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.

The Detroit Red Wings called up NHL veteran Zach Aston-Reese from Grand Rapids to replace Andrew Copp who suffered a broken cheekbone on a high stick Tuesday against the Washington Capitals.

Aston-Reese will be in the Detroit lineup Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Aston-Reese played parts of five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2017-18 to 2021-22. Because this is an important game for the Red Wings in terms of playoff implications, they wanted a player whose skill set includes some of Copp’s abilities.

“Aston-Reese has over 300 NHL game,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “We were excited about some of his experience.”

Michael Rasmussen (upper body) will miss his fourth consecutive game, which means the Red Wings will be missing two critical penalty killers. Aston-Reese will kill some penalties.

“We think we can put an effective line together with Reese, (Austin) Czarnik and (Christian) Fischer,” Lalonde said.

Lalonde said Rasmussen is still day-to-day. “Still hopeful, but no update,” Lalonde said.

Veleno Will Get More Playing Time

Joe Veleno will receive more playing time centering a line with Robby Fabbri and Daniel Sprong. The Red Wings lose some size with Rasmussen and Copp out of the lineup..

X-Rays confirmed that Copp suffered the broken cheekbone. It occurred when Washington forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel accidentally caught Copp with a high stick. Referees missed it. No penalty was called. Copp isn’t going on the road trip, but Lalonde didn’t have any hard news about when he would play again.

“He’s going to have to go through, having that caved cheekbone, there’s a process to it,” Lalonde said. ” He’s got to go through some more protocol in the next 24 hours. This day and age, we’ll know more the next couple of days. But unavailable for Pittsburgh. I’d love to see him rolling out with his old Michigan college cage back on and give us some games down the stretch, but time will tell.”

Lalonde said he is comfortable with his lineup going into Pittsburgh. He is planning to mix up his top two lines with Alex DeBrincat moving on a line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. J.T. Compher will now center Patrick Kane and David Perron.

“Last time we played them we had Kane and Cat together,” Lalonde said. “(The Penguins) did a really good job of checking them and freeing up Crosby and Malkin elsewhere. I think it adds a little bit different balance. Obviously, we’re losing two very important pieces to our forward group with some size.”

The post NHL Veteran Will Replace Andrew Copp vs. Pittsburgh appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

DETROIT — The Red Wings suffered an injury on top of an insult when Andrew Copp suffered a broken cheekbone on a high-sticking penalty that wasn’t called by either referee.

Capitals forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel was battling with Detroit defenseman Olli Maatta when his stick came up and struck Copp in the face. Copp went down in a heap. Referees conferred but no penalty call was made. Replays showed it was a clear high-stick.

“He’s going to get an x-ray to get it confirmed,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

Lalonde said it was his understanding that if there is an injury, then officials can look at a replay.

“Again it’s hindsight now because he’s got a broken cheekbone, but that stings even more,” Lalonde said. “They said they didn’t see it. What can you do? They never took a look at it. They just said they didn’t see it. Again, there’s no blood.”

Copp is one of the team’s key match-up forwards. The Red Wings have another important game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

“Obviously a blatant high stick,” Lalonde said. “If it hits him in the visor, you can probably move on from it. But the fact he broke his cheekbone, that one stings a little bit. I feel for Copper. Obviously I don’t know what the situation is going forward, but that would be a big loss for us.”

Presuming Copp is out, Lalonde said he would probably ask Joe Veleno to do “a little more.”

“He’s more than capable.” Lalonde said.

No penalty call on this high stick on Copp. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/oKHQkFFI3D

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) April 10, 2024

Ice Chips

Moritz Seider, suffering from the flu, played only 17:54. Had he been healthy he would have played 25-plus minutes… Patrick Kane scored his 20th goal of the season. He has 16 seasons of scoring 20 or more,  tying Mike Modano for the most 20-goal seasons by a U.S.-born skater in NHL history… Alex DeBrincat had three shots on goal, but his goal drought continues. He has one goal in the past 19 games.

The post Notebook: Red Wings Lose Forward to Injury in Loss to Caps appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

DETROIT — This is a time of the season when every play, every mistake, every opportunity matters. A missed assignment, an unlucky bounce or a bad penalty, could end up costing a team like the Red Wings a playoff berth.

The Red Wings played a good hockey game, but a few errors, including an ill-advised offensive zone penalty by David Perron in the third period, were the difference in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers.

With the game tied 3-3 midway through the third period, Perron was called for high sticking at 9:29 and Chris Kreider turned that into a game-winning power play goal.

“That was a tough penalty,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “The momentum felt good and we put their power play on for the third time and they cashed in.”

That wasn’t the only reason the Red Wings lost. Other veterans made mistakes that were just as costly, but Perron’s penalty will be remembered because it led to a goal.

“It’s magnified now on every play,” Lalonde said. “This is why it’s really good for our guys to be going through this. It’s just different this time of year. It’s amplified this time of year and you learn, especially against a really good team, we left some plays out there. Unfortunately, it cost us.”

Missed Opportunity

This lost cost the Red Wings in a big way because other teams helped them out Friday. The Buffalo Sabres knocked off Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2 and the Carolina Hurricanes downed the Washington Capitals, 3-2. Even with the loss, Detroit is only one point behind the Flyers for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals are also only one point back. The Pittsburgh Penguins are two behind.

Dylan Larkin became the first @DetroitRedWings player to post three consecutive 30-goal seasons since Henrik Zetterberg (4 from 2005-06 to 2008-09).#NHLStats: https://t.co/5SdbzqtcNg https://t.co/vXMR6fso5r

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 6, 2024

The New York Islanders are now in third place in the Metropolitan Division, putting them in a playoff position. By winning, the Sabres are now only three points behind Detroit. Those teams are meeting Sunday in a matinee at Little Caesars Arena.

“I think we gave them a bit too much,” Lalonde said. “If you would have told me we would have kept their top six off the board five on five, we could have liked our chances. Just a couple plays out there that ended up costing us and that’s the time of year, especially against a team of that caliber.

Gritty New York role player Barclay Goodrow scored a pair of goals and unheralded Will Cuylle netted another. Detroit tied the game twice on goals by Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher and then went ahead 3-2 on Dylan Larkin‘s 30th goal of the season. That lead lasted 25 seconds because Goodrow scored his second goal.

Time Running Out

“We played good enough to get a point, to get two points tonight,” Larkin said. “I think when you get to this time of the year, every time that you drop a game it feels like an opportunity missed. It’s been hard. The hockey’s been hard and tight. We’ve been talking about every play and making sure we make every play. We left a couple out there tonight, which makes it hurt more.”

The Red Wings only have six games remaining.

‘Plays that happen in the first period are magnified throughout,” Copp said. “It’s not just the push at the end. It’s that time of the year where everything gets magnified. Tonight’s no different. We played pretty good. But pretty good this time of year can be .500 hockey. We just gotta find a way to minimize those . . . you know, you’re gonna make mistakes in a game. Everyone’s gonna make mistakes in a game. It felt like they ended up being big ones tonight.”

The post Veteran Mistake Costly in Red Wings’ Loss to Rangers appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

For the first time during the NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings are facing life without Michael Rasmussen. In the past, they’ve not faced up to that fact very well.

Rasmussen is going to be out for Friday’s home game against the New York Rangers and perhaps even longer. He was suffering an upper-body injury in a collision along the boards late in Monday’s 4-2 Detroit win at Tampa Bay over the Lightning.

Michael Rasmussen (day-to-day) will be unavailable on Friday, per Coach Lalonde.

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 3, 2024

“Rasumussen will be out on Friday,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was confirming following practice on Wednesday. “He’ll be day to day. I don’t know if we’ll see him over the weekend but we’ll get a better feel Friday.”

Detroit is to play host to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon.

Rasmussen has yet to miss a game this season. The hulking 6-foot-6 forward has proven to be a stellar presence on an identity line alongside fellow grinders Andrew Copp and Christian Fischer. With 13 goals this season, Rasmussen is among 13 Red Wings players to net double digits in tallies.

Red Wings Get Hard, North Game From Rasmussen

The Red Wings roster is rich with guys who play a straightahead, hard-nosed game. That’s where Rasmussen’s value is truly measurable.

“We’ve had a little success there getting that line back together, him, Copp and Fisch, eats up really good minutes,” Lalonde said of the success of that unit. “You talk about the dynamic and what it looks like matchup-wise, it’s a different dynamic when those guys are in.

“Maybe the way we’re built, he gives us some hard, and some size. He’s around the net, he’s helping drive his line off the forecheck.

“That will be a miss for us. We’ll feel that a little bit.”

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN! DETROIT! FINALLY!
Haven't needed a goal more all season! pic.twitter.com/U9qYSjsY5f

— Red Wings Rant (@Red_Wings_Rant) March 10, 2024

They’ve certainly missed the aspect that Rasmussen brings to the ice in the past. Last season, he was out for 26 games – two due to NHL suspension and 24 due to injury. Detroit went 8-16-2 in Rasmussen’s absence. That’s just 18 out of a possible 52 points gained.

Joe Veleno, who saw limited duty in Monday’s win, seeing only 4:42 of ice time, gets the first chance to fill Rasmussen’s role.

“We’ll probably slide Veleno in there and you hope Joe can give us very similar type of play as far as some size, skating and getting to those hard areas,” Lalonde said.

The post Red Wings Will Miss Rasmussen appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Lately, as the Detroit Red Wings were squandering games and frittering away what was once a massive lead for the final NHL Eastern Conference playoff spot, who are these guys was a fair question to pose.

In more recent action, there’s been a completely different answer to this query. Just as they were doing during their impressive run during January and February, the Red Wings are again playing to an identity and with an identity. And because of that, you can once more identify this team as a success story.

You can also thank the so-called Identity Line for setting the tone and setting that bar high.

The forward unit of Christian Fischer, Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen were not accountable during Thursday’s huge 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders, they were also showing the way in the accounting department.

Andrew Copp right place right time for a 2-1 lead!#LGRW pic.twitter.com/io0HaxKelO

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 22, 2024

Copp scored twice, his first goals in 21 games. Fischer would open the scoring with a dynamic breakaway tally. He was good for three points. With Rasmussen dishing a pair of assists, the trio combined for seven points.

It wasn’t merely that they were setting each other up. In the process, they were setting a tone for their teammates.

This Is Red Wings Identity

That unit forechecks like fiends. They thrive in matching up with top players from the opposition and grinding them into the ice surface.

“We all have similar mindsets and obviously three big bodies,” Fischer said. “Obviously doing some matchups with other lines. The three of us, we love that type of thing.

“It’s the game within the game if you could shut down those big boys amd make life hard for them. I think we’re just on the same page.”

Thursday, that was the front page. Following a scoreless opening frame, Fischer would finally put a crooked number up on the scoreboard. Breaking into the clear down the left wing, he cut to his forehand and slipped the puck past the outstretched glove of Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

Christian Fischer scores on the breakaway to draw first blood!#LGRW pic.twitter.com/kLQJqKoF2q

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 22, 2024

“Came up with it on the spot,” Fischer said of his breakaway move. “It (puck) was on its side, too. We hate to see that.

“Found a way to put it in. Got a little excited there in the celebration.”

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin offered a one-word response regarding what it means to the team when that group is firing on all cylinders.

“Everything,” Larkin said. “I think we know when they’re rolling like that, they turn the game. It gives us a look. We have an identity line.

“They play hard on pucks and obviously they’re all responsible defensively. They really play in the offensive zone and wear other lines down.”

And when they’re wearing on the other team, the rest of the Wings wear it well. They step up to take advantage of the openings created for them by their identity group.

Doing It The Right Way

“Playing the right way,” is what Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde likes to call it.

“All their success came off simple hockey,” Lalonde continued. “They’re owning the middle of the ice, they’re defending correctly, they’re playing off the forecheck, everything we want out of a team game.

“They took a lot of pride in getting the (Bo) Horvat matchup tonight and they won it, and it was a big part of the win tonight.”

And just like that, Detroit is again looking like a playoff squad. The Red Wings are three points clear of Washington and five ahead of the Islanders.

For their long-suffering fans, that’s an identity that they’ll happily identify with.

The post Winning is Identity Red Wings Can Get Behind appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There’s a lot to unpack following the latest Detroit Red Wings setback. Some of it puzzling, much of it alarming.

A 6-3 loss to the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Sunday was Detroit’s eight defeat in the past nine games. That it came one day after James Reimer was backstopping the club to a 4-1 victory to the Buffalo Sabres, ending the Red Wings’ seven-game losing skid, one question immediately popped to mind.

Why wasn’t Reimer Sunday’s starting goalie?

Instead, Detroit coach Derek Lalonde was opting to go back to Alex Lyon between the pipes. Beaten five times on 37 shots, Lyon would allow 4+ goals for the sixth time in seven starts. He’s lost his last seven decisions.

Meanwhile, former Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic got the win, improving to 3-0 against Detroit in his NHL career.

Over his seven-game slide, Lyon has given up 25 goals on 197 shots for an .873 save percentage. His game save percentages during the losing skid are .846, .892, .876, .833, .692, .885 and .865.

Lalonde left it open on whether he’d play Reimer on Sunday, noting that Reimer’s age (36) might be a factor. He sought to defend the work of Lyon following Sunday’s loss.

“It’s just a little too much volume on him,” Lalonde told Bally Sports Detroit. “He made some saves early on, gave us a chance.”

A stELLER power-play goal pic.twitter.com/dP2gUaMBpp

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 17, 2024

Truth be told, pinning this loss on Lyon would be entirely unfair. There were several conspiring culprits at work to create the recipe for Detroit’s latest diastrous performance.

Red Wings Compete Again Questioned

Last week, it was forward Patrick Kane who was expressing worrisome concerns about the compete level of the Red Wings. Following Sunday’s loss, forward Andrew Copp was joining in the chorus.

“We can talk about the execution and that, but it’s about being hard and compete and effort,” Copp said. “I don’t think we did a good enough job of that.”

For the seventh time in eight games, the Red Wings were surrendering the game’s first goal. The Penguins were 2-7-1 over their last 10 games coming into this contest. They’d scored one goal or fewer in six of those games, but were able to light up the Red Wings for six tallies.

Detroit gave up two goals in the last 1:07 of the first period and also coughed up a score with 21 seconds remaining in the second frame.

So nice, he did it twice! Lucas Raymond scores his second of the game, adding to his team-leading point total! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/pMo2Hz8RW1

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 18, 2024

“It’s kind of defending 101,” Copp said. “You tie up the guy’s stick, you get body position and then you worry about the puck after that.

“We gotta outnumber guys in front of our net and I don’t think we did that.”

The loss was the fifth straight on the road for Detroit. That’s also concerning, considering that eight of the final 14 games of the Red Wings regular-season slate will be played away from Little Caesars Arena. That includes a season-high five-game road trip from March 23-April 1.

The only good news coming Detroit’s way Sunday was that the New York Islanders were 5-2 losers to the New York Rangers. The keeps the Isles one point back of the Red Wings in the chase for the second Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot.

The post Red Wings Resume Their Alarming Fall in Loss to Penguins appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Over the past two summers, Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has sought to address his team’s center position. He’s given lengthy term to both Andrew Copp (five years, $28.125 million) and J.T. Compher (five years, $25.5 million).

Thowing money at the problem isn’t solving the problem, though. The injury absence of captain Dylan Larkin is seving to yet again establish what most everyone in the game already knew.

The Red Wings still don’t have a second legit top-six center on the club’s roster, a player capable of consistently driving offense.

That’s not to suggest that Copp and Compher aren’t offering value to the team. Copp is a tenacious forechecker and stout penalty killer.

“I don’t think Steve had the vision of needly only the offense out of them,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said of Copp and Compher. “It’s growing our depth.”

Clearly, though, Copp is not a No. 2 center. He has two assists with Larkin out of the lineup. He’s goalless over the past 16 games.

Compher is a solid 200-foot player capable of helping the team in many areas.

“I’ve got to be careful how I use him,” Lalonde admitted. “There’s some games he’s getting 22, 23 (minutes). I don’t know if that’s healthy or productive for him over time.”

While he’s filled in as a second-line center during his NHL career, over the long haul on a quality team, Compher is merely an upgraded version of Copp. He’s not a No. 2 center.

JT on the power play. pic.twitter.com/winRi1r2NW

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

His goal against Vegas on Saturday was Compher’s first point in five games.

Veleno Not The Answer For Red Wings

Lalonde sought to utilize Joe Veleno as Larkin’s replacement between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat on the club’s top line. The results speak volumes about this not being the answer. In three games, Veleno is pointless and -3. The Red Wings coach gave up the experiment on Saturday, moving Compher into the top-line slot.

“He needs to be more assertive with the puck,” Lalonde said of Veleno.

The more you see of Veleno, the less appealing he becomes, although admittedly, it didn’t start out that way. He’s played 15+ minutes of ice time in 29 games this season. Over the first 12 games, his production showed four goals, three assists and a +3 rating. In 17 games since, Veleno has one goal, three assists and is -14.

When he’s been asked to step up in Larkin’s absence this season, the data adds up even more abysmally. In those nine games, Veleno is 1-2-3 and -9.

Kasper Cut From Same Cloth

According to NHL scouts who’ve seen a lot of Marco Kasper this season with AHL the Grand Rapids Griffins, he’s going to be more of the same. His 200-foot game is outstanding. Kasper plays with an edge to his game.

Will Detroit’s top pick in the 2022 NHL entry draft produce consistently at the NHL level? Most hockey people doubt it.

Nate banks one home for his 21st of the season! pic.twitter.com/lgPUPSbkAo

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) March 7, 2024

In fact, the only center currently in the Detroit system who’s showing an offensive upside is Nate Danielson. Chosen ninth overall in the 2023 draft, Danielson is displaying 21 goals and 56 points in 48 WHL games this season. Since moving from the Brandon Wheat Kings to the Portland Winterhawks, Danielson has accounted for 9-21-30 totals over 22 games.

The post Red Wings Center Position Needs More Attention appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Coaches like Derek Lalonde of the Detroit Red Wings will frequently talk about the process and playing the right way.

There’s certainly value in that factor. If a team is doing it properly, the law of averages would suggest that eventually, results will follow.

Here’s the thing, though. At the moment, there isn’t time to wait for such an evolution. Time is running out for the Red Wings and they know it.

“We’re trying to right the ship here,” Detroit forward Andrew Copp said. “Play with a certain edge, a certain tenacity.”

A little over a week ago, they were eight points clear of any team in the chase for an Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot. Today, thanks to the New York Islanders beating the Anaheim Ducks 6-1 on Sunday, they are now deadlocked, each with 72 points. And the Isles are holding a game in hand.

Final. pic.twitter.com/UFNrxKDvkW

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

The Islanders have won six in a row. Heading to Buffalo for a Tuesday showdown with the Sabres that will complete a four-game road trip, the Red Wings are losers of five in succession. They fell 5-3 on Saturday to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Wings need wins. And they need them right now.

“We’re not in the taking the positives mood,” Copp said. “We need points.”

Winnable Games Ahead For Red Wings

This week is launching a five-game run for Detroit against clubs that are currently not part of the playoff picture. After Buffalo, the Red Wings come home to face the Arizona Coyotes and then a rematch with the Sabres. Next, they go to Pittsburgh, before returning for a home date against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

They need to get at least four wins out of this run, because their season could be on the line come March 21. That’s when the Islanders are visiting Little Caesars Arena. This five-game slide got underway thanks to a 5-3 home-ice loss to the Isles.

Noting that through their last five periods he’s seeing positive signs, Lalonde retains confidence that his team will soon be pulling out of this skid.

pic.twitter.com/UYTl0FLCo0

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

“I just think you got to concentrate on our effort,” Lalonde said. “We did that pretty much from the second period on in Arizona (4-0 loss on Thursday) and unfortunately, we’re not getting rewarded for it. Keep an effort like that and I think we’ll have some success going forward.”

There’s another adage that NHL players and coaches often reference. It’s that they work in a results-based business.

At the present time, the results being put forth by the Red Wings are entirely unacceptable.

“Real positive steps,” Red Wings forward David Perron was pointing out following Saturday’s setback. Then he quickly was assessing how little that was worth in the playoff chase.

“I guess we’re not in a league that cares about that too much,” Perron added. “Right now we care about getting points and stuff like that.”

The post Moral Victories Worthless to Red Wings appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Florida Panthers’ win Saturday at Little Caesars Arena was a case of the best bringing out the worst out in the Detroit Red Wings.

“I think we lost our heads a little bit during some of those scrums,” Detroit forward Andrew Copp said. “So always getting the extra (penalty) pretty much every time and you can’t do that against a team like that and a team that’s going to play it outside the whistles a little bit and try to bait you into those types of things. We got to be prepared for that.”

The Panthers are the NHL’s team today, on the basis of record and playing style. They are 14-2 in their last 16 games because they put stress on opponents from the opening minute until the last minute. They work hard at getting under the skin of their opponent. Matthew Tkachuk is often at the center of it. They have been playing postseason hockey for much of this season, exclusively over the past couple of months.

Red Wings Need to Learn

Copp’s take was the Red Wings need to learn from what the Panthers did to them during the 4-0 shutout.

“Obviously, you got to stick together and stand up for yourselves and all that,” Copp said. “It’s a fine line. With the way the game was being called, we kind of went over the line at times.”

The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for seven years so they are not as knowledgeable about where the line is. The Panthers were in the Stanley Cup Final last season. They know exactly where it is.

“Sometimes it can change on a nightly basis but you got to make sure if you’re going you got to take the other guy with you,” Copp said. “There were a couple times they took both but there were a few times where they just took one. A lot of times it’s the retaliation one. There’s times where you got to eat one just for the sake of not being in the box. I think you saw a couple of retaliatory ones by us that ended up getting called.”

The Panthers seem to be treating every game like a playoff game, meaning they are playing on the outer edge of the rules.

Pick Your Battles

In the playoffs, teams learn to pick their battles and to delay their retribution.

“If you really are (angry) and need to get some skin, get them in Game 2, get them in Game 3, get them in the first period of the next game,” Copp said. “The games, the intensity, it’s too important to let your emotions take over and take a costly penalty. It’s not just on the costly penalties tonight.”

The Panthers employ a power play with a 26.2% effectiveness. Hence, drawing opponents into penalties is a desirable strategy.

“Those are things that have happened in physical games before for us,” Copp said. “It’s about handling your emotions, understanding they’re going to take runs, protect yourself a little bit, get up against the boards, they can’t kill you there. Just understanding the situation and the more games you play in the better you get at it. Those Ottawa games last year were probably the start of ‘Oh, we need to learn to play these types of games.’ I think we’ve gotten better at it. Obviously, (the Florida game) wasn’t our best. But it’s a great lesson. I’d rather learn this lesson now than have to learn in Game 1 and 2 of the playoffs.”

What Copp seems to be saying is that you have to manage your emotions in physical games. You have to defend yourself without crossing into the area of retaliation. The Red Wings have some famous history when it comes to managing your emotions and picking the right time and place for revenge.

Red Wings Must Develop Patience

Legendary Gordie Howe was known to wait weeks, months, even years, to achieve payback for something he didn’t like.  Howe said in several interviews that he liked his opponents worrying about when he was going to come after them rather than the game.

“So there’s positives to be taken, understanding what type of game, understanding the runs, understanding the slashes, understanding the little hacks on the goalie,” Copp said. “You got to stand up for your goalie. There were a couple times they hacked our goalie and we did what we could do given the situation, when it can escalate into one getting a cross-check to the face.”

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