On the surface, you look at the Detroit Red Wings sitting five points out of a playoff spot at the 20-game juncture of the NHL season. In the grand scheme of things, making up that kind of ground should be an attainable mission.
Why is it then that deep down, there’s this gnawing sensation that it’s already becoming a hill too steep to climb? A gap too insurmountable to overcome?
First of all, it’s because through those first 20 games, this Red Wings team has shown us nothing to believe that consistency will ever be part of their DNA. They’ve delivered no compelling evidence that they can evolve into a club capable of putting together a positive run of games.
“I think we’ve had some good moments,” Detroit forward Lucas Raymond said.
He’s not wrong, but at the same time, he’s pointing out a serious concern. Moments are fleeting. Blink and they’re over.
Consistency A Red Wings Hobgoblin
The Red Wings did deliver one-three game winning streak this season. It was a stretch that allowed them to turn a 1-3 start into a 4-3 slate.
Since then? They are 4-7-2. Detroit has won back-to-back games just once during that 13-game span. All data suggests that this team is much more like the one that opened 1-3 and is currently 4-7-2 in the past 13 games than the squad that briefly went on a three-game roll.
“I don’t think it’s the start we would have wanted,” Raymond acknowledges. “But at the same time, I think we have played games where we play the way we’re supposed to, and we know we can be successful that way.”
Again, he’s right. On occasion, they can do it. Overall, they don’t do it nearly enough to believe it’s going to become a pattern.
“We’ve had some stretches of some very good hockey,” Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “It’s just finding it more often.”
Besides, three-game win streaks aren’t helping much in the long run if a team follows up by winning just four of the next 13 games.
Give It Away Now
Detroit is big on giveaways and no, we’re not talking about gravy boat Zambonis. In this instance, we’re discussing puck management . . . or more appropriately, puck mismanagement.
The Zamboni Gravy Boat returns… TODAY!
First 7,500 fans will get receive one, courtesy of @meijer. Doors open at 5:30pm!
See you there » https://t.co/meQ0gJUTgF pic.twitter.com/cySLK1rKU9
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 23, 2024
Through 20 games, the Red Wings have given away the puck 344 times. That’s works out to 17.2 giveaways per game, which is the most in the NHL.
In Saturday’s 2-1 home-ice loss to Boston, Detroit was turning over the puck 26 times. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was the worst culprit with six giveaways. Fellow rearguards Ben Chiarot and Erik Gustafsson were guilty of three giveaways apiece.
In the previous game, a 2-1 win over the Islanders, Detroit committed 23 giveaways. Gustafsson (three) was the worst offender.
For the season, Edvinsson and captain Dylan Larkin share the team lead with 29 giveaways. Gustafsson (27) is hot on their heels.
Penalty Kill Is Killing Red Wings
We’ve spent a lot of words so far this season discussing the woes of the Detroit penalty-killing unit. Speaking of their execution, the sense is that the team’s fan base would be in favor of it.
Our penalty kill is just awful. They really can’t catch a break 🤣
— Red Wings Diehards™ (@RedWingDiehards) November 19, 2024
Even against Boston’s NHL-worst power-play unit, Detroit managed to surrender one goal in two opportunities. And that was the difference on the scoreboard in another Red Wings loss.
They are giving up nearly a power-play goal per game with 18 against through 20 games. You don’t need a PhD in hockey analytics to be able to decipher that a team with a 66.7% penalty-kill rate is doomed to failure more often than not.