Sheahan’s late goal lifts Wings to fourth straight win
By Tyler Barnes –
The Red Wings (22-13-7) extended their winning streak to four games on Sunday night when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 2-1. Riley Sheahan broke a 1-1 tie at 16:16 of the third period when he wired home a pass from Dylan Larkin. Petr Mrazek stopped 30 of 31 shots on the night in his tenth consecutive appearance.
Tomas Tatar got the Wings on the board early when he scored just 16 seconds after the drop of the puck. Tatar received a pass from Pavel Datsyuk down low and saw Darren Helm streaking towards the net. The pass attempt went off Hampus Lindholm’s stick and past USA Hockey NTDP alum John Gibson to put the Wings ahead early.
The Ducks would get even later in the first period on a slick passing play by their two superstars, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
Getzlaf corralled a short feed from former Plymouth Whalers standout Rickard Rakell in the corner before he fed Perry with a behind-the-back pass. Perry darted towards Mrazek and threw a sharp back-hand on net that beat Mrazek over his blocker and just under the cross-bar.
Detroit held Anaheim without a shot through the first ten minutes of the game, but Mrazek was tested often after that point, making several key saves late in the first period.
Sheahan thought he had a goal in the opening period, as a long-range shot took a weird bounce near the top of the net that ricocheted up out of play. From the bounce, it appeared the puck hit the top of the net and the play was looked at by the league, but it was determined there was no goal. However, video evidence later confirmed that Sheahan’s shot did, indeed, sneak under the crossbar and exit through the netting inside the Anaheim net near the back bar.
Blown-up shot showing Riley Sheahan’s shot did, indeed, go in. Good catch by @FOXSportsDet. #RedWings #Ducks pic.twitter.com/jH2ud0gpR6
— Stefan Kubus(@StefanKubus) January 11, 2016
Anaheim would outshoot Detroit, 31-24, but Mrazek was sound all night—even getting some help from the post a few times throughout the contest.
Detroit couldn’t get the power-play rolling, getting held without a goal on the man-advantage for the third straight game.
Late in the third period, Sheahan would force a turnover just outside of the Ducks zone. Larkin picked up the loose puck and quickly found an open Sheahan, who buried a one-timer past netminder Gibson.
With the assist, Larkin extended his point streak to five games.
The win puts Detroit two points ahead of an idle Montreal, but still five back of the red-hot Florida Panthers.
The Red Wings continue their West Coast road trip Monday night with a game against the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings.
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