That was the best game the Wings have played this calendar year.  And now that I’ve stated the obvious, I was thrilled to see that they followed up a good game on NYE versus Colorado with another strong outing.  Maybe the ship’s turning in the new year.

Goals were as follows:
Detroit: Tomas Holmstrom (Lidstrom, Rafalski); Tomas Holmstrom (Lidstrom, Datsyuk); Pavel Datsyuk (pp; Bertuzzi, Rafalski); Darren Helm (EN; Stuart)
Phoenix: Matthew Lombardi (Lang, Yandle)

Pluses:
+ The Draper-Helm-Eaves line was the best out there, along with the top line.
+ Textbook tip-ins by Holmstrom on his two.  They’re always talking about other players being great at net-front presence, but Homer is still the ultimate player for that position.
+ I am hoping, hoping, hoping that the fact that Pavel has scored 2 goals in the last 2 games means he’s starting a streak.
+ Even Helm couldn’t miss this time on the breakaway, with an empty net.

Even:
= There was really nothing to be done on the Phoenix 5 on 3 goal.  It was, admittedly, a beautiful play.

Minuses:
- Terrifying moment almost halfway through the first period, when Howard had abandoned the net for the extra man on a delayed call, and the Wings missed on a pass an almost scored in their own empty net.
– Stop stealing Nick’s goals, Tomas.  He needs them.

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