Detroit Red Wings narrowly fly past Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-3
shootout -NHL Preseason Update
It was a close matchup between two of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) most powerful teams, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, who battled it out on the ice, ending up in a shootout which was finally settled as Todd Bertuzzi and Henrik Zetterberg
scored to take it to 4-3.
For the 14,000 plus fans that were present in the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, seeing two of the top level teams which are both set on grabbing the next Stanley Cup championship which comes across them is thrilling on its own.
Chicago Blackhawks might have faced their third loss of the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) preseason, but for 20-year-old Brandon Pirri, the matchup could not have been any better for making an impression on the team management.
After Valtteri Filppula scored his second of the preseason during Chicago’s first penalty and Henrik Zetterberg extended the lead to 2-0 in the final seconds of the first period, Brandon Pirri put Chicago up on the scoreboard by firing one through Detroit
goalie Ty Conklin shorthanded and unassisted.
Nicklas Lidstrom widened the gap with a power play goal of his own, a little over a minute after Pirri by Jimmy Hayes added one for Chicago at the 16:01 mark during the second period. Blackhawks managed to kill four straight penalties that period and were
heading into the final 20 minutes down by one.
Pirri came up strong once again for his team that drafted him as the 59th overall pick during round-two of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, by scoring and tying up the match nearly midway through the final period in order to force overtime.
“You’re showing the coaches how you can play”, Pirri said. “Every game you can’t score a goal, but when you do, you want to make an impact on the general manager and the coach’s minds”.
Overtime remained scoreless for both teams as the A grade Detroit team struggled to get past Chicago’s backup roster.
It was a forced shootout in which Brandon Pirri put Chicago ahead by one on their first attempt after Detroit’s Johan Franzen missed. Todd Bertuzzi and Henrik Zetterberg both scored on Alexander Salak allowing Detroit to barely slide to victory.
Whatever the final result was, Chicago coach, Joel Quenneville, was thrilled at how Pirri could play.
“Heck of a game”, Quenneville said. “I thought [Pirri] was effective all night long. He made a nice play on his goals and the shootout as well”.
Chicago will play the next two preseason matchups at home against Detroit Red Wings again on Wednesday, followed by Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Tags: