Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
It was a one-man Alfie show for the Detroit Red Wings last night. It took less than 30 seconds for Daniel Alfredsson to open the scoring and put the Red Wings ahead in the first period. The Flames, Lee Stempniak, took a hooking penalty that was questionable at best, but, luckily, no goals were scored during the penalty kill. Just over five mins into the game, Backlund answered back and the first period ended with a 1-1 tie.
During the second period, Alfredsson got the 700th assist of his career on Andersson’s goal. Smid threw his weight around later in the period and ended up with a cross checking penalty when his frustration boiled over. Shots on goal, after two periods were 26 for Detroit, 15 for Calgary and the players started the third in a 2-2 tie.
The hooking call on TJ Brodie in the third period made me literally shake my head at the tv. One controversial hooking call in the first period was forgivable, but the second one was enough to make me wonder what exactly the referees were trying to prove.
Subsequently, Brodie’s hooking call filtered into an overtime period that I don’t think should have happened at all. It took just over one minute into OT for Alfie to score again and win the game for the Red Wings with a final score of 3-2.
The next Flames game in Saturday afternoon, December 21st, when they end their road trip by taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
My 1 Star
Mark Giordano. Blocked shots, great two-way play, and a goal in the second period, Giordano was on his game last night at Joe Louis Arena. Gio has never been a flashy, out-spoken, obnoxious defenseman. Instead he always remains calm, collected, and focused on the game. And, let’s face it, his commercials show the lighter, funnier side of this hard-working, under-rated defenseman.
“Really, dude, potpourri?”
Who didn’t laugh out loud at this line during this ATB Financial commercial??