from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,
Like a seven furlong horse in a one-mile race, the Detroit Red Wings are running out of gas as they hit the stretch drive of the NHL season. Over the past three games, Detroit is 0-2-1. The Red Wings have surrendered 18 goals in those three games. They’ve been outscored 11-2 through the past two contests – a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and a 6-1 setback to the Dallas Stars, both on home ice.
No, it hasn’t been pretty. “I think we’re just going through a stretch right now,” was how Detroit coach Derek Lalonde categorized it.
With just two games left on the regular-season slate – Tuesday at Carolina and Thursday at Tampa Bay – the Wings need to find something to leave a more satisfying taste in theit collective mouths entering the long offseason.
“We’re sitting on a .500 season,” Lalonde said of his 35-30-10 squad. “Is it the end of the world? Does it really change much if we finish a couple of games under .500? Probably not. Our draft spot will probably stay in a similar spot.
“It’s a little thing, an opportunity to have a .500 season and growth from last year.”
from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
Husso has allowed 14 goals on 69 shots in 136 minutes the past three games for a 6.22 goals-against average and .797 save percentage.
Lalonde indicated a few weeks ago that Husso might be done for the season due to a lower-body injury. Then he made a quick recovery.
We were advised to get him back in there and see how he handled that situation he was dealing with in his lower body, Lalonde said. Unfortunately, its been a really tough stretch for him. Its going to be hard, because these last three games are just going to crush his overall numbers. There was some hockey this year where he was excellent, won us a lot of hockey games.
Husso clearly wasnt himself when Esa Lindells innocent-looking wrist shot from long range beat him at 7:59 of the second period.
He doesnt give up that goal ever. And for it to just go clean in from 40-50 feet, hes just not seeing it, Lalonde said. You feel for them when goalies go through stuff like that. Sometimes they fight through it. Obviously tonight wasnt one of those nights. Well see how he feels tonight, but no regrets (playing him). This is part of the big picture, even if its maybe a little step backwards for hopefully two steps forward.
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from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,
Evidently, Ontario Hockey League coaches find the composure of Detroit Red Wings prospect Amadeus Lombardi to be quite impressive. When it comes to the ways in which Amadeus conducts himself on the ice, they are equally enamored with the tune hes been playing.
The results of the annual OHL Coaches Poll are out and Lombardi, Detroits 113th overall selection in the 2022 NHL entry draft, was faring well in a number of categories.The Flint Firebirds center was the runaway winner in balloting for the smartest player in the leagues Western Conference. Lombardi garnered 39 points, easily outdistancing second-place finisher Shane Wright (12 points) of the Windsor Spitfires....
Lombardi was the second-place finisher in two other categories. He came in No. 2 as both the best playmaker and best stickhandler. Lombardi wound up third in OHL scoring during the regular season with 102 points from 45 goals and 57 assists. He was one of five players in the league to finish with over 40 goals and in excess of 50 assists.
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DETROIT The Detroit Red Wings today recalled center Danny ORegan from the American Hockey Leagues Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. Additionally, the Red Wings assigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson to the Griffins.
ORegan, 29, has spent the 2022-23 season with the Griffins and San Diego Gulls, recording 48 points (17-31-48) and 16 penalty minutes in 64 AHL games. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound center was acquired by Detroit from the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 19, 2022 as part of a three-team deal that sent right wing Givani Smith to the Florida Panthers. ORegan split the 2021-22 campaign between Anaheim and San Diego, tallying one assist in five appearances with the Ducks, in addition to 34 points (13-21-34) and 20 penalty minutes in 53 contests with the Gulls.
Does Islanders loss yesterday mean that our draft position with their pick might improve if they do not make the playoffs?
Yes it does. My understanding is that the pick is protected up to 12. After that it is ours. Hopefully they fall a bit.
Now that we've secured at least a shot at Bedard sure, win out.
Well, losing the next two games gives them a chance at finishing in the 8th draft spot instead of 11th. That makes a difference (depending on how the bingo balls fall), but it also gives them a shot at a better player. And Yzerman plucked Kasper at #8 last year.
I'm with you OTC. Watching them lose is hard, but the season is done and we need to think of the future. As mentioned before. the lower you finish, the better your pick in every round.
Edvinsson assigned to GR too.
The Detroit Red Wings today recalled center Danny ORegan from the American Hockey Leagues Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.
I've liked what I've seen of O'Reagan in the locally televised Griffins games I've seen. Unfortunately he's 29 years old, so this may just be a "thank you" for his hard work in GR since he arrived. I wish they'd somehow find a way to do the same thing for Dominik Shine (also 29). No one plays harder than he does.
I'll be more pissed if we win than if we lose at this point.
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