Replay of the Day: Brunner’s Datsyukian deke

Damien Brunner impressed during his rookie year with the Detroit Red Wings.

Replay of the Day: Yes, the shootout is gimmicky and “not real hockey” and a dubious Gary Bettman contribution to the game.

But it is also, at times, so worth it – if only for those must-see-thrice breakaway moments that cannot occur when a forward has two defenders breathing down his back.

After the Detroit Red Wings were blown out 6-0 by the St. Louis Blues in their opening game, the team’s reputation could ill afford a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, last season’s punching bag.

New Wings forward Damien Brunner made sure that didn’t happen, when he scored a spectacular fourth-round shootout goal against the Jackets’ Sergei Bobrovsky before a sold-out Nationwide Arena crowd (19,206, the largest regular-season Columbus crowd in history).

The Swiss-born Brunner, a hockey pool sleeper favourite who was lighting up the Swiss A alongside Henrik Zetterberg before joining the Wings, has yet to register a point in the NHL.

But his soft hands have already given the Wings their first victory.

If Brunner’s dangle reminds you of something his linemate Pavel Datsyuk might do, you’re right:

Sportsnet.ca no longer supports comments.