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.

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.

The latest update on the status of Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is out, and it isn’t good news.

There seemed to be some speculation on the weekend that Larkin, out with a lower-body injury, might be playing tonight at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Not only isn’t that going to happen, it’s also very unlikely that the Red Wings will be getting their captain back for Thursday’s massive home game against the New York Islanders.

Simon Edvinsson and Dylan Larkin (not expected to play) skating this morning for #RedWings prior to their game against Columbus (7, ⁦@BallySportsDET⁩) pic.twitter.com/1jq14KkIXQ

— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) March 19, 2024

“Don’t know yet,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said of Larkin’s status. “I wouldn’t put him in that day to day yet.

“I think Thursday might be a little aggressive but it’s progressed pretty well each day.”

Red Wings Feeling Larkin’s Absence

Larkin has already been missing for seven games. He was hurt during a 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on March 2. Detroit has gone 1-6 in those seven games minus Larkin. Overall, the Red Wings are 3-12 through the past 15 games they’ve played without their captain.

Larkin leads the club with 26 goals and is tied for second in points with 54. Detroit is averaging just 2.28 goals per game during Larkin’s absence.

He was skating with the team as the Red Wings were participating in the pre-game skate on Tuesday morning.

“Obviously, a positive that he skated,” Lalonde said. “We’ll get a full practice with him tomorrow and have a better feel.”

Per Coach Lalonde, Jake Walman (lower body) is unavailable tonight and Michael Rasmussen (under the weather) will be a game-time decision.

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 19, 2024

Detroit could also be without forward Michael Rasmussen tonight. He’s battling an illness and will be a game time decision.

“We’ll see after warmups,” Lalonde said. “Basically he’s home resting.

“We’ll get a better feel as the day progresses.”

Capitals Leapfrog Detroit

Following Washington’s 5-2 win Monday at Calgary, the struggling Wings are now one point out of playoff spot.

“I just think everyone is battling, everyone is in it,” Lalonde said. “I feel somewhat fortunate with our run of late that we’re right there. Basically, if you win hockey games, you’re going to get there.

“Washington is one of those teams winning hockey games right now. No different than where we were at during that 16-4 stretch. It’s about everyone just taking care of their own game and winning and we have an opportunity tonight.”

The post Unlikely Red Wings Captain Larkin Plays Before Weekend appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Tim Robinson’s story about the Detroit Red Wings‘ fifth consecutive loss had plenty of disappointing news for Detroit fans including the fact Michael Rasmussen left the game with an undisclosed injury.

Detroit coach Derek Lalonde didn’t have a Rasmussen update after the game. An update could come today if the Red Wings practice. Otherwise, we won’t hear until Monday.

The losing streak couldn’t come at a worse time because the New York Islanders have won five in a row while Detroit has lost five. The Red Wings now own the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot. They are two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning who own the first wild card position.  The Islanders are now only two points behind Detroit and  have two games in hand.

Detroit group was more like itself than it was against Colorado and Arizona. The Rasmussen late first period goal seemed to bring them back online.

Not much is going right for the Red Wings at the moment. They have given up four or more goals in each of their five consecutive losses. Opponents Detroit 25-8 in the five games.

The Red Wings certainly understand there’s pressure on them to win in Buffalo Tuesday. That’s the last game of this four-game road trip.

“I just think you got to concentrate on our effort,” Lalonde said. “We did that pretty much from the second period on in Arizona.  Unfortunately, we’re not being rewarded. Keep an effort like that and I think we’ll have some success going forward.”

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

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

Red Wings In Case You Missed

• No luck for the Red Wings in Las Vegas. Jonathan Marchessault registered a hat trick to lead the Golden Knights to a 5-3 triumph against Detroit.
• Patrick spent just a minute in the Arizona Coyotes organization and the franchise paid homage to his time on social media. Coyotes had some fun.
• Klim Kostin isn’t a good fit with the Red Wings.
• GM Steve Yzerman believes goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa is headed in the right direction. .

Red Wings Next Game

The Red Wings will take a season-long five game losing streak into a Tuesday game against the Buffalo Sabres. Without injured captain Dylan Larkin, the team has not been itself.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Newcomer Patrick Maroon already has plenty of respect from Boston Bruins veterans.

Calgary: Trevor Neufeld graded how Pacific Division teams, including the Calgary Flames, performed before the NHL trade deadline.

Chicago:  With Notre Dame getting knocked out of the Big Ten tournament, Nate Brown says the Chicago Blackhawks may be signing Landon Slaggert quickly. He had 20 goals and 31 points in 36 games.

Nashville: James Nichols explores what the New Jersey Devils goalie plan is moving forward.

Philadelphia:  Video included: Coach John Tortorella is ejected. It happened in the Philadelphia Flyers‘ loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Penguins sad post-NHL trade deadline reality was on display in a 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. Dan Kingerski sums up the Penguins mess.

The post The Daily: No Word on Rasmussen Injury; Tortorella Ejected appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

LAS VEGAS — It was a sure bet that someone’s four-game losing streak was coming to an end Saturday night.

Unfortunately for the Detroit Red Wings, their losing skid became five with a 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Jonathan Marchessault had a hat trick for Vegas, including a game-winner with 2:44 remaining in regulation and an empty-netter with 1:07 left.

The result dropped Detroit into the final wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay beat the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 earlier Saturday. The New York Islanders are now two points behind with two games in hand.

The Red Wings never led. They trailed 2-0 until Michael Rasmussen scored in the final minute of the first period. It stayed that way until J.T. Compher and Shayne Gostisphere tied the game twice in the third period.

Later in the game, Rasmussen left the contest with an undisclosed injury. Detroit coach Derek Lalonde had no update after the game.

It was the third loss in four days for the Red Wings, who look to salvage one game from the road  trip with a date at Buffalo on Tuesday.

Red Wings Have Better Effort

Despite the loss, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde felt better about is team’s effort that in a loss at Arizona on Friday.

“We outshot them 13-5 in third period,” Lalonde said afterward. “It’s just one of those stretches where we literally have to open nets on the same play under five minutes. And they gave a goal off a blocked-shot ping-pong back-door  tap-in, so it is what it is, like I said, a really good effort. I think if we can sustain an effort like that, we’ll be we’ll be successful more times than not, can’t get frustrated.”

Forward David Perron preached patience and saw a better effort from the Wings.

“With the performance we put up (Friday), we wanted to come out and definitely fight for each other out there,” he said. “I thought we did that and we stayed in the game all night.”

Jonatan Berggren joined the Red Wings from Grand Rapids for the first time since December. He replaced Klim Kostin, who had been traded to San Jose earlier in the day. Berggren was -2 with no points in the game.

James Reimer had 31 saves on 35 shots. The. Red Wings were outshot 36-26.

The post Luck Runs Out For Red Wings in Vegas appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The first purchase he plans to make now that he’s put his signature to a big-ticket contract with the Detroit Red Wings tells you everything about Michael Rasmussen the person.

What’s he gonna buy? A Lamborghini? His dream home?

How about none of the above.

“I’ll get the guys a nice dinner and that’s gonna be my purchase,” Rasmussen was explaining Wednesday following practice. He and the Red Wings agreed to terms Tuesday on a four-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.2 million.

Not a bad way to start the day. pic.twitter.com/hgk1jn1PPn

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 20, 2024

Ras, as he’s known to his Red Wings teammates, isn’t about the bling bling. There may be an M and and E in Rasmussen, but in the case of this Rasmussen, he’s never about me.

Center the fourth line? No problem. Check on the third line? His pleasure. Kill penalties? He thrives on that assignment.

Do the dirty work in the corners and at the net front? Bring it on.

Red Wings Coaches Big Fans Of Rasmussen

“You see the way I use him,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “The staff is a fan of him, know he’s a valuable player.

“Last month alone, he centered a quality fourth line, he’s been on a checking line, we put him on our top line to give us a spark. Obviously, he kills for us.”

Penalties, that is. Rasmussen kills penalties for the Red Wings. There are some lines even he won’t cross.

In general, though, no matter what the Red Wings coaching staff asks of him, or in some instances, throw at him, Rasmussen embraces the role without complaint.

“A good pro, a good human, a good individual,” Lalonde said. “Really happy for him. Sometimes it feels earned and it feels like there’s a little team success with it.

“We’ve improved as a group the last couple of years and he’s been a big part of it.”

Rasmussen The Ultimate Team Guy

In some manner through the roles he so willingly embraces, Rasmussen feels like a cliche. But the fact of the matter is, every team that wins is populated with guys like him. A club can’t get over the hump without role players who are prepared to take the lesser, often thankless roles that comprise a true team.

Thankless to the general public. Inside the Red Wings locker room, everyone understands that value that Rasmussen brings to the team.

They embrace him for what he does, appreciate that he accepts playing without the spotlight shining on his accomplishments for the greater good of the team.

"It's going to be a promising few years here and it means a lot to me to be a part of it." pic.twitter.com/naz3YLyXav

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 22, 2024

For Rasmussen, knowing that is all that really matters to him.

“That’s kind of just what I needed to do to be successful,” Rasmussen says of the NHL role he’s come to fill. “Just tried to work my best at it.

“That’s the constant thing that I’ve tried to do, is prove it to myself. Just work hard and above all, prove it to this organization and the guys in the locker room. I think I’ve done that pretty well.”

The post Red Wings Rasmussen a True Team Player appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings showed they appreciate how Michael Rasmussen is developing as a player by signing him to a four-year deal worth $3.2 million per season.

Detroit management hoped they had found a 6-foot-6 scorer when they drafted Rasmussen ninth overall in 2013. Instead, he developed into a hard-working, two-way forward who can score 15-plus goals, play with grit, kill penalties and check with purpose.

Last fall, coach Derek Lalonde called Rasmussen a “proud 200-foot player.”

He has transformed himself into a crucial player in the Detroit lineup, a player who can match up with top NHL players. Former Detroit coach Jeff Blashill used to talk to Rasmussen about becoming a Jordan Staal-type player and he has accomplished that. He plays a playoff style, even though the Red Wings have missed the postseason for seven consecutive seasons.

The Red Wings have LOCKED UP Michael Rasmussen pic.twitter.com/cwEp9h1rAy

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) February 20, 2024

Rasmussen has 11 goals, 12 assists for 23 points in 55 games this season. He’s also +12. The Red Wings like Rasmussen on the ice when they are protecting the lead. They are also comfortable moving him up on a scoring line, depending upon the situation or the opposing team’s lineup.

With Rasmussen signed, Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno and Lucas Raymond are the three regulars who will become restricted free agents this summer.

Rasmussen, 24, will be 29 when this contract expires. This deal could end up a bargain if Rasmussen increases his scoring into the 20-goal range. Even if Rasmussen’s scoring stays in the 15-goal range, the Red Wings will get their money’s worth because of Rasmussen’s complete game.

The post Red Wings Reward Rasmussen For His 200-foot Game appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

One of the reasons why the Detroit Red Wings are contending for a playoff spot is that plenty of players are coming up big for the team.

“We find different ways to win,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “We find different ways to score goals at big times.

“Everyone chips in.”

In the case of Detroit’s third line of Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen and Christian Fischer, coming up big just comes naturally to them.

It’s who they are. It’s how they play.

“They’re north, they forecheck,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “They’re a little bit heavier.

“We don’t have some of that throughout our lineup.”

There aren’t a lot of forwards populating the Detroit roster who earn their pay by wearing on the opposition. That’s what Copp, Rasmussen and Fischer are all about. They play the game in an old-fashioned style. Their objective is to grind out shift and in the process, grind down the will of the opposition.

“All three of them are committed to playing the right way,” Lalonde said. “They have a goal. It’s about them defending first.”

Third Line Sets Tone For Red Wings

That they don’t have a lot of what Copp, Rasmussen and Fischer bring up and down their lineup sometimes leads Lalonde to consider breaking up a line to add more of a heavier element to each of his forward units. But the chemistry those three are cooking up together leaves him relucant to mess with a winning formula.

“We have that feel sometimes that, this line could use Ras, or this line could use Fish,” Lalonde explained. “You might see that, but that line has been so productive and predictable, it’s just been hard to break up.

“It’s working. Let’s not try to fix it.”

Certainly, the way that trio plays the game is not only impacting the psyche of the opposition. It’s also uplifting to their Red Wings teammates.

“They’re clearly workhorses,” Detroit defenseman Jake Walman said. “All those guys love to compete and battle.  They get to the net.”

Nowhere was that made more abundantly evident than on Saturday’s third-period game-tying goal by Rasmussen against Vancouver. Rasmussen simply drove to the net, creating havoc in the Canucks goal crease. Walman’s point shot wound up defledcting off Rasmussen and into the net.

“That’s how we’re gonna generate a lot of our goals as a team, just being scrappy,” Walman said. “It’s fun to see when they’ve got that aggression.

“It really sets the tone for the group for sure.”

The post Red Wings Third Line First at Grinding Down Opponents appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Daniel Sprong looks at the Detroit Red Wings and gets a sensation of deja vu.

A balanced team with depth of scoring populating every line. A surprise playoff contender.

Yes, it all looks very familiar to Sprong.

Last season, he was part of a Seattle Kraken squad that would earn a spot in the NHL postseason in just their second year of existence. Sprong was a 21-goal scorer for the Kraken. He was among 13 Seattle players who wound up reaching double digits in goals.

This season, with 13 goals, Sprong is already among 10 Detroit players to crack double digits in goals.

JOEY V → DANIEL SPRONG pic.twitter.com/EV5XsK38qc

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 1, 2024

“Last year in Seattle we had Canner (Jared McCann) at 40,” Sprong recalled. “We had 4-5 guys at 20 goals as well. And then a lot of guys in the teens.

“We had a depth team there. You can see it here as well.”

Currently, captain Dylan Larkin leads the way with 23 tallies for Detroit. Next is NHL All-Star Alex DeBrincat at 18. Sprong, Robby Fabbri and Lucas Raymond are in a group at 13 goals. J.T. Compher has netted 11 times, while Andrew Copp, Jake Walman and Michael Rasmussen are all showing 10 next to their names in the goals column.

Newcomers Adding Up

New players to the Red Wings are committing mightily to the scoring balance. None of DeBrincat, Sprong, or Compher were with Detroit last season. The Red Wings show an NHL-leading 63 goals from newcomers this season.

Fun fact: The #RedWings have recorded 63 goals by players not with the team last season.

The most of any NHL club. pic.twitter.com/0USmFxWi7Y

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 5, 2024

“It looks like this team, with the management and coaches, kind of built that same type of formula that we had in Seattle,” Sprong said. “Four lines that can play and four lines that are scoring.

“It’s working for us and we just gotta keep playing like this.”

Balanced Scoring Creating Matchup Issues

With at least one 10-goal scorer on every forward line, Detroit is getting goals from all four units.

“For sure that’s been our identity for the whole year, how our team was built and that’s showing it,” Sprong said. “We have 10 guys over 10 goals.”

With so much balance in their attack, the Red Wings are always a going concern for the opposing team

“That means every line’s a tough matchup for the other team, especially at home,” Sprong said, a message that’s echoed by Detroit coach Derek Lalonde.

“I think when you’re getting offense throughout your whole lineup, of course it creates matchups within lines, creates matchups with D pairs, too,” Lalonde said. “It’s probably been a big part of our recent (9-2-2) run here.”

At home with the last change, Lalonde can get the matchup he wants. When on the road, the balance in his lines means he needn’t play the matchup game as ardently as in past seasons.

“For us, on the road we’re confident that we can play any line against any line,” Sprong said. “It gives us when maybe certain guys aren’t going one night, we have different guys going every night. It’s every night like that.

“That’s why we’re winning games. We got everyone going. Those numbers show it.”

Red Wings On Record Pace

Already, the 10 players in double digits is the most for the Red Wings since 2017-18. Detroit suited up 11 players with a minimum of 10 goals that season.

The club mark for 10-goal scorers in a single season is 14. It was set in 1981-82 and equaled in 1995-96.

Potentially, this team could tie that standard. Joe Veleno is at nine goals. Patrick Kane and Shayne Gostisbehere each own seven tallies. Moritz Seider is on six goals.

The post Red Wings With Shot at Franchise Goals Record appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.