The Detroit Red Wings started their four-game road trip in the Mile High City against the Colorado Avalanche with a 4-0 loss at Ball Arena.

The Avs and Red Wings, both looking to get back on track tonight, found themselves scoreless through the first period. The Red Wings defensive effort managed to limit last year’s President’s Trophy winners to just five shots on goal through the end of the frame. Detroit meanwhile, found an equally stalwart goaltending effort from Mackenzie Blackwood, who stonewalled all 13 shots he faced from Detroit, despite a couple of close chances.

The Red Wings found themselves on the wrong end of the momentum shift in the second period, giving the Avalanche three power plays before ten minutes had elapsed in the second. The Avalanche would respond in kind by giving the Red Wings two power play opportunities of their own, but like their namesake, the momentum had permanently shifted in the Avalanche’s favor.

Martin Necas netted the first goal on the Red Wings fourth penalty of the period, with former University of Michigan Wolverine TJ Hughes as the primary assist. Detroit gifted the home team another power play opportunity, and Nathan MacKinnon pounced, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead three minutes after their first goal.

The two teams would go scoreless for the rest of the second period, however Necas would get the Avalanche up 3-0 in the third after the Avs won a face-off in the Detroit zone, batting the puck in behind Daniil Tarasov and Ben Chiarot off an odd shot the two Red Wings lost track of.

Mo Seider would square off with Gabe Landeskog for his third career fight, however, the unfortunate result was yet another Avalanche power play. Cale Makar would collect his third point of the night by scoring on it, giving the Avalanche a 4-0 lead they were content to hold onto for the rest of the game.

Takeaways

The Red Wings beat themselves tonight, losing steam after a disappointing first period and allowing Colorado to completely take control of the game from the second frame on… Detroit, now on their third loss in a row, looks to be showing their flaws after a better than expected October…

Key Stat

The Avalanche’s power play % going into the night was just 20%. The Red Wings allowed goals on three of Colorado’s five penalties, making them three times as effective as usual with the man advantage.

Key Moment

Chiarot was called off for the first penalty of the night just 15 seconds into the second period. From there on, the Red Wings defense completely unraveled. Three different defenseman found themselves in the sin bin in the second period, and it started with Chiarot galvanizing the Avalanche by elbowing Nazem Kadri.

Up Next:

The Red Wings travel to St. Louis for a matchup with the Blues. Puck drop is set for 8:00 P.M EST on Detroit SportsNet.