Legwand scores first Red Wings goal in 7-4 win over New Jersey

 

By Stefan Kubus –

DETROIT – Despite it only being their second game together, the Red Wings’ top line of Gustav Nyquist, David Legwand and Johan Franzen played like they’ve been together all season, leading Detroit to its highest offensive output of the season.

The line combined for 11 points – Franzen and Nyquist matched a team season-high for points in a game that Nyquist set back on Feb. 2 against the Washington Capitals, with four apiece, while Grosse Pointe Woods native David Legwand recorded his first goal and two assists as a Red Wing – and led Detroit to a 7-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils. That’s both the most goals Detroit has scored this season, as well as the most allowed by New Jersey this season.

“I thought Legwand’s line was outstanding, playing with Gus and Mule,” head coach Mike Babcock said. “They really set the tone for us. We needed that against Zajac’s line with Jagr… I thought those guys did a great job for us, led the way, were calm on the bench.”

Legwand said it was an easy adjustment playing with such a duo as Franzen and Nyquist, the likes of which he hadn’t played with during his time in Nashville.

“Obviously, two great players, world-class players and it’s in an honor to play with them,” Legwand said of his linemates. “We had the puck tonight, we were moving the biscuit. When we can move and skate, it’s going to create chances and opportunities.”

In his 100th career NHL game, defenseman Brendan Smith opened the scoring for Detroit, stepping into a pass from Franzen. Smith’s blast was his third of the year, with Nyquist recording the other assist, his first of three.

A wild second period brought seven combined goals in 11 minutes – including a three-goal swing by the Devils followed by three unanswered for the Red Wings.

Just five minutes into the period, Legwand entered the Detroit zone and cut to the middle with Franzen crashing the net. Legwand dropped it to Nyquist who let a wrister go up high that Franzen was able to redirect past Schneider. He had his first assist taken away last night, but this time, there was no doubt that Legwand recorded his first point in a Detroit uniform.

Later, on the power play, Legwand sent a feed across the ice to Tomas Tatar, but he couldn’t handle it cleanly, which led to a turnover. Patrik Elias took over, skated down the wing and unleashed a slapper that beat Gustavsson to cut the lead to one. And just 57 seconds after the Elias shorthanded goal, Jagr maneuvered his way through traffic into the Detroit zone, dragged the puck back and ripped home his 20th of the year at 10:20 of the second stanza to tie things up.

That was when Detroit called its timeout, which was a game-changer according to Legwand, despite Adam Henrique’s 20th of the year just 1:24 later.

“Babs called a timeout and we settled it down and got back at ’em,” Legwand said. “We got up 5-3, we got three quick ones ourselves, moved on and did a good job coming in here and locking it down in the third period.”

And while Henrique has been one of the hottest players out of the Olympic break, Franzen reminded him that he’s not the only one.

The Mule took a pass from Todd Bertuzzi and drove a slap shot past Schneider upstairs, which tied it back up for Detroit. And despite having his third assist, Nyquist decided to join in on the goal scoring. His first of the game, from Legwand and Danny DeKeyser at 15:05 was his fourth point of the tilt and 32nd in only 38 games this season. Defenseman Kyle Quincey added one more at 17:01 on a brilliant feed from Riley Sheahan to make it 5-3 after 40 minutes.

Devils netminder Corey Schneider hadn’t allowed more than five goals in a game this season, but that quickly changed in the third period.

Just 4:48 into the third frame, Legwand tallied his first goal as a Red Wing, his third point of the contest and 11th goal of the season. Franzen drew his fourth point of the night on Detroit’s sixth goal of the game.

“Leggy’s a real smart player, plays real well defensively and offensively can really make plays,” Nyquist said of Legwand. “He’s just a real good center man in this league.

“And Mule obviously, we all know he can shoot the puck and score some big goals, and he’s been on fire here, so that’s huge for us.”

Drew Miller’s seventh of the season at 12:52 of the third period, from Bertuzzi and Joakim Andersson – also playing in his 100th career game – capped the game off. Henrique went on to add his second goal of the game with 1:18 to make it 7-4 after a nice move to the backhand, but it didn’t prove to threaten the Wings’ lead.

Detroit heads to New York next to take on the Rangers Sunday afternoon.

Notes: Devils head coach Pete DeBoer coached for the Plymouth Whalers from 1995-2001 and coached current Red Wings forwards David Legwand and Stephen Weiss also… New Jersey defenseman Andy Greene (Trenton) played three years of hockey at Trenton High School, and was named Mr. Hockey in his junior year. His alma mater will play for a state title tomorrow at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.