Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is describing Tuesday’s regular-season finale at Montreal against the Canadiens as nothing more than a business trip.

“I know they’re excited but this is a business trip from this moment on,” Lalonde was saying shortly after Detroit was rallying for a 5-4 overtime win over the Canadiens on Monday. “I know the emotions are high.

“We got to channel it. It wasn’t a lot of rah, rah, it was turn the page.”

THE RED WINGS TIE IT UP WITH 1:17 TO PLAY!

Their #StanleyCup Playoffs hopes are still alive. pic.twitter.com/ZsaiJ5M5Kg

— NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2024

With Washington and Pittsburgh both winning on Monday, the standings remain unchanged in the battle for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Washington and Detroit are are 89 points, Pittsburgh is at 88 and Philadelphia, idle on Monday, is at 87 points. The Capitals are holding the tiebreaker with more regulation wins than the Red Wings. Washington plays Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Red Wings Still Need Help

“We didn’t get the help we hoped for around the league,” Lalonde said.  “Here we are, going into the season, no one had us in the playoffs. Most had us seventh in the division.

“If you would have told us you have one game, Game 82 on the road, to improve 11 points on your previous season, to have a chance to make the playoffs, every single one of us would have signed up for it.

Rafael Harvey-Pinard can flat-out fly.

: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/FmPv8M6v1l pic.twitter.com/3SLHrWaZSf

— NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2024

“It’s here for now. It’s going to be a challenge for us. They’re a really good team. Very aggressive offensively. They take a lot of pride on their home ice. It’s their fan appreciation night. We need to turn the page and give ourselves an opportunity.”

Game Time

Monday: Detroit at Montreal

Where: Bell Centre

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM

Time: 7 p.m.

Canadiens Preview

Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson collected an assist in his NHL debut Monday . . . Including regular-season and playoff meetings, this will be the 670th game between Montreal and Detroit . . . The Canadiens are 5-13-8 in games facing Atlantic Division opposition . . . Monday’s 5-4 OT loss to Detroit was just the fourth time all season that Montreal failed to win when leading after two periods (25-0-4) . . . With two goals Monday, Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher surpassed Shayne Corson (431 points), moving in 31at on Montreal’s all-time points list . . . Forward Cole Caufield has seven goals in his last eight games.

Red Wings Preview

Lalonde is going with James Reimer in net. Reimer is 7-2 in his last nine decisions. That includes a 5-4 overtime win against Toronto Saturday . . . Forward Andrew Copp (broken cheekbone) played Monday wearing a full facemask . . . Michael Rasmussen (upper body injury) remains out. Rasmussen has been sidelined since April 1 . . . The Red Wings have given up 14 goals and scored 15 goals in their past three games . . . Lucas Raymond has scored six goals in his past five games, reaching the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career . . . Alex DeBrincat has three goals and four assists over his past three games.

The post Red Wings vs Canadiens: Lines, Notes & How to Watch appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

In a game that would amount to a Cliff’s Notes version of the Detroit Red Wings season, the resilience that this club continues to display once again rose to the fore to save the day . . . and the season, for that matter.

Captain Dylan Larkin’s redirect of a Patrick Kane shot in overtime gave the Red Wings a 5-4 road victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. It also kept the flame burning on the club’s flickering playoff hopes.

“It’s just a sample size of what we’ve been going through,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin told Bally Sports Detroit.

IT JUST HAD TO BE HIM! Captain @Dylanlarkin39 buries the overtime winner, and the Red Wings are still Stayin' Alive! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/cH0fOElmLm

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) April 14, 2024

With two games left to play in the regular season, the Red Wings, Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers each sit with 87 points. Washington is holding the eighth and final playoff spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference via tiebreaker. Pittsburgh, 6-4 losers at Boston, are at 86 points.

In fact, had the Red Wings fallen to the Leafs in regulation time on Saturday, they would’ve been eliminated from postseason contention. Detroit will finish the season with two against the Montreal Canadiens – at home Monday and on the road Tuesday.

Red Wings Squander Fast Start

Just like late February, when the Wings were leading the playoff chase by a vast gulf of eight points, the first period couldn’t have gone much better for Detroit. The team took a 4-1 lead to the dressing room after 20 minutes, Alex DeBrincat would score twice in the frame, just his second and third goals over the past 21 games. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson potted his first of the season.

Twice as nice! @Brinksy97 buries a rebound past Ilya Samsonov for his second goal of the 1st period! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/36PAbZq98n

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) April 13, 2024

Then, much like the month of March when Detroit would endure an eight-game losing skid, the script was flipped. Netting three goals, Toronto would tie the game,

“I think in the second period we gave up a little too much, obviously,” DeBrincat said. “Didn’t play north enough and obviously it ended up in our net.

“Third period, we tried to get back to what we did in the first and thought we did a good job but obviously to win is huge for us.”

Red Wings Killers Come Up Huge

The Leafs would be given the chance to win it on a power play in the final moments of regulation time after Kane went off for high sticking. But they held firm against a Leafs power-play unit that had already counted twice in the game.

“I think I was on the ice for most of the penalty kill, so I was breathing through my eyes and just trying to gut it out,” Larkin said.

Then the story would do another 180. Toronto’s Max Domi went to the bin, setting the stage for Larkin’s OT winner.

Reimer A Winner In Milestone Game

Getting the start in what was his 500th NHL game, Detroit goalie James Reimer would make 32 saves to beat his first NHL team.

“We were happy to get it to the intermission with how the second period went,” Larkin said. “Our message was win a period, win a game.

“It ended up that it went a little bit extra but we got two points and Reims was a huge part of it in his 500th game. I can’t be happier for him.”

The post Red Wings Persevere, Live to Fight Another Day appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

No one has to tell Detroit Red Wings defenseman Olli Maatta about how fantastic the core of the Pittsburgh Penguins is. He was living it in person as a Penguins player from 2013-19, winning a pair of Stanley Cups alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

“I think they’re a proud group,” Maatta said. “They’ve done it for a long time and they still have that hunger. You know how they work day to day. They don’t take any games off. Every game matters for them.

“They want to succeed. They’re special kind of players for sure.”

Sidney Crosby continues to be recognized as the most well-rounded player on the ice – the @Penguins captain has won or tied atop the #NHLPAPlayerPoll most complete player category for five straight seasons! pic.twitter.com/EjX9MS5QQT

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 10, 2024

On the morning of Mar. 24, Pittsburgh sat 24th in the NHL standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 30-30-9 record. The Penguins were nine points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and given just a 1.7% chance of making the postseason per moneypuck.com. Now, the Penguins enter tonight’s game against Detroit with points in nine-straight games (6-0-3). Like the Red Wings, they’re one point out of a playoff spot.

“They’ve been playing great,” Detroit forward Patrick Kane said of the Penguins. “They’ve been finding ways to get points and win games. It’s been impressive, because you thought they were out of the playoff picture around the trade deadline. They’ve had quite a run.”

Crosby Leading The Way

Crosby, as is usually the case, is pacing that progress. He’s been accounting for an NHL-leading 17 points since March 24.

“I don’t think there’s ever enough to be said about how big of a leader, how special of a player he is and has been for a long time,” Maatta said of Crosby. “on’t know how somebody can do that for that long. I didn’t think that was possible but he can do it. He’s shown that. And he’s still doing it at an elite level. I think it’s gonna be a big challenge for us.”

Game Time

Thursday: Detroit at Pittsburgh

Where: PPG Paints Arena

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM

Time: 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

Pittsburgh captain Crosby reached the 40-goal plateau for the third time in his career. He’s the seventh NHL player to post a 40-goal campaign after his 36th birthday . . . Crosby needs two points to tie Phil Esposito for 10th all-time in NHL scoring. “He’s special,” Lalonde said. “He’ll go down as one of the greatest ever. He’s pushing that team.” . . . Pittsburgh is 386-88-46 when both Crosby and Malkin get a point in the same game . . . Former Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic has gaines points for Pittsburgh in each of his last nine games (6-0-3). That’s a career best for him.

Red Wings Preview

Alex Lyon will be making his sixth consecutive start tonight. “We’re ready to play James (Reimer) any time,” Lalonde said. “We’ll kind of go game by game, but we foresee James getting the net in one of these games. It’s just a matter of when.” . . . Forwards Andrew Copp (broken cheekbone) and Michael Rasmussen (upper body injury) are out.

UPDATE: The #RedWings today recalled center Zach Aston-Reese from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/1HbSliDuNf

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 10, 2024

Former Penguin Zach Aston-Reese is up from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. “Aston-Reese will probably help us on the penalty kill, having two of our top killers out,” Lalonde said. He’ll play on the foruth line with Christian Fischer and Austin Czarnik. Lalonde is tweaking all four lines. It’s Dylan Larkin-Alex DeBrincat-Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane-J.T. Compher-David Perron and Joe Veleno-Robby Fabbri-Daniel Sprong on the other lines . . . D pairings remain the same, meaning Justin Holl and Jake Walman will be healthy scratches.

The post Penguins vs. Red Wings: Lines, Notes & How to Watch appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Patrick Kane is speaking highly of his Detroit Red Wings experience.

“It’s been great,” Kane said of his time in Detroit. “Nothing but positive things to say about the organization, the coaches and the team in here.

“Really happy with the decision to come here.”

That being the case, Kane is offering no inclination that he’s ready to turn this five-month stand into a long-term relationship.

“I think just with the situation I was in and coming in and being here for maybe three-quarters of the season or whatever it was, it’s just this year and then we’ll see what happens,” Kane said.

Detroit goal!

Scored by Patrick Kane with 05:20 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Alex DeBrincat.

Washington: 3
Detroit: 3#DETvsWSH #ALLCAPS #LGRW pic.twitter.com/PIWRiZJRYF

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 27, 2024

Certainly, it’s working out well for all parties. Following radical hip surgery, Kane was joining the Wings in December on a deal covering the remainder of the season. He’s definitely been delivering the goods. His goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Washington gave him 20 in a season for the 12th time as an NHLer.

“He’s been great,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “The offense he’s produced, the leadership he’s brought, the presence he’s brought to the room, he’s been everything as advertised.”

Red Wings Performance Silences Kane’s Doubters

The Red Wings were among the few clubs willing to take a chance on Kane still being himself following his hip resurfacing procedure. Proving to be the Kane of old, he’ll likely be find himself entertaining offers from plenty of suitors if he’s entering the open market as an unrestricted free agent.

“I haven’t really thought about it much,” Kane said of what’s ahead for him this summer. “Obviously it’s in the back of your mind. It’s gonna come up eventually.”

The major question mark surrounding Kane’s future, his health, is no longer an issue.

“The thing is I’m not feeling pain on the ice,” Kane said. “That’s a lot different than what I was used to the past couple of years, two and a half seasons.

“Obviously feel like it’s going to get better and better as time goes on, which is exciting.”

btw, Patrick Kane is now tied with Mike Modano for most 20-goal seasons of all time by an american player (16) pic.twitter.com/IoB9yD8Zlp

— Emma (@catboyseider) April 10, 2024

The chance to be adding a proven to be healthy Hart, Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophy winner figures to be appealing to plenty of teams that will be figuring they are Stanley Cup contenders entering the 2024-25 season.

Kane’s camp will likely be fielding plenty of offers. How will the Red Wings be stacking up against these other opportunities? That will be the challenge facing Detroit GM Steve Yzerman. That’s assuming his determination is leaning toward keeping Kane in the fold.

“Obviously, it’s not an easy decision on deciding where you want to play, where you think you’d fit best,” Kane admits. “Hopefully all that stuff figures itself out.”

The post Kane Could be One and Done With Red Wings appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Some of the big guns for the Detroit Red Wings were firing in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The trio of captain Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane all would score goals in the victory. Together, they were combining to put 10 shots on goal.

Yesterday, the @DetroitRedWings' big names showed up in a big way! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/r67JwMQBjs

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) April 8, 2024

One key component for the Red Wings was again missing in action as far as putting the puck in the next was concerned. Alex DeBrincat failed to score. His account is showing one tally over 18 games since Feb. 29.

“I’ve definitely got to bear down more and put some pucks in the net and work on that,” DeBrincat was acknowledging.

He’s certainly right about that. When the Red Wings were trading first and fourth-round picks, prospect Donovan Sebrango and 20-goal scorer Dominik Kubalik to the Ottawa Senators for DeBrincat last summer, they were doing so with the expectation that he’d be filling the opposition net with pucks.

It’s also why they were inking the native Michigander to a four-year, $31.5 million contract. The Red Wings aren’t paying DeBrincat nearly $8 million per season to create chances. A provision of that stipend is that he be finishing chances.

At the start of the season, he was doing exactly that. Through his first nine games with Detroit, DeBrincat was good for eight goals.

Now, no one was expecting him to maintain a 73-goal pace. Then again, nobody was thinking he’d be falling off to a Michael Rasmussen scoring pace.

Arrival Of Kane Not Sparking DeBrincat

Over his past 68 games, DeBrincat has scored 15 goals. That would work out to an 18-goal campaign over 82 games for the two-time 41-goal scorer.

“We need more looks,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said of DeBrincat. “Keep him around the looks. You got to keep getting those looks and I think they’ll go in and for the most part he has.

“You can tell there’s probably some frustration in his game. Of course, a guy like that wants to score, but just keep getting looks.”

The expectation was that the early-December of Kane, his old Chicago linemate during those 40-goal seasons, would ignite DeBrincat’s finishing touch. Instead, he’s gone further south in his goal production.

In 50 games as Kane’s teammate, DeBrincat is netting pucks at a 17-goal pace.

Kane's son wearing a debrincat jersey pic.twitter.com/BTkxEZFa8A

— ava (@ava_5225) April 5, 2024

“It’s not always gonna go in the net for you,” DeBrincat said. “At this point of the season you gotta focus a lot of defense as well. Not gonna get too much.  Overall, I feel good about my game. I feel good overall.

“Honestly, I think I’ve played some good hockey.”

Honestly? If the Red Wings want to secure a playoff spot, DeBrincat needs to start scoring again.

It’s as simple as that.

The post It’s Simple: Red Wings DeBrincat Needs to Start Scoring Goals appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The next three games will go a long way in determining whether the Detroit Red Wings are going to be a playoff team this spring. A three-game gauntlet launches with a home date Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. A win would move the Sabres to within a point of the Red Wings.

Tuesday, the Washington Capitals are in town, Detroit and the Caps are deadlocked at 82 points. On Thursday, the Red Wings travel to Pittsburgh and will be facing the Penguins. Pittsburgh is currently on 83 points.

“Yeah, we have to win games though,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “We have to get points.

“Everything is magnified in the battles. You have to win your battles, win your moments and don’t leave any plays out there.”

Winning Saturday, the New York Islanders were moving to 85 points. The Philadelphia Flyers are at 83 points, but lost again Sunday, this time to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets.

Game Time

Sunday: Buffalo at Detroit

Where: Little Caesars Arena

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports/97.1 FM

Time: 1 p.m.

Sabres Preview

Given up for dead, the Sabres have won three out of four, with key victories over the Flyers and Capitals . . . Forward J.J. Peterka has seven goals in the past seven games. He’s scored 25 of his team-leading 28 goals at even strength.

Tage Thompson with the nifty move opens the scoring in Buffalo! pic.twitter.com/GBEba8gsJT

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 5, 2024

Red Wings killer Tage Thompson has nine goals in the last nine games . . . Since March 1, Thompson leads all Sabres skaters in points (19), even-strength points (16), shots (57) and plus/minus (plus-11).

Red Wings Preview

Detroit coach Derek Lalonde is boldly shuffling his lines. He’s going to try Austin Czarnik at center between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. “Played around with some different things,” Lalonde said. “Sometimes it just connects. Czarnik, Cat and Kane, they’ll get some shifts together post-penalty kill and so forth, it’s looked good. Probably a different look that could potentially help our depth throughout our lineup.”

An absolutely filthy backhander from Patrick Kane breaks the ice! Truly worthy of showtime! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Rv6VY52GuM

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) April 2, 2024

Other lines figure to be David Perron-Larkin-Lucas Raymond, Andrew Copp-J.T. Compher-Christian Fischer and Robby Fabbri-Joe Veleno-Daniel Sprong . . . Forward Michael Rasmussen will miss a second straight game due to an upper-body injury. ““Definitely out for (Sunday),” Lalonde confirmed. “We’ll re-evaluate for practice on Monday. Hopefully for Tuesday but that might be a little aggressive.” . . . Defenseman Olli Maatta (upper-body injury) is questionable . . . Alex Lyon gets the nod in goal.

The post Sabres vs. Red Wings: Lines, Notes & How to Watch appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Flailing and failing is nothing new to the Detroit Red Wings when spending time in the Sunshine State. Doom and gloom frequently follow them during their forays into Florida.

Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Panthers was Detroit’s seventh loss in eight games at Florida (1-5-2). Over the long haul, the news isn’t much better when visiting Tampa Bay, Monday’s destination.

The Red Wings have been winners in just three of their last 22 trips to face the Lightning. However, when you put more recency into the review, it actually favors Detroit. The Wings have won two of three there and three of the last five.

Red Wings vs Lightning

Monday: Red Wings at Tampa Bay

Where: Amalie Arena

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports/97.1 FM

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Red Wings Preview

Defenseman Jake Walman (lower-body injury) is back following a six-game absence. Olli Maatta will be a healthy scratch . . .  Looking for his first win since Feb. 27, Alex Lyon gets the start in goal . . . After scoring seven goals in a five-game span, Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond has been limited to one assist over the past five games . . Forward Zach Aston-Reese was given reassignment to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins without playing a game for Detroit.

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today assigned forward Zach Aston-Reese to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. pic.twitter.com/pbQDtCTxwX

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 31, 2024

Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher both have one goal over their past 15 games . . . Austin Czarnik’s lone point as a Detroit player this season came on Oct. 18 . . . Projected lines for Detroit are Dylan Larkin-Patrick Kane-DeBrincat, Compher-David Perron-Raymond, Andrew Copp-Michael Rasmussen-Christian Fischer, Joe Veleno-Robby Fabbri-Czarnik.

Lightning Preview

Tampa Bay is 8-0-1 through the past nine games. Over that span, the Lightning have outscored the opposition 40-18.

Let the good times roll.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 31, 2024

Lightning star Nikita Kucherov has 4-16-20 totals over the past nine games. He has posted a career-high 19 games of three or more points this season . . . Forward Brayden Point has goals in 13 of the last 18 games . . . Defenseman Victor Hedman is over 70 points in a season for the third time in his NHL career . . . Former Red Wings center Luke Glendening is leading the Lightning in faceoff percentage at 56.7%. Glendening is showing the unique stat line of 10 goals and one assist this seeason.

The post Red Wings vs. Lightning: Lines, Notes & How to Watch appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Other than the final outcome, there was plenty to like about the performance of the Detroit Red Wings in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.

“You want to win every game but ultimately what you’re looking for is to play the game the right way and to just bring your best and have a good effort,” Detroit goalie Alex Lyon told Bally Sports Detroit.

“It felt like we had that tonight, in a hostile building against a good team that’s obviously playing really well right now.”

On the one hand, he’s right, but here’s the thing – during a late-season playoff race, the bottom line is that the outcome is all that matters. A team isn’t looking to make a point with their play. They’re looking to gain two points in any manner possible.

The Red Wings needs wins. Instead, they are starting a rugged five-game road swing with their sixth successive loss away from the friendly confines of Little Caesars Arena, where they’ve won three in a row.

Detroit is going into Washington for a massive Tuesday showdown clinging to a one-point lead over the Capitals for the NHL’s second Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot. And that could evaporate prior to game time. The Capitals are playing host to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

Much Improvement In Red Wings Performance

There were indded some positive developments for the Red Wings in defeat. It was the first time in six road games that that margin of defeat wasn’t by multiple goals. Detroit held a road opponent under two goals for the first time in seven contests.

“I think we just played a real solid 60 minutes,” Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider said. “I think we deserved a little more tonight but we’ll definitely recover from that, come back stronger.

“We’ll be prepared for the next couple of games.”

That being said, Detroit’s sudden lack of offense is a major concern. Play as well as you want. If you don’t illuminate the red light behind the other team’s net, you’ll never win. And this was the third time in 11 games that Detroit has been shutout. Over the last eight road games the Red Wings are averaging 1.75 goals per game.

JUICE

Juuse Saros helps the @PredsNHL pick up their 17th straight game with a point with his third @pepsi shutout of the season! pic.twitter.com/oyp4uHsLc9

— NHL (@NHL) March 23, 2024

The latest goose brought to a halt point streaks for defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (seven games) and forwards Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane (six games each). Meanwhile, 23-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat was failing to dent the twine for the 12th successive game.

Dylan Larkin (first period) and Joe Veleno (second period) were robbed on point-blank chances by Predatords goalie Juuse Saros.

Forsberg The Decider

It was a third-period goal by Filip Forsberg that would extend Nashville’s team point streak to 17 games (15-0-2). The goal came from a tire fire of a shift by the Red Wings in their own zone.

SCORESBERG pic.twitter.com/xejrm31Lby

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 23, 2024

Somehow, Lyon kept the puck from crossing the goal line during a wild goalmouth scramble. Following up, the stickless Detroit netminder was making a desperation blocker save on a Roman Josi shot. Recycling that rebound to Forsberg, his high wrist shot finally would beat Lyon on the glove side.

“I think we lost a little bit of our composure and then, it’s on a stick, it’s off a stick and it’s in the back of the net,” Seider said.

The post Red Wings Got Everything They Need . . . Almost appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings may not have won the battle with the Nashville Predators on Saturday. However, Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider definitely got the decision in a star-studded fight with Predators leading scorer Filip Forsberg.

The two combatants clashed along the boards in the Detroit zone during the second period of Nashville’s 1-0 victory. With tempers flaring, the gloves and helmets were coming off as both players were making the decision to throw down.

“I just funneled the puck a little bit and got cross-checked and then I don’t know,” Seider told Bally Sports Detroit. “We got the best of our emotions and I think it was pretty enjoyable for everyone.”

According to HockeyFights.com, it was the first bout of Seider’s NHL career. Forsberg was engaging in his third NHL fight.

A Spirited Tilt

“Good fight, too,” Detroit goalie Alex Lyon said. “Obviously those are two guys who don’t see doing that very often. When they do it . . . and it was intense, too. A lot of respect for Mo for grinding like that.

“It was passionate. You could feel it. You love to see it.”

As Lyon notes, certainly, they wouldn’t be the first candidates to be fighting. Forsberg, whose third-period goal ultimately decided the outcome of the game, is Nashville’s most productive goal scorer and top point getter. His goal was his 39th and would account for his 78th point of the campaign.

Seider is Detroit’s most efficient minute muncher. He’s playing on average 22:08 per night. That’s tops on the team.

Seider’s five-minute enforced absence due to his fighting major put the Red Wings in a bit of a bind. They were down to four defenseman during that span of time. Olli Maatta was already in the Detroit dressing room. He was undergoing repairs after being hit in the face with a puck.

Red Wings, Predators Offer Unusual Combatants

The Seider-Forsberg scrap was eerily similar to another bout featuring unusual combatants when the two clubs met in Detroit on Dec. 29. That night, Detroit sniper Alex DeBrincat, currently third on the club with 23 goals, squared off against Nashville defenseman Roman Josi, the 2021-22 Norris Trophy winner.

The fight would enable DeBrincat to complete a Gordie Howe hat-trick – a goal, an assist and a fight in the same game. That night, the Red Wings won 5-4 in overtime over the Predators.

The post Gotta See It: Red Wings Seider Drops Mitts With Forsberg appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Hokcey Now regulars Kevin Allen and Bob Duff were joined on this week’s podcast by Andrew Fantucchio of NYIHockeyNow.com. Naturally, they’re discussing both the implications of Thursday’s huge game between the two clubs, as well as how each team has been performing late.

Will the Red Wings start on time? Can the Islanders snap their five-game losing skid?

The guys talk about these topics and a whole bunch more. Take a listen and find out.

The post Detroit Hockey Now Podcast With Andrew Fantucchio appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.