Red Wings beat Blackhawks in preseason home opener

By Nick Barnowski –

DETROIT – The Red Wings and their fans have waited all summer for hockey to return to Joe Louis Arena.

A 48-minute delay wasn’t too much more to handle.

Problems with the Chicago Blackhawks’ plane caused Detroit’s first home preseason game to start later than planned, but it didn’t affect the Wings, who won 3-2.

“We don’t really go through anything like that like baseball with the rain delays and stuff,” Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader said. “I thought for the most part we did a good job staying ready.”

Puck drop was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but the Blackhawks didn’t arrive in Detroit until 7:40. The Wings took advantage of a rushed Chicago team, outshooting them 41-28. Detroit improved to 2-0-1 in preseason action.

Tomas Nosek impressed, tallying a goal and assist, while Tomas Tatar and Andrej Nestrasil also lit the lamp for the Red Wings.

“I thought Nosek was really good, obviously,” Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said. “Nestrasil is getting better. I thought those guys in particular were real good.”

The 22-year-old forward from the Czech Republic scored 29 seconds into the third period and played well on a line with Abdelkader and Nestrasil.

Nosek’s goal came on a backhand shot that slid past Blackhawks goalie Michael Leighton.

“I felt good,” Nosek said. “I scored a goal so I am very happy.”

One of Detroit’s summer free agent signings, Nosek said he was just trying to find Nestrasil in front of the net when his pass bounced off a Chicago defender and went straight to his countryman.

“It was a great job from [Abdelkader]. He passed to me, I go to the net and I tried to pass to [Nestrasil] and I’m happy he scored a goal.”

Tatar kicked off the scoring late in the first period with his second preseason goal after deflecting a Jonathan Ericsson shot from the blue line to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

Chicago scored twice in the third period. Bryan Bickell tallied the first 6:28 into the period and Garret Ross added one with 50 seconds left in the game.

Jimmy Howard made 26 saves in the win.

The Red Wings return to preseason action Saturday at 7 p.m. to take on the Boston Bruins at home.