First Period
Early power play in this one, Detroit with too many men 45 seconds in. Jackets take advantage with the second unit on the ice when JVR tips a Sillinger shot just over Talbot’s shoulder to take the early lead.
CBJ PPG Goal 1-0 JVR (Sillinger, Provorov) 2:42
Seven minutes in a failed zone exit leads to a quick Detroit shot on net. Elvis made the initial save but couldn’t corral the puck and after an awkward scramble Patrick Kane evens the score.
DET Goal 1-1 Kane (Copp, Debrincat) 6:55
Voronkov to the penalty box twelve minutes in after tripping a Red Wing on the forecheck. No worries, the Jackets kill looked good. Best chance was an errant clearing attempt by Provorov that went towards Elvis. A bit after the penalty was killed a heavy dump in from Detroit wraps all the way around the boards settling a little above the faceoff dot where Gustaffson stepped into a slapper he got through Elvis.
DET Goal 1-2 Gustafsson (Holl) 14:39
Kuraly followed that up shortly with a silly tripping call after a late hit. Detroit immediately strikes seven seconds into the ensuing PP when JJ gets high in the zone and lets a pass get behind him low to an unmarked Red Wing. Debrincat had all day to beat Elvis in close and did so.
DET PP Goal 1-3 Debrincat (Seider, Larkin)
What started off great, ended quite poorly. Detroit looked like a team with a renewed focus on the fundamentals after a coaching change, stifling much of the Jackets transition game and plays in the o zone.
Per NST at 5v5, Wings led in shots 9-5, scoring chances 7-1, and xG 1.04-0.19.
Second Period
I cannot say anything remarkable happened in the second period until about halfway through. Jody was commenting on how the Jackets had one shot in the period and little to no zone time, before they finally get Detroit to ice the puck. Fantilli mostly won the faceoff and Werenski found the puck and sniped it through a crowd to halve the deficit.
CBJ Goal 2-3 Werenski (Unassisted) 11:09
Signs of life in the Jackets following that goal, Werenski later hit JVR as he entered the offensive zone late in the period and then continued to the net. JVR carried the puck deep and passed through the defence to Monahan alone with an empty net to tie it. Werenski’s drive to the net here made the play as Seider defends Z instead of the passing lane. Great pass from JVR.
CBJ Goal 3-3 Monahan (Van Riemsdyk, Werenski) 18:40
After 25 minutes of uninspired Blue Jackets hockey, we had a tie game going into the final frame. Per NST at 5v5 Detroit led that period in shots 6-5, chances 5-3, but not xG, 0.2-0.32.
Third Period
Detroit won the races to pucks early in this period again, and got the early chances. Red Wings back on the PP four minutes in and yet again they score on a play where Jack Johnson is defending air.
DET PP Goal 3-4 Larkin (DeBrincat, Kane) 4:45
Some back and forth hockey followed and mostly featured good Red Wings opportunities and a huge Merzlikins save in the middle of the frame. A Fantilli shot late in the period got through Talbot and JVR was there to clean it up for his second of the night.
CBJ Goal 4-4 JVR (Fantilli, Werenski) 17:19
Detroit challenged the goal for Goaltender Interference but there was none to be had. Thus, the Jackets went on the Power Play with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game. Alas, the first unit was unable to generate anything, and as the man advantage expired Provorov fired a one timer into a Red Wing defender’s skate that was then directed to a lonely Berggren leaving the penalty box. He placed his shot nicely off Elvis’ pad and in to regain the lead late. Heart breaker.
DET Goal 4-5 Berggren (Motte, Chiarot) 19:24
Good effort to get some last minute chances but nothing doing, Jackets fall 5 to 4. Red Wings led the final period in shots, 12-7, chances 7-6, and xG 0.72-0.7 at 5v5.
Final Thoughts
This one hurt to lose. The Jackets battled back from deficits of 1-3, and 3-4 late to give up the losing goal with less than a minute remaining. Werenski was stellar in this one with another 3 point night including his league leading 12th goal as a D man. JVR did exactly what he was brought in to do with 3 skilled plays in limited minutes that led to goals. Mateychuk played 20 more minutes and continues to fit in, while the power play registered another tally.
I can argue the Jackets tying this game late shows resilience, but this game felt like an inevitable Red Wings victory for a long time. Two goals in the first period were the result of sustained pressure and puck races won by Detroit, and two poor plays on the PK (Jack Johnson) gave the Red Wings two more goals. I love that Provorov is trying to score late on the power play but that shot cannot be blocked. The 11-7 configuration had worked but Christiansen played 3 minutes tonight, and Jack Johnson less than 10. The 2nd power play unit featured 4th line players ZAR and Olivier with two defenseman, neither of them with the offensive upside of Severson. Please get healthy Chinakhov, please don’t play Jack Johnson, and please play Kevin Labanc.
Credit to the Red Wings. They played with good structure in this game and showed some good movement on the PP. Dylan Larkin was especially tremendous. Not many players have gotten the better of the match up against the Monahan line, but his line did in this one. Unfortunate to play Detroit in the midst of their new coach bump, but the Jackets could’ve had this one.
Per NST in all situations the Red Wings led in shots 27-25, scoring chances 25-14, and xG 2.49-1.67. The Jackets won the Corsi battle at 52% highlighting Detroit’s defensive strength. Both goaltenders were not excellent in this one.
Up Next
The Blue Jackets welcome the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at 7 PM.