Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde sounded particularly disappointed about his team’s performance in a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders. The team had a poor start and didn’t show the level of consistency that they had  racking up six consecutive wins before this contest.

The Red Wings were undoubtedly hoping to still be playing at a high level when they started a challenging stretch in their schedule.

They face the Florida Panthers Saturday and the Panthers just took over the No. 1 position in the NHL standings.  They have won nine of their last 10 games.

SAM REINHART IS A 40 GOAL SCORER pic.twitter.com/mJ8RKTG5Xk

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 1, 2024

The Detroit squad then embarks on a four-game road trip that includes  Colorado, Arizona, Vegas and Buffalo.

“They’re all good. We’re looking at two Stanley Cup contenders, maybe favorites over the next week. Three of them, probably,” Lalonde said. “Opportunities like this, we’re gonna need every single point through 82 games and tonight (against the Islanders) it felt like a missed opportunity. “

The Coyotes (0-8-2 in their last 10), but Florida, Colorado and Vegas are contenders. The Golden Knights have been overrun by injuries. Even the Sabres are 6-4 in their last 10.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Detroit wasted an impressive offensive showing by steady defenseman Olli Maatta Thursday in the loss to the New York Islanders.
• Paywall story: Tim Robinson provides an update on 2023 draft pick Larry Keenan who is playing for Penticton in the British Columbia Hockey League. Former Red Wings Brett Hull and Joe Murphy played there. To subscribe to paywall stories and remove ads, click here.  To get $10 off our subscriptions price, use the promo code kevin10.
• Former Detroit player Tyler Bertuzzi has emerged from his scoring slump to help his Toronto Maple Leafs win some games.

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit is home to face the Florida Panthers Saturday at 3 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena . The Red Wings beat the Panthers 3-2 in overtime in their last meeting in Florida on Jan. 17. Dylan Larkin scored the game-winner. Patrick Kane takes a 10-game point scoring streak (5-10-15) into Saturday’s game.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: General manager Don Sweeney confirms there’s a gap in contract talks between the Boston Bruins and Jake DeBrusk.

Colorado: Report says the Colorado Avalanche were a finalist in the negotiations to acquire Chris Tanev.

Florida: The Florida Panthers (40-16-4) downed the Montreal Canadiens to become the No. 1 team in the NHL standings.

Montreal: Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Montreal Canadiens, unsure they want to move David Savard, have set a high price (a first round pick or equivalent) for him in the trade market. Savard is a desirable veteran who helps his team on and off the ice.

Philadelphia: Many around the NHL believe the Philadelphia Flyers as vulnerable to falling out of the playoffs, but Sam Carchidi points out that Moneypuck.com pegs the Flyers chances of making the playoffs at 74,5%,

The post The Daily: Red Wings Have Challenges Ahead; Habs May Keep Savard appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings’ ability to return to the NHL playoffs after a seven-season absence will come down to their ability to become road warriors.

After playing their next two at home against Ottawa and Vancouver, 18 of their last 31 games will be on the road. They have another Western Conference road trip coming (Feb. 13-19,  Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle) and a five-game road trip that includes Nashville, Washington, Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay (March 23-April 4).  Thus far this season, the Red Wings have earned 25 out of possible 46 points (12-10-1) in road games.

Detroit’s .543 road points percentage this season is well below their .615 points percentage (14-8-4) at Little Caesars Arena.

The post Red Wings Remaining Schedule Favors Making the Playoffs (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The last sentence of Bob Duff’s story on the Detroit Red Wings OT loss Thursday tells the story about their immediate future. Goalie Alex Lyon doesn’t seem to want us to forget it.

The Red Wings viewed the setback against the Edmonton Oilers as a lost point because they know they are in the midst of a gauntlet of games against playoff teams that may determine their postseason fate.

“We just gotta use it as fuel for the fire, because our January doesn’t get any easier,” Lyon said.

Indeed.

They have a game Saturday at home against a quality Los Angeles Kings team before heading on a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes. The Maple Leafs have won four of their last five, while the Panthers boast a nine-game winning streak and the Hurricanes are 6-0-1 in their last seven.

The NHL schedule isn’t more favorable to the Red Wings later in the month, either.  Plus, the Red Wings have the fifth toughest schedule for the games remaining for the rest of the season.

How each team's schedule strength is expected to change in the season's second half.
A deeper look at who has it easier (SJ, CGY, CHI, FLA, CAR) and who has it harder (COL, NJD, WSH, ARI, TOR).https://t.co/rknwM3EA63 pic.twitter.com/4wwzAXVcc5

— dom (@domluszczyszyn) January 11, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Andrew Copp finally ends goalless drought with tally against the Edmonton Oilers.
• Red Wings first-round pick Nate Danielson traded by to the Portland Winterhawks in a WHL swap.
• Carter Mazur overcomes a slow start to regain status as a hot Detroit prospect. Tim Robinson has the details in a behind-the-paywall-story
• Detroit prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka will be out an extended period with an upper body injury.

Red Wings Next Game

The Red Wings will have practice Friday before back-to-back games Saturday at home against the Los Angeles Kings Saturday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday. The Detroit squad beat the Kings on a 4-3 shootout one week ago on their California road trip. The Kings are technically in a seven-game losing streak, although they are really 0-3-4 in those seven losses. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have overcome their goaltending issues to go 4-1 in their last five game.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Defenseman Brandon Carlo goes on the injured reserve, but Linus Ullmark is listed as day-to-day. The latter counts as good news for the Boston Bruins.

Chicago: Nate Brown answers five questions about the Chicago Blackhawks, including whether Jason Dickinson has earned a contract extension.

Florida: The Florida Panthers have found their game, extending their winning streak to nine games in a row.

Montreal: The Montreal Canadiens are likely to trade forward Sean Monahan

Pittsburgh: Former Red Wings player Alex Nedeljkovic plays well again as the Pittsburgh Penguins earn a point against the Canucks.

San Jose: Sheng Peng explains how the San Jose Sharks ended their 12-game losing streak with a win against the Montreal Canadiens.

The post The Daily: The Gauntlet Just Beginning For Red Wings; Penguins Love ‘Ned’ appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Small successes open the door to bigger challenges for the Detroit Red Wings. That’s been the National Hockey League way for a long time.

Detroit’s completion of the California Sweep for the first time since 2008 has made the Red Wings a more viable playoff candidate. The New Jersey Devils, with 44 points, hold the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Capitals and Red Wings also have 44 points, but Devils have a tie-breaker advantage over Washington. The Devils have two games in hand over Detroit.

“We just have to build on it, keep working, keep grinding,” Detroit goaltender Alex Lyon said. “It’s going to be a difficult January, up until the break, so we just got to stay focused and engaged.”

But getting back into the postseason hunting party is the best the Red Wings could have hoped for coming out of the California trip. But that success creates another challenge: Can they sustain that level of play?

January Gauntlet

That challenge is made more difficult by the fact that the Red Wings will face a gauntlet of quality teams the rest of January. Detroit 10 has games remaining this month, and eight of those games are against teams currently in a playoff spot. The only two opponents who aren’t in a playoff spot are the Tampa Bay Lightning (Jan. 21) and Ottawa Senators (Jan. 31).

And Detroit fans know that the Senators are a difficult match-up for the Red Wings. The Senators beat them 5-1 at Little Caesars Arena one month ago. The Red Wings are 1-1-1 against them this season. Detroit beat Tampa Bay in the second game of the season. But the Lightning boast the winning culture that GM Steve Yzerman is trying to build in Detroit.

The Red Wings’ next game is against the  Edmonton Oilers (20-15-1) who come to Detroit with a seven-game winning streak. The Connor McDavid-led Oilers are now playing like the team everyone thought they would be this season. The Los Angeles Kings (20-10-6) will be in LCA on Saturday looking to avenge their shootout loss in LA.

Playing at Home Should Help

On Saturday, the Red Wings launch a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs (20-10-7). They play the Florida Panthers (25-12-2)  on Jan. 17 and the Carolina Hurricanes (22-13-5) on Jan. 19.

Then, it’s back home for five consecutive home games to end the month. Detroit starts with the Lightning,  then play the Dallas (22-11-5) on Jan. 23, followed by the Philadelphia Flyers (20-13-6) on Jan. 25, the Vegas Golden Knights (23-12-5) and Senators.

The Red Wings have already lost to the Panthers, Maple Leafs, Flyers, Stars and Hurricanes this season.  This  January schedule will say plenty about Detroit’s playoff chances. They will be looking for Lyon to stay consistent and for the team to play tighter defensively.

“We just want to keep building the right way,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “We’re still working out some details in our game.”

The post Red Wings Playoff Outlook Could Be Clear After This Month appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There was a time when the Detroit Red Wings would parade the Stanley Cup at their home opener. For their home opener of the 2021-22 NHL season, the Wings will welcome the Stanley Cup champions.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be the guests as the Wings open next season’s campaign at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, Octoeber 14. Detroit will open the season with a four-game homestand. It’s one of three four-game homestands the team will enjoy. The Wings also are slated to play three road trips of at least four games.

The Stanley Cup finalist Montreal Canadiens, who haven’t beaten the Wings since 2019, make their initial visit of the season on November 13. The Toronto Maple Leafs journey to Detroit on January 29 and April 26.

What matchup are you looking forward to most?! #LGRW

Presale: https://t.co/7hw7kRiYha pic.twitter.com/U7NLjQfnzl

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 22, 2021

Among other original six teams, the Boston Bruins are in Detroit on January 2 and April 5. The Chicago Blackhawks travel to face the Red Wings on January 26, while the New York Rangers will vist the LCA on March 30.

Anthony Mantha and the Washington Capitals will provide Detroit’s opposition for the traditional New Year’s Eve game. Dennis Cholowski and the Seattle Kraken will make their first visit to face the Red Wings on December 1. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Pengiuins won’t make their only trip to Detroit until April 23.

Detroit concludes the NHL regular season in New Jersey to face the Devils on April 29.

The post Red Wings Release 2021-22 NHL Regular Season Schedule appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The next NHL schedule is expected to be released next week, and at least one of the features defining the schedule in the pandemic-affected season of 2020-21 will see continued incorporation into the new one.

That feature will be more of the back-to-back home/road “series” format that was so much a part of this past one, a league source tells National Hockey Now Sr. reporter Adrian Dater. It will not be as heavily a part of the last division-only schedule. That’s because every team is expected to play each other at least once in the 2021-21 season. Still, expectatons are that there will still be many instances in which teams will be playing back-to-back games in the same city.

That became a popular innovation to the 56-game, inter-division schedule forced by the pandemic. Players enjoyed not having to run around as much and hopping on airplanes after every road game. It also greatly cut down on teams’ travel expenses and, frankly, cut down on carbon emissions from all that airplane fuel. CHN was the first to break the news of such an innovation last December.

The Red Wings played back to backs in the same city 26 times last season. Players said that it made them feel more rested.

With more of the back-to-back series concept, players were able to go back to the hotel and get a real night’s rest.

“I like it,” Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust said. “It’s like college hockey on steroids.”

It’s also something that may become a permanent part of the NHL landscape beyond this coming season too.

The post NHL Schedule Will Keep Back To Back Emphasis in 2021-22 appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.