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Veteran Mistakes Derail Red Wings Again

Bad decisions with puck curse Detroit to defeat

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6 days ago

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David Perron, Red Wings
David Perron's ill-advised pass would spell doom for the Red Wings in Tuesday's loss to Washington.

Entering Tuesday’s home date with the Washington Capitals, the Detroit Red Wings talked confidently of being in control of their own destiny in the race for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot in the NHL playoffs.

Today, that’s no longer the case, and they can thank a pair of veteran players who wear Stanley Cup rings for this dilemma.

A 2-1 loss to the Capitals was the result of ill-advised decisions with the puck made by experienced forwards J.T. Compher and David Perron that both resulted in Washington goals during the final 2:13 of the second period.

“Those were controllable situations,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde of the two miscues that led to Capitals tallies. “We gave them some zone time and some looks off of some turnovers.”

Late in the middle frame with the game scoreless, trouble began brewing the Detroit zone. Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry broke his stick. Forward Alex DeBrincat would then hand his twig off to his teammate.

“Jeff broke his stick in the corner,” explained Perron. “Cat gives him his stick and it’s kind of a mini five-on-four for a little bit and they found a way.”

The path to that way was paved via a terrible decision by Compher. Attempting to clear the puck, he threw it directly up the middle of the ice – the only place along the Detroit blueline where a Washington player was situated.

Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary blocked the clearing attempt. He fed the puck to Dylan Strome, who’d rifle a shot past Detroit netminder Alex Lyon for the opening goal.

Red Wings Giving Away Goals

For the second time in as many Detroit one-goal losses, veteran forward Perron had his fingerprints all over the deciding goal. Friday, it was his third-period penalty that led to the New York Rangers scoring on the power play in a 4-3 victory over Detroit.

Tuesday, with the clock winding down on the second frame, Perron threw a pass back toward his own end in the direction of defenseman Moritz Seider.

Seider was unable to control the puck and it would bounce to the last person any Red Wings player would want to see with the puck on his stick, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. He sent a sizzling shot into the net and it was 2-0 Washington with 7.3 seconds left until the second intermission.

“Just not the greatest pass by me,” Perron admitted. “I got to put that on his stick.

“That’s a play we do all the time. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes you hit the weakside D coming up the ice and just unfortunate I didn’t make the right play on his stick.

“Sometimes it happens and he handles it, this time he didn’t handle it and it went back the other way and Ovechkin scored. Not a great play by me.”

Poor Puck Management Punishing Detroit

Poor puck management has victimized the Red Wings all season long. These self-inflicted mistakes were Hockey 101 stuff. You learn early never to throw the puck out of your zone up the middle of the ice. Likewise, the last thing you want to do with the puck as the period is nearing a conclusion is send it back toward your own net.

Tuesday, those bad decisions put the Red Wings behind the eight ball, handing the Caps a playoff position. Detroit is now trailing Washington (85 points). The Red Wings are in a deadlock with Pittsburgh (84 points). They’re heading next to the Steel City for a Thursday showdown with the Penguins.

“This one certainly stings,” Lalonde was admitting. “We still have some games to play. If we take care of business, I still think we’re in this thing.

“It’s just gonna be a little harder now, obviously, going into Pittsburgh, into Toronto. It stinks, it happens.”

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Mike Babcock

Dagger.

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Tom Rady

Mike, I dont know if it is totally over, but your probably right. The one thing that ways on my mind is what will happen to the coach. They have played a little better lately so I think it could go either way now. The story a week a go is if they do not make playoffs he is out. I do not know if that is true now. Again they have played better somewhat. I just do not know what will happen. I do not think anybody does.

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Mike Babcock

Tom, do you really believe this Red Wings team can win in Pittsburgh and Toronto?

I don’t.

Stranger things have happened but this Red Wings team has scored 1 goal in their last 5 periods. 🤔

As for Losey, he should be fired.

This Red Wings team has too much talent to be playing the way they are.

I’m not saying the Red Wings are a legitimate Cup contender.

Far from it.

But Bob alluded to it.

A lot of it is self inflicted.

I talked about it the other day how they have no clue how to defend.

Just throwing the puck across the ice in front of their goal.

It’s hilarious how Perron basically threw Mo under the bus for HIS mistake.

“Sometimes he handles it.”

But then he cleverly says “my mistake.”

Yeah ok Dave. 🙄

I’d fire Losey even if Detroit did make the playoffs.

My gut says they’re underachieving!

Last edited 6 days ago by Mike Babcock
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Tom Rady

Mike I think they could beat Pittsburgh and Montreal but not Toronto. That does not mean they will. I think the defense is awful after Seider, Walman and Simon. Gotisbehere gives offense but Ben and Petry are near the end. I do think Sprong fails to back check, that is why he is benched some. Why has he been on four teams? Lyon is mostly fine he just needs a partner..Is part coaching but their overall talent is not great its decent. See what happens. I am going to the final home game against Montreal.

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Mike Babcock

Yeah I can’t see Sprong being re-signed.

Some team will overpay him in UFA.

Could Yzerman sign Michigan boy Dakota Joshua?

I’d sooner give him 3-3.5 mil than old washed up Perron.

I’m always wary of signing players having career years.

But Joshua is 28, has some size and racks up hits.

Just what we need.

Plus he PK’s.

Maybe his success comes from playing with JT Miller?

The D is garbage.

Try to sign Michigan Boy Matt Roy.

Buyout Holl and Petry.

Trade Maatta for a 4th round pick.

Canes like Finns, I don’t know.

If Yzerman can sign Roy then Ghost is gone.

Edvinsson needs a solid RD to play with before he joins Mo full time.

Sign Mo and Raymond to max 8 year deals.

Hope Husso bounces back (unlikely) and start promoting the young guy’s.

Mazur, Kasper, Bergy, Johansson, even Danielson if he’s ready.

I hope the Red Wings win for you even if they’re mathematically eliminated.

Last edited 5 days ago by Mike Babcock
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Dav

Wings all shoot at goalies stomach…none pick corners of the net.

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Stevie B

24 hours ago I thought we were done. 24 hours later I’m ready to go again. I absolutely will not stop believing until it’s mathematically impossible. There are still twists and turns to come, mark those words. Everybody who is chasing that last spot is in sketchy form. Every team is 1 game away from a damaging loss. We have to keep going, giving up now would be so, so weak. Fight like you mean it. Do not stop til they tell you you’re dead. Do not be embarassed to flog a near-dead horse on its last legs. Ride it with pride, lets go.

Last edited 4 days ago by Stevie B
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