The Daily: How Can Red Wings ‘D’ Be This Bad?; Mrazek Hot For ‘Hawks

The memes started a couple of games ago:  Photos of dumpster fires to symbolize the Detroit Red Wings’  defensive play over the last several days.

Bob Duff’s story about Detroit’s 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild points out the continuing sloppiness of Detroit’s defensive play.  The Red Wings, with an .899 team save percentage, don’t have the goaltending sharpness to overcome their poor defensive coverage. The Red Wings are 2-8-1 in their last 11 games and have given up an average of 4.36 goals per game.  If you take out, their two quality defensive performances against Philadelphia and Carolina, they are giving up five goals per game in that span.

“I think there’s a little frustration but we just got to look at ourselves,” Lalonde said. “This is all self-inflicted. This is not the team over the first 25 games. The turnovers and the carelessness, this was not our DNA at all, and of late, it’s changed. It better change back if we want to give ourselves a chance to get back into this.”

The Red Wings have two practices over the next three days and defensive coverage will be an emphasis in those practices. That’s what coach Derek Lalonde suggested after the loss to the Wild.

Goalie Alex Lyon (undisclosed injury) could be back in time for Friday’s game against the Predators. That could help. He owns a .932 save percentage in his seven appearances this season.

Has there ever been a worse defense in the #NHL than the Red Wings? #LGRW?

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) December 23, 2023

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Former Red Wings prospect Albin Grewe received three match penalties in five weeks in Swedish hockey action. One media outlet compared him to a famous Swedish criminal.
• The Red Wings turned in another sloppy defensive effort in a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. This has become a bad habit.
• Detroit 2023 first-round draft pick Nate Danielson is off to a strong start with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.
• Hall of Fame goalie Mike Vernon is lobbying for his Detroit teammate Chris Osgood to join him in the Hall.

Red Wings Next Game

The slumping Red Wings are home to play the Nashville Predators Friday.  Detroit is 2-8-1 in their last 11 games. Detroit’s defensive play has been atrocious. That will be the focus in preparation for the Predators and the New Year’s Eve game against the Boston Bruins. One bright spot: Patrick Kane boasts five goals in his past four games. He has 11 points in 11 games.

Hockey Now Network

Chicago: Nate Brown wrote that former Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek stole the game and Connor Bedard stole the show in the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets. Bedard netted the GWG.

Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche gave up five straight goals in a brutal loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

Pittsburgh: Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin made NHL history in the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7-0 win against the New York Islanders. Letang posted six assists in one period.

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights‘ fourth consecutive loss resulted from poor Logan Thompson goaltending and defensive breakdowns.