Detroit Red Wings Weekly Recap: Wrapping Up Week 7
Welcome to my seventh regular-season Red Wings weekly review. The Detroit Red Wings had three games this week, grabbing three out of a possible six points. Detroit picked up the win in a shootout 4-3 against the Arizona Coyotes. They then lost 4-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs and ended the week with a 5-4 shootout loss against the Buffalo Sabres.
What went right and what went wrong for the Detroit Red Wings?
Positives
Forward Andrew Copp has turned his game around over the past couple of weeks. Since he returned to the lineup, he does not look as rusty as he did when he came back and looks more confident in his play and offensive abilities. He is one player that Detroit can count on for leadership and veteran experience as they march toward a playoff spot.
Defenseman Jordan Oesterle has solidified the bottom four pairing. He will not produce a lot offensively but he will take time and space away from the opposition. Oesterle will play a defensive game that allows him to be physical and clear the crease. He also has offensive tendencies that give him the green light to join the rush. Oesterle is an underrated defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings that can help them play a better defensive system and be counted on when times get tough.
Winger Oskar Sundqvist has really come into his own over the past two weeks. He gives Detroit a big body that will play physically, be a pain in front of the net, and score some important goals. Playing the third line he brings a bit of everything to the lineup. He scored two goals in the shootout loss against Buffalo. Sundqvist has the size and strength the Detroit Red Wings need in their lineup going forward.
Negatives
The power play, once a highlight in the Detroit Red Wings game, went cold this week, going two for 11. The setup and crisp passing were still there, however, they had a problem converting. This week dropped them down to 21st in the league and they are now operating at a 20.5% clip.
The top line seems to have gone cold. Aside from captain Dylan Larkin, the top line has not scored like it used to. This is not the Larkin-Lucas Raymond-Tyler Bertuzzi line of old but instead, it is Larkin-Perron and who coach Derek Lalonde sees fit. The Red Wings should go back to the line of Larkin-Raymond-Bertuzzi since they were one of the best lines in hockey. With Bertuzzi now out six weeks, they need to find a line that is going to be the line to go to when down in a game.
The Detroit Red Wings need to find a way to get some wins against the top teams, especially their own division. This week they went 0-1-1and lost three critical points, grabbing three points instead of six. If the Detroit Red Wings get close to a playoff spot and they need points, they will look back on these divisional games and wish they had those points. Detroit needs to show the league, and their division, that they are to be taken seriously. In order to do that they need to start taking two points instead of one, One point instead of none. Consistency is also important as these points become huge, even now.
Weekly record 1-1-1
Season record 11-6-5