The Detroit Red Wings offensive exploded in the second period to defeat them in a second win in a row in the preseason against the Buffalo Sabers.
First period
The first half of the period was evenly competitive. Both teams took some good shots, both goalkeepers made some saves and the game went goalless.
After nine minutes, the Red Wings had their first power play chance of the game after a cross check from Buffalo. The device looked good; there was impressive movement on the blue line and in the front of the net. Nick Leddy was the quarterback for the first unit and Seider led the next. However, they got by empty-handed.
Detroit stepped on the gas, maintaining offensive pressure and keeping the Sabers’ chances low.
But with a minute and a half to go, Rasmus Asplund broke the tie and sent Buffalo into the locker room with the lead. Shortly afterwards, the Red Wings had another chance at the man advantage, but again they could not redeem.
Detroit beat Buffalo 18-10 in their first game, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen kept the wings off the board.
Second period
The offense decreased in the second third. Robby Fabbri finally got the wings on the board and buried a rebound from Pius Suter.
The Red Wings held the goal just 23 seconds later with Lucas Raymond’s first goal of the preseason. Raymond swung towards the center of the ice while holding the puck and tore it down for a score.
Troy Stecher decided to keep the score party going less than three minutes later when he activated from the blue line and shot through a crowd to increase the lead to two.
Exactly in the middle of the second period, the penalty kill had its first test of the game. It looked like the job was done, but nine seconds before the end of the power play, Arttu Ruotsalainen shot past Alex Nedeljkovic. Victor Brattström came on after the goal for Nedeljkovic.
Riley Barber was enthusiastic and then asked five minutes before the end in the second period to beautify. Luke Witkoswki ripped a missile into the top corner once right after a pass win and scored a goal when penalties had expired.
Third period
The Sabers added offensive pressure early in the third and ten minutes later it looked like a Jonathan Martin penalty could be an opportunity to keep the game close. The penalty kill, however, came out big and kept Buffalo off the board.
The Red Wings power play kept getting chances and despite some more solid scoring chances, both went empty-handed.
An empty net freezes the game for the Red Wings when Robby Fabbri scored his second goal of the evening.
But the Red Wings didn’t take their foot off the gas. Jonathon Martin flashed the Sabers goalkeeper and sneaked past to put him in the lead with four goals.
Detroit won its second straight preseason game and returned home this Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a chance to make it for a third straight game.
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