Green hat trick lifts Wings to final Joe Louis Arena home-opening win over Sens

By @StefanKubus –

DETROIT – The last time a Red Wings’ defenseman notched a hat trick, it was a guy named Lidstrom who did so in 2010.

In Monday night’s home opener, the last one ever at Joe Louis Arena, Mike Green took the reins and potted a trio en route to a 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Darren Helm scored the other two, while Thomas Vanek recorded a trio of helpers. Petr Mrazek was sharp between the pipes, turning aside 31 of 32 shots.

After falling behind 0-2 to start the season, the Wings picked up a crucial two points in the standings against a divisional opponent.

“Obviously, this has been an important building in the city of Detroit,” Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said. “It’s a hockey game that we had to win for sure, but I also would say we want to make sure we leave our mark on this organization, and it’s great to get a big win here in the last home opener.”

After a statistically-down first season in Detroit for Green, it has certainly been a welcome start to the 2016-17 campaign for him. He also had a pair of assists in the season opener against Tampa Bay. It looks the defenseman who once scored 30 in a season is settling in well in the Motor City.

“I think Greener’s played well all the way through the preseason, even the games down in Florida,” Blashill said. “I think he’s played the way he’s got to to be successful. He’s attacked the game, he’s been shooting, I think he’s got a real good shoot-first mentality. I think he’s come into this year much more memorable. I think you spend a while career with another team and then you switch teams, it takes a while as human to adjust and I think he’s looked real comfortable and I think he’s attacking the game.”

Green’s hat trick marked the second home-opening hat trick in as many seasons, as Justin Abdelkader did so last year against Toronto.

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In the game, with 8:17 to play in the opening frame, Green potted his first of the season from Vanek, as Hammond couldn’t handle the wrist shot and the puck bounced off his glove and over the goal line.

Just minutes later, Zetterberg sent Helm in on a breakaway with a terrific stretch pass, and Helm buried his second of the young season to put the Wings up by a deuce.

Before the period ended, Green potted his second of the game and fourth point of the season, as he blasted home a saucer pass from Tomas Tatar on a Red Wings power play.

At 8:51 of the middle frame, Kyle Turris found the back of the net, capping off a great 2-on-1 feed from Ryan Dzingel. Erik Karlsson threw a tremendous stretch pass from his own zone to ultimately set up the 2-on-1.

The Red Wings carried their two-goal lead into the dressing room after 40 minutes.

Thanks to Mrazek, it stayed that way the rest of the game.

“He was outstanding,” Green said. “He was composed, he made some big saves. Pucks were bouncing out there and he had to get across the net a couple times and he was there, so he kept us in it, he kept our energy up, so kudos to him tonight.”

With 6:36 remaining in the period, Green capped off the hat trick to put Detroit back up by three. Helm went on to add a power-play tally, his second of the game, for a 5-1 final.

It ended up being the perfect way to wrap up a special day in Detroit.

“It started with the red carpet walk before the game,” Green said. “You could feel the energy from the fans and that led right into the opening ceremony and through the intros and to start the game. We were excited and wanted to put on a good show tonight.”