The Daily: Penguins Still In the Race; Can Reimer Save the Day?

This is a day when the Detroit Red Wings need an exceptional goaltending performance from James Reimer. The Red Wings need a confidence booster, a performance like Reimer turned in on Feb. 17 when he made 38 saves to shut out the Calgary Flames.

Reimer has 495 NHL outings in goal, and he’s won more than he’s lost. He owns 30 NHL shutouts. Reimer has 14 full-game appearances this season and gave up three or fewer goals eight times (57.1%).

The Red Wings’ seven-game losing streak has opened up the wild card race in the Eastern Conference, so much so that even the Pittsburgh Penguins are back in it. They are only five points out with 17 games to play. It seemed like their season was over at the NHL trade deadline.

“If this were NASCAR, the Pittsburgh Penguins would have finally caught the draft, and the playoff pack is within sight,” Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski wrote Friday.

The Red Wings play a road game against the Penguins on Sunday. The Penguins play the New York Rangers tonight.

“Despite whatever’s gone on in the past, whatever has gone on with the (trade) deadline, everything like that, it’s all wiped away,” said Bryan Rust. “We have a job to do in front of us, and there’s a real opportunity for us to string some good hockey together and string some wins together that we can make good, solid pushing to get into the playoffs.”

“At least for a few more days, the Penguins have taken down the white flag and raised the battle flag…”

Finally, Penguins Feel a Playoff Spark, 'We Have a Job to Do' https://t.co/6EZWGI2zFT

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) March 15, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• The second edition of the Detroit Hockey Now podcast dropped Friday night. Vladimir Konstantinov, Simon Edvinsson’s future, and of course the Red Wings slump are among the topics discussed.
• James Reimer will start in goal for Detroit today against the Sabres as they look to get back on the winning track.
• Red Wings have too many problems, and not enough answers. Coach Derek Lalonde’s squad is struggling offensively, defensively and in net.

Red Wings Next Game

Defenseman Bowen Byram, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche, has played four games with the Buffalo Sabres and produced three goals, five points a plus-minus of plus-5. He had two of those goals in a 7-3 thrashing of Detroit last season. He will get a second crack at the Red Wings today in a 12:30 matinee game at Little Caesars Arena.  The Red Wings desperately need a win today to halt a seven-game losing streak and stay viable in the Eastern Conference wild card race. The Sabres are only three points behind Detroit and the New York Islanders in the fight for the last wild card spot.

Hockey Now Network

Chicago: Former Notre Dame player Landon Slaggert not out of place in his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Colorado: It was inevitable that the Colorado Avalanche were going to move Bowen Byram. His teammates all knew that.

Philadelphia: Sam Carchidi writes that the Philadelphia Flyers could be in trouble as they work through a difficult part of their schedule.