That was just the kind of game the Wings needed.
Things looked bleak in the first minute with the quick Perry goal, but it worked to snap Detroit awake and they didn’t really look back. They didn’t control every minute of the game, but they did enough to make those three goals feel more like anomalies than the Ducks getting back into it.
This series isn’t over, but it took a turn in the Wings’ direction with this win tonight.
Two more things. First, the line switch-up paid off bigtime. Not strictly a genius move by Babcock, who probably waited too long to do it, but better late than never. The shortage of centers with Draper out doesn’t excuse stubbornness.
Second, I was shocked at the Ducks’ lack of thuggery tonight. Despite all their talk about Holmstrom, they didn’t make him, or anyone else, a special target. It was a relief, but if things don’t go their way Sunday, they may not be so docile.
More tomorrow.