Columbus, Ohio – The highway journey did not prove nice for the Pink Wings, but it surely’s honest to say it was good.
The Pink Wings ended their four-game journey Saturday with a convincing, 6-1 victory over the injury-decimated Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Nice” would have possible constituted six, or so, factors out of a potential eight. The Wings earned 5 factors, with a 2-1-1 journey, defeating San Jose (Thursday) and Columbus to conclude the journey.
Contemplating that they opened with a loss in Los Angeles and extra time loss in Anaheim, and having a four-game winless streak on the finish of the Anaheim consequence, the Wings will gladly take this consequence.
“Actually completely happy,” Pink Wings coach Derek Lalonde mentioned of the tip consequence. “We received the highway journey. You all the time need extra factors than video games, and particularly it is a robust highway journey. Simply going out West, it is laborious, it is the journey in it and throwing this one (sport) coming again all the best way East, I give our guys credit score.
“We had been just a little flat within the first (interval) and had been most likely lucky to come back out of it forward 1-0. I am simply actual pleased with the group, the best way they responded, not solely on the highway journey, however the best way they responded inside these final couple of video games.”
Filip Hronek continued what’s quickly changing into a official turnaround season with two targets, each within the second interval, serving to the Wings break a 1-1 tie.
Columbus tied the rating simply 43 seconds into the second interval on Emil Bemstrom’s aim. However Hronek put the Wings in entrance to remain as Columbus defenseman Marcus Bjork made an ill-advised go into the slot, the place Hronek blasted a shot previous goaltender Joonas Korpisalo at 6 minutes, 35 seconds.
After Ben Chiarot’s second aim of the season, a shot from the purpose, made it 3-1 at 10:45, Hronek made it 4-1 along with his second aim of the sport and fourth of the season (and 14th level in 18 video games), once more broad open close to the correct dot at 19:17.
“He is been taking part in wonderful,” mentioned Moritz Seider, who had three assists in his a hundredth NHL sport.
It was essential, Seider mentioned, to conclude this journey on a constructive be aware after the best way it started.
“Actually essential, which we did,” Seider mentioned. “We got here out and obtained just a little outworked within the first however we stayed with it and simply received the particular groups (battle) and simply shut it down (defensively).”
Dylan Larkin, persevering with a fantastic season of his personal, opened the Wings scoring with a power-play aim (Larkin’s eighth aim, whereas additionally including two assists) within the first interval. Dominik Kubalik’s power-play aim within the third interval was his team-leading ninth aim. Tyler Bertuzzi scored his first aim to conclude the scoring.
BOX SCORE: Pink Wings 6, Blue Jackets 1
Goaltender Ville Husso received his seventh sport (7-2-3) making 26 saves. Husso was notably essential the primary half with some well timed saves, maintaining the Wings in entrance, or tied, till they took management.
“He had a sneaky good sport as a result of we had been on our heels within the first and we obtained just a little unfastened at instances, and it is a actual good transition group and so they’ll put you in your heels,” Lalonde mentioned. “You find yourself needing a few saves and we obtained that from Ville.”
Lalonde was additionally happy with the facility play, which scored twice in opposition to the Blue Jackets. Larkin’s aim within the first opened the scoring, and Kubalik’s aim successfully squashed any slim hopes Columbus had of rallying.
“It builds momentum,” Lalonde mentioned of the facility play’s effectiveness. “We performed a flat first interval and we come out of it 1-0 due to our energy play, then most likely iced it in the long run. Particular groups have had some ups and down (the penalty kill blanked each Columbus makes an attempt), like our five-on-five play. However for essentially the most half, it has been fairly good for us.”
Twitter: @tkulfan