Postgame: Red Wings @ Rangers – 3/21

I’m not going to complain about this one.

Call it effort, call it interest, whatever. The Wings looked invested in tonight’s 2-1 OT loss to the New York Rangers, and I’ll take it, ’cause that’s a hell of a lot more than they’ve done in the previous five games of their current losing streak.

The Red Wings made fewer mistakes in their own zone (more on that in a second) and kept up more pressure in the New York end than we’ve seen of late.

Ty Conklin, back in Detroit when no one thought he’d wear the Winged Wheel again, was rock solid in the start. Another loss won’t look good on his record but stopping 32 of 34 shots will.

That said, the Rangers were able to take advantage of blown defensive coverage twice and it was all they needed to get the win.

Brad Richards’ first-period power play goal saw the Wings give him the entire neutral zone, right up the middle. I realize it was a PK but you can’t give that much space to a player like him. End-to-end rush turns into a goal.

On the game-winner, Pavel Datsyuk inexplicably left his man (Del Zotto) at the blue line to cut towards Dubinsky, who Niklas Kronwall already had. This left Del Zotto open to take the pass starting the play. Kronwall moved over to block his shooting lane and Stuart dropped alongside Dubinsky, leaving Callahan open for the pass from Del Zotto and the shot past Conklin. No idea why Pavs left Del Zotto, nor why Stuart left Callahan. Stick to your man and that play doesn’t happen.