AP Photo/Canadian Press/Chris Young
Article Written By: Martin Lee
The Red Wings and Maple Leafs put on a preview of whats going to happened in the NHL Winter Classic in 2 weeks. The game was fun to watch as the Red Wings won the game in a shoot out, 5 to 4. Toronto got on the board first with a snap shot from Cody Franson 7:15 into the 1st. That was his his 2nd goal of the season.
The Red Wings fought back with 3 goals in the first. Pavel Datsyuk got the first goal for the Wings with a backhanded shot, 8:57 in the 1st, that was his 14th goal of the season. Jokiam Anderson scored with a wrap arround goal 13:18 in the 1st, that was his 6th goal of the season. Tomas Jurco got the final goal of the 1st with a backhanded shot 18:08 in the 1st. That would be the end of the night for James Reimer after giving up 3 goals on 12 shots in the 1st.Jonathan Bernier would then replace him.
Toronto scored 2 goals in the 2nd to tie up the game at 3. Dion Phaneuf scored 11:45 in the 2nd with a slap shot, that was his 3rd goal of the year. Joffrey Lupul tied it up with a wrist shot 18:24 in the 2nd. The game went to the 3rd tied up at 3 and the Maple Leafs scored the first goal with a snap shot by David Clarkson 8:32 in the 3rd, that was his 3rd goal of the season the Leafs had the game. Maple Leafs had the lead until the Red Wings tied it up once again at 4 with a backhanded shot by Tomas Tatar, 18:24 in the 3rd to force over time.
Nothing would happen in overtime. So they went to a shootout when in round 2, Pavel Datsyuk ended the game for the Red Wings that was their first win in a tiebreaker dating back to last season.
“It was great”, Jonas Gustavsson said in the post-game interview. “It was a long time ago for our team and it felt really good to get that win in the shootout. Especially for myself too because I don’t think I had my best game tonight so it was fun at least we were able to step up there and get the win”.
Maple Leaf player David Clarkson had to say this about the original six rivalry of the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, “I think this rivalry’s growing and growing. It’s going to continue to grow Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson said. It’s going to be there and they’re a team that’s close by any time you have an organization or a team that’s close you always have that playoff type feeling. I thought that game had it tonight once we started playing the way we knew we could”.
I think when they meet again on New Year’s Day for the Winter Classic, in the big house they are going to play their hearts out. Since this game means so much to them, I think in the end the red wings win the game 6 to 5.
All Out Sports Network 