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.

DETROIT — Lucas Raymond was struggling to catch his breath at the same time he was breathing life into the Detroit Red Wings’ playoff hopes Monday night

Raymond and Dylan Larkin had been on the ice for most of overtime when Larkin broke out with the puck on his stick.

“Just saw Larks up ice. I thought he was going for a breakaway first but he was probably pretty tired,” Raymond said. “Then I just tried to jump up. I was pretty tired, too. Then I just tried to get off a shot. Happy it went in.”

Raymond converted Larkin’s cross-ice feed at 4:35 of overtime for his 31st goal of the season to give Detroit a 5-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens. Raymond’s 30th goal — coming with 1:17 left in regulation — extended postseason hopes to at least Tuesday. If the Red Wings beat the Habs in the second game of a home-and-home in Montreal Tuesday and the Philadelphia Flyers defeat Washington, then Detroit qualifies for the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

HOW WE FEELING, HOCKEYTOWN!!! pic.twitter.com/nJtxx80eFW

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 16, 2024

“Yeah, it’s just like I drew it up,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

With the postseason on the line, Lalonde only used six players different players and his goalie in the OT.
.
“Yeah, it’s obviously not ideal how I only used the four forwards, only used the two D in overtime, but it’s that time of year,” Lalonde said. ” We had enough little rest in between where I was comfortable going back to Larks and Raymond. Thankfully, I did. Those guys found a way in the end.”

Raymond Growing Into Superstar

Larkin-Raymond heroics have become the story of the push for the playoffs. Larkin  scored the OT winner Saturday to make the Montreal games consequential. Raymond has been transforming from a potential star to dynamic force for the past two months. He has six goals in his past five games and 14 in his last 17.

“Just the growth of him,”” Lalonde said. You want these important games for many reasons down the stretch and a lot of it is for the growth of some of our youth and I give (Raymond) a ton of credit. He was one of those guys where it wasn’t going for him, to the bad end of some physical plays and didn’t get frustrated, hung in there, battled. Obviously, two big goals in the end.”

On the tying goal, Raymond gained possession during a goalmouth scramble, and held the puck long enough to figure out where he needed to shoot.

“Poise,” Lalonde said. “I think that’s growth, that’s who he is. Just impressive. Unfortunately, we got chasing it there. We were pretty much down to nine forwards down the stretch. We got a little lucky with some timeouts and some octopi in the ice to get some breathers. Assist to the fanbase there, good feel on what we needed for energy. But we were able to get through it and have enough in the end so credit to the guys.”

Raymond, 22, said the tying goal was part of a “crazy sequence.”

“The puck was bouncing all over the place,” Raymond said. “It felt like a lot of sticks flying everywhere and then I got it and it was kind of wide open. It felt good.”

The post Raymond Shows With Playoff Push His Transfomation Has No Limits appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Honestly, if the Detroit Red Wings are going to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, were you actually thinking they’d be doing so any other way than the path they are choosing?

That would be the hard way.

They’re proven time and again this season that it’s the only way they know how to do things. And somehow, some way, they keep on finding a method to make it work.

They did so again on Monday at Little Caesars Arena. Needing at minimum a point to maintain their pursuit of a postseason position, the Red Wings were trailing the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 late in the second period.

When all was said and done, however, it was Detroit that would ultimately prevail, by a 5-4 count in overtime.

It was the third straight OT game for the Red Wings. As well, it was the 13th time this season they’ve been able to rally from a third-period deficit to claim victory.

Red Wings Keep Stayin’ Alive

No one can question this team’s competiveness.

Their defensive acumen, their ability to start on time? Yeah, go ahead and question that all day long.

However, this team possesses an inate ability to keep on fighting and find a way to overcome their own shortcomings.

Red Wings center J.T. Compher described it as a combination of desperation and belief.

“The biggest thing is we still believed in each other and the group,” Compher said. “We never gave up.

LUCAS RAYMOND, TWICE IS SO NICE!

After netting the tying goal, Lucas Raymond secures a MASSIVE two points for the @DetroitRedWings with the @Energizer overtime winner to keep them in the #StanleyCup Playoffs Wild Card race! pic.twitter.com/mFWrq5YdnZ

— NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2024

“Down three goals, we’ve come back. I don’t know what the number is, but Newsy (coach Derek Lalonde) said it after the second intermission that we’ve done it a lot this year.

“When you do things consistently, that’s what causes the belief that we can get back into the game and get the two points we needed.”

Red Wings Don Rally Caps Yet Again

Consider Detroit’s last three games as Exhibits A, B and C in this belief system. Down 5-3 at Pittsburgh on Thursday with 6:51 left in regulation, the Red Wings would score twice to force overtime. They got a point from a 6-5 setback.

Saturday at Toronto, they would squander a 4-1 first period lead, but win 5-4 in OT. Monday, it was once more time again for the Wings to don their rally caps.

DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' #LGRW pic.twitter.com/cgqWcLcnv7

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 16, 2024

Compher’s second goal of the game at 15:59 of the second frame would narrow the deficit to 4-2. Alex DeBrincat scored midway through the third period. Then with the goalie pulled, Lucas Raymond would tie the score at 18:43. Raymond’s goal at 4:25 of OT was the decider.

Living To Fight Another Day

It’s still an uphill battle for Detroit, but the Red Wings remain in with a chance. Washington is holding the final Eastern Conference wild card with 89 points. That’s the same total as the Wings. However, the Capitals win the tiebreaker with Detroit, which is regulation wins.

Detroit must win Tuesday at Montreal and hope that Washington gets no more than one point at Philadelphia. That’s the easier path to the playoffs for the Wings.

Should they get one point at Montreal, the Red Wings would need Washington to lose in regulation at Philly and Pittsburgh to get no more than one point in the club’s regular-season finale on Wednesday against the New York Islanders.

Detroit loses every playoff tiebreaker, so the Wings must finish ahead in points to make the playoffs.

“We know what we need to do,” Compher said. All (Monday) did was give us an opportunity to finish the job (Tuesday).

“We’ll control what we can control, which is our game. But all we did was give ourselves a chance to finish the job (Tuesday).”

The post Red Wings Remarkable Comeback Win; Keep Doing Things The Hard Way appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The old saying is that a tie is like kissing your sister but if it comes to NHL postseason tiebreaking scenarios, the Detroit Red Wings might as well kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.

Looking though the tiebreaking situations the league would employ to break any deadlocks between two or more teams, the Red Wings come out on the short end of the equation.

It's a VERY tight race for the final #StanleyCup Playoffs spots in the East.

Which teams will make it in? pic.twitter.com/iHQEQ0fdhL

— NHL (@NHL) April 12, 2024

Currently, the Pittsburgh Penguins are sitting in the cat bird’s seat for the final Eastern Conference wild card with 86 points. Detroit, the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers all have 85 points.

All four teams are in action on Saturday. Detroit is playing at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Every team save the Flyers show three games remaining on their schedules. Philadelphia is left with just two games to play.

“There’s a path,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “It’s going to be difficult but I know this group has it in us.”

Yes, there is a path to the playoffs for the Red Wings. But it’s going to be a bumpy road, one that won’t be easily navigated.

And if it comes down to a tiebreaking formula, it simply doesn’t add up well at all for Detroit. No wonder that the latest playoff odds are showing the Red Wings with a 15.8% chance of being participants.

Red Wings Lose Key Tiebreaker

The first tiebreaker is regulation wins. Detroit owns 27 of those. Pittsburgh has 31, with Washington and Philadelphia each at 29 regulation victories.

Were the Wings to somehow manage to gain a tie in regulation wins, things to do get a bit better for them. The second tiebreaker is regulation plus overtime wins (the ROW column in the NHL standings). Here, Detroit has 36, and Pittsburgh is at 35. Washington and Philadelphia are each at 33.

The third tiebreaker is all types of wins. Detroit has 38 of those. That’s one better than all three of the other teams.

However, it’s wise to remember that it’s unlikely any deadlock will get past the first tiebreaker. Here’s some things that we do know for sure.

Petry in the final minute of the 2nd. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/u7LwoOsEYe

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 12, 2024

It’s almost a certainty that Detroit will need to finish the season at minimum with 88 points in order to make the playoffs. That’s because Washington is facing Philadelphia in the regular-season ender for both clubs. In other words, one of those teams is guaranteed to get another win and finish with no less than 87 points.

In this scenario, the Red Wings would need to garner at least three points from the club’s three remaining games. But should Pittsburgh win even one more game, then the Wings would need to get to 89 points, because there’s absolutely no way to win a tiebreaker with the Penguins. That would require four of the maximum six points still up for grabs.

“With three games left we still have a shot at this,” Detroit forward Lucas Raymond said.

Yes they do, but anyone doing the math would have to admit it’s a long shot at best.

The post Red Wings up Against it When it Comes to Playoff Tiebreaker appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings aren’t out of the race for the NHL’s second Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot. At the same time, to gain that position, they are going to need help.

The Red Wings are sitting with 85 points. That’s the same total as the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. It’s one behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, holding down the second wild card placing with 86 points. Pittsburgh’s 6-5 overtime victory over Detroit on Thursday is currently the difference maker in this race.

LUCAS RAYMOND HAT TRICK!!! pic.twitter.com/0Z1fPr8JiZ

— NHL (@NHL) April 12, 2024

“I know it doesn’t feel good right now but there’s still a path there,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said.

Detroit, Pittsburgh and Washington each have three games to play. Philadelphia is down to two games on the club’s remaining ledger.

Another factor that’s problematic for the Red Wings is that they lose the first tiebreaker to every one of these teams. That’s regulation wins and Detroit has 27 of them. Philadelphia and Washington each have 29, while Pittsburgh owns 31.

What this means is that the Red Wings will need to be a point clear of any challenger in order to claim the posteason position.

Let’s look to the final week of the regular season as the Red Wings continue their chase for a playoff spot.

Detroit Red Wings (38-32-9, 85 points)

Remaining Games: Sat at Toronto, Monday vs Montreal, Tuesday at Montreal.

The Red Wings were 5-2 winners the last time they were the visitors in Toronto on Jan. 14. Former Leafs goalie James Reimer got the win that night. Might Lalonde look to him to again come through?

Detroit is 1-8-2 in the club’s past 11 road games. The Red Wings have also scored two or fewer goals in eight of 19 games since the beginning of March. They’ve been shutout four times during that span.

Pittsburgh Penguins (37-30-12, 86 points)

Remaining Games: Saturday vs Boston, Monday vs Nashville, Wednesday at New York Islanders.

Former Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic is 8-0-3 in his last 11 decisions for Pittsburgh. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has points in 13 of his last 15 games overall, accumulating 25 points (9-16-25) in that span.

Nedeljkovic on his mindset: "Just find the next puck. Worry about staying in the moment, not what's in the past – not what happened. You can't control it. So it's just finding that next one and getting back on the horse." pic.twitter.com/rE4DPORoX8

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 6, 2024

Thursday’s OT triumph was Pittsburgh’s ninth successive home-ice win (7-0-2) over the Red Wings. The Pens have outscored the Wings 47-22 in that span.

Washington Capitals (37-31-11, 85 points)

Remaining Games: Saturday at Tampa Bay, Monday vs Boston, Tuesday at Philadelphia.

The Capitals are 1-5-2 through their past eight games. The lone win was Tuesday at Detroit.

Washington simply isn’t scoring enough to sustain success. The Capitals have tallied two or fewer goals in each of the past eight games. They are averaging 1.75 goals per game over that span.

Philadelphia Flyers (37-32-10, 85 points)

Remaining Games: Saturday vs New Jersey, Tuesday vs Washington.

A 4-1 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday brought to a halt Philadelphia’s eight-game losing skid (0-6-2). Flyers forward Owen Tippett has 13 multi-point games this season. He has 15 points (6-9-15) in the last 15 games.

The good news is Philly finsihes with consecutive home games. On the other hand, the Flyers are just 3-3-2 over their past eight at home.

The post Handicapping The Race: Who Will Come to Aid of Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

In 2009, Sidney Crosby was leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to prevent the Detroit Red Wings from winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Fifteen years later, Crosby is still leading the Penguins and hurting the Red Wings.

Crosby used his 1,000th career assist to set-up Erik Karlsson for an overtime game-winner in the Penguins’ 6-5 win against the Red Wings.

The Red Wings needed two points, and earned one.

ERIK KARLSSON KEEPS PITTSBURGH'S PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE!

His @Energizer OT winner gives the @penguins a HUGE two points! pic.twitter.com/bkbOGheTwg

— NHL (@NHL) April 12, 2024

“Emotions are . . . it’s unlike anything,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “It’s playoff mode. You win one, you’re on top of the world. You lose one and you’re rock bottom. That’s just the way it goes.”

The win gives the Penguins 86 points and a one-point lead over the Red Wings, Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins, Red Wings and Capitals have three games remaining, while the Flyers have two. The Penguins are trying to become the first team in NHL history to come from nine points back in the last 11 games to qualify for the playoffs.

The Red Wings erased a 5-3 third-period deficit to send the game  to OT.  Dylan Larkin, set up by Lucas Raymond, scored at 12:56 to make it a 5-4 game. Less than two minutes later, Raymond completed his second career hat trick to tie the game. Raymond had a spectacular night in perhaps his franchise’s biggest game in the last decade.

“I think the way Lucas played tonight was, if you’re looking at a step in his career, then that’s a performance that I’m very impressed by,” Larkin said. “I think that was a good statement to the hockey world.”

Big Night for Top Line

On the positive side, the Red Wings top line produced four goals and 10 points — Raymond had four and Larkin and Alex DeBrincat three points each– and the team was resilient in finding a way to secure a point. On the negative side, too many turnovers,  mistakes at inopportune times and Alex Lyon couldn’t come up with big saves when they were needed. Lyon had a .778 save percentage in this game.

They needed a big save from Lyon on the Jeff Carter shorthanded goal or the Karlsson blast from the high slot.

In the third period, the Red Wings trailed 4-3 and had a power play. They don’t score, and a turnover at the blue line led to a shorthanded goal by Carter to give Pittsburgh a 5-3 lead. Coach Derek Lalonde called that goal “self-inflicted” because it started with a turnover by Daniel Sprong at the blue line.

With the Washington Capitals also losing, the Red Wings still have a chance. According to Moneypuck.com, the Red Wings now have a 15.8% chance of making the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The Penguins’ playoff odds are now at 57.8%.

“I told the guys — that was a huge point,” Lalonde said. “I know it doesn’t feel very good right now, but the path is still there and we kept it alive.”

Detroit plays at Toronto Saturday. If the Red Wings win that game, who knows what the standings will look like. None of the teams competing for this playoff spot is taking complete charge of the race.

“We weren’t as clean tonight,” Lalonde said. “We got a point but our best hockey game was our last game out. I think we got away from some things from that game. We turned more pucks over tonight, we gave up some easy offense. There were some things we’ll need to improve on to give ourselves a chance Saturday.”

The post Red Wings’ Rally Isn’t Enough In Pivotal Game vs. Penguins 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 Detroit Red Wings hadn’t won since March 21. Alex Lyon hadn’t won since Feb. 27.

Both of those skids came to a halt Monday, and so did the gloom and doom surrounding Detroit’s diminishing playoff chances.

David Perron’s goal with 2:40 left in regulation time would snap a 2-2 tie, propelling the Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The outcome brought a halt to Detroit’s 0-2-2 losing skid during this five-game road trip.

Back on top! DP_57 bangs home the rebound, and the Red Wings re-take the lead late in the third period! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/7pAhCOo68d

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

“None bigger goal than DP’s goal at the end and he’s been in the battle the whole season, he always is,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin told Bally Sports Detroit. “For him to score the big one, it was just a veteran player that knows how to play in these big games.”

It’s also the first time in franchise history that the Red Wings have swept a season series of three or more games from the Lightning. As well, Detroit was ending a nine-game (0-7-2) winless drought on the road.

Red Wings Tied With Capitals

More significantly, the outcome is leaving Detroit and Washington in a deadlock for the final Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot. Each team has 82 points. However, the Capitals (73 games) hold two games in hand on the Red Wings and the first tiebreaker. Washington has 28 regulation wins, compared to 26 for Detroit.

Lucas Raymond puts the exclamation point on this one with an empty netter! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/agHlqfLq4R

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

“We’ve been playing really good team hockey recently,” Perron said. “Obviously, we know how many points we need to keep advancing, being in the fight. I’ve liked our recent play. We just gotta keep pushing, keep getting points.”

Elsewhere Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers were losing 4-3 in overtime to the New York Islanders. The OT point was enough to move Philly (83 points) back into third spot in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of the Capitals. But the Flyers have played 76 games.

Rasmussen Suffers Injury Late In Game

Center J.T. Compher won the offensive-zone draw that led to Perron’s game winner. He led all Detroit forwards in ice time with 23:10.

Lucas Raymond would tally an empty netter. Patrick Kane and Robby Fabbri scored earlier to twice give the Red Wings the lead, only to see the Lightning tie it each time.

“It’s been hard,” Larkin admitted. “These games have been hard, intense. (In this game) we got rewarded with playing the right way and hard, battling.”

Ending a personal 0-8-2 slide, Detroit goalie Lyon was stellar, blocking 34 shots.

“Even when things weren’t going his way he just stuck with it,” Larkin said. “Like I said, it’s hard. You got (Nikita) Kucherov and (Brayden) Point out there. They’re roaming around, making world-class plays.”

At the other end of the spectrum, fourth-line center Joe Veleno played just 4:42.

“Veleno, just kind of ran into some matchup issues, some special teams, we used him late a couple times,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said.

Late in the, winger Michael Rasmussen left the ice following a collision along the boards.

“Ras left with an upper body,” Lalonde said. “Don’t know much more about it.”

The post Red Wings Back in Playoff Hunt With Sweep of Lightning 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.

Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings were in the NHL playoffs. Sunday, they weren’t.

They still won’t be today, but could be back into a postseason placing as early as Tuesday.

It’s an emotional roller coaster, and we’ve all gone on that trip. But in pursuit of a chance at the Stanley Cup, it’s the most enjoyable ride in the entire amusement park.

“We have to win,” Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson said. “That is kind of pressure, but it’s more fun. I’m more happy than I feel pressure, so it’s a fun opportunity I feel like.”

This power play was brought to you by Simon Edvinsson's awareness and skating abilities pic.twitter.com/YYiv3itoxH

— Red Wings Rant (@Red_Wings_Rant) March 23, 2024

He’s got a point. Don’t you think teams like the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks, long irrelevant in the playoff picture, would eagerly embrace the opportunity to engage the pressure the Red Wings are currently feeling? For that matter, Detroit teams of the previous seven seasons would also be willingly stepping up to get into line and take this ride.

This Is Where Red Wings Want To Be

“This is where you want to be,” Detroit forward Lucas Raymond said. “It’s a tough spot, it’s pressure on everyone, but that’s the fun part of it.

“You’re playing for something meaningful. You can just feel it within this locker room. It’s awesome.”

Lucas Raymond is now the 2nd highest producing U22 swede in NHL history #LGRW pic.twitter.com/k8lUpe862T

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) March 21, 2024

With improved opportunities come increased expectations. Playoff hockey might not have been at the top of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s to-do list in the summer. However, now that they’re knocking on the door, the players don’t want to let this chance escape their grasp.

“It’s more pressure of course, but that’s why you play hockey,” Edvinsson noted. “I like those moments. I’m just happy to be here now.”

Emotions and pressures must be put aside. For the Red Wings, it’s all about embracing the moment and making the most of it.

It’s just about enjoying it and coming through big,” Raymond said.

Win Over Capitals Would Reclaim Playoff Position

A win on Tuesday at Washington would see Detroit leapfrogging over the Capitals and back into the second Eastern Conference wild card spot.

“It almost feels like we’ve been in the playoffs already, just because of the emotion from game to game,” forward David Perron said. “We have to find a way to just park it, move forward. The day in between games is a day where you can get re-energized and get under control. And then you gotta get back into habit the next game.

“It’s a roller coaster. You gotta find a way to park it, get re-energized. Much like playoffs. You lose Game 1 let’s say of a playoff series and it almost feels like it’s over at times. And then you win the next one and it’s here we go, best of five. We’re back in this thing, we’re playing good, all that stuff. That’s what it’s gonna be for the next 11 games.”

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