The Detroit Red Wings secured a significant victory against the Vancouver Canucks, who currently lead the Western Conference. What made this win even more intriguing was that it was achieved through a penalty shot in overtime, accompanied by a celebratory move known as the Griddy. Despite being down 3-1, the Red Wings rallied and forced the game into overtime. Within just 23 seconds of the extra frame, Vancouver’s captain, Quinn Hughes, cross-checked Detroit’s Jake Walman while he was on a breakaway. It is uncommon for a crosscheck to result in a penalty shot, but that was precisely what occurred. Walman confidently approached center ice and successfully converted the penalty shot, outsmarting Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith. He then unleashed the hottest celebration seen in the latter half of 2022 – the Griddy. Although this move may be considered outdated, performing it after scoring an overtime-winning goal on a penalty shot was an opportune moment for Walman to showcase it.
This victory holds immense significance, not only for the Red Wings but also in terms of their position in the standings. Currently occupying one of the wild card spots in the Eastern Conference, they have been consistently jockeying for position with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Moreover, they are tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who currently hold the third spot in the conference based on points. Thus, securing two points against arguably the best team in the league carries great weight. The Red Wings are showing promising signs of being a playoff team, and if they continue to triumph in these pivotal matches, they may position themselves for a more favorable first-round matchup – to some extent. However, even if they manage to climb to the third spot in the Atlantic, they would still face either Boston or Florida in the opening round.
According to the Source outkick.com