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Game Summary:

7 power play chances, no goals. Detroit had a few good looks, but Carter Hart was on his game. Detroit just looks like they are done for the season. Impressively, there were several empty net attempts that were stopped. Seider has learned to deliver big hits and walk away from someone punching him in the face (a good skill to have). The first 2 periods just seemed to ooze the Tortorella philosophy. Smother and block. One thing JT emphasizes is team defense. You could see the 3 skaters in the neutral zone collapse on Detroit as they carried the puck. Shooting and passing lanes were clogged up and frustration certainly seemed to set in.

Each glimpse continues to feel like seeing a team that had a chunk taken out of it. Hronek was important this year, more than in years past. Bertuzzi had so many injuries, but seemed like he was a jolt for players. Rasmussen had looked good at the 3rd line/defensive forward position. Vrana, it’s not possible to say what might have been but it did hit me the other day. He passed through waivers without getting picked up. The fact that Yzerman got anything for a player someone could have gotten for free (though not much) is something. The mismanagement of this situation will be debated, but it is what it is. It’s a player who isn’t going to be able to contribute to positive movement for Detroit at this point.

We’ve seen losing teams that just fizzle at the end of the year. This team looks fragile. When a bad bounce kills a play or a goal against kills momentum, it’s not just the way the game is. There are individual efforts. This isn’t a team that can succeed like that. Whatever has disjointed or thrown off the mix could only be vocalized by people in the room. I’m not in there. We’ve seen when the team is clicking, good moments. When only 2 or 3 people on the ice are pushing (sometimes less) it just seems to fall apart. Whatever happens to this lineup from season’s end to training camp has to form a bond. This team has to pull together and find a way to stamp their identity on the ice. I don’t know what that is. The more I watch LaLonde, the less I feel like I know about his approach. Unless this is full out “put player ‘a’ in situation ‘b’ and see how they do” type auditioning, the team isn’t all on the same page. 10 games left, including 2 against a playoff locked Carolina team and 1 against Tampa. Unless something clicks, it will be a rough road to the end.


First Period Detroit goals:

No first period goals
Shots: 8-6 DET
Score: 0-0

Second Period Detroit goals:

At 10:10 Philly broke the scoreless tie on just their 9th shot on goal.

With 37 seconds left Philly scored again going coast to coast after a faceoff in their own zone. 2-0 Philly

Shots: 16-14 DET
Score: 2-0 PHI

Third Period Detroit goals:

Philly scored an empty net tally with 1:19 left 3-0 PHI

Shots: 29-22 DET
Score: 3-0 PHI

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