from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
Veleno played only 4:42 against the Lightning, getting just two shifts in the first period and one in the second before returning after Rasmussen got hurt. He has logged less than 10 minutes in three of the past four games.
“You’re seeking consistency from him,” Lalonde said. “The first time Dylan (Larkin) was out, there were some games he was at 20-22 minutes, playing one or two center.
“There’s just some inconsistencies in his game. Last game it got away from us a little bit in that he only had a handful of minutes, but Tampa is a different animal on the road. Every time I was ready to have him up, (Braydon) Point and (Nikita) Kucherov were coming out and then the special teams started rolling. We kind of got into a little rhythm. But early in the game, he turns the puck over and it ends up in our zone for 90 seconds against their top guys.
“He’s showing flashes of some elite hockey and then there’s some flashes of his game where it’s not where any of us want it to be. It’s just consistency, because it’s all there -- the tools, he can skate.”
more on the Wings
@RWHockey13
https://theathletic.com/526323...
Yuck, I was hoping Yzerman would be after him. But thanks.
The Wings, Boston and Toronto are supposedly in the mix.
https://twitter.com/HockeyNews...
from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,
When defenseman Simon Edvinsson was on the ice in the closing minutes of Mondays game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was like the Red Wings were announcing the Edvinsson Era had finally begun.
Edvinssons performance in the midst of a pressure-filled wildcard race shows he belongs in the NHL. Coaches have more trust in him, especially when it comes to protecting a lead.
Its a lot of pressure going into those games, Edvinsson said. Every point matters, every mistake counts. I try to play kind of safe as of now. Try to play with my of course instincts, but always in the mind of defense first. I feel like thats the way its gonna have to be right now, so thats how Im going with it.
In other words, he would show his offensive side more if every game didnt carry the importance of a playoff contest. Edvinsson was on pace to be a 40-plus point defenseman in Grand Rapids this season. He can motor with the puck, racking up eight goals and 29 points in 41 games. But even at age 21, Edvinsson is savvy enough to know he needs to play it safe for now.
The Red Wings are 3-2-2 in the seven games Edvinsson has played for Detroit since being recalled because of Jake Walmans injury. Walman is back, But Edvinsson remains in the lineup
Of course it was tough games, the 2021 first rounder said. It was a tough road trip. To get four points from that is huge. I feel myself Im just gonna keep going. Just play the way Ive been playing calm, poised. Also, the offense is gonna come. I feel comfortable out there, I feel confident.
continued
The Wings need the mentality of making sure defensive plays especially in these last 7 games. None of these teams look like breaking out to 93 points. Its there for the taking with good execution.
The enemy of my enemy...
At least for tomorrow night hold your nose, Wings fans should be cheering for, wait for it, Syd and the Penguins to slow down the Caps into a virtual dead heat with the Wings, regulation wins aside. Recent games pulling for the Isle and Pens mean 2 more teams join the cluster that is this years Peloton of Suck, but necessary for the Wings to be given a chance to draw even.
Looking at the tiebreaker situations, the Wings REALLY don't want to be in a spot where a tiebreaker is used after game 82.
This just made me notice the Wings seem to be leading the league with 9 OT wins
The Flyers have Buffalo and Columbus Friday and Saturday, and fairly easy after that as well.
I don't know how much weight I put behind these "easy" games. Every one is a challenge especially for a struggling team like the Flyers. Plus, those easy teams are trying to establish something. Just look what Buffalo did against Washington a couple nights ago.
from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,
"Home is very important, and we need to take advantage of it," forward Alex DeBrincat said. "Coming off a long road trip, we have a couple of days off to get refreshed to be able to go into that and play a good Rangers team. We can really take advantage of it."
DeBrincat remembers what it was like coming in with Chicago and Ottawa earlier in his career, and notices the difference this season in the LCA crowds.
"The fans have been awesome," DeBrincat said. "It's been loud in here and exciting to play here. It's been a great atmosphere here and definitely louder than what I remember (in the past)."
The energy has been one thing at LCA. But being the home team, the Wings get to make the last line change, which gives coach Derek Lalonde the opportunity to put the players he wants there against a given matchup, always a huge advantage.
"We've talked about the matchups and our guys have done a pretty good job of finding the right matchups, and it's been successful," said Lalonde, who calls the importance of being a good home-ice team "huge. Anyone who ends up making the playoffs, you usually look at the home record and they're sitting eight or nine games over (.500). We beat a Tampa team (Monday) that haven't lost at home in it feels like six weeks (March 7). That's how you get ahead, you take care of business on home ice....
Lalonde and his staff had a detailed practice plan set for Wednesday. Then the news about Rasmussen came down from the training staff, along with the fact about seven other players needed "maintenance days," meaning staying off the ice.
Suddenly, those elaborate plans went out the window.
"As coaches about 40 minutes before practice we were going go over everything and then some, and we were going to overcoach the heck out of it today," Lalonde said. "Then the trainer came in 30 minutes before practice and said all these guys need a maintenance day.
"We were going to be productive and get things done, which we feel are important and we didn't have the bodies. It speaks volumes on the other part of it, the reality of where your energy level is. It's well known we went through a flu bug with the team, and we're on the good end of that right now.
"There's always that need of being productive and cleaning up some holes in your game, but also to have the energy when you need it Friday."
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