The Detroit Red Wings’ German contingent ensured a second celebration against the Philadelphia Flyers this week.
Saturday’s matinee at Little Caesars Arena wasn’t as one-sided as the matchup in Philly, but the Wings secured a 4-2 victory to come out of the All-Star break with a two-game winning streak.
Defenseman Moritz Seider contributed the winning goal during a power play and goaltender Thomas Greiss made 32 saves in his first start in more than a month.
“Thomas Greiss played great,” captain Dylan Larkin said after a three-assist performance. “He was motivated and he made some big saves for us. We were able to keep the lead. The power play scored – I think it took 1:40. We had some big looks and we wore them down. That’s what we have to do.”
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Tyler Bertuzzi gave the Wings (22-21-6) a lead early in the first period in typical fashion, going to the net and knocking the puck behind Carter Hart. Greiss survived the Flyers’ pressure as the Wings sagged to start the second period, and Filip Zadina made it 2-0 with his sixth goal of the season.
Marc Staal hooked Scott Laughton to slow him on a breakaway, giving the Flyers a power play during which Keith Yandle converted when he ripped a shot through traffic.
After going through three penalty kills, the Wings finally earned a power play midway through the third period. Seider’s first shot was blocked, but the Wings kept possession and cycled the puck back to Seider, who stepped into the slot and scored his fifth goal of the season. He had two assists in Wednesday’s 6-3 victory.
Laughton dimmed the momentum when he scored 44 seconds later, connecting on the puck after it hit the goalpost — but the Flyers pulled their goalie with 2:40 to play, and Michael Rasmussen scored a minute later.
The Wings next play Monday at the Minnesota Wild.
Filip Zadina on point
Zadina continued to distance himself from a dismal first half of the season, earning his fourth point in six games. Zadina was promoted to the top line with Larkin and Lucas Raymond in the game at Philadelphia and did a good job going to the net and playing defense. He scored Saturday on a play that began at the other end of the ice, when Larkin grabbed the puck and skated up the middle. Larkin entered the Flyers’ zone and passed to Zadina, who cut to the slot and lifted a wrist shot behind Hart.
Troy Stecher on deck
Defenseman Troy Stecher played for the first time since Nov. 4, when he was sidelined by a wrist injury. His return was good timing for the Wings, as right-shot defenseman Filip Hronek was placed in COVID-19 protocol Thursday. Stecher shoots right and he’s gotten looks on the power play in the past. Stecher is in the last year of his contract, and getting into a few games before the March 21 trade deadline increases the chance general manager Steve Yzerman can get something in return for Stecher.
Thomas Greiss in net
Greiss made his first start since Jan. 9 at Anaheim. Greiss was placed in pandemic protocol in mid-January, and by the time he emerged, the Wings were in a light part of their schedule leading up to the weeklong All-Star break. Greiss is another guy who is an impending unrestricted free agent and could be a possible trade chip at the deadline.
The question is whether Yzerman then would turn around and get a cheap veteran to serve as Nedeljkovic’s backup, or be comfortable using Calvin Pickard. Pickard has a .915 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average in two appearances this season, but his career NHL numbers are .910 save percentage and 3.01 GAA.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.