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

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

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

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

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 10, 2024

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

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

Crosby Leading The Way

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

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

Game Time

Thursday: Detroit at Pittsburgh

Where: PPG Paints Arena

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM

Time: 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

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

Red Wings Preview

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

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

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

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

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

For some, even some of the most ardent members of the Detroit Red Wings fanbase, there is resignation that the team’s playoff chances have come and gone.

Then there’s a smattering of loyalists who are absolutely anrefusing to give up faith that the team will find a way to get it done.

As far as the players themselves, they recognize the most prudent of movements for them is to distance themselves from the emotional roller coaster that the chase for the NHL’s second Eastern Conference wild card spot is creating.

The only choice they have is to be living in the moment.

The post Red Wings Must Remain Divorced From Emotion of Race (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

In assessing defenseman Olli Maatta’s performance on Thursday, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was delivering an uninentional double entendre.

“I love the finish,” Lalonde said of the two-goal performance of Red Wings defenseman Maatta during Detroit’s 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders.

Or did he say, “I love the Finnish?”

Maatta, after all, hails from Jyvaskyla, Finland.

OLLI MOLY! pic.twitter.com/BlQGnIO9fm

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

Either way, there was a lot to love about what Maatta brought to the ice. Scoring twice, he doubled his goal output for the season. They were Maatta’s first tallies in 19 games.

“When he’s got confidence with the puck he’s a really good player,” Lalonde said. “He’s a guy that can find the middle of the ice on breakouts. That’s hard to do in this league.

“He was skating, he had confidence with the puck. He was great tonight.”

Kane Comes Through Again

There’s been no shutting down Red Wings left-winger Patrick Kane since his return from injury on Feb. 10. In 10 games since, Kane has successfully counted a point in every contest.

Kaner buries his 13th. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/528Vppi3o8

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

His 13th goal of the season just 10 seconds into the third period briefly tied the score at 2-2. Over this 10-game stretch, Kane has accounted for five goals and 10 assists. He’s delivered five multi-point games and three game-winning goals.

Feb. 29 Loss Omen For Red Wings?

Thursday was a rare Feb. 29 game, just the 10th in Red Wings history. Detroit is 5-4-1 on Leap Day.

They are 0-1-1 in their last two Feb. 29 contests. However, the previous time the Wings were losers in regulation on Feb. 29, they won the Stanley Cup.

That was in 2008, when Detroit fell 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 29.

Ice Chips

Red Wings defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is plus-seven over his last seven games . . . The loss brought to an end Detroit’s six-game win streak. The Wings haven’t won seven in a row since 2011 . . . Maatta leads the Red Wings with  +18 rating . . . Gostisbehere has points in five games in a row. He collected his 350th NHL point in Thursday’s loss, assisting on one of Maatta’s goals.

The post Red Wings Notebook: Ultimately, Maatta’s Goals Didn’t Matter appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

You can debate whether Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider is having a good season, which is the popular trend in hockey analytics circles of late.

What isn’t up for debate is whether Seider is a recognized star in the NHL. Yet his is one of many whose star won’t be given the opportunity to shine during the Four Nations Faceoff being put on by the NHL and NHLPA. This tourney will take place in February of 2025. It’s a launching point paving the way toward returning NHL players to the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympic Games.

FOUR NATIONS FACE-OFF. FEBRUARY 2025

The NHL will play a mid-season tournament featuring players from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden. pic.twitter.com/ZSpHN9Aeqh

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 2, 2024

The best players from Canada, the USA, Sweden and Finland will contest this event. It will be held at sites in Canada and the USA. Expectations are that Boston and Montreal will be the host cities for the tournament.

Seider’s Germany, the reigning IIHF World Championship silver medalists, aren’t getting an invitation to the dance. Neither is the Czech Republic and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins. Russia is also excluded due to the country’s ban by the IIHF due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“There are other players not sitting on this stage right now that are a little upset,” NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh pointed out during the announcement of the four nations event at the NHL All-Star Game in Toronto.

Seider Part of German Resurgence

Led by their big three of Seider, Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators, Germany can be classified as an emerging hockey power. The Germans lost to Canada in last spring’s world tourney gold-medal game. In 2018, German was beaten by Russian in the gold-medal match at the Winter Olympics.

When available, Seider has never turned down the chance to represent his country on the international stage.

“It’s a great honor,” Seider has said in the past. “Always nice to put the jersey over your shoulder pads and sing the national anthem after you win.

“It’s always a big honor and we’ve taken very big strides in the last couple of years. It’s definitely promising progress for us.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman claimed that logistics of trying to assemble a larger tournament is such a short time simply wasn’t feasible. While it’s east to make the league the villain here, the NHLPA could have equally stood up for all of their players and fought for a true World Cup. As it is, World Cups are set to be held in 2028 and 2032.

On the surface, the four nations event feels like nothing more than a cash grab. Certainly, sending four of the hockey world’s establishment out to play against each other is unlikely to do much to grow the game.

The NHL and NHLPA will host the Four Nations Face-off in February 2025. Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States will compete in one Canadian and one U.S. city as a building block to a World Cup. pic.twitter.com/V1QPxv2hiY

— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) February 2, 2024

Is a half-baked tournament better than none at all? Ultimately, that’s what’s to be debated here.

Which Red Wings Will Play?

The fact of the matter is that they are playing, and while Seider won’t be, several other Red Wings figure to be involved.

Lucas Raymond will be in Sweden’s lineup. Ville Husso and Olli Maatta will have a chance to make Finland’s roster. Captain Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane should all be in the reckoning for the Team USA squad.

Kane might be someone for whom this event could serve as a final hurrah in international hockey. He’ll be 37 by the time the next Olympics come around.

The post Red Wings Seider, Germany Left Out in Cold appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Extending their point streak to seven games (6-0-1), the Detroit Red Wings exorcised another demon from their recent years of failure.

With captain Dylan Larkin scoring on the power play 1:09 into overtime, Detroit edged the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Wednesday. It was the first win by the Red Wings in 11 games against the Panthers and the team’s first win in seven games at Florida.

THIS. TEAM. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/9Xyy25p5zq

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

“This team has had our number the past couple of years,” Larkin told Bally Sports Detroit. “It’s huge to get a win.”

Resilient Red Wings Battle Back Again

It was also the second game in a row that Detroit would rally from a 2-1 third-period deficit for a victory. On Sunday at Toronto, the Red Wings came roaring back for a 4-2 triumph over the Maple Leafs.

Very similar to the other night,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “We gave ourselves a chance going into the third down 2-1 and found a way.

“It’s very hard to win in this league, very hard to win when trailing going into the third, especially against some of these elite teams, so I give our guys a ton of credit for battling throughout. Just a really good road win against a top echelon team.”

Wednesday, Detroit put Toronto in the rear-view mirror. The win over the Panthers was also vaulting the Red Wings into third spot in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Maple Leafs. Detroit hasn’t qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2015-16 season.

Larkin Atones For Giveaway

Larkin’s game winner on the power play made up for his first-period giveaway on another Detroit power play, resulting in Sam Reinhart’s shorthanded tally.

Both the Panthers (Aleksander Barkov) and Red Wings (Patrick Kane) were missing key players due to lower-body injuries. In fact, when Larkin was netting the game winner, he was doing so while filling Kane’s role on the power play.

“With Kaner out, that spot where he likes to do his thing, I was put over there,” Larkin explained. “I was supposed to slide down to the goal line. But they were kind of playing a diamond. We were trying to get it through.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH! @Dylanlarkin39 buries the game-winning goal in overtime, completing the comeback! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/uZCpbZQP5m

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

“We had some looks but I saw that the defenseman was kind of out of position, caught high and I could use him as a screen.”

Michael Rasmussen counted a goal and assist for Detroit. His tally was Rasmussen’s 10th of the season. It’s the third season in a row that he’s hit double digits in the goals column. Rasmussen also became the sixth Red Wings player with at least 10 goals so far this season.

Defenseman Olli Maatta was dishing out a pair of assists on the night.He also collected two assists Nov. 16 against Ottawa.

Red Wings Goalie Lyon Beats Old Team

Last season, Alex Lyon was helping the Panthers grab the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Wednesday with 32 saves, he was moving the Red Wings to within six points of Florida in the standings.

“Obviously, it always feel good to beat the team you played for last year, but a lot of respect for those guys and they got a fantastic team,” Lyon said. “They played really well tonight.”

Lyon improved to 6-1-1 in his last eight games. Meanwhile, the Red Wings were beating Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for jjust the second time over the last 22 games. It was the first time in 14 games that Detroit put more than two pucks behind Bobrovsky.

The post Red Wings Beat Panthers, Move Into Third in Atlantic appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The story of Thursday’s Detroit Red Wings homecoming wasn’t so much that they lost to the Edmonton Oilers. It was more revealing in how they reacted to that loss. In fact, it said a lot about where this team believes they are at this stage in the season.

There was a time not so long ago when losing 3-2 in overtime to the NHL’s hottest team would’ve been worn as a badge of honor by a Red Wings club.

This team isn’t interested at all in talking about moral victories.

Defend the den. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/3V4hZtN3iK

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) January 12, 2024

“You play to win the game,” Detroit goaltender Alex Lyon said. “That’s the bottom line. At the end of the day you play to win the game. This league is about wins and losses.

“It would’ve been really nice to get that extra point.”

The Oilers came in with eight successive victories. Detroit was returning to home ice riding a four-game win streak following a 3-0 California trip.

It figured to be a heckuva game, and it was.

“That’s a good team,” Lyon said. “It’s always interesting playing teams like that, because you can kind of see where the bar is at, just kind of see where you’re feeling.

“Obviously we came in knowing it was gonna be a good test. It feels bad right now but a huge point, so you gotta take the positives from it.”

Red Wings Get Goals From Unusual Sources

There were factors in play that certainly could’ve made it Detroit’s night. Defenseman Olli Maatta scored for the first time since Dec. 20. Andrew Copp’s goal was his first since Nov. 7. Lyon made a season-high 44 saves.

“They probably had the majority of the play but we had our looks, too,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “We literally hit five irons. Those don’t count as shots but those are Grade A’s.”

If any of the Red Wings elite offensive players could’ve stepped up, two points might’ve been theirs. But that wasn’t to be the case. Among the club’s top eight scorers, only Lucas Raymond, with an assist, registered on the scoresheet. Detroit’s two leading scorers, Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat, were each held to one shot.

Raymond was minus-two on the night, though. It was his turnover that led to the overtime winner by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse.

The Oilers, meanwhile, got a goal and seven shots out of Connor McDavid.

“A lot of your focus can end up on defending,” Copp said of the challenge of facing the high-octane Oilers. “They sustain possession pretty well.

“Once you do get the puck out, you’re either dumping and changing, and maybe your’re not on your toes on the forecheck.”

Detroit Must Get Back On Winning Track

Speaking of being on their toes, Copp felt that would prove to be the answer to what the Red Wings ultimately get out of this game.

“A game like this, you gotta take the positives,” Copp said. “But at the same time, it can kind of go either way. It’s a point and then if we get the next one, and the next one and then it’s we’ve had just one overtime loss in our last eight.

The Lyon Cage. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/EPTExX5jWy

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) January 12, 2024

“But at the same time it can also start a spiral. We gotta get back to work tomorrow, have a good practice and bring our best against LA on Saturday.”

Those positives that Lyon and Copp alluded to can quickly turn into negatives if Detroit allows things to go south going forward.

“We just gotta use it as fuel for the fire, because our January doesn’t get any easier,” Lyon said.

The post Reaction to Loss Revealing About Red Wings Progress appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

As the Detroit Red Wings were fumbling their way through the month December, the faithful were clamoring for a look at the future of the franchise.

That Christmas wish will be granted in of all places, Newark, New Jersey.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson is joining the club for their final pre-Christmas game. He was given a recall from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins early Saturday and will play Saturday night on the road against the New Jersey Devils.

Simon Edvinsson scores again and continues his point-streak, now 7GP, 3G+7A #LGRW pic.twitter.com/uJ9HKwO7KN

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) December 9, 2023

The sixth player chosen in the 2021 NHL entry draft, Edvinsson is enjoying a solid sophomore campaign with the Griffins. With 6-10-16 totals through 25 games, he’s leading all Griffins defenders and ranks 19th overall among AHL defensemen. Only three AHL blueliners have scored more goals than Edvinsson. He’s already exceeded last season’s output of five goals as an AHL rookie.

Edvinsson Simplifying His Game

Griffins coach Dan Watson thinks that Edvinsson has simplified his game, while also adding an element of consistency to his performance.

“It’s consistency on a daily basis,” Watson said. “He’s aware of it, he knows it. He’s being dialed in on the simple things, the simple passes and practice, making sure those are always 100%. So for him, it’s being great at simple basically, every day in practice and understanding the intensity that he has to practice with and play with. And, you know, we’ve liked what we’ve seen so far. ”

Edvinsson enjoyed a seven-game point scoring streak from Nov. 18-Dec. 8, the longest such run this season by any Griffins player. He’s been a plus or even player in 16 of 25 games.

“Continuing to grow his game,” was Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s recent assessment of Edvinsson’s progress. “Positive reports from him down there, where he’s starting to get a more complete game. There’s less of those egregious mistakes, he’s finding his game. He’s growing the correct way.”

Maatta Out For Red Wings

Detroit defenseman Olli Maatta was hurt in Friday’s 7-6 home-ice shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Leaving in the first period with an upper-body, Lalonde was later confirmning Maatta was out for tonight.

Jake Walman sat out Friday’s game and Lalonde allowed that several defensemen were ailing.

“It’s that time of year,” Lalonde said. “We’ve had a lot of games, some bumps and bruises and some sickness.”

UPDATE: The #RedWings today recalled defenseman Simon Edvinsson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Additionally, the #RedWings have placed goaltender Alex Lyon on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 16. pic.twitter.com/KzZhIW7y5k

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 23, 2023

Originally, Lalonde was indicating that Walman would be able to play Saturday. Either that scenario has changed, or he’s planning on dressing seven defensemen against the Devils.

Edvinsson made his NHL debut last season. In nine games with Detroit, he would collect a pair of goals.

Making room for Edvinsson on the 23-player roster, the Red Wings were placing goaltender Alex Lyon on IR.

The post Edvinsson Recall Christmas Gift For Red Wings Fans appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Smarting following a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was blunt in his assessment of the club’s latest on-ice debacle.

“It’s just kind of spiraling right now,” Larkin told Bally Sports Detroit after the loss. “We had to come in here and find a way and we didn’t. We found the opposite.”

It would be hard for even the most ardent of Red Wings loyalists to stage a debate with the captain on this matter. It’s all going wrong for Detroit, all over the ice.

Not only have the Red Wings lost four in a row, they haven’t held the lead for a single second in any of the four games. During the club’s current 1-6-1 skid, Detroit has allowed four or more goals in five games. Meanwhile, the Red Wings have scored fewer than three goals in four games, including three of the last four contests.

“We’re trying but it’s not clicking right now,” Larkin said. “The offense isn’t clicking and you can’t win hockey games playing D like that. We just defended so poorly.”

There must have been some magic
In that ole top line they found

For when they placed them on the ice
They began to dance around pic.twitter.com/VdRmGasgF8

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 21, 2023

Wednesday, all of these maladies again combined to cook up a massive recipe for failure.

“We lost our D zone coverage,” Larkin said. “We’ve been struggling with that of late. They exposed us tonight. We hung Reims (goalie James Reimer) out to dry with back doors and extended O-zone shifts for Winnipeg.”

Defenseman Jake Walman and forward Christian Fischer were both minus-three on the night. Five other players were all minus-two. Of the 18 stakers suited up for Detroit, 11 fired one shot on goal or fewer.

Back To Drawing Board For Red Wings

Larkin seemed to be at a loss as to what the team could try next in order to shake the stench of this funk that has enveloped the club.

“We’ve really tried it all in the past couple of weeks – different line combinations, different coaching,” Larkin said. “Coming in and being hard, trying to pump us up, whatever it is. But it’s gotta come from within the room.

“Every guy’s gotta be better. That sounds like a cliche but tonight it was very apparent that every guy needs to be better.”

Patrick Kane pulls the #RedWings within 2. pic.twitter.com/TkpLV0sRU1

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2023

A rare positive for the Red Wings might’ve been the play of left-winger Patrick Kane. Collecting a goal and an assist for his third and fourth points in the last two games, Kane was plus-two. Defenseman Olli Maatta tallied his first goal of the season.

The post Red Wings Larkin: ‘Every Guy’s Gotta Be Better’ appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings gave Patrick Kane the day off on Wednesday.

“In talking to him, like the rest of our guys, pushing him hard, we thought it was in his best interest with the day today like most of our guys (to take it off),” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde explained.

That won’t be the case on Thursday.

IT'S DEBUT SZN

Patrick Kane (@88PKane) will be making his @DetroitRedWings debut tomorrow night! pic.twitter.com/PmP77fuRWm

— NHL (@NHL) December 6, 2023

“He’s going to be available for us tomorrow, will get a full morning skate tomorrow. He’ll be in the lineup.”

Kane, the former Hart, Art Ross, Calder and Conn Smythe Trophy winner will be making his much-awaited Detroit debut as the Red Wings are playing host to the San Jose Sharks (7 p.m. ET) at Little Caesars Arena. Plans are for Kane to skate on a line alongside J.T. Compher and Alex DeBrincat.

“We’ll probably start him with DeBrincat, maybe a couple different centers,” Lalonde said. “Undecided on that.”

Certainly, Kane’s familiarty and success skating as a linemate with DeBrincat in Chicago is making that a natural pairing.

“There’s a comfort level, an excitement for both of them,” Lalonde said.

Lalonde was also confirming that Kane, 34, will be on a clock in terms of his overall ice time.

“We’ll be smart in how we use him,” Lalonde said. “I don’t know if he’s ready for a regular shift. I think we’ll monitor it.

“We’ll probably have a target minute-wise. We’ll get a feel. Obviously, he feels really good, body-wise, but it’s a lot different. It’s just been difficult. He’s joining us at a time where we’ve had a slew of games. We just haven’t been able to practice as much as we’d have probably liked or had previously.”

Red Wings Teammates Excited for Kane Debut

If you’re excited by this news, well, know you’re not alone. There’s a palpable buzz about the Red Wings locker room awaiting to see how Kane looks adorned in the winged wheel jersey.

“He can still score,” goaltender Ville Husso said. “He’s a good player, one of those like superstars. As a goalie you’ve always got to be aware of him. He’s been great in practice.”

Like DeBrincat, defenseman Olli Maatta is another Red Wings player to skate previously with Kane as an NHL teammate.

“I think he is an elite player in this league,” Maatta said. “He’s shown that for many years now. When you play against him, you have to know when he’s on the ice and where he is. There’s only a couple of guys in this league like that.

IT'S SHOWTIME!

Coach Lalonde confirms Patrick Kane will make his #RedWings debut tomorrow.

Be here » https://t.co/aOqx5xXtPF pic.twitter.com/VNVh3DDMWW

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 6, 2023

Even when he’s just practicing, Kane is proving to be a show stopper.

“Everybody, the first couple of practices just stopped just to stare at him with the puck a little bit,” Maatta said. “Most of us grew up watching him play.

“I think you can see in the little while that he’s been here, that he’s just hungry to get back out there. He’s excited to be playing hockey again. I think we’re excited to see him out there. I think it’s just exciting times.

The post Breaking: Kane to Make Red Wings Debut Thursday vs Sharks appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

In past years, to suggest that the defense of the Detroit Red Wings was offensive took on an entirely different connotation.

This season, it’s a good thing. The team from the D is getting plenty of offensive contribution from the D. More than any other team in the NHL in fact.

Accounting for another four points in Monday’s 4-3 overtime verdict over the New York Islanders, Detroit’s blueline brigade was raising their NHL-leading number to 33 points. Moritz Seider was dishing out a pair of assists, while his defense partner Jake Walman would score once and also contribute a helper.

THE WAL MAN! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/aUi55xQHh8

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2023

“It starts with D and then getting the puck up to our guys we got,” Walman told Bally Sports Detroit. “Everybody can bury it.”

Seider is leading all NHL defensemen with nine assists. He rates in a tie for second overall in points among reaguards with 10. Offseason addition Shayne Gostisbehere is in a tie for fourth spot on that list with 3-6-9 numbers. Gostisbehere (six) and Seider (five) have also collected 11 power-play points between them.

Walman is next on the list with 2-3-5 totals, but all seven of Detroit’s defensemen have at least two points to their names. Justin Holl has three assists in eight games and an impressive +7 rating. Ben Chiarot has a goal and an assist, while both Jeff Petry and Olli Maatta are showing two assists each next to them on the stats sheet.

Red Wings End Island Drought

Detroit had never won a game at UBS Arena, new home to the New York Islanders, prior to Monday’s victory. The Red Wings were 0-3 there.

As well, they were also halting an 0-5-2 overall skid on the road against the Islanders.

Compher Reaches Milestone

It was looking as if J.T. Compher was the scorer of the game winner when his third-period tally was completing Detroit’s rally from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead. The Islanders would tie the game on an esnuing power play, sending the contest to overtime.

J.T. AND LUCAS CALLED GAME pic.twitter.com/SgtVien9YP

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 31, 2023

Compher would still be playing a hero’s role, only this time as a set-up man. His pass would set up Lucas Raymond for the OT winner in Detroit’s 4-3 victory.

In doing so, Compher was collecting the 199th and 200th points of his NHL career.

The post Red Wings Notebook: Detroit Getting Offense From The D appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.