Both the Free Press’s Helene St. James and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted afternoon articles which discuss the crucial nature of the Red Wings’ remaining “home stand” as the Wings attempt to gain ground in the very middling and muddled Atlantic Division.
St. James suggests that the Red Wings’ home games against Calgary tomorrow night, New Jersey on Friday afternoon and Vancouver on Sunday afternoon are all but must-wins if the Wings are to attempt to battle past their difficult start…
Monday’s victory was the third time in four games the Wings collected points (five) and gave them 20 points after 21 games, within three points (though chasing five teams) for the second wild card spot in the East. Patrick Kane missed the Islanders game because of an undisclosed injury, but he’s considered day-to-day.
The Wings seem to have righted themselves to an extent after that dismal trip to California – they haven’t engaged in a score-fest since, instead limiting opponents to two or less goals in the last three contests. There’s certainly still areas to address, including special teams: The power play has failed to deliver the last three games, going 0 for 10. And the penalty kill (68.4%) remains the worst in the NHL.
Establishing themelves at home would be a good step towards the Wings moving beyond the mediocrity that has defined the first quarter of their season. To their advantage, few teams have really pulled away in the East, so if the Wings can string together some wins at home, they’ll remain in the mix of things.
And Duff took note of Alex Lyon’s comments made last night while discussing the Wings’ status as in the lower part of a muddled Atlantic Division:
“I think that we’re in desperation mode for sure,” Lyon told the FanDuel Sports Network following Monday’s win. “We need to play desperate every night. I think that the best teams in this league play desperate every night.”
Fortunately for the Red Wings, mediocrity loves company. In this season’s NHL, the Eastern Conference is displaying an overabundance of bad squads.
If you don’t buy into the NHL’s loser point scenario and count overtime losses for what they are – defeats – then eight of the 16 clubs in the East are currently playing below-.500 hockey. That includes the 9-10-2 Red Wings.
All eight of these teams are displaying negative goal differentials. None have a winning road record. Only Boston (5-3-2) and Philadelphia (5-3-2) are showing a winning slate through the past 10 games.
This, as much as any reason, is keeping the Red Wings in the hunt while they seek to hunt down more consistency in their game.
