from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,
Officially, the Detroit Red Wings are currently residing in the Sunshine State. In their headspace, though, it’s abundantly clear that they’ve entered into a state of denial.
Squandering a third-period lead, the Red Wings were able to scramble back and gain a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
“Obviously this one stings,” Detroit defenseman Jeff Petry was admitting to Bally Sports Detroit. “We wanted to get two (points).”
“It kind of feels like (Tuesday’s overtime loss at) Washington,” added Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde. “You feel a little empty, not getting the full two points.”
These offerings were rare honest insights from a team that evidently thinks with eight games to play, there’s plenty of time to right ship and get back on track for a playoff spot.
“I think our team game is growing,” Petry said. “If we bring that effort and compete every night from here on out, we’re gonna put ourselves in a good spot.”
Can’t you just picture Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, competitor that he is, seething with rage and anger as he’s hearing these comments?
"Cant you just picture Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, competitor that he is, seething with rage and anger as hes hearing these comments?"
He did sign Petry, didn't he? And he won't fire Lalonde for what he is doing (or not doing)?
I think our team game is growing, Petry said. If we bring that effort and compete every night from here on out, were gonna put ourselves in a good spot.
Yeah, maybe you should have thought about that 74 games ago.
Signed,
The Fans
Petry's shift in the second period was the one for the ages
look, they're still in it. we need BOS to beat WSH later.
this stretch has been ugly, but they don't ask how, they ask how many.
LFGRW!
I actually think Islanders will finish above Capitals
Possible.
But the NYI have been 2-7-1 in their last 10. They are 5 pts back (but have 2 games on hand on Philly and none on Washington). They've got games back-to-back @Philly and vs Chicago so even their easy opponents are going to be tougher.
Anyone wonder if someone on the wings has a gambling problem?
Reality is... they're still in it. Reality is also... they're not playing like a playoff team. As a loyal fan I don't want to see the Wings back into a Wildcard spot.
This team is broken in some way. They seem to play better and then revert to the same mental as well as physical mistakes. I know Petry has become the whipping target lately, (ah, no. That's not a riding crop in my hand.) but the game appears to be passing him by.
from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
"Its definitely tough," Wings' David Perron said. "I think we gave it all we had, played a really solid team game. Its a big point. We knew it was going to be a hard battle."
The game was physical, but the Wings pushed back, and did so without taking penalties. It was the Panthers who were shorthanded for the sixth time of the game a minute into overtime, and who were in the penalty box when Robby Fabbri scored in the first period and Dylan Larkin in the third.
"We played hard and blocked a lot of shots," Larkin said. "Guys were battling through the flu. We got a tough bounce on their second goal and we responded. Just didnt get it done in overtime."
Larkin scored with four minutes left in regulation, less than a minute after Aleksander Barkov celebrated his second goal of the day when Moritz Seider accidentally tipped the puck into his own net. That's the kind of composure needed from a team desperate for points.
"Loved it," coach Derek Lalonde said. "And the way that goal went in, it would be easy to get down. But you could see it, they were engaged stay in it, nothing changes. It was actually impressive to watch."...
"Ekblad is going to end up in the WWE soon," Lalonde said. "If hes smart, hell get a new contract in that league. But I think our guys managed it well with a little pushback, but keeping our heads about us, too. We were emotionally involved, which was really good. Good sign on the group."
more
Perhaps Ekblad should have just dropped his stick.
from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,
"Kind of has the Washington feel to it," coach Derek Lalonde told reporters afterward. "In reality, a point like that on the road, we lost our captain (Dylan Larkin) for the first 20 minutes and we've had guys in and out of the lineup (with the flu), the roster wasn't set (until close to game time), a very gutsy, impressive point from the guys. You'd like to get the two, but in reality we knew this would be a real tough road trip.
"Gutsy by the guys, a lot of positive. A lot of will from the group."
Give plenty of credit to Wings goaltender Alex Lyon for this point, as Lyon stopped 37 shots. Whenever there were Wings' unforced errors and there were several Lyon was there to clean things up with a big save.
"Alex was excellent," Lalonde said. "Bob (Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky) was on his game, he came up with some big saves, but Alex kept us in there."...
With only eight games left in the regular season, the Wings can't dwell on missing out on the points on this trip. It's on to Tampa Monday and hope to get back into the win column.
"We have to stay in the fight," Lalonde said. "We've taken points in two of the last three games, we've found a way to get points, pretty gutsy by the group."
more
Philly loses to Chicago 5-1
NYI lose to TBL 4-1.
Washington loses to Boston 3-2 in shootout, 5 rounds
Washington moves into 3rd. Flyers now in 2nd WC spot. Wings trail Philly by 2 points with a game in hand.
just gotta keep on going.
Those two last games of the season vs the Habs are for the taking. 4 big points, if this team is up to the challenge. Even so, the way they are playing now, if they squeak in at 8, they will get smoked in 4 straight most likely.
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