Rasmussen scores again; Red Wings fall to Blackhawks

 

By @StefanKubus –

DETROIT – Michael Rasmussen found the back of the net for the third time in four preseason games, but the Red Wings ultimately fell to the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena Thursday night.

Defenseman Libor Sulak also scored for Detroit, while Petr Mrazek stopped 37 of 40 shots in the loss. Farmington Hills native Alex DeBrincat potted the game-winning goal for Chicago.

“I thought tonight he was excellent,” Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said of Mrazek. “You can’t give up two back door goals, it’s a no-way, no-chance. You’ve got to make sure you give him a chance to make the save. He was making so many saves. Just keep giving him a chance to make those saves.”

 

Rasmussen continued to provide offense from his new home in front of the net, much like Tomas Holmstrom once did.

With 1:37 of power-play time to start the second period, Justin Abdelkader found Niklas Kronwall up top. Kronwall fired a low shot that Rasmussen redirected home to give Detroit the game’s first goal.

“A real good tip, he’s got lots of ability,” Blashill said. “He’s a big guy who is rangy and really thinks it offensively, thinks it defensively. I think he skates well and I think he’s only gonna get better and better with his skating as he continues to improve his strength, so he looks like a real good prospect to me.”

In the tail end of the opening period, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews faked a shot at the left circle and found Richard Panik across the zone for a one-timer that beat Mrazek. DeBrincat drew the secondary helper on the tally.

But with 4:22 to play in the frame, Red Wings forward Colin Campbell spotted Sulak joining the rush, fed him and Sulak’s shot beat Forsberg on the glove side to put the Wings back on top.

Early in the final frame, Hawks forward Tommy Wingels popped home an equalizer off a nifty move and feed from Vincent Hinostroza to make it a 2-2 game.

Shortly after, DeBrincat thought he gave the Blackhawks the lead, but the goal was waved off for goaltender interference after Panik ran into Mrazek.

With 11:44 to play and the Hawks on the man-advantage, DeBrincat scored off a gorgeous give-and-go across the slot with defenseman Cody Franson. And that one counted, even after a challenge by the Wings on the basis of the play being offside.

As a result of the failed challenge, the Red Wings were issued a delay-of-game minor penalty, as per the new NHL rule.

“It was 100-percent my call, we lost radio communication with our group,” Blashill said. “I would’ve bet all three of my kids’ lives that it was offside, so I’d be kid-less right now. It was an exhibition game. I’m not making that decision ina real game because you have to have the video confirmation, but I thought it was worth trying it. For me, it’s part of the learning process that we make sure we get it right.”

Dauphin added an empty-net goal with 1:25 remaining to seal the win for the Hawks.

The Red Wings conclude their preseason with a home-and-home set with Toronto, in Detroit on Friday and Toronto on Saturday.

Blashill on Rasmussen

Though Rasmussen has played well for the Wings in his short preseason stint, Blashill said it’s hard to envision him in the Red Wings’ lineup come Oct. 5 just given the guys above him in the depth chart.

“I think the only time that’s an option is if you think he helps you win. In our case up the middle, you’d have to feel real positive that he’s gonna give you a better chance to win than Zetterberg, Larkin, Nielsen. I don’t know that he’s totally suited for that fourth-line spot right now. It’s real hard to play it as a fourth liner when you’re not used to it. You see him play good out here. Well, he’s playing power play, penalty kill, lots of time, so at the end of the day, we’d have to feel like he can help us win those games.”

Even in the nine-game NHL trial allowed for Canadian Hockey League prospects, Blashill added it’s an unrealistic scenario for Rasmussen, citing the importance to continue playing big minutes to build confidence.

“Those nine games are critically important to us being where we want to be at the end of the year. And I don’t think there’s anyone ready to say right now he’s better than Zetterberg, Larkin or Nielsen… I don’t think it’s going to make or break a kid to be honest with you. Continued progress and confidence is a big factor and lots of times, when guys go back, they get a chance to dominate and continue that offensive confidence. ”

Rasmussen said after the game the biggest things he needs to continue developing are his skating and overall strength.

“Just the pace of the game, the strength of the game,” Rasmussen said. “These guys are all grown men and very strong.

“I’ve just got to move my feet, especially in my own end. It’s a big thing I’ve got to work on, I’ve had to work on that for a while, but it’s a work in progress, and I’m working at it.”