The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with coach Todd McLellan about the improvements in the Red Wings’ penalty-kill:
In the last five games, heading into Saturday’s in Calgary, the Wings have killed 10 of their last 11 penalties. It’s a key reason they’ve also won their last four games.
“We’ve made drastic changes to it systemically and the guys have bought in,” said coach Todd McLellan, who along with his assistant Trent Yawney listed the penalty kill as one of the first units to improve since he took over the Wings on Dec. 26. “They’re willing to attempt to execute, there’s been clarification of what their roles are, and goaltending is always a big, important part of it.”
Goaltenders Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon have both been effective during the Wings’ 12-4-1 record under McLellan.
“You don’t have good penalty kill numbers without goalies making the saves and bailing you out when they have to,” McLellan said “Faceoffs are obviously an important role and lack of time on it certainly helps. We have been a fairly disciplined team, we haven’t been taking sloppy, unneeded penalties. The ones we do take are play savers or situational things that can happen. We’re pleased with that.”
