Nyquist Produces to Snap Losing Streak

The Red Wings players and coaches alike can finally pick their heads up and celebrate. A streak that has been plaguing the team for the past two and a half weeks has come to an end with a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.Secondary scoring was a key factor in Thursday’s successes, and it came from a surprising name on the stat sheet.

Gustav Nyquist, who was called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins earlier Thursday, came to the Joe on a mission to prove to the coaching staff that he is worthy of a permanent roster spot.

“Obviously we needed this win in front of our home crowd,” Nyquist told Fox Sports Detroit. “I thought the crowd was great tonight, gave us a lot of energy, and I thought we played a pretty good game overall, so it’s nice to get the win for sure.”

Recording two goals on two shots through 15 minutes and 27 seconds of time on ice, Nyquist was clearly ready to come out and put the team on his back. This is something that the Red Wings have not had all season – a player outside of the top six point producers to step up and light the lamp.

“[Zetterberg] made a nice play on the wall, on the forecheck and got it to [Ericsson], who shot it,” Nyquist said. “Kind of a lucky bounce, just laying around for me, I just banged it, I think five-hole.”

Even though the Red Wings’ superstars around him make it easier, the young Nyquist proved a point in last night’s game. In the first 17 seconds of the game, he scored his first goal cleaning up the trash in front of the Hurricane netminder Peters. And then in the latter part of the third period, he stunned Peters again with a slick backhand goal on a breakaway.

“He comes in with a lot of energy, a lot of confidence, scores right away on the first shift, scores on his breakaway,” Henrik Zetterberg said, who assisted on three of the four team goals. “It’s fun to see. He’s probably been waiting for this day ever since training camp. It’s nice to see him take advantage right away.”

The team and Nyquist alike can only be happy with his performance. Yet, the adventure has only started for the Wings squad, who are still winless on the road since a victory on November 2 in Edmonton.

The Detroit Red Wings’ next opportunity to continue their positive path will come against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, November 23 at 7 p.m. EST, at the Joe Louis Arena.

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Information from the Detroit Red Wings was used in this report.

For more information on the Detroit Red Wings and NHL hockey from analysts and journalists at Michigan State University – tune into Octopi Hockeytown podcasts and embrace the Spartan debate at www.impact89fm.org/sports

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Austin Goodman is the host of Octopi Hockeytown for Impact Sports

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Scoring Summary:

1st Period:

DET – 0:17 – G. Nyquist (Snap) (J. Ericsson, H. Zetterberg)

2nd Period:

DET – 2:37 – D. Helm (Snap) (J. Abdelkader)

CAR – 5:49 – B. Bellemore (Slap) (R. Dvorak, D. Bowman)

CAR – 12:51 – A. Sekera (Snap) (E. Staal)

3rd Period:

DET – 8:29 PPG – N. Kronwall (Wrist) (J. Franzen, H. Zetterberg)

DET – 15:58 – G. Nyquist (Backhand) (H. Zetterberg)

CAR – 19:44 PPG – A. Sekera (Backhand) (J. Staal)

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Three Stars:

First: Gustav Nyquist (2G, +2, 2 shots, 15:27 TOI)

Second: Henrik Zetterberg (3A, +2, 5 shots, 17:55 TOI)

Third: Brett Bellemore (1G, +2, 2 shots, 18:30 TOI)

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