Wings Avoid Feeling Like This for One More Day with Improbable 4-3 Comeback Victory. Still Down 3-2 as Series Heads Back to Detroit

They live to die another day. With an improbable 3rd period comeback the Wings have earned one more chance to avenge last years 2nd round loss to the San Jose Sharks. The Wings really didn't do a whole lot different in this game than they had in the previous four. They were dominated for a vast majority of the game and minus a few spurts of offense, left Jimmy Howard alone to steal the show, which he did early and often. Once again he was without a doubt the only reason Detroit was in the game and able to mount this comeback for the ages.

Early on it seemed like the same old story. Just like Hudler earlier in the series, Ericsson, was robbed by Niemi in what we here at JoeyBlueSkies will forever refer to as "The Save". Insert gross fabrication of original "The Save" story from BMOC here.


But as someone who's been harping about finishing, it seemed like things just weren't gonna go our way. The Wings looked slow, sloppy, and definitely injured as they hobbled through what might have been the worst playoff effort I can remember watching. But after going down 2-0 Pavel threaded the needle on a pass to Kronwall that could've been the biggest Wings' goal to date this season. Without that quick answer goal the Wings were basically dead in the water. Then again when we went down 3-1, 54 seconds into the 3rd on Logan Couture's goal it seemed as if we were finally done. Would've been real easy for the Wings to pack up and mail it in at that point, but then they realized they're not the Lakers and continued to play hard.

Detroit got a powerplay not soon after and I thought to myself, this will be the season. Score and we've got a chance. Don't and well, it's over. The powerplay came and went without a Wings' goal and it was basically time as a Wings fan to come to terms with the fact that we let another one slip away. But for some reason following that powerplay the Wings dug in and started playing a frantic style of hockey that lead to garbage goals from Ericsson and then Cleary. And I call them garbage only because of their lack of flare, not their lack of importance. Those are the kind of goals that win you a series and they'll need more on Tuesday night if they want to force game 7 back in San Jose. Of course Holmstrom's eventual tip in gave Detroit their first lead of the game and lead to a very nerve racking final 6 minutes.


Being completely honest, I'll tell you right now that I never saw that 3rd period burst coming. I didn't see Datsyuk stepping it up and dominating with one hand. I didn't see Zetterberg continuing to lead with a level of health unbeknownst to us. And I didn't see Kronwall being the most dominant offensive and defensive player on the ice. But that's what happened and now the Wings have a chance. Health is a major concern. But what's one more game? Hopefully I can say that again after Tuesday night.