Detroit's Jekyll and Hyde Act Continues: Red Wings Rout Penguins in Sellout Thriller at The Joe!

[RedWings]

DETROIT – Just when you thought you had the Detroit Red Wings figured out, they throw another curveball. Fresh off a somewhat surprisingly dominant 5-1 road win in Chicago, the Red Wings returned to the familiar comforts of Joe Louis Arena to face a far more formidable foe: their divisional rival, the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins. And in front of a raucous, packed-to-the-rafters sellout crowd of 19,800, the Red Wings decided to showcase their "good side," erupting for a 5-3 victory that left fans both exhilarated and probably a little confused.

The first period was a cautious affair, with both teams opting for a feeling-out process that resulted in zero goals. One might have suspected the Red Wings had reverted to their recent low-scoring tendencies, but that assumption, much like a perfectly aimed pass from a Red Wing in the first period, proved incorrect.

Then came the second period, where the scoring floodgates (or perhaps just a slightly leaky faucet) finally opened. The Penguins' Jordan Kyrou broke the deadlock early, threatening to silence the fervent Detroit crowd. But the Red Wings, clearly insulted by the audacity of a visiting team scoring first, responded with a furious flurry. Dylan Larkin tied it up, followed quickly by Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored his third of the season. Kevin Fiala then joined the party, giving the Red Wings a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the intermission. It was a period of offensive efficiency that bordered on shocking, leaving even the most jaded Red Wings fan momentarily speechless.

The third period brought its usual quota of Red Wings-induced drama. The Penguins' Viktor Arvidsson cut the lead on the power play, reminding Detroit that their penalty issues are still very much a thing. Joseph Veleno, however, quickly restored the two-goal cushion, much to the delight of the capacity crowd. But Pittsburgh wasn't done, with Kasperi Kapanen scoring to once again bring the Penguins within striking distance. Just as nervous energy began to ripple through the arena, Kevin Fiala, apparently deciding he hadn't done enough already, potted his second of the night late in the period, sealing the 5-3 victory.

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, after a few rollercoaster outings, put in a solid performance, stopping 20 of 23 shots for the win, reminding everyone why he still holds the starting job. Malcolm Subban for the Penguins faced a tougher night, giving up 5 goals on 26 shots before David Rittich came in for mop-up duty.

The power play, in a truly bewildering display of self-restraint, didn't even get a chance to fail in this game, going 0 for 0, while the Penguins managed one power-play goal.

Kevin Fiala, with his two-goal performance, rightly earned the game's first star, followed by the ever-dangerous Dylan Larkin and the suddenly consistently productive Robby Fabbri.

In a game that had everything – early goals, furious comebacks, sellout crowd energy, and the usual dose of Red Wings unpredictability – Detroit secured a significant win against the division leaders. This performance showcased the team's ability to explode offensively when they feel like it, and perhaps, just perhaps, hints at a glimmer of consistency. The Red Wings' faithful, after witnessing this high-scoring affair, are left to wonder if this is the team they'll see consistently, or if the next game will revert to a more familiar, lower-scoring (and often losing) script. For tonight, at least, the "home ice advantage" at The Joe was very real.