The Daily: Red Wings on Salvage Operation; Saros on Block?

The start of this pivotal Detroit Red Wings road trip couldn’t have gone much worse. Ville Husso’s return from injury lasted less than 10 minutes. He’s now out week to week with another lower body injury. They have lost their first two games to the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks by a combined score of 12-5.

To be fair, they were playing against Connor McDavid who had six assists in an 8-4 win and the Vancouver Canucks lead the NHL with 80 points.

(This is the place in the story where hardcore Red Wings fans lament that the team drafted Filip Zadina instead of Quinn Hughes in 2018. Hughes likely will register 100 points this season and win the Norris Trophy).

But that doesn’t alter the reality that those two losses have weakened their hold on a playoff spot.  Now, the New Jersey Devils are two points behind amid rumors they are aggressively trying to trade for a goalie.

Also, the Toronto Maple Leafs hold the top wild card position in the East and they now have a four-point lead over Detroit. The Tampa Bay Lightning are now five points ahead for third place in the Atlantic Division.

That suddenly makes the Red Wings next two games against Calgary and Seattle on Saturday and Monday even more critical. The Red Wings are on a salvage operation.  If the Red Wings come out of this road trip with four points, they will still hold a playoff spot. If they only earn two points, they have made their situation harder. If they earn no points, it will make us wonder if they can get there.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Detroit will play an outdoor game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Ohio State next season.
• Jake Walman‘s ‘Griddy’ stirred up some controversy this week.
• Paywall story: Here’s a look at some of the NHL Prospects who will be available this season when the Red Wings get their first round pick.
• The Red Wings loan Jared McIsaac to a Swiss team. Detroit’s second round picks haven’t yielded as many NHL players as they would like.

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit’s next game is a matinee (4 p.m.)  Saturday against the Calgary Flames. The Flames are coming off a 6-3 home loss to the struggling San Jose Sharks. The Flames did go 3-1 on a recent road trip.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Jimmy Murphy writes that the Boston Bruins are headed for a bumpier stretch run than they anticipated. They are going to have to battle the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Chicago: Connor Bedard looked confident in his return from injury, ‘just like he always is.’ Chicago Blackhawks

Nashville: Michael Gallagher writes for NHN that the chances of a Juuse Saros trade are stronger than you think.  Nashville Predators. 

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby carried the team to a win against the Chicago Blackhawks, but isn’t it getting too late for the Pittsburgh Penguins?