Red Wings continue mastery over NHL-leading Bruins with victory: ‘We came ready to play’
The Boston Bruins have steamrolled through the NHL this season — except when they play against the Red Wings. Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher each had a goal and assist, and Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin and David Perron (empty net) added goals while goaltender Ville Husso made 25 saves, as the Wings defeated the Boston Bruins, 5-2, on Friday. Shayne Gostisbehere added two assists, as the Wings won their second consecutive game after a two-game winless trip in Sweden. Larkin’s power-play goal, at 5:08 if the third period, regained a two-goal lead for the Wings, 4-2, came just 56 seconds Boston had the cut the lead to 3-2 on Danton Heinen’s goal. Perron’s empty-net goal salted the game away at 18:15 of the third period.
“We came in ready to play,” Husso told Bally Sports Detroit. “Guys did a real good job today, battled hard and blocked some shots. They made my job easy out there. It was a big win for us.” Give the Wings some credit. The Bruins (14-2-3) have only lost twice in regulation this season, and both losses have been to the Wings (the other was on Nov. 4, 5-4). The Wings have won two of three games against the Bruins this season, with one more regular-season game to go, on New Year’s Eve at Little Caesars Arena. “We were north (moving), we had some real good puck management and we worked off the forecheck early,” coach Derek Lalonde told BSD. “Again, it’s just another good start. Guys were focused and locked in It was a pretty complete road game against a very good team.”
As Lalonde referred to, the Wings (10-6-3) wanted a good start and got one, with Compher and DeBrincat getting first period goals. Compher redirected Gostisbehere’s shot past goaltender Jeremy Swayman, Compher’s fourth goal, at 5:13. DeBrincat pushed the lead to 2-0 at 15:01, stripping the puck from Matt Poitras and scoring on a breakaway, his 12th goal. After Jake DeBrusk cut the Wings’ lead to 2-1 early in the second period, the Wings regained the two-goal lead when Fabbri scored his fourth goal, just after a Wings power play expired, converting a nice pass from Daniel Sprong.
“He has a great stick, he puts himself in position to make plays and good things happen,” Lalonde said of Fabbri’s quick start after returning from injury early this season. “That was a great finish, and we certainly needed it.” After the Bruins cut the lead to 3-2, Larkin’s power-play goal cemented the lead. Compher found Larkin open in the slot, and Larkin snapped a shot past Swayman. This was the Wings’ first game with two power play goals since the first victory over Boston earlier this month.
“It’s amazing the lift you can get from a power play, and that’s what happened (Friday),” Lalonde said. The Wings appeared to frustrate the Bruins into penalties and forced Boston out of its game, similarly to the victory over the Bruins in early November. “When we’re on top (of the other team), we’re playing to our strengths, it feels like we have a lot of guys on the ice and it must frustrate teams,” Fabbri said to BSD. “I guess it’s something we must keep doing.
“We just followed up the way we played last game (shutout win Wednesday over New Jersey). From start to finish, just playing the right way, the whole lineup, and it’s a lot of fun when you have everyone on the same page. “It’s just a good road win for us. It’s a tough building, and we’re just trying to find our stride here and the last two games are a good example of that.” The Wings return home Sunday and host Minnesota.
