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Summary: So far on this trip Detroit has been outscored 12-5 over 2 games and Lyon has been in net for 11 against. No, you can’t blame the goalie when the defense puts a puck on a platter (with a nice after dinner mint) but what Detroit had been getting in net isn’t there right now.
The best possible outcome of this road trip is now 4 points when there was at least some agreement that 5 or 6 would be a key to Detroit staying in the “thick of it…. Toronto and Tampa are now 4 and 5 points ahead respectively with New Jersey just 2 points back of that final wild card spot. This feels eerily similar to last season.
The OT win right after the All Star break felt like a reassurance that maybe Detroit had quickly gotten back into the swing of things. Right now, it feels like the team is a little shaky and those creeping thoughts of losing two well like teammates last year may be lurking. The current captain was in bad shape when Bert left town. That one hit him hard. Z came to town and it was a boost but the season was already turning into “where did I put my clubs?… Time.
Detroit has a lot of things going for them that they didn’t last year, but there is still one detail that is hard to overlook. LaLonde doesn’t seem like a head coach (yes O.R., I know he was an assistant on a cup winning team, thanks for playing) that can hit the brakes and get the team going. He’s not going to “peel the paint… when needed. More often than not, the room has to figure it out. However, you still need a coach who can help hit that reset button.
With two games left there needs to be a completely different iteration of what’s been hitting the ice. No, you can’t plan on McDavid’s 6 point night (5 is more realistic). You can’t plan on a goalie stopping 27 of 28 shots. Vancouver has shocked the west and for good reason. They have a group that wants to push their way through and could very well be one of the last teams standing.
Detroit’s next step is now. When you get to that final stretch can you reach down and get ahold of whatever it’s going to take to find the “W… when it matters most? That is what remains to be seen. Let me know your thoughts.
Detroit First Period goals: No Detroit goals scored in the first period
Shots: 6-3 VAN Score: 2-0 VAN
Detroit Red Wings Second Period goals: Fischer cleaned the crease at the Vancouver net as a rebound found its way to J.T. Compher who chipped the puck out of the bunker finding the top shelf for career goal 100. 3-1
J.T. top 🧀 pic.twitter.com/WtXQBjSVnK
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 16, 2024
Shots: 16-13 VAN Score: 3-1 VAN
Third Period Detroit goals No third period Detroit goals
Shots: 28-21 DET Score: 4-1 VAN