season. Real nice, quick shot.
Three consecutive goals by Franzen across six days, all on the power play.
Brassard was the only one who didn't stop moving there. Everyone else got spun around when the initial shot came off the post.
Not sure what I think of that penalty on Homer. I feel like I've seen worse go uncalled but its a new NHL (again).
Agreed. I'm not sure what to think anymore.
Three consecutive goals by Franzen across six days, all on the power play.
The Mule is on fire!
White, then Zetterberg, then Holmstrom, then Datsyuk. Great job by the entire team to stay with the puck there.
If that was 'Moves Like Jagger' they were playing in the JLA I'm going to cry. They seriously play some of the sh*ttiest music ever.
Also that was a good fight, IMO.
Even if that wasn't Moves Like Jagger they still play ridiculous crap.
Damn, Ericsson kicked some ass there. Classy end to it, too.
If that was 'Moves Like Jagger' they were playing in the JLA I'm going to cry. They seriously play some of the sh*ttiest music ever.
Which lets me break out my favorite quote about the music at the Joe, that it hasn't been updated "since Brendan Shanahan was traded to the team in 1996 and requested Republica's 'Ready to Go.'" Obviously not entirely true but the sentiment stands.
Which lets me break out my favorite quote about the music at the Joe, that it hasn't been updated "since Brendan Shanahan was traded to the team in 1996 and requested Republica's 'Ready to Go.'" Obviously not entirely true but the sentiment stands.
It's so true! And now that they have finally started to get newer music, they of course play the worst songs from the radio.
I'll get back on topic now it's just infuriating. That or the Wings fans need to acquire some taste.
Wings let Columbus dictate the pace for most of the second. Need to come back with more jump in the third, can't let the Jackets get into it,.
Need to come out strong in the third!!!
I agree... The music at JLA sucks!
That new commercial with Drapes and Ozzie is LAME!
I like the CFS line. (Czech... Fin... Swede)
We have got to get Helm to the All-Star fastest skater competition!
sh*t
Howard screened by his own man with no one covering the guy on the point. Ugly breakdown.
Howard screened by his own man with no one covering the guy on the point. Ugly breakdown.
Laziness... Pure laziness.
Nick!!!! I love it!!!
Used every second of that. Should have been much better but can't complain about the result.
Thank god Lidstrom made up for that last one.
First PPG of the season not scored by Franzen.
Goal baby!
Thank god Lidstrom made up for that last one.
Amen!
Who's going to score if Franzen's in the box?
Helm!
Important PK there. Solid D.
REception on my 4G network sucks tonight. I'll make up for it as I'll be sitting behind the Red Wing box tomorrow in D.C.
Dr. Fil with three assists!
4 point Fil!
Bush league performance by the Jackets.
Not a bad start to the season...
“Last time he scored a hat trick, he didn’t score for 20 games.”
Dr. Fil is just great.
Johan Franzen
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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