Jonathan Bernier started this season as a backup goalie for the Detroit Red Wings. Last night he brought a win to his team following a shootout against the Ottawa Senators. The Red Wings posted their first back-to-back wins since midway December, with the final result 3-2 for the hosts.
Bernier managed to save 29 shots in the regulations and the overtime, before stopping three Sens’ players, Tyler Ennis, Anthony Duclair, and Artem Anisimov, in the shootout.
Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill issued praises for his performance, saying that Bernier fought many adversities to reach this position.
“He had a tough start here in Detroit, both last year and the beginning of this year, but he kept a positive attitude, and his hard work has paid off.”
His Red Wings could have solved this one much earlier but failed to utilize a two-goal lead they had early in the second. Instead, they allowed the guests to respond quickly and even have a momentum that could have cost them dearly.
Tyler Bertuzzi opened the show at the Little Caesars Arena. He would score by tipping Filip Hronek’s pass with 5:05 to go until the end of the first frame. Dylan Larkin doubled the lead, 5:32 inside the middle sequence, with a power-play goal. He now needs just one more hit to reach 100 goals in the best hockey league in the world.
But the Senators replied almost immediately. Just 22 seconds later, Brady Tkachuk sent a shot that hit Patrik Nemeth, changing the path to deceive Bernier.
Not long afterward, it was 2-2. Colin White would score, to freeze all the home-team fans. It was an unpleasant moment because the guests from Ottawa had a swing, and the clock showed almost 30 minutes of play left.
Both Bernier on one, and Marcus Hogberg, on the other side, stopped 10 shots in the last period, with the hosts’ goalie posting for saves in the OT.
“He’s kept us in countless games, whether we lose or win,” Bertuzzi told about Bernier. “I know he’s going to keep giving us those opportunities to win. If we can score some goals, we’ll keep getting wins.”
Eventually, the 33-year old stopped all three attempts in the shootout, making it possible for his team to grab a win with only Larkin using his chance during SO.
This was the sixth straight loss for the Senators who are desperate at the moment. However, their head coach DJ Smith didn’t have anything to say to his players who gave their best but simply didn’t have the slightest of luck this Friday night.
“I thought we got on the forecheck, we tracked the puck, and we were good in the D zone,” Senators’ coach explained the reporters. “On the whole, I thought we played well enough to win.”
Ottawa (16-22-6) play their next five games at home, which is a possibility for them to snap this negative streak. The first contest is against the Montreal Canadiens, who are in an equally difficult position.
As for the Red Wings (12-30-3), they await the Sabres on Sunday.
