Early domination turns to shutout depression for Detroit Red Wings

DENVER – What an aggravating evening for the Detroit Red Wings. They did so many things right at the start, dominating their opponent on their ice, only for it all to go to waste amid a sea of penalties and punches. Their old rival, the Colorado Avalanche, scored twice during a penalty-filled second period on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Ball Arena, too much of a lead for the Wings to overcome against such a good opponent. The final score was 4-0, the Wings' third straight loss and fourth in five games. The outing highlighted the difference between the teams. The Avalanche's best – Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas – feasted, combining for 10 points. Daniil Tarasov didn't stand a chance. YOUTH EFFECT: Gear in stall, place on plane: Young D-men earn respect from Red Wings The Wings' best couldn't find the net. As the score grew the tempers flared, and midway through the third period, two players neither side wanted to see fight –for the Wings, Moritz Seider; for the Avalanche, their captain, Gabriel Landeskog – brawled, exchancing multiple punches before officials intervened. The outing was part of a stretch pitting the Wings against some of the top teams in the NHL: The Florida Panthers (who they beat), Tampa Bay Lightning (a loss) and Vegas Golden Knights (also a loss). In both the Lightning and Avalanche games, the Wings struggled on draws, having lost their best faceoff expert when Dylan Larkin left the team Oct. 29 to wait out a trade. Who played Another healthy scratch for 2023 first-round pick Nate Danielson, with John Leonard subbing onto the third line instead, next to J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen. The other lines had Emmitt Finnie with Alex DeBrincat and Viktor Arvidsson, Andrew Copp with Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Lucas Raymond, and Sheldon Dries with Carter Mazur and Keegan Kolesar. EURO SPIN: Henrik Zetterberg says Detroit Red Wings did Steve Yzerman dirty On the back end, Seider paired with Ben Chiarot, Justin Faulk with William Wallinder and Anton Johansson with Andreas Englund. Energetic start Brandsegg-Nygard tested Mackenzie Blackwood with a backhand attempt in the opening minute, part of a strong start for the Wings. By the midpoint of the first period, they had a 6-1 edge in shots. It great more lopsided when DeBrincat sprang Finnie for a breakaway, which ended with Blackwood turning away another backhand shot. With four minutes to go in the period, the Wings had a 10-1 edge in shots. After 20 minutes, it was 13-5.. Everything goes badly After a penalty-free first period, the second was nothing but ruts to the penalty boxes. Chiarot went off 51 seconds into the period. Four minutes later, it was Wallinder. While he was in the box, Seider and Nazem Kadri got into it behind Colorado's net, landing each a roughing call. Then Faulk was called for interference, at 7:59. While he served that penalty, Necas put the Avs up by a goal when T.J. Hughes' rebound landed right in front of Necas, who had a half-open net with Tarasov sprawled on the ice. It grew worse. Kolesar took what was the Wings' fifth penalty at 11:01, sending Colorado onto a fourth power play. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar demonstrated why they're two of the best players in the game. Manning the point, Makar passed to Necas over on the right; he passed the puck right back to Makar, who found MacKinnon in the right circle for a slap shot and a 2-0 lead. The Wings? They had two shots on net the entire period. That'll do it Any chance of a rally faded when MacKinnon and Necas paired up again. MacKinnon won a draw against Copp. MacKinnon got the puck back from Devon Toews, and ripped a shot from the high slot towards Detroit's net. Taraosov stopped that, but the puck bounced loose and landed in the paint for Necas to finish the play before Chiarot could get to it. Makar made it 4-0 while the Wings were shorthanded for the fifth time. Next up: Arch enemies? The Wings continue their four-game road trip with a move to the east and a stop in St. Louis to face the Blues on Tuesday, Nov. 10 (8 p.m., TNT). The Blues lost Saturday to Nashville on the road – their third straight loss to drop them below .500. St. Louis’ last victory? That came back on Oct. 31 when the Blues brought the trick, rather than a treat, to Little Caesars Arena with three unanswered goals in less than five minutes in the third period. After their stop at “The Gateway to the West,” the Wings continue moving eastward with a return to Florida, visiting the Panthers on Nov. 12 and the Lightning on Nov. 14. The Wings finally return home on Nov. 18 for an Original Six game against the Boston Bruins on national TV. Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter .