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.

Plenty to ponder this morning as the Detroit Red Wings prepare to put their season on the line tonight at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

Moneypuck.com gives Detroit a 33.8% probability of earning the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. To accomplish that, the Red Wings likely would have to beat Montreal tonight in Detroit and again Tuesday in Montreal.  Bob Duff has a story detailing why that path isn’t as easy as some analysts seem to believe it is.

Duff wrote another piece looking at the decision coach Derek Lalonde has about who to start in goal tonight against the Habs. Lyon has been the team’s No. 1 goalie, but Reimer battled and delivered a critical win against Toronto.

Do you start Reimer tonight and Lyon Tuesday? Or, do you start Lyon tonight? Reimer is 7-2 in his last nine decision. Duff’s story looks into whether the Red Wings have a goalie controversy at this late hour.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• A Detroit prospect has won a second NCAA championship. Tim Robinson has the details.
• Captain Dylan Larkin delivered the goal that saved Detroit’s season. The overtime tally against Toronto gives Detroit a reasonable chance of qualifying.
• Bob Duff explains the scenarios that land the Detroit Red Wings in a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.
• Paywall story: Tim Robinson wrote about prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka’s impressive season, noting that the young defenseman wouldn’t even be in the sport if his grandfather hadn’t intervened when he was young.  To subscribe, click here.Use the promo code kevin10 to get $10 off the yearly subscription price.

Red Wings Next Game

The Red Wings finish the season with a home-and-home series against the Montreal Canadiens. Tonight’s game is in Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m.). From a practical standpoint, Detroit must win both games and hope the Washington Capitals don’t earn four points. Washington, Philadelphia an Detroit are tied. Washington has the tiebreaker and Philadelphia only has one game left. If the Red Wings win both games, the Penguins are also not a factor.

Hockey Now Network

Chicago: The Chicago Blackhawks‘ fourth consecutive loss assures they will have the NHL’s second-best draft odds at 13.5%. The San Jose Sharks will have the best odds at 25%.

Colorado: What’s wrong with the Colorado Avalanche? They blow a 3-0 third period lead and fall to the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime.

Florida: Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson finds himself in a much better place than he was a year go. The move to the Florida Panthers has reinvigorated his career.

Montreal: Marc Dumont tells us what to expect for recently-signed prospect defenseman Lane Hutson. He can be a difference-maker for the Montreal Canadiens.

Philadelphia: In a paywall story, Jonathan Bailey writes that Travis Konecny’s shorthanded goal may have saved the Philadelphia Flyers‘ season.

Pittsburgh:  The Pittsburgh Penguins don’t have time to analyze what happened Saturday night. Their focus now has to be on winning their last two games.

The post The Daily: Red Wings Chances, ‘Hawks Odds, Lyon or Reimer? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings are left with two must-win games remaining on the NHL schedule in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. And as they arrive are Game 81 of the campaign, they are still facing the same question they’ve been dealing with for much of this season.

They don’t know who their go-to goalie is.

Left with a home-and-home set against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday-Tuesday to close out the regular season, do the Red Wings stick with veteran James Reimer? He got the win on Saturday in Toronto in his 500th career NHL game, drawing rave reviews from the team.

Transforming into a member of the 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ NHL games played club.

Congratulations to @DetroitRedWings goaltender James Reimer! pic.twitter.com/lFtDnW8lFX

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 13, 2024

“The ultimate teammate,” was how captain Dylan Larkin was describing Reimer to Bally Sports Detroit. “He’s got the best attitude, coming to the rink with a smile.

“He gave a great speech after the game about how lucky he was to play one game, let alone 500.  It was a great locker room atmosphere after that game.”

Clearly, Reimer is giving the club a boost during his limited opportunities to work between the posts.

“He just battles,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “No matter what happens, we know we’re gonna get the most out of him and when he battles, I think it just lifts the group.”

He’s 7-2 over his last nine decisions. However, the 36-year-old puckstopper has been given successive starting assignments just once since late December.

Lyon Carrying Load For Red Wings

Since returning from injury in late December, journeyman veteran Alex Lyon, 31, has been seeing the bulk of duty between the pipes for Detroit. He’s been in the net in 36 of the last 45 games played by the Red Wings.

This season, Lyon has established career highs for games (43), wins (20) and shutouts (two).

“It speaks volumes for him as an individual, where he is in his career,” Lalonde said. “He’s a career minor leaguer. He was signed to be our starter in Grand Rapids and here he is giving us a chance this late in the season.

“It speaks really well on him.”

However, Lyon’s numbers of late aren’t tracking toward success. He’s 2-10-3 over his last 15 decisions. Granted, wins and losses by a team don’t rest solely on the shoulders of the netminder. Still, Reimer is coming off a big win. Will the Wings ride with him at home on Monday?

Husso Was Supposed To Be The Guy

At the outset of the season, Ville Husso was the de facto No. 1 goalie for Detroit. However, a pair of lower-body injuries have put him on the shelf for all but nine minutes of action since Dec. 18. Husso was to play a rehab assignment Friday with AHL Grand Rapids. However, he didn’t make it through the warmup. Lalonde indicated that Husso suffered a tweak to his injury.

@DetroitRedWings goalie Ville Husso was scheduled to start for @griffinshockey & did take warm ups but then left the ice a bit early. We are told he will no longer start nor dress tonight. @SebastianCossa will now start, riding a personal franchise record 19 game point streak pic.twitter.com/EZFn4OdDmf

— Larry Figurski (@larryfigurski) April 12, 2024

That the Red Wings are contending for the playoffs without a true No. 1 goalie is a tribute to the work that Lyon and Reimer are delivering.

“There will be a lot to reflect back on this season,” Lalonde said. “For us to lose our starting goaltender and for us to be as competitive as we’ve been in that position speaks volumes on both those guys.

“They’ve been excellent for us.”

The post Do Red Wings Have Goalie Controversy? 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.

Friday was to be comeback night for Detroit Red Wings netminder Ville Husso. Recovering from a lower-body injury, he was going to see his first game action guarding the net for Detroit’s top farm club, the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

Husso, though, didn’t make it through the pre-game warmup. After taking some shots in the Griffins net, Husso left the ice prior to the conclusion of the warmup. He was seen conversing with the Griffins training staff after leaving the ice.

@DetroitRedWings goalie Ville Husso was scheduled to start for @griffinshockey & did take warm ups but then left the ice a bit early. We are told he will no longer start nor dress tonight. @SebastianCossa will now start, riding a personal franchise record 19 game point streak pic.twitter.com/EZFn4OdDmf

— Larry Figurski (@larryfigurski) April 12, 2024

When the Griffins would skate out for their game against the Rockford IceHogs, Sebastian Cossa was the starting goalie. Carter Gylander was backing him up.

“Ville Husso is now unavailable for tonight’s game,” the Griffins posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “Sebastian Cossa will be in net.”

Following the game, Griffins coach Dan Watson was offering no update on Husso’s condition, only that he was told the netminder wouldn’t be available for the game. It was uncertain whether the Detroit goalie would be accompanying Grand Rapids to Chicago for Saturday’s game against the Wolves.

Injury-Plagued Season For Husso

Slated to be Detroit’s No. 1 goalie at the outset of the season, Husso has seen action in one NHL game since December. The Finnish puckstopper would suffer a lower-body injury in a Dec. 18 game against the Anaheim Ducks at Little Caesars Arena.

Husso sat out Detroit’s next 20 games while recovering from the ailment. Following a rehab stint at Grand Rapids in which he would post a 25-save shutout against the Belleville Senators, Husso was back in the Red Wings net for a Feb. 13 game at Edmonton against the Oilers. Just 8:48 into that game, He would suffer another lower-body injury and depart.

“I guess it’s part of it,” Husso said earlier of his injury struggles this season. “It’s one of those years that everything goes not your way. It’s been tough but it’s hockey. I’ll be stronger when I come back.”

UPDATE: The #RedWings today loaned goaltender Ville Husso to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins for conditioning. pic.twitter.com/1njr5cFeFK

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 8, 2024

He was slated to see his first game action since that injury on Friday.

The Giffins lost 2-0 to the IceHogs, thus ending their 19-game home-ice point streak. As well, Cossa’s franchise-record 19-game point streak also was coming to a halt.

Sharing the Red Wings net with Alex Lyon and James Reimer, Husso is 9-5-2 in 19 games, with an .892 save percentage and 3.55 GAA.

The post Red Wings Husso Doesn’t Survive Warmup in Grand Rapids appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The captain is back for the Detroit Red Wings. Dylan Larkin is in the lineup for Thursday’s huge game against the New York Islanders. He’s at center between Lucas Raymond and David Perron.

The status of Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin remained up in the air as the clock was ticking toward tonight’s 7 p.m. puck drop against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena. He’d missed the past seven games with a lower-body injury.

Larkin took part in Thursday’s morning skate. Afterward, Detroit coach Derek Lalonde was noting that Larkin will be put through a battery of tests throughout the day Thursday to determine his status. Clearly, he wound up passing those tests with flying colors.

Larkin was back on the ice this morning. His status for tonight’s game is TBD.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/xuCcAixkUW

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 21, 2024

“Dylan is going to be a post morning skate eval,” Lalonde said earlier in the day. “He’s got some testing to do on how he responded to yesterday’s practice and the skate. So we won’t know probably until this afternoon, but the positive is he’s very close.

“I don’t know if it’ll be tonight but he’s getting really close.”

Red Wings Missing Their Captain

Larkin was hurt late in a 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on March 2. That game was Detroit’s second loss in a row. The Red Wings would go on to lose another four in a row without their captain. But they’ve won two of the past three games and currently are clinging to the second Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot. Detroit is one point ahead of the Washington Capitals and three points clear of the Islanders.

Detroit is again without defenseman Jake Walman (lower-body injury). That means rookie Simon Edvinsson will be playing his second consecutive game on the Red Wings defense.

Lalonde believes that being thrust into a key role during an NHL playoff race is only going to cause a growth spurt in Edvinsson’s development as a player.

Simon Edvinsson, recalled by #LGRW yesterday, is 100% NHL-ready.

The #6 pick in ’21 benefited from spending another year in the AHL, as he made huge strides defensively this season.

Edvinsson was ranked as the 4th best prospect in @TheHockeyNews 2024 Future Watch Issue pic.twitter.com/tLgKWFNPrZ

— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) March 20, 2024

“There’s more to it, there’s more intensity to it, there’s more pressure to it,” Lalonde said. “Obviously with Walman out he’s in a top-four role. This is a positive.

“He performed very well the other day. Now we’ll look for some consistency in that performance.”

James Reimer will be making his second straight start in goal. Reimer is 5-1 over his last six decisions. He’s 8-3-2 with a .914 save percentage and 2.81 goals-against average in 16 career appearances facing the Islanders.

The post Larkin Back For Red Wings to Face Islanders appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin went through his first full practice on Wednesday since suffering a lower-body injury on March 2. While Detroit coach Derek Lalonde would later suggest there was a chance Larkin could be back in the lineup for Thursday’s home game against the New York Islanders, he wasn’t ready to make a commitment to that possbility becoming a reality.

Dylan Larkin is going through all drills during today’s Red Wings practice.

Detroit’s captain has not played since the March 2 loss to the Panthers due to a lower-body injury. pic.twitter.com/657HZlp0Og

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) March 20, 2024

“Potentially,” Lalonde said of the chance Larkin plays on Thursday. “We’ll see how he feels. He’s progressively getting better. I’ll get a better feel when I talk to the training staff.

The post Red Wings Captain Larkin a Possibility vs Islanders (+) 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.

The Red Wings could be out of a playoff  position by the time they start their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. Their game starts at 6 p.m. The New York Islanders, a point behind Detroit,  have a 1 p.m. game against the New York Rangers.

The Washington Capitals are also one point back after downing the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 Saturday.

James Reimer was one of several Red Wings who stepped up to deliver a 4-1 win against the pesky Buffalo Sabres. That win moved the Red Wings back into a playoff position. DHN’s Bob Duff wrote that the Red Wings need to go back to Reimer today, even though it’s a back-to-back game situation.

“Many clad in the winged wheel had a hand in this outcome,” Duff wrote. “None were more of a factor in the success story than goaltender James Reimer.”

After giving up a weak first goal, Reimer settled into his strong 25-save performance. Coach Derek Lalonde didn’t want to commit to Reimer for Sunday without talking to his coaches, but Lalonde likes to ride the hot hand in goalie. He sounded open to coming back to Reimer. He hasn’t been overworked this season because Alex Lyon was hot.

“Obviously the instinct will be to go back to him after a win,” Lalonde acknowledged. “But he is 35 and not many goalies in this league go back to back.

We hear from Christian Fischer, who scored the Wings' first goal, and James Reimer, who had 25 saves in the 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/392F6fD5Oy

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 16, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Paywall story: Tim Robinson looks at 2023 Red Wings draft pick Brady Cleveland‘s progress at Wisconsin.
• Beloved grinder Christian Fischer delivers key goal for Red Wings against Buffalo.
• Detroit captain Dylan Larkin should start practicing next week.
• Sebastian Cossa helped the Grand Rapids Griffins win again Saturday. Coach Dan Watson says the big goalie is in a “groove.” This is also a paywall story.

Red Wings Next Game

The Red Wings are back in action today with a 6 p.m. game in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. They are seven points behind Detroit in the wild card race. The Penguins have lost five of their last six, including last night’s 7-4 loss to the New York Rangers.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: BHN’s Jimmy Murphy believes it’s time for the Boston Bruins to ride goalie Jeremy Swayman.

Chicago: Blackhawks prospect Frank Nazar helped Michigan down Minnesota Saturday to move into the Big 10 Championship final. Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado: Artturi Lehkonen is the overtime hero yet again as the Colorado Avalanche defeat the Edmonton Oilers.

New York: The Islanders were not desperate enough in the OT loss to the Senators. That allowed the Red Wings to regain a playoff spot.  New York Islanders

Philadelphia:  Flyers defensive collapse allows Boston Bruins to steal a win. Are they opening the door for the New York Islanders to move into third place in the Metropolitan? Philadelphia Flyers.

New Jersey: Coach Travis Green calls out the New Jersey Devils’  “immaturity.”

The post The Daily: Red Wings Back in Playoff Spot; Michigan In Big Ten Final appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, as was evident midway through the third period of Saturday’s Detroit Red Wings vs Buffalo Sabres game at Little Caesars Arena.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead, the Red Wings were pulling out all the stops to protect their slim advantage. Thus, those in attendance were treated to the rare sighting of a Patrick Kane bodycheck on Buffalo forward Jordan Greenway.

Speaking of rare sights, Saturday afternoon’s tilt would end in a 4-1 victory for the home side. Detroit’s first win since Feb. 27 brought to a halt the club’s seven-game losing skid.

We hear from Christian Fischer, who scored the Wings' first goal, and James Reimer, who had 25 saves in the 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/392F6fD5Oy

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 16, 2024

The win also put the Red Wings back into a playoff position. They are holding down the second Eastern Conference wild card spot, one point ahead of the New York Islanders.

Many clad in the winged wheel had a hand in this outcome. None were more of a factor in the success story than goaltender James Reimer.

Reimer Delivers For Red Wings

Handed just his third starting assignment over the past 13 games, Detroit’s veteran backup puckstopper was moving to the front of the class. Reimer parried 25 of 26 shots. He’s won four of his last five starts.

“High, high compete,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said of Reimer. “He just battled around the net. I think he lifts our guys a little bit.

“One against versus a team like that, that’s a very strong performance.”

Strong enough to bring forth an even stronger statement. As the Red Wings roll into Pittsburgh for a Sunday night showdown with the Penguins, the choice is obvious: Reimer must be given a second straight starting assignment.

Alex Lyon is deserving of plaudits for the heights his netminding has enabled the Red Wings to rise to. They are at the level of playoff contender. Lately, though, the wheels have come of Lyon’s game. Is he worn down from the workload, or simply battling a slump?

This debate is immaterial. The fact of the matter is that Lyon is fighting the puck. And when goalies fight the puck, the puck always wins.

Lalonde Isn’t Committing To Reimer

The difference in Detroit’s game was noticeable to even the casual observer. This was a Red Wings teammate committed to the forecheck, determined to take time and space away from the Sabres. Was it a case of a team that was simply fed up with losing? Or was the factor of playing in front of a goalie who gives them a touch more confidence at the moment also playing a role?

When teams aren’t trusting of their goalie, they get tentative. Pressuring the puck is surrendered in favor of a more passive approach. the fear is by attacking on the defensive, they will leave themselves open to odd-man rushes, or even breakaways, which they don’t trust their netminder to save.

However, by sitting back, they do the opposite of their objective. They’re allowing the opponent to generate speed through the neutral zone and gain easy access to the attacking zone, thus leading to more scoring chances.

While this can’t be 100% attributed to the goalie switch, Reimer’s early saves certainly bolstered a Red Wings team that ultimately would gain a lead for the first time in 280 minutes and 34 seconds of hockey.

Reimer is 4-1 through his past five starts. However, he’s not been in the net for back-to-back starts since Dec. 20-22.

Depsite his solid showing Saturday, Lalonde still wasn’t ready to commit to a Reimer start on Sunday.

Happy 36th Birthday to #SJSharks alumni goaltender James Reimer.

Dean Tait/Hockey Shots pic.twitter.com/95NooFh4HZ

— San Jose Sharks History (@sjsharkshistory) March 16, 2024

“Obviously the instinct will be to go back to him after a win,” Lalonde acknowledged. “But he is 35 and not many goalies in this league go back to back.

“So I’ll probably have a better feel after I consult with our goalie coach and kinda go from there.”

Actually, Reimer turned 36 on Friday, but that’s also immaterial. Considering what’s on the line, consultation shouldn’t be necessary.

The only correct answer is to start Reimer on Sunday.

The post Red Wings Have No Choice: They Must Ride Reimer appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.