There might have been just as many Red Wings fans in the arena as Avalanche fans, but none of them were treated to an entertaining hockey game.<\/p>\n
Marco Kasper scored just 33 seconds into the game and Detroit packed it in the rest of the night, frustrating the Avalanche and shutting them out 2-0 at Ball Arena. It was a flip-flop performance from two days ago, where the Avalanche blanked the Red Wings in Detroit.<\/p>\n
This one, however, didn\u2019t have a ton of excitement to it. Colorado is normally known for their high-flying offense, but that has dried up a bit of late. Two of their weakest offensive performances have come in the last week, with this one coming just five days after the Ottawa Senators slowed them down.<\/p>\n
In 49 minutes of even strength time, the Avalanche were credited with just seven high-danger chances. It was Colorado\u2019s third line, which would normally be their fourth line when everyone is healthy, that did most of the generating, as the Parker Kelly, Jack Drury, Joel Kiviranta trio generated three of those high-danger chances.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we just didn\u2019t execute the way we wanted to,\u201d Devon Toews said. \u201cI think our intentions were correct and we were working for it. I just don\u2019t think we executed well enough to generate the opportunities that we\u2019re used to generating. They put us kind of in the mud in their zone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Toews returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with an upper-body injury. There could have been a bit of rust after missing almost a month, as Toews pinched on the first shift that helped lead to the Red Wings goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d have to go watch it,\u201d he said after the game. \u201cI make the play that I feel is right and maybe it was wrong, so something I got to go look at and move on from.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colorado\u2019s power play looked good on Saturday, although they didn\u2019t score. It did not look good on Monday, with Valeri Nichushkin passing up a shot on an empty net, looking to send it across the ice to Nathan MacKinnon instead.<\/p>\n
At this point, are the power play struggles a mental issue for the group?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve kind of been through that multiple times throughout the course of the season,\u201d Jared Bednar said. \u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s frustration when the power play ends, but it seems like at the start of the power play, they\u2019re focused and ready to go and trying to make a difference. Just has to continue, you got to stick with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s a mental block, the Avalanche will get a reset soon, as the team breaks for the Olympics after Wednesday\u2019s game against San Jose.<\/p>\n
Red Wings 2, Avalanche 0 <\/p>\n
What happened: The two teams combined for just 46 shots on goal in a sleepy February game.<\/p>\n
What went right: Kelly, Drury, and Kiviranta had all the energy, pinning the Red Wings in their own zone several times throughout the night. Typically not a good sign when the best line is your third.<\/p>\n
What went wrong: Colorado\u2019s top line was great in Detroit on Saturday, but not so much on Monday night. Valeri Nichushkin was ejected at the end of the game after shattering his stick on the net after Raymond sealed the win for Detroit. Scoring chances were 7-3 in favor of Detroit with Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen, and Nichushkin on the ice.<\/p>\n
Red Wings goal scorers: Kasper (6), Raymond (19)<\/p>\n
Between the pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood got beat on the first shot of the game but did his job the rest of the night, stopping 24 shots.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next: The Avalanche have one more game before the Olympic break, hosting the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
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