Detroit Red Wings zap Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0, in preseason home opener

Newcomer Vladimir Tarasenko was among the scorers as the Detroit Red Wings pocketed their second game of the exhibition season.

Considering the playoff implications of the game being played by the Detroit Tigers across Woodward Avenue, it was a decent-sized crowd that showed up at Little Caesars Arena Friday to see the Wings take on the Chicago Blackhawks for the second time in three days. It was a different squad that played in the rematch, and Tarasenko helped out with a goal in the second period en route to a 2-0 victory.

"I thought we had an honest game for a preseason game," coach Derek Lalonde said. "Saw guys blocking shots, managing the puck, so a lot of positives on that end. Young guys again showed well. And I think some of our NHL guys, those guys in the top six, had a pretty solid night.

"All in all a positive and a good step in the process of the preseason."

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Wings fans chanted, "Let's go, Tigers," in the third period as news spread that the Tigers had clinched a playoff spot . Wings players were paying attention, too.

"We were watching a little bit on the bench," Christian Fischer said. "That has been the talk of our locker room the last four or five days. Right on, Tigers. I know we’re all going to watch in the playoffs."

With eight exhibition games in 11 days, the Wings are rotating lineups. Friday, it was goalie Alex Lyon's turn to play the first two periods — he made 13 saves against a heavily minor-league Blackhawks group — and Cam Talbot who took over in the third period.

Forward Jonatan Berggren played on the second line with J.T. Compher and Tarasenko, in Patrick Kane's spot. The trio had a good shift late in the first period, with Berggren feeding the puck to Tarasenko on a pass from the neutral zone to start a cycle. Berggren came up the left side to catch a pass near the net, but was unable to convert on the chance.

Fischer got the Wings on the board in the second period, positioned by the crease to get his stick on a loose puck and make it 1-0, at 4:10.

"Both lineups there’s a lot of inexperience, a lot of young guys getting opportunities," Fischer said. "You just try to get your basic fundamentals back. It’s nice to get those little things in."

The Wings drew a four-minute power play at 8:32 of the second period. The unit comprised of William Wallinder, Nate Danielson, Michael Rasmussen, Amadeus Lombardi and Joe Snively outhustled the one comprised of Moritz Seider, Andrew Copp and Bergren, Tarasenko and Compher over the first half of the man advantage. It was Lombardi who put the Wings up by two skaters when he drew a cross-checking penalty on Frank Nazar; finally, at 13:33, the Wings converted, with Tarasenko skating into the slot and popping in a pass from Copp.

The Wings play again Saturday night at LCA, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com . Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames .

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings zap Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0, in preseason home opener