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The Detroit Red Wings’ second preseason game was about their first line.
In a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabers, the Red Wings found an offensive spark in the second period, as they scored four goals after 18 misses in the first period. The first line of Robby fabbri, Pie Suter and Lucas Raymond has been involved in all of them – a positive sign for a team that faces deep issues with Jakub vrana out for four months.
Just like preseason games should be taken with a grain of salt, that grain of salt is about as positive as it is for the Red Wings.
“We’ve scored quite a few goals,” said Suter, “so it’s always fun.”
Here are three takeaways.
Lucas Raymond debut scores and assists
Jeff Blashill joked Thursday morning that he told Raymond his wife would watch the game. (For the record, Blashill made it clear that his wife is well versed in the sport).
Whether or not he did it against the Sabers is up to Blashill (or his wife). But scoring a goal and an assist in his first game with the Red Wings is a good start.
“He’s awesome,” Fabbri said. “For a guy like that to come in and be as confident as he is is important because that’s when he makes these games and that’s when he plays his. game. And you can see him tonight. It makes our job a lot easier too, when he is playing his game. “
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Raymond scored one on five holes after a Robby fabbri take-out at 2:29 in the second period. Even if nothing else had happened for him it would have been a positive start, but he played a solid game throughout, scoring that goal, an assist and two shots in 15:56 of time. ice. The assist came later, after the Sabers removed their goaltender. Raymond found Fabbri on a breakaway, which brought him home to make it 5-2.
“He’s got really good two-way play,” Blashill said. “So these types of players are still transferable guys because they know how to create an effective offense. I thought he did.”
Pie Suter gets three assists
As for the Red Wings’ debut on Thursday night, Pius Suter was relatively under the radar entering the game.
This will no longer be the case after Thursday’s effort. Suter was involved in two Red Wings goals in the second period. The first came when Robby Fabbri scored a rebound off his shot for Detroit’s first goal of the night. The second, to make it 4-2, was created when Suter won a face-off in the offensive zone to set up a Luc Witkowski shot from the wrist that found the back of the net.
Video: Luke Witkowski scores goal in Sabers draw
“Tonight’s game is smart,” Blashill said. “He’s a playmaker. He’s strong on his stick for a guy who’s a bit undersized. He can obviously play on the power play, on the penalty kill, so he has a lot of attributes. He has been impressive so far.
Even though he’s only in his second season in the NHL, the hype around Suter isn’t quite up to par. Moritz Seider or Raymond. But he plans to be one of the Red Wings’ top six players this year, and it was obvious why from the start of the game. Mid-line with Raymond and Fabbri, Suter was at the center of several scoring opportunities early on, registering four shots as well as a number of high-risk assists and takeaways in the first half.
Suter’s lineage has been active throughout the game, with much of the game being run by him. He finished plus-4, with the third assist being the second over Fabbri’s empty net.
“It’s definitely my goal to be there in all situations,” said Suter. “Of course it’s still a little early at the moment. It’s the first or the second game for us, there is so much to go.”
Robby Fabbri scores three points
It’s telling that there are positive things to be said about the three members of the Red Wings’ top line on Thursday night, but Fabbri played an equally impressive game as his teammates, scoring two points – a goal and an assist – and going over- 4 in the night.
The first two points came on Detroit’s first two goals, Fabbri scoring the first game on Suter’s rebound, then helping Raymond on a successful forward check. He added the third on an empty net late in the third period.
“It was good,” Fabbri said in a low-key manner. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in a game.”
Video: Robby Fabbri overcomes home rebound against Sabers
Specifically, it dates back to April 3, after which Fabbri missed the rest of last season with an upper body injury. The rehab he did over the summer, however, was evident on Thursday.
“The most important thing I would say with Fabbs is that he was exceptional in his level of competition,” said Blashill. “Absolutely exceptional. The first day of camp he worked all summer here, trained here all summer. I think he has his body in the best place he’s probably been since he’s been. a pro.”
It’s hard to read too much in the preseason – with row combinations near the top of the list, as Raymond in particular could start the regular season at Grand Rapids. But it’s hard not to walk away with some positive things to say about this band.
While Raymond’s place on the line is subject to change, Blashill said he liked the combination of Fabbri and Suter.
“I think Suts is a guy who can make plays,” said Blashill. “Fabbs is a guy who can hurt and we’ll find someone to play, who can play on that right side.”
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