Everyone Culpable in Red Wings’ Five-Game Losing Streak

The story of the Detroit Red Wings’ fall from a playoff spot after a 56-day stay reads like the Agatha Christie whodunit novel Murder on the Orient Express.

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.

Defenseman Ben Chiarot is also minus-6 during the skid, and Moritz Seider is minus-7. No. 2 center J.T. Compher, known for his two-way game, has been a minus player in each of the past five games.

Detroit’s swagger has disappeared. Slow starts.  Shaky defensive play  Penalty killing not as sharp. Can’t seem to control the puck the way they were just three weeks ago.

Fans hoped Jonatan Berggren would provide a spark when he was promoted from Grand Rapids. But he was -2 with no points against Vegas.

Confidence Waning

“It’s frustrating for sure,” Red Wings forward David Perron, who had four points and an even plus-minus during the team slump.” You want to find a way. You don’t want to talk about efforts like this and not get points. But again, we gotta move on. ”

Despite Detroit’s recent troubles, they are still a favorite to make the Eastern Conference playoffs. BetOhio helps with navigating online betting sites.

Perron did feel like the team looked better in Sunday’s loss, but they couldn’t find a way to win. This was a team that always could find a way to win in January.

While the Red Wings have been slumping, the New York Islanders have been soaring.

New York has the Eastern Conference’s fifth-best record since Patrick Roy took over as coach. He stresses creating more offense and tidying up the team’s defensive coverage. They are in the midst of a six-game winning streak. That’s how they have overcome a nine-point Detroit lead in 10 days.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been up-and-down of late, but they managed to win two of their last three to stay above the playoff line.