Wings Beat the Avs in OT - Kaner with the Game Winner!
The Avs still look great, very fast, even their D are fast. But the Wings hung tough, Lyon kept them in it when the Avs were buzzing and somehow the Wings just keep scrapping out these victories.
Long way to go, this was the first game of the last third of the season. The Wings now own the 1st Wild Card spot so if they can stay healthy, we have an excellent shot to make the playoffs. This was our first win over the Avs since 2017.
OT (started with a short RW power play):
February 24th, 2024 at 5:13 PM ^
This is the right answer. The Ottawa games were played (by Ottawa at least) and (more importantly) reffed like playoff games. Those two games made it very clear that we lacked the grit and attitude to be a realistic playoff team in 2023.
I'm not sure we're quite at THAT level of physicality yet, but we are closer -- certainly close enough to be competitive in a seven-game series.
February 23rd, 2024 at 11:05 AM ^
This season turned out exactly as I predicted. Wings middle of the pack, pushing for that last playoff spot. Clearly awful for the long-term prospects of winning anything of note, but apparently good enough to get the casual fans back in on it and spend some money on the team (which is the entire purpose of the exercise).
February 23rd, 2024 at 11:37 AM ^
LOL I see your cheerios got pissed on.
Dude this ain't the NBA where generally the best or second best team is going to win it all. See all those great Red Wings teams stopped in the playoffs by guys like Sebastien Giguere.
If you play good hockey and get the goalie on fire you can win the whole damn thing. Hockey is more about getting in.
February 23rd, 2024 at 1:20 PM ^
Did you think they were going to be Cup contenders this year lol? No one predicted them to be elite. You picked them in the same spot everyone did congrats heres a cookie. They have themselves set up nicely in two years with more cap room.
February 23rd, 2024 at 4:12 PM ^
In order to win anything of note you need to build confidence as a team first and clearly this team is laying the much needed groundwork there. Also as the other poster said the NHL at times has been the most random playoff of any of the major sports, just get in, and you honestly never know what can happen.
February 23rd, 2024 at 11:13 AM ^
I was a skeptic given the prior history of players with Kane’s surgery, but boy has he been a big help. Monster on the PP; equally so in OT. And, dude probably has more playoff experience than the remainder of the roster has collectively.
February 23rd, 2024 at 3:11 PM ^
That was quite enjoyable. Felt like old times.