Point goes to man between the posts
But team coverage on rebounds proves costly
(by Gordon McIntyre, the Vancouver Province)
DETROIT -- Without Peter Skudra, the Canucks wouldn't have salvaged a point from Wednesday's overtime loss.
Too bad his teammates didn't provide better coverage on those generous rebounds that led directly to three goals, including the tying and winning markers.
"It's disappointing to lose a three-goal lead, but we're happy with .500 on the road," Skudra said, not the only Canuck to claim the three-game sojourn a success. "Detroit is the best hockey team in the league. They have lots of power up front and they showed that in the third period."
"I felt pretty good. There were lots of shots and scrambling in front, but I saw the puck most of the time."
Skudra was making his second start in as many nights, after No. 1 goalie Dan Cloutier took an indefinite leave of absence Monday to attend to a sick family member.
The Wings fired 48 shots his way, 42 of them in the final two periods and 2:26 of overtime.
"Peter battled tonight," coach Marc Crawford said. "It was an unexpected start for him and we got a point, so we can't be anything but pleased."
Crawford noticed the rebounds, too. And the ease with which Detroit players pounced on them.
"I thought the biggest problem was the rebounds were there and then our coverage off the rebounds [wasn't there]," he said. "When you're tying up great goal-scorers in front of the net and the puck's going by you, then it becomes a scramble. We didn't react to the scramble very well, much the same as them in the first period."
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REPORT CARD
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DEFENCE: Yeah, Detroit's good, but you've got to protect a three-goal, third-period lead. Peter Skudra let out some big rebounds, but no one covered the Wings who pounced on them. D
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