Abel to Yzerman

Good evening and welcome to all. Both teams are playing back to back tonight, so the Red Wings have to keep the momentum going. The entire fan base knows every game is a must win. It’s not going to be a walk in the park by any means, so, no passengers allowed.

It’s the Red Wings vs the Penguins. The puck is set to drop around 6:00 PM and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit, and on the Red Wings Radio Network 97.1 (The Ticket in Detroit) for your listening pleasure. Also available on NHLN, SN-PIT, and SPOTRSNET+.

It’s a Live Blog!

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

So far this season, Detroit has already droppped 23 points to NHL teams that won’t be part of the playoff picture.

As they arrive in Pittsburgh for a Sunday showdown with the Penguins, the Red Wings are yet again facing a game in which they can’t allow the two points to escape their grasp. Seven points out of a playoff spot, Pittsburgh is almost done like dinner in terms of playoff participation.

The Penguins will be dead in the water if they lose this game, so the Red Wings should be anticipating that they’ll be getting the best that Pittsburgh has to offer....

With 15 games left in the regular season, on paper Detroit owns one of the softer remaining slates. Of those games, nine are against teams that currently wouldn’t be playoff participants. There’s another game against the Penguins, as well as a meeting with Columbus and a pair against Montreal among that schedule. But don’t go putting those points in the win column before the Red Wings are earning them.

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from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

While this can’t be 100% attributed to the goalie switch, Reimer’s early saves certainly bolstered a Red Wings team that ultimately would gain a lead for the first time in 280 minutes and 34 seconds of hockey.

Reimer is 4-1 through his past five starts. However, he’s not been in the net for back-to-back starts since Dec. 20-22.

Depsite his solid showing Saturday, Lalonde still wasn’t ready to commit to a Reimer start on Sunday.

“Obviously the instinct will be to go back to him after a win,” Lalonde acknowledged. “But he is 35 and not many goalies in this league go back to back.

“So I’ll probably have a better feel after I consult with our goalie coach and kinda go from there.”

Actually, Reimer turned 36 on Friday, but that’s also immaterial. Considering what’s on the line, consultation shouldn’t be necessary.

The only correct answer is to start Reimer on Sunday.

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Below, extended post game interviews...

Wings were down 1-0 to Buffalo after 20 minutes. A bad five-hole goal by Reimer. The Wings are 2-15-2 when trailing after the first period.

Two goals from the Wings in the second period to put them up 2-1 after forty minutes.

Daniel Sprong scored for Detroit with just over six minutes left in the third, 3-1 Detroit.

Raymond put the puck into an empty net and Wings win 4-1.

Team Stats

Below a Larkin update and the Detroit goals.

Good day and welcome to everyone. Red Wings fans do not want to hear one more player, coach, or anyone connected to this team say, “It’s just not going our way.” Stop with this nonsense, and make it go your way, because that’s what winners do. Losers make excuses.

The projected lineup has Reimer in goal, and, Berggren as scratched.

It’s the Sabers vs the Red Wings. The puck is set to drop around 12:30 ET and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit, and on the Red Wings Radio Network 97.1 (The Ticket in Detroit) for your listening pleasure. Also available on NHLN, MSG-B, and SPORTSNET+.

It’s a Live Blog!

This is a day when the Detroit Red Wings need an exceptional goaltending performance from James Reimer. The Red Wings need a confidence booster, a performance like Reimer turned in on Feb. 17 when he made 38 saves to shut out the Calgary Flames.

-Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now where you can read more on this topic plus the Penguins are still in the race....

A bit late today. All via Ansar Khan tweets,

lines:
DeBrincat-Compher-Kane
Perron-Veleno-Raymond
Rasmussen-Copp-Fischer
Fabbri-Czarnik-Sprong
Berggren (extra)
Gostisbehere-Seider
Chiarot-Petry
Maatta-Holl
Walman not skating
Lyon/Reimer/Husso

Note that if Berggren plays one more game, he’ll need waivers to go back to @griffinshockey meaning he’d be here to stay for the duration.

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

The Detroit Red Wings can’t seem to figure out how to play with the same confidence and effectiveness they showed in January. They have now lost seven games in a row and don’t seem any closer to figuring how to solve their issues.

The problem: it’s not one thing. It’s everything.

It’s the team’s defensive play, the inability to generate scoring, lack of jump, slow starts, leaky goaltending, untimely mistakes, loss of confidence, lack of resilience, Dylan Larkin’s absence and pressure forcing the players to press. This is a Detroit squad that has scored 12 goals in their seven losses.

“In your career you go through some things like this,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “It’s just trying to find some answers throughout the lineup. It’s reality. We have not handled our group very well with Dylan out. There’s no reason for that. He’s a special, special player. He’s our engine a lot of nights but we have very capable group, very capable lineup. I think it’s got to be a little more emphasis on those defensive mistakes.”

continued

Below watch Chiarot, Perron and Lalonde after the game. Plus Mickey Redmond on the adversity the Wings are facing.

Going to try taking it easy tonight.

Coyotes win 4-1, the losing streak hits seven.

Team Stats

Detroit goal is below.

Good evening and welcome to all. As far as the Red Wings go, it’s all been said this week in various media. With that in mind, there is nothing new to say until the Wings win one, or, lose another.

Sprong is out. Czarnik is in. As of 4:01 PM I’m not sure who’s starting in net. Lyon is listed as the projected starter.

It’s the Coyotes vs the Red Wings. The puck is set to drop around 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit, and on the Red Wings Radio Network 97.1 (The Ticket in Detroit) for your listening pleasure. Also available on ESPN+/NHLPP, SCRIPPS, and SPORTSNET+.

It’s a Live Blog!

Tomorrow at 8:30 am I have a Colonoscopy procedure scheduled

Today I start preparing for it around 12:30pm and will probably be indisposed for a few hours afterwards.

I admit I am pretty nervous at this point and hope everything goes well.

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

There’s no player on the roster of the Detroit Red Wings who can match the winning resume of three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane. So when he speaks about what it takes to succeed in the NHL, you’d best listen up.

Just the other day, Kane was assessing the club’s performance during their current six-game losing skid. He’s not at all impressed with what he sees going on with the team.

“Just the details of our game, effort level, compete,” Kane said. “I think when you outwork, when out out-compete your opponent, you increase your chance of winning that game. It just hasn’t been there for us.”

It’s somewhat startling to hear the effort of the Red Wings being questioned. Even during the dark days of the rebuild under GM Steve Yzerman, rarely has the team’s work ethic been seen as an issue.

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from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

During a drill at practice on Wednesday, forward Lucas Raymond and defenseman Ben Chiarot came to blows. Teammates were required to intervene in order to separate the combatants.

This, according to Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, is a good thing. It’s a positive development for a club that needs to get back on track.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Kane said. “I’d be more worried if we were walking around here all smiles, happy and everything’s okay. I think it’s good to get a little frustrated as long as you harness it in the right way.

“Frustration can create a lot of positive energy as well, whether it’s practicicing like you play, or just playing harder tomorrow.”...

“We saw the intensity this morning in practice,” Perron said. “I think that’s great to see. Guys want to have solutions, they want to be part of it.
“I’m excited for tomorrow. It’s an exciting challenge to come to the rink and find a way to turn it around.“

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from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

The road hasn't been a kind place, this four-game road trip ending with an absolute thud, a 7-3 loss on Tuesday in Buffalo, stretching the Wings' losing streak to six games.

"Awful start," coach Derek Lalonde said. "We had no legs, no pace, they were playing fast and we give them that easy offense early on and then we just got rattled and got out of our structure.

"It just piled up in the first period."...

"We all know that game was just put out there wasn't what we need at this time of the year," defenseman Jeff Petry said. "Especially with the circumstances we have on hand, and everybody realizes that. We know we have to be better.

"They came out and dictated the pace and we gave them too much space to enter our zone and neutral zone early on."...

"We're running out (of time)," Lalonde said. "Luckily we've had some stretches in our season to keep us in this battle but you'll run out of time. Our focus will be the first period on Thursday, a good start on Thursday."...

"With our six-game win streak and how good we were for a stretch there, our goaltending was outstanding," Lalonde said. "But this is not on the goaltending at all. We let the goalies out to dry."...

"We just need to start off simple, get pucks deep and I know it's cliche but that's what has been working for us," Raymond said. "Skating and getting pucks to the net and play hard defensively. That's what we need to start."

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After 20 minutes it was 4-1 Buffalo. Sabres made it 2-0 quickly, Detroit scored, then Buffalo with two more goals. Lyon pulled after the 4th goal although he could not be faulted for any of the four goals.

In the second, Detroit added a goal, Buffalo added three. It was 7-2 Buffalo after forty minutes.

The Wings with the only goal in the third.

Final score Buffalo 7 Detroit 3

Team Stats

Detroit goals are below.

Good evening and welcome to all. There’s no good way to spin anything that’s been happening on the ice with this Red Wings team. Losers of their last five game, it’s time to put up, or shut up. Yes, sometimes you aren’t so lucky, that’s when you have to make your own good luck, decisions, choices. That’s how winners play.

Derek Lalonde said, “ I wouldn’t say (Tuesday) is a must-win, it’s a must-play-well.”

Really? I don’t think so. Where is the urgency? With only eighteen games(tonight included) remaining in the regular season, it seems to me that every single game has to be approached as a must win. Just saying….

Lyon has the net tonight, Walman is back, Burgers is in as well.

It’s the Red Wings vs the Sabers. The puck is set to drop at around 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit, and on the Red Wings Radio Network 97.1(The Ticket in Detroit) for your listening pleasure. Also available on ESPN+/NHLPP, MSG-B, and SPORTSNET+.

It’s a Live Blog!

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

Everyone had a hand in the wrongdoing.

The Red Wings were on a six-game points streak (5-0-1) on Jan. 14 when they beat the Maple Leafs in Toronto 5-3 to move into the first Eastern Conference wild card. The Red Wings were on a five-game losing streak last night when the New York Islanders downed the Anaheim Ducks to move past them for the final wild card spot.

Everyone’s fingerprints are on the losing streak. The Red Wings go into Tuesday’s game in Buffalo looking to avoid an 0-4 road trip.

“Can’t get frustrated, just got to keep getting hungrier,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said after Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Total System Failure

The team has been outscored 25-8 in the five losses. The Red Wings were shut out twice in the five losses, including once by the Arizona Coyotes who rank 27th out of 32 teams in the NHL overall standings. They have scored five or more goals in 19 games this season, and yet have only managed to net more than three goals once in the past seven games.

Lucas Raymond had raised his game to another level over the past several weeks, but has no points during the losing streak and is minus-8 in those five games.

Patrick Kane has played brilliantly this season, but has gone four games without a point. He’s minus-4 in those games. Alex DeBrincat is minus-6 in the losing streak. Captain Dylan Larkin’s injury has undermined the team’s offensive production.

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