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Beware The Slides Of March |
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Things have gone from bad to worse to epically pathetic for the Detroit Red Wings. Their current 10-game losing streak - though the NHL is officially classifying it as a winless streak, because one of the 10 setbacks came in overtime - marks the first time since 1982 that the Wings have gone on a winless skid that stretched into double digits.
“It’s not a fun feeling to get used to, and none of these guys are used to it,” Wings defenseman Nick Jensen said. “In this organization, it’s got a winning atmosphere. But every day you’ve got to go out there like it’s a playoff game. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the playoffs or not.
“For me personally, it’s just about growing as an NHL defenseman. I’m not a veteran in this league at all, so every day, every game, it’s going out there, seeing the guys who’ve been doing this for a long time and trying to do what they do.”
Beyond the winless slide, there’s also a march toward oblivion, a chance to do what only two Red Wings teams have done previously - go an entire calendar month without a win. The Wings are currently 0-8-1 in March.
The last time the Wings went an entire month without tasting victory was in November of 1982. That 0-8-5 skid saw the team score more than two goals just twice in the 13 games, netting a total of 29 goals in the month, an average of 2.23 goals per game. They were shutout twice. The Wings finished that season 21-44-15, 18th overall in the 21-team NHL, and selected Steve Yzerman in the NHL entry draft.
But that’s not the worst of it. The Wings closed out the 1976-77 campaign on a franchise-record 0-18-1 winless skid that included an 0-15-1 March.
Detroit's last win in 1976-77 was a 3-2 triumph over Pittsburgh on Feb. 24, 1977 at Olympia Stadium. During the winless March, the Wings were shutout four times - three times in a four-game span - and scored 20 goals for the month, an average of 1.33 goals per game.
The Wings finished that season 16-55-9, 17th and last overall in the 17-team NHL, and selected Dale McCourt with the first overall pick of the 1977 NHL draft.
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill recognizes that things can certainly get uglier.
“Probably making sure that we fight through frustration is the number one challenge,” Blashill said. “We can’t let ourselves get sidetracked by that. We’ve got to make sure that we just keep digging, and understand that every chance you have to put the winged wheel on is a special opportunity. I don’t care where we’re at in the standings. It’s a special opportunity.
“When guys’ careers are over, they’ll wish they had these games back. Let’s keep fighting. That winged wheel is a special thing. Let’s make sure we’re proud of that.”
Petr Principal
An old friend will be back in town Tuesday, as the Wings play host to the Philadelphia Flyers and Petr Mrazek traded last month to the Flyers by the Wings, gets the start in goal for Philly.
Mrazek is positioned to hammer the final nail into Detroit’s coffin. A win by the Flyers tonight and the Wings are officially eliminated from playoff contention.
“That’s the first time I hear that, from you,” Mrazek said. “But we’re going game by game here. It’s a really important two points for us, we all know how the playoffs is close, so every point we can get, it’s big on the road.”
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