DeKeyser’s first NHL goal not enough; Red Wings fall to Jets in Winnipeg

By Nick Barnowski – 

The last time the Detroit Red Wings played in Winnipeg, Slava Kozlov scored twice with Steve Yzerman and Keith Primeau adding one each to knock the Jets out of the 1996 playoffs.

Now, 17 years later, the Jets (6-8-2) were able to dish out a bit of revenge by beating the Red Wings 4-2 Monday night at the MTS Center.

In a back-and-forth game that featured Adam Almqvist’s NHL debut, Danny DeKeyser’s first career NHL goal and Darren Helm’s return to his hometown, the Jets were able to snap Detroit’s (9-5-2) three-game winning streak.

Strong offensive performances by Andrew Ladd, Mark Scheifele and Michael Frolik propelled the Jets to victory. Winnipeg fired 47 shots on goal, the most Detroit has given up this season.

The Jets controlled play from the start of the game. Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard made 13 first-period saves to keep the club in it as Winnipeg had sustained offensive pressure from the opening faceoff.

One of those saves came halfway through the period as Howard denied Ladd on a breakaway, and shortly after Olli Jokinen was denied by Howard’s glove on the power play.

Winnipeg finally converted on their second breakaway of the game. Bryan Little capitalized on a Detroit turnover at the blueline in the offensive zone and skating in on Howard alone before putting it through his five-hole to make it 1-0. Ladd added an assist on the goal.

Detroit was able to tie the game at one close to seven minutes into the second period despite continuing to have to thwart Winnipeg pressure.

Henrik Zetterberg carried the puck into the Jets zone and tied to pass to Todd Bertuzzi, but the puck redirected off of a Winnipeg skate and found its way into the back of the net for his eighth of the season.

The Red Wings took a too-many-men penalty shortly after, but found a way to make up for it. Danny DeKeyser took a slap shot from the point that found its way past Jets goalie and Michigan Wolverine alum Al Montoya to give the Wings a 2-1 lead.

It was DeKeyser’s first career NHL goal and first career shorthanded point.

Winnipeg fought right back as Frolik scored off of a nice pass by Scheifele to tie the game at two. Scheifele made a cross-ice pass from the side of the Detroit zone that found Frolik in the slot where he was able to put the puck past Howard.

Less than five minutes into the third, Winnipeg scored their first third period goal in their last six games with Matt Halischuk scoring his first of the season on a one-timer from the slot. Scheifele recorded his second assist of the game on the goal and Frolik tallied his second point.

Winnipeg added their fourth goal on a shot by Ladd right in front of the crease of Howard that slipped through the five-hole. It was Ladd’s fourth of the season.

Howard made 43 saves in the loss, while Montoya stopped 26.

The two teams will meet again at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 12.