Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s all came and went between goals tallied by Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp.
His goalless drought came to an end Thursday. It was Copp who broke a scoreless tie with a third-period marker in a game the Wings ultimately lost 3-2 in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers.
“Nice to see one go in,” Copp said. “I’ll maybe get a little confidence that way but 5-on-5 I feel like I’m producing.
“I’ve been producing, it’s just been a lot of assists lately.”
Between goals, Copp was dishing out 11 assists, so he’s right on that point.
“A player like that, when he pitches in offense, it’s great,” Red wings coach Derek Lalonde said of his third-line center. “In his career he’s shown he gets in that half-a-point (per game range) for a season.
“Unfortunately, last couple of games, things were finding him. He was involved in a goal against late in Anaheim. He was a minus-3 in San Jose. We’re a much better team when he’s playing at a good level and he was tonight. I’m glad he got rewarded with some offense.”
Red Wings Lyon, Oilers Pickard Kindred Spirits
At the outset of the NHL season, both of Thursday’s starting goalies – Edmonton’s Calvin Pickard and Detroit’s Alex Lyon – were in their usual spot. Third on the depth chart, on the outside, waiting for a chance.
Lyon doesn’t just know what it’s been like for Pickard, he knows Pickard.
“I know him pretty well,” Lyon said. “I was with him in Philly.
Lyon and Pickard were teammates in the Flyers system during the 2018-19 season.
“Great guy, one of the best guys,” Lyon said. “He’s been playing great for them all year. Really done a good job for them. I’m super happy for him.”
Both puckstoppers can take credit for playing a role in saving their team’s seasons. Pickard is 4-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .902 save percentage. Lyon is 8-4-1 with a 2.54 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and one shutout.
“Him coming back is exactly the time we started eating some points,” Lalonde said of Lyon. “We’re 4-1-1 since he’s come back off injury.”
Ice Chips
Detroit D Olli Maatta has 1-2-3 totals over his past four games . . . Garnering an assist, Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond is now leaading the team with 22 helpers . . . Copp was 75% at the faceoff dot (6-of-8).
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