Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

First “Farewell Weekend at The Joe” party comes to an early end

Photos by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey


By @MichaelCaples –

It was sold out, there was a special pregame show, and there were more than enough octopi hitting the ice.

It was Day 1 of a two-day party in Hockeytown.

The party came to a crashing halt, though. That’s what happens when the other team wins.

The Montreal Canadiens won the last Original Six battle at Joe Louis Arena, as Alex Galchenyuk scored in overtime to break a 2-2 tie on the first of the two “Farewell Weekend at The Joe” games for the Red Wings.

“It was a playoff atmosphere – [the fans] were into it, and they deserve to be,” said Dylan Larkin, the homegrown forward who scored one of the two goals for the Wings. “We try our best for them – they’re paying a lot of money to come see us play in this building. I wish we came out a little bit harder. I look at myself and look in the mirror and hopefully we’re going to come out hard and play hard for them tomorrow.”

MORE: A look inside Saturday’s “Farewell Weekend at The Joe” game

A sold-out Joe Louis Arena was treated to a special pregame ceremony – including a puck drop by Nicklas Lidstrom – and video tributes throughout the evening. Every fan was given a miniature Joe Louis Arena as a keepsake item.

On the ice, however, the team couldn’t muster enough offense to record the victory.


Frans Nielsen scored at the game’s first goal at the 10:44 mark of the first period, sending a backhander past goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Larkin gave the Wings the lead once again in the second period, blasting home a one-timer off a feed from Tomas Tatar.

Both of the Detroit goals were answered by the Canadiens, however; Nathan Beaulieu scored to make it 1-1 at the 4:19 mark of the second period, and then Artturi Lehkonen scored with 1:30 left in the middle frame to tie it up once again.

After a scoreless third period, the Canadiens took advantage of a Mike Green turnover in overtime. Nikita Nesterov grabbed a loose puck after Green fumbled in the Wings’ zone, and quickly set up Galchenyuk for the game-winning one-timer from the slot.


The Wings have one more chance to treat the Joe Louis Arena faithful to a win; puck drops tomorrow for the final game in the historic building at 5 p.m. The New Jersey Devils will be in town for the season finale.

Has reality set in for the Wings? Does it feel real? After a season of ‘farewells’ it all comes to an end tomorrow.

“I think it’s real,” Larkin said. “It’s tomorrow. It’s 24 hours away. It definitely feels like it.”