Recapping week 21 of the Detroit Red Wings season

Welcome to my 21st weekly regular season recap of the Detroit Red Wings. Before a big win on Saturday, the Red Wings played three games this past week and pulled closer to a playoff spot with a perfect 3-0 record.

They began the week with a 5-0 shutout of the Calgary Flames then proceeded to win back-to-back overtime games against the Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche.

Positives

This team does not quit. The three games this week prove that Detroit is in playoff mode right now and is never out of the game, even when playing from behind.

The Red Wings are more aggressive on the forecheck and finding ways to keep the puck inside the offensive zone. Every game they play from now on is critical and the players are playing like it is their last game.

The hustle and speed to which they play has increased since the new year and Detroit is playing the right way at the right time.

The top offensive contributors this week were forwards Patrick Kane and Lucas Raymond, who each had two goals and two assists for four points.

These two have been Detroit's best players over the past month and can have massive impacts on how the rest of the season goes. These two will be counted on heavily as the season winds down and get this team into the playoffs.

Goaltender Alex Lyon continues to play well, going 3-0 this week allowing four goals. With the perfect week, he now has a record of 16-8-2 with a 2.75 goals-against-average and a .914 save percentage.

His play and consistency have kept the Red Wings in the playoff picture as he has been dominant since taking the crease.

He has come up big against some of the elite teams in the league and has been outstanding against the teams in the division. He has taken over the number one spot between the pipes, giving the Red Wings the chance to win every night with his steady play.

Negatives

While they had a 3-0 record this week, the defense has been an issue again. The defense still has problems in their zone, often getting pinned for several minutes.

One thing they lack is getting the puck out promptly and relieving pressure. Lyon has been outstanding but he needs help to be consistent in his play.

This must be corrected before the playoffs begin to keep winning ways of late. It can factor in them getting a playoff spot or being eliminated in the playoffs.

The Red Wings need to play a better puck-possession game in the defensive zone as they give up a lot of shots. They are seventh in the league, giving up 32.4 shots per game. Not only would this cost them two points, but Lyon cannot go several games in a row stopping 30+ shots every game.

This would wear down the only reliable goaltender they have had all season. Getting the puck out of the zone sooner can certainly help those numbers but it needs to be a team effort.

Clearing the puck after a save, getting into shooting or passing lanes, and sticking with a player can eliminate those opportunities.

Detroit needs to go after a goaltender at the trade deadline. Lyon has been elite between the pipes but he needs to take a night off now and then. Backup James Reimer has been too inconsistent and Ville Husso may be out for the remainder of the season.

A quality backup goaltender should be near the top of the want list for the trade deadline by General Manager Steve Yzerman. Prospect Jonatan Berggren seems to be a candidate for a change of scenery and could fetch a nice goaltender in return.

Weekly record: 3-0

Season record: 30-20-6, 66 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division.