Detroit Red Wings stung by two pairs of goals by Predators in 6-3 loss
Man, what a gut punch for the Detroit Red Wings. Just when you thought they had this one locked up, cruising with a 2-1 lead heading into the third period against the Nashville Predators, the whole thing just fell apart in the most brutal fashion imaginable.It was like watching a highlight reel on fast-forward, but for all the wrong reasons if you're wearing the winged wheel. For about 55 minutes, Cam Talbot was standing on his head, looking every bit the veteran stalwart they needed him to be, turning away 23 shots and giving the Wings a real chance.But hockey, as they say, is a 60-minute game, and that other minute? It was an absolute nightmare. The collapse started with a one-two punch that would make a heavyweight champion proud.First, it was Michigan's own Nick Blankenburg, because of course it was, tying the game. Then, before the fans at Little Caesars Arena could even finish their groans, Roman Josi—the Predators' elite defenseman—pounced on his own rebound and roofed it, just 15 seconds later.Fifteen seconds! That’s barely enough time to process what happened before you're staring at a deficit. The Wings showed a flash of that resilience we've been hearing about, with Ben Chiarot snapping one past Justus Annunen to tie it right back up less than a minute later, but you could feel the momentum had shifted.The Preds had the scent, and they weren't letting go. The real backbreaker came from Ryan O'Reilly, the kind of clutch player who just finds a way, burying a rebound from Luke Evangelista for what would stand as the game-winner.And if that wasn't salt enough in the wound, Nashville added another just 28 seconds later, marking the first time all season they've scored five in regulation. It was a defensive meltdown of the highest order, a third-period implosion that turns potential wins into definitive, frustrating losses.The context here is what really stings. The Wings are in a dogfight in the Atlantic Division, and these are the points you absolutely have to bank, especially at home against a Central Division foe.They were already playing from behind after a Michael Bunting tip-in, fought back with goals from Alex DeBrincat—who danced into the slot with some slick moves—and James van Riemsdyk, who buried a backhand rebound. There was even a scary moment when captain Dylan Larkin took a nasty cross-check and had to briefly leave the game, though he did return.All the pieces for a character win were there, until they weren't. This isn't just a single L in the column; it's a missed opportunity that could loom large come April.And the schedule offers no sympathy. They've got to shake this off immediately because the Tampa Bay Lightning, a genuine division contender, are rolling into town for a Friday matinee.Then it's a quick turnaround for an Original Six showdown in Boston against the Bruins on Saturday, kicking off a home-and-home series. There's no time to dwell on this one, no time for a long film session.The Wings have to have a short memory, learn from the defensive lapses that led to those two devastating pairs of goals, and find a way to close out a game. Because in this league, a one-minute lapse can undo 55 minutes of solid work, and that’s a lesson this team just learned the hard way.
#Detroit Red Wings
#Nashville Predators
#NHL game recap
#third period collapse
#hockey
#featured
