Detroit Takes Game 1; Osgood Makes Critics Look Silly

Even though Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa and Lidstrom were kept off the score sheet the Detroit Red Wings were still able to put four pucks past Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason in their game 1 win Thursday at Joe Louis Arena. Turns out he’s human after all, and once you get past his tree-like stature he’s just another goalie susceptible to screens and the occasional deflection. Or should I say multiple deflections, all of which came off the hands, thighs and sticks of his teammates?

Red Wings 1, Columbus 0.

Click here for game highlights.

Not even a lopsided first period that featured some of the most ridiculous officiating I’ve ever seen could slow Detroit down. They killed four straight penalties (a five-on-three, two five-on-fours and a four-on-three) and got superb goaltending from the man everyone thought was washed up and over the hill. Well, he certainly didn’t look like it last night. As a matter of fact Chris Osgood looked like the same guy that replaced Dominik Hasek early last post-season and proceeded to help Detroit become the defending Stanley Cup champions this season. That sound you heard following the final horn last night? That was the collective snapping shut of all the Osgood-basher’s mouths.

But Detroit’s win didn’t fall just on the shoulders of Osgood. He made key saves for sure, but he also finally got some help in front of his net. Detroit wasn’t fooling around last night, and it showed in the way they were moving bodies. They moved them from in front of the net, they got in front of shots and most importantly they were delivering body checks instead of simply waving at the puck. Hell, even Datsyuk and Zetterberg got in on the action.

That’s the stuff Stanley Cup champions are made of, and Columbus got schooled to that effect last night.

This series is far from over, but if Detroit continues to play like they did in game 1 the Blue Jackets are going to find themselves bounced much quicker than they would like. Detroit looked dead in the water coming onto these playoffs, losing 7 of their final 10 regular-season games, but if you weren’t paying attention you never would have guessed that by watching them play last night. They looked ready. They looked hungry. They looked determined.

The Blue Jackets? They looked a bit green.

(One more quick thought on how bad the officiating was: With just over 1 second to play in the third period Columbus iced the puck, assuming the refs would let the clock run out and the game would be over. Not so fast. After the horn sounded and both teams began heading to their respective locker rooms the officials insisted that the players take a face-off in the Columbus zone. It was so ridiculous and pointless that the guys responsible for scooping dead octopi off the ice didn’t even have a chance to close the Zamboni doors before the puck was dropped.

I’m all in favor of formalities, but making everyone take part in a face-off that for all intents and purposes was ineffectual in the overall outcome of the game was probably the most asinine thing I’ve ever seen a ref do (aside from awarding a penalty shot with just over 20 seconds to play in a game of course). After this season is finally over the head honchos in the NHL should forget about tinkering with the rule book and send their officials to finishing school.)

For another take on game 1 of the Wings/Blue Jackets series make sure you check out our very own Rick Gethin here.

Posted by Paul Benvin on Apr 17 2009. Filed under Central, Detroit Red Wings, NHL News/Commentary, Western Conference. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.