Welcome to my 13th regular season Detroit Red Wings weekly review of the 2023-24 season. Detroit played four games this past week, posting a 3-1 record.
They started the week with a 5-4 overtime win against the Nashville Predators, then lost 5-3 to the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins.
However, they got back on the winning side of things with two straight wins, 5-3 against the San Jose Sharks and 4-3 in the shootout against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Detroit Red Wings are looking to have a good second half after week 13
Positives
The offense came back to life, scoring 17 goals in the four games and averaging 4.66 goals per game in the three wins. If they can find a way to be consistent in the goal-scoring department this team could be for real.
They created chances this week that led to goals and that is something that disappeared in the previous weeks. Everyone contributed offensively and this team is better when that happens. Having offensive weapons for a change makes a huge difference.
Forwards Lucas Raymond and Daniel Sprong each accounted for one goal and three assists each for four points, leading Detroit in scoring this week. Raymond looks fresher and more confident with the puck and Sprong has been offensively consistent since game one.
These two are crucial to the Red Wings offense going forward as they continue to create chances in their zone.
Now that most forwards are back in the lineup, the Detroit Red Wings look like a new team up front and now play with a sense of urgency. They are picking up points they lost in previous weeks, realizing they need to pick up their play to get back into the race.
The Red Wings have a big hill to climb but if they continue to play this way now they are setting themselves up for success in the second season.
Maybe General Manager Steve Yzerman could pull off another move to acquire a key piece that would put them back in the hunt and be a key to the success in the second half.
Negatives
While the offense was there this week and the defense was solid, the team as a whole needs to cut down the goals against. The Red Wings have the talented forwards to play both ends of the ice but do not have the talent to be able to outscore the opposition every game.
The forwards need to make sure they are coming back on defense, getting on the forecheck quicker to disrupt the opposition's chances. The defense needs to work on closing the gaps sooner as they have gotten away from that a bit.
The goaltending was solid as well but also needs some fine-tuning. If goaltender Alex Lyon is the starter from here on out, he needs to adjust accordingly to playing a lot of games in the second half.
He has proven he can win games but now needs to be consistent in his efforts to steal games now and then.
It has been said before that Detroit needs to start picking up two points against the Atlantic Division's top teams to prove they belong.
Although the close loss against Boston hurt, it is another loss to a top team within the division and conference. Detroit needs to step up and take two points from the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers in regulation to gain some ground that they have lost in recent weeks.
Winning in a shootout or overtime gives Detroit the two points, but it also gives the opposition points and creates further separation.
Weekly record: 3-1
Season record: 19-16-4, 42 points, fifth place in the Atlantic Division.