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This week’s recap:

• 10/12 @ New Jersey: 4-3 loss
• 10/14 vs Tampa Bay: 6-4 win
• 10/16 @ Columbus 4-0 win

The Wings are back. And not just in the sense that they are actually playing hockey games again. I’m saying it in the sense that there is a different feel to this team right off the rip. Their scoring is up, their physicality is existent, and hey, they’re 2-1.

Now no, I haven’t gone Cup Crazy, I’m not raising any banners or predicting an Atlantic crown, but you have to like what you saw in the Wings first three games.

@ New Jersey the boys came out flying, carrying the play and jumping out to an early lead. But top-ten NHL player, Jack Hughes, was too much for the boys to handle for opening night on the road. New Jersey was able to eventually take the lead and not lose it again. But, a 4-3 effort on the road versus a Cup contender to start the year is pretty good.

• Sprong scored the team’s first goal of the season, his first as a Wing
• Debrincat scored his first as a Wing
• Jack Hughes killed us with two highlight reel goals

Home Opener vs Tampa was electric. 6-4 final. Wings outshot the Bolts 42-21 and LCA was absolutely ROCKIN’ for Opening Night. Larkin said it was the loudest he had ever heard the stadium. It was also the first time the Wings got to show off their shiny ‘new’ toys. And by ‘new’ I mean bringing back a bunch of old shit that reminds us of the good ole’ days. I’m talking the Joe Louis Arena horn, the song Hey, Hey Hockeytown after the game, and their new goal song- Without Me, Eminem. Great stuff by the in-game entertainment team. My only critique would be that during the goal song, they only play the end NaNaNaNa part of Without Me, I think they should just let the chorus rip.

• BEEFED UP Razor knocking guys head over heels
• Larkin to Debrincat for an absolute beauty

Beatdown @ Columbus. 4-0. Bad team vs Good team. Wings buried three in the third and got a 23-shot shutout performance from newcomer James Reimer. Gostibehere, Rasmussen, Larkin, and Copp all got their first of the year.

• DeBrincat returned the favor to Larkin, with a nice dish and a great finish from Larks

In three games, the new guys have accounted for the following:

• DeBrincat: 3 goals, 2 assists
• Compher: 1 goal, 3 assists
• Gostisbehere: 1 goal 2 assists
• Sprong: 2 goals
• Kostin: One heavyweight fight
• Holl: +3 rating
• Reimer: 23 shots stopped, shutout

This week:

• 10/18 Pittsburgh
• 10/21 @ Ottawa
• 10/22 Calgary
• 10/24 Seattle

An early tough stretch to test if the boys really have it this year. I think we’re going to learn about what kind of team we have over these next four games.

#LGRW

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