Author: George Malik

The Detroit Red Wings’ opponent tonight, the Nashville Predators, won’t be feeling charitable when the teams meet at Little Caesars Arena (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM) because Nashville lost its home opener, too, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Field Level Media reports that the Predators felt that they didn’t play badly against Dallas, though Nashville surrendered 4 2nd-period goals:

“I thought we played pretty solid,” Nashville forward Steven Stamkos said. “When you look at shots, the chances, the overall game was there. That’s a very good team over there and you give them a couple quality grade-A chances like we did, it’s in the back of your net. Then, before you know it, you’re down three goals against a really good hockey team. So, probably not the recipe that you want, but we certainly didn’t quit.”

Nashville had 16 more shots on goal than the Stars, who scored on three consecutive shots early in the second.

Via Paul Kukla of Abel to Yzerman comes a Tweet of note:

In our first Mickey’s Moments of the season, Mick identifies what went wrong Thursday and what the Red Wings need to work on ahead of tonight’s game against Nashville.#LGRW | @FamilyCooling pic.twitter.com/SCUDJAuEl3

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 12, 2024

On September 10th, which feels like a lifetime ago, I mentioned that The Henry Ford is holding an exhibit called “Hockey: Faster Than Ever,” and MLive’s Edward Pevos reports that the exhibit opens tomorrow:

“Hockey: Faster Than Ever” will be at The Henry Ford in Dearborn from Sunday, October 13 through January 5, 2025.

The exhibit will look at the technical advancements and scientific breakthroughs which have shaped the sport over the decades; from technology to the physics of play.

The exhibition is produced by Flying Fish in collaboration with the Montréal Science Centre and support from the NHL and the NHLPA.

“Partnering with the Montréal Science Centre allowed us to create a unique experience celebrating both sports and science,“ said Jay Brown, Principal & Managing Director of Flying Fish. ”We intended to show how technology, physics, and innovation have transformed the game throughout history. We’re thrilled with the result, an exhibition that will fascinate sports enthusiasts and curious minds alike.”

The exhibition features Red Wings artifacts provided in partnership with the team, including jerseys and gear, including The Russian Five game-worn jerseys, actual boards from Joe Louis Arena and more.

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS RECALL JUSTIN HOLL FROM GRAND RAPIDS

  … Detroit Reassigns Carter Gylander from Griffins to ECHL’s Toledo Walleye …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled defenseman Justin Holl from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, the Red Wings have reassigned goaltender Carter Gylander from the Griffins to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.

Holl, 32, spent the 2023-24 season with the Red Wings, recording five assists, a plus-eight rating and 22 penalty minutes in 38 games. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound blueliner played the entire 2022-23 campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, collecting 18 points (2-16-18), a plus-15 rating and 39 penalty minutes in 80 regular-season games, in addition to one assist in eight postseason contests. Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (54th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Holl has tallied 87 points (11-76-87), a plus-66 rating and 172 penalty minutes in 323 games with the Maple Leafs and Red Wings since 2017-18. Holl has also logged 68 points (20-48-68), a plus-59 rating and 79 penalty minutes in 194 AHL games between the Rockford IceHogs and Toronto Marlies, helping the Marlies win a Calder Cup championship in 2018. He made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel in 2014-15, contributing 34 points (7-27-34) and 39 penalty minutes in 66 games.

A native of Tonka Bay, Minn., Holl played four seasons at the University of Minnesota from 2010-14 prior to turning professional, notching 38 points (8-30-38), a plus-34 rating and 76 penalty minutes in 142 games. Holl helped the Golden Gophers clinch Frozen Four berths in 2012 and 2014, in addition to capturing the Big Ten’s inaugural regular-season title in 2013-14. He competed at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School from 2007-10, totaling 39 points (18-21-39) and 12 penalty minutes in 77 games. Holl also suited up for the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers during the 2009-10 season, recording four assists, a plus-seven rating and six penalty minutes in 11 regular-season games, along with two points (1-1-2) in eight playoff matchups.

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in North America on Friday night:

In the ECHL, Carson Bantle had a goal and an assist, Gabriel Seger had a goal and an assist and Jan Bednar stopped 20 of 23 shots as the Toledo Walleye lost their first exhibition game, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Kalamazoo K-Wings;

In the OHL, Landon Miller served as the back-up in the Soo Greyhounds’ 5-4 shootout win over the Kitchener Rangers;

In the WHL, Emmitt Finnie finished at -1 with an assist, 4 shots and a 13-for-25 faceoff win record in the Kamloops Blazers’ 3-1 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds;

In the USHL, Austin Baker finished at +1 with 3 shots in the Sioux Falls Stampede’s 6-3 win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints;

Rudy Guimond was the back-up in the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders’ 5-0 loss to the Fargo Force;

In NCAA Hockey, Trey Augustine stopped 23 of 26 shots and Red Savage finished at -2, going 7-for-9 on faceoffs as Boston College defeated the Michigan State University Spartans 3-0;

Kienan Draper finished even with 2 shots and a 5-for-7 faceoff record as the University of Michigan Wolverines won 4-1 over Arizona State University;

Brady Cleveland finished at +1 with 1 shot and a minor penalty taken and Fisher Scott finished even with 1 shot as the Colorado College Tigers won 4-3 over Northern Michigan University;

John Whipple finished at +2 as the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers won 7-1 over Air Force;

Brennan Ali finished at +1 with 2 shots in the Notre Dame University Fighting Irish’s 4-1 win over St. Lawrence;

Max Plante (upper-body injury) didn’t play in the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs’ 4-2 win over UMass-Lowell;

Larry Keenan finished at -2 with 2 shots in the UMass Minutemen’s 3-2 loss to Nebraska-Omaha;

Jack Phelan finished even with 2 shots and Owen Mehlenbacher finished at -3 with 2 shots and a 4-for-7 faceoff record as the University of Wisconsin Badgers lost 4-2 to Lindenwood.

The Grand Rapids Griffins had just about everything go right over the course of their season-opening 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night.

Sebastian Cossa pitched a 35-save shutout, Marco Kasper had a goal and an assist, Carter Mazur scored, Austin Watson had 2 assists and a fight, and Hunter Johannes got into a mid-3rd-period scrap as well.

The Griffins’ website posted a recap:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Sebastian Cossa on Friday became the first Grand Rapids Griffins goalie to post an opening-night shutout in 26 years, as his 35 saves propelled the home team to a 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena.

After having fallen to the Admirals in last spring’s Central Division Finals, the Griffins gained a measure of revenge against their rival in front of a capacity crowd of 10,834.

Cossa’s perfect performance was the first by a Griffin in either a season or home opener since Oct. 9, 1998, when Ian Gordon made 33 saves in a 2-0 home win over Kansas City to begin the team’s third campaign in the International Hockey League.

Following a scoreless opening period, the Griffins struck 8:08 into the second frame. On the rush from the top of the right circle, Dominik Shine found Marco Kasper slicing down the slot, and the second-year center put a top-shelf backhand past Magnus Chrona for the only goal Grand Rapids would need.

Carter Mazur added to the Grand Rapids lead at 15:16, blasting home a William Wallinder feed from the bottom of the left circle during a 4-on-3 power play.

After compiling 20 saves over the first 40 minutes, Cossa turned back 15 Milwaukee shots during the final frame to preserve the shutout, and Shine slipped a shot into an empty net from the right boards with 15 seconds left to seal the Griffins’ seventh win in their last nine home openers. 

The Griffins’ website also posted a highlight clip, an interview clip and a photo gallery:

The Red Wings made just about every mistake from their arsenal of 2023-2024 season “book of defensive mistakes” during Thursday night’s 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and on Friday, the coach and players were quite aware of the error of their ways, as they told the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:

“We just gave them a lot of offense,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “And it came so easy.”

The Wings carried the play for most of the opening 20 minutes against Pittsburgh. But the game got away from the Wings when they became generous defensively, and the Penguins took advantage.

“Pucks were just going in,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “It felt like we were doing the right things but then we would just have big-time breakdowns. The rest of the game it was a different story every shift, what was breaking down. A lot of sloppy breakouts, sloppy coming back to our zone and finding coverage. Not a good second and third period, not a good start for our season.”

How the Wings respond Saturday against Nashville will be interesting to watch, as they attempt to nip this particular slip-up in the bud before it builds in what is a difficult October schedule.

The Wings will be without defenseman Jeff Petry (upper body) on Saturday. Petry missed the third period against Pittsburgh and his status is “day-to-day,” Lalonde said Friday.

Lalonde said the Wings will recall defenseman Justin Holl, a right-hand shot, to replace Petry. Lalonde also wouldn’t rule out seeing rookie defenseman Albert Johansson in the lineup against Nashville. Johansson, a left-handed shot, was a heathy scratch against Pittsburgh.

“I’d like to get Albert in,” Lalonde said. “Might see Albert (Saturday), we haven’t decided on that yet. But I would like to try to get him in soon and get him some game feel here. We’re going to get him in here pretty soon to see how he handles a real NHL game.”

Continued; Kulfan also discusses Ville Husso being pulled and Steven Stamkos signing with Nashville, given that Derek Lalonde was Stamkos’ assistant coach in Tampa Bay.

The Hockey News’s Connor Eargood discusses the Red Wings coaching staff’s decision to move Alex DeBrincat from the left wing on the power play to the “bumper” position, which seems to have suited #93 well:

“It’s a little different,” DeBrincat told The Hockey News after Thursday’s morning skate. “I think it takes a little bit of time to get used to, but it’s not a big deal. I think a lot of different guys can play a lot of different positions, so wherever they need me, I’ll play and try to do my best at it.”

Why did Lalonde do this? It’s easiest to see this as a demotion for DeBrincat. After all, a shooter of his caliber belongs on the flank, where he can get shots off easily. That’s where he scored one of his two goals in Thursday’s home opener, the other of which was a near identical one-timer at even strength.

Such a simplistic perspective ignores the way that Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde values his bumper position. At a presentation at TCS Live in July 2023, Lalonde included bumper support as one of the four priorities that he and assistant coaches Alex Tanguay and Jay Varady identified. 

An effective bumper serves as support to extend a penalty kill, supporting a pressured puck carrier and maintaining possession, as well as providing another scoring threat. Whereas the point player might be seen as the last line to keep a power play in the zone, it’s just as much a responsibility of the bumper to anticipate where he needs to support. 

It’s under this philosophy that evolving the shot-first DeBrincat into a playmaking role is novel. And looking at how it all played out in Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins — when the power play was one of the few bright spots — the effects are noticeable.

Continued; this is an interesting thought experiment.

MLive’s Ansar Khan asked Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde and forward J.T. Compher for their input as to why the Red Wings lost a 6-3 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, and where the team is at going forward:

“[I’m] fully confident how we performed in the first period will translate over 60 minutes in being successful,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “Even some of the things that creeped into our game in the second – some D-zone structure, puck play was an issue — it was pretty self-inflicted. So, it’s important not to overreact but to respond correctly. Feels like we kind of gave one away.”

The changes include recalling Justin Holl from the Grand Rapids Griffins and inserting him into the lineup in place of Jeff Petry, who’s unavailable and day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Lalonde said it’s important to have a second right-shooting defenseman in the lineup in addition to Moritz Seider.

They’re also pondering whether Albert Johansson should make his NHL debut. If he doesn’t play Saturday, he’ll likely debut Monday at the New York Rangers, Lalonde said.

…

One adjustment in practice saw Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane switch places. Kane skated with Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat while Raymond lined up with J.T. Compher and Vladimir Tarasenko. Lalonde, however, said line combinations are fluid.

“I think lots to learn from our first game, systems-wise, execution-wise,” Compher said. “We did it right for a period, so we know what it looks like. We know the way we want to play. Then the rest of the game, just learning points, execution, details, stuff that’s important for winning hockey games and stuff we got to clean up going into tomorrow.”

The Predators are coming off a 4-3 season-opening loss Thursday to Dallas. They have a different look after signing forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in the offseason.

Continued

In Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen’s second notebook of the afternoon, he points out that Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson took an ill-timed penalty and made some badly-timed reads over the course of last night’s game vs. Pittsburgh:

Simon Edvinsson, crucial to Detroit’s playoff hopes this season, didn’t play as well as did late last season when he helped the Red Wings make an unsuccessful late run for the playoffs. He took a bad penalty.

“Yeah, the penalty, but I think his whole game,” Lalonde said. “Even their second goal, he gets beat on a 50-50 off the line, gets beat on a 50-50 in front of the net. Just a little urgency you need all the time. If you’re going to stick up for a teammate, be smart about it. Grab the guy, give him the ‘Hey, I didn’t like the hit.’ Just giving the ref a freebie with the objective of calling cross-checks, it’s momentum, it’s learning, it’s game management. We got the game back with a little momentum, which was a battle for us, and (he) put them on the power play.”

If left-shot [Albert] Johansson plays [instead], he might find himself playing on the right side. Playing at home, the Red Wings can control the matchups he gets.

“We wanted to get him in sooner than later,” Lalonde said. “It’s hard. He’s never played an NHL game. He’s going to sit out for a long period of time, it’s a hard ask for him. We’re going to get him in I’d expect in the next two games, maybe (against Nashville).”

Johansson’s strengths are his defensive-mind approach and his efficiency, two qualities that the Red Wings could use.

“The way he moves the puck, good hockey sense,” Lalonde said. “He’s not the biggest D-man, so he’s got to defend through hands. I like what I saw at the end of last year and it’s pretty much translated into preseason.”

Continued