Michigan native Josh Norris nets two goals, lifts Senators to 2-1 win over Red Wings

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Dec 5, 2024

Published in Hockey

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Traction has been a popular word around the Red Wings lately.

The Wings can't put together any win streak or bunch some victories around a singular loss. Positive momentum, positive traction.

Oxford, Mich., native Josh Norris made sure the Wings didn't gain any Thursday in Ottawa.

Norris scored two goals, including the game winner with 41.6 seconds left in regulation time, giving the Senators a 2-1 victory.

Norris has 11 goals for the season and now has 10 points in nine career games against the Wings. On the game winner, Norris used his speed to find ice down the middle and snapped a shot from the high slot past goaltender Ville Husso (30 saves).

The loss left the Wings winless in four games (0-2-2) and stuck toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They are only one point ahead of Montreal from the basement of the Eastern Conference.

The Wings (10-12-4) have only won three games in their last 11 (3-5-3) and are slipping to near the bottom of the bunched-up standings. Ottawa (11-12-2) tied the Wings with 24 points with the victory.

Alex DeBrincat scored a power-play goal at 6:15 of the third period, tying the game at 1-1. Simon Edvinsson made a key play using his long reach to keep the puck in the zone, and the Wings worked the puck to DeBrincat — still being booed every time he touches the puck in Ottawa — who ripped a one-timer past goaltender Linus Ullmark (19 saves) for his 11th goal.

Norris scored midway in the first period, giving the Senators a 1-0 lead.

The Wings' much-maligned penalty kill was successful killing five Ottawa power plays. The Wings were 1 for 3 on the power play.

Coach Derek Lalonde stressed the positives surrounding the Wings of late, after Thursday's morning skate, but wants to see his team put a positive streak together.

"Points in six of eight games, and a lot of positives in our game," Lalonde told reporters. "But there are moments we can manage our game better. We are doing some positive things and executing. But we're sitting here and trying to get some traction."

Norris patiently tucked a puck behind Husso at 12:14 of the first period after a scramble in front of the Wings' net. The goal was the 10th of the season for Norris.

Ottawa outshot the Wings 32-20, limiting the Wings to only four shots in the second period (outshot 13-4). But the Wings came out firing in the third period, outshooting Ottawa 8-5 and getting the power play goal from DeBrincat, until Norris' heroics.

The Wings could breathe a sigh of relief Thursday after Edvinsson returned to the game in the second period after missing several shifts. Edvinsson to be favoring his right side after falling awkwardly in a collision with Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk.

Lalonde talked about the lack of "traction" before the Wings headed for this two-game road trip.

"Just can't get traction," said Lalonde, noting three home losses around Thanksgiving could have all been Wings' victories. "Got to stay on it and keep trying to round out our game because you can see flashes of it.

"Seeking some consistency. The one positive is we've had some stretches of some very good hockey. It's just finding it more often."