The Red Wings' Battle for Victory

First Period: Early Setback

The top line of the Detroit Red Wings managed to breathe a bit of life back into the team as they returned to Little Caesars Arena. However, it wasn't enough to overcome a tough opponent. The Wings took on the Colorado Avalanche after a pair of road games and faced another challenging matchup. In the first period, the Avalanche took the lead with a goal from Valeri Nichuskin. Ben Chiarot blocked an initial shot, but Nichuskin was able to recover the rebound and fire it past Jeff Petry and Ville Husso. This early setback set the tone for the rest of the game.

Despite the setback, the Wings showed some fight and continued to battle. They had their chances to equalize but couldn't find the back of the net. The first period ended with the Avalanche leading 1-0.

Second Period: Momentum Shift

The second period started with a setback for the Wings as Vladimir Tarasenko was called for hooking, putting a teammate in the box. Just minutes later, Cale Makar took advantage of the power play and scored to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead. It seemed like the Wings were on the ropes, but they didn't give up.

Lucas Raymond came to the rescue for the Wings. He redirected Dylan Larkin's shot at 18:13, cutting the lead in half. This goal gave the Wings a much-needed momentum boost as the period was winding down. Raymond has been on fire lately, scoring eight goals in his last nine games.

Third Period: Struggle to Recover

The Wings struggled to carry the momentum from the second period into the third. They registered just one shot on Alexandar Georgiev in the first 10 minutes of the period, while Ville Husso stopped six shots. With 2:30 to play, Husso was pulled for the extra attacker.

Despite their best efforts, the Wings couldn't find a way to tie the game. They ended up losing 2-1, marking their fifth straight game lost by a goal and seventh straight loss by one goal. They have just two points in their last five games.

Goaltending Situation

The game marked the third straight start and fourth straight appearance for Ville Husso, who has been the go-to guy between the pipes since Cam Talbot suffered a lower-body injury in a December 1 game against Vancouver. Both Husso and Alex Lyon (also with a lower body injury) are out at least through Monday when the Wings play the Sabres in Buffalo.

Given that neither goaltender has practiced for a week or more, it may be optimistic to expect them to be ready by December 12 when the Wings are in Philadelphia. This could lead the Wings to give Sebastian Cossa, their first-round pick from 2021, his first career NHL start on Monday to avoid overworking Husso.

The Detroit Red Wings are in a tough spot right now, but they will continue to fight. Stay tuned for more updates on their journey.