CHICAGO, Illinois -- The Detroit Red Wings got All-Star goaltender Jimmy Howard back in the lineup Tuesday night but couldn't provide scoring support for him as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Howard stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced in his first game back from a broken index finger.
Detroit had opened the game's scoring and led after the first period but the Blackhawks rallied with goals in the second and third.
Just 2:22 into the game, Valtteri Filppula threaded a shot from the high slot through traffic and past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford with the Red Wings on a power play to make it 1-0.
Chicago's Jimmy Hayes tied things up at 7:45 of the second. Howard stretched to stop a deflected Bryan Bickell shot but Hayes was all alone in front of the net to put home the rebound.
Marcus Kruger gave the Blackhawks the lead at 1:53 of the third, knocking a rebound chance past the sprawling Howard.
Though the Red Wings seemingly had little energy and had trouble gaining the Chicago zone, they managed to outshoot the Blackhawks, with Crawford stopping 31 of the 32 shots he faced.
One plus for Detroit to take away is having scored with the extra attacker, with Filppula's goal coming on one of their three power play chances. Chicago was scoreless on three power play attempts.
The Red Wings will be back in action on Thursday when they return home to take on the Vancouver Canucks.
Notes: The Red Wings were without forward Pavel Datsyuk, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery earlier in the day. He is expected to miss at least two weeks... In addition to Howard, forward Danny Cleary returned to the lineup after missing five games with a knee injury... Defenseman Kyle Quincey, acquired only hours before the game, did not join the team in Chicago. He is expected to play on Thursday.
Oh, yeah, there's a game tonight, too.
After a big day in Red Wings news, the Wings visit the Chicago Blackhawks. Things started off with Ty Conklin clearing waivers and being assigned (as expected) to the Griffins. Minutes later, it was revealed that Pavel Datsyuk will miss two weeks after having had knee surgery. Then we got the news that the Red Wings had reacquired defenseman Kyle Quincey.
I haven't heard otherwise, but I imagine that Quincey will not be in the lineup tonight, with Jakub Kindl going instead.
Jimmy Howard and Danny Cleary will return from their respective injuries, the former getting the start in goal and the latter taking Datsyuk's spot in the lineup. With all the shuffling, here are the forward lines:
Franzen - Zetterberg - Bertuzzi
Hudler - Filppula - Cleary
Miller - Helm - Abdelkader
Holmstrom - Emmerton - Mursak
On Chicago's side of things, captain Jonathan Toews will be out.
Game time is 8:00 PM on FSD and NBCSN.
Okay, I don't care how many signs they put up at United Center, it's not the Madhouse on Madison. They tore that down over 15 years ago.
Great shot by Fil. Wings needed that.
Finger broken, legs still work. Great save by Howard.
Not a bad period, Wings got bottled up in their own end a little but Howard looked good.
Wings haven't been able to control the puck all period. That was bound to happen. Better wake the f*ck up.
Saw that one coming with the Hawks buzzing.
Garbage PP there.
FYP. You can't blame the issues in the middle because Datsyuk is out of the lineup. You can blame defense for the two plus odd man rushes I have seen since I say down. p*ss poor coverage like that is UNSAT... PERIOD!
Last minute of the period was Detroit's best. Not good at all.
Agreed.
Saw that one coming too.
Lots of standing around there. Ugly.
Yep.
The sad thing is they really need to win tonight. They can lose the next road game, but not this one. To win like that at home for six games and then drop your first game on the road is embarrassing.
Wings getting knocked around easy tonight, part of why they haven't been able to gain the Chicago zone.
Disappointing to say the least.
This team often reminds me of the little girl in the poem that I enjoyed as a child...when they are good, they are very, very good, but when they are bad, they are horrid (painful to watch, too).
Jimmy Howard
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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