Welcome to my 14th regular season Detroit Red Wings weekly review. The Red Wings played two games this week, going 1-0-1. They began the short week by winning a close game against the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 but lost the second game to a tough Edmonton Oilers team, 3-2, in overtime.
Detroit Red Wings have good week despite going 1-0-1
Positives
The goaltending and defense were much better these two games. Although they lost against Edmonton, they held that potent offense to three goals. The Red Wings played as a cohesive unit in both games and closed the gaps in both the neutral and defensive zones. Goaltender Alex Lyon was again brilliant between the pipes, thus furthering the chance he will be the starting goaltender for the Red Wings in the second half of the season.
Lucas Raymond (2 assists), Dylan Larkin (goal, assist), and Andrew Copp (goal, assist) all had two points in two games. Detroit scored five goals this week but the chances and offensive creativity are still there. The defensemen joined the rush in the offensive zone to give Detroit a more potent attack and it showed against Edmonton. While they got a single point against the Oilers, it shows that this team can go up , and compete against, any team in the league and hang with them for 60 minutes.
The penalty kill was a perfect 6-for-6 this week and it looked like the systems they play slightly changed. Detroit seemed more patient on the kill, yet more aggressive inn the neutral zone. The red Wings did not overcommit in the defensive zone and waited for the opposition to make a mistake before sending the puck 200 feet. This style looks as if small details of the penalty kill were changed in an effort to get the penalty kill going strong again. Overall better effort this week.
Negatives
While the penalty kill was amazing, the power play lacked spark and offensive chances, going 1-for-8 this week. This power play is hard to figure out as they keep struggling to find offense, yet have players like Patrick Kane, Alex Debrincat, Larkin, Raymond, Moritz Seider, Jake Walman, and Shayne Gostisbehere. This team has more offensive firepower than in previous years but can not get it together on the man advantage. Maybe a different look, as in five forwards or four forwards and a defenseman.
Why the Detroit Red Wings do not have prospect Simon Edvinsson or young star Jonatan Berggren in the lineup as regulars baffles me. Edvinsson has more than proven he is ready to be a force on teh blueline and Berggren has been offensively productive despite his limited minutes in Detroit. Some veterans on the roster are not cutting so why not slot these two in the lineup for the foreseeable future? These two are going to play a big role in the future success of the organization so why are they down in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins. I would rather have Edvinsson and Berggren instead of Jeff Petry and Christian Fischer.
If Lyon is pressumed as the starter for the rest of the year, Detroit needs to find him a suitable backup. James Reimer is not the answer and Michael Hutchinson has played well but is not in the red Wings long-term plans. We do not know the status of Ville Husso and the Red Wings do not feel as if prospect Sebastain Cossa is there yet or ready for that role. Do we see a goaltending move before the trade deadline?
Weekly record: 1-0-1
Season record: 20-16-5, 45 points, 5th place in Atlantic Division