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Red Wings Notebook: Detroit Getting Offense From The D

Detroit’s defense has accounted for an NHL-leading 33 points

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6 months ago

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Moritz Seider, Red Wings
Red Wings Moritz Seider is leading all NHL defenders with nine assists.

In past years, to suggest that the defense of the Detroit Red Wings was offensive took on an entirely different connotation.

This season, it’s a good thing. The team from the D is getting plenty of offensive contribution from the D. More than any other team in the NHL in fact.

Accounting for another four points in Monday’s 4-3 overtime verdict over the New York Islanders, Detroit’s blueline brigade was raising their NHL-leading number to 33 points. Moritz Seider was dishing out a pair of assists, while his defense partner Jake Walman would score once and also contribute a helper.

“It starts with D and then getting the puck up to our guys we got,” Walman told Bally Sports Detroit. “Everybody can bury it.”

Seider is leading all NHL defensemen with nine assists. He rates in a tie for second overall in points among reaguards with 10. Offseason addition Shayne Gostisbehere is in a tie for fourth spot on that list with 3-6-9 numbers. Gostisbehere (six) and Seider (five) have also collected 11 power-play points between them.

Walman is next on the list with 2-3-5 totals, but all seven of Detroit’s defensemen have at least two points to their names. Justin Holl has three assists in eight games and an impressive +7 rating. Ben Chiarot has a goal and an assist, while both Jeff Petry and Olli Maatta are showing two assists each next to them on the stats sheet.

Red Wings End Island Drought

Detroit had never won a game at UBS Arena, new home to the New York Islanders, prior to Monday’s victory. The Red Wings were 0-3 there.

As well, they were also halting an 0-5-2 overall skid on the road against the Islanders.

Compher Reaches Milestone

It was looking as if J.T. Compher was the scorer of the game winner when his third-period tally was completing Detroit’s rally from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead. The Islanders would tie the game on an esnuing power play, sending the contest to overtime.

Compher would still be playing a hero’s role, only this time as a set-up man. His pass would set up Lucas Raymond for the OT winner in Detroit’s 4-3 victory.

In doing so, Compher was collecting the 199th and 200th points of his NHL career.

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