Author: George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

Red Wings-Panthers Game 1 wrap-up: overtime blues and a whole lot of Wings-Panthers action to come

The Detroit Red Wings dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Florida Panthers in the first of 2 games in 2 days (the teams play again Sunday at 5 PM EST), kicking off a schedule in which the Wings and Panthers will play 6 total times over the next 3 weeks.

In other words, the Wings play 12 games between now and February 20, and half of those games will be opposite the Panthers, who have won 7 straight games (5 in regulation and 2 in OT) over Detroit, and 6 straight games in Detroit.

That’s not good news for the 0-4-and-2-of-late Red Wings, who haven’t won since January 19th.

Continue reading Red Wings-Panthers Game 1 wrap-up: overtime blues and a whole lot of Wings-Panthers action to come

Prospect Round-up: a quiet night on the USHL and college front

Of prospect-related note on Saturday, from North America:

In the USHL, Kienan Draper finished even with 1 shot and 1 penalty taken in the Omaha Lancers’ 3-1 loss to the Tri-City Storm, who were without Kyle Aucoin;

Cross Hanas missed the Lincoln Stars’ 4-0 win over Fargo;

Chase Bradley finished even with 3 shots in the Sioux City Musketeers’ 1-0 loss to Sioux Falls;

In NCAA Hockey, Patrick Holway finished even with 2 shots in the Merrimack College Warriors’ 6-2 loss to Connecticut;

Seth Barton finished even with 3 shots in the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks’ 2-1 loss to Massachusetts;

Sam Stange missed the University of Wisconsin Badgers’ 4-1 win over Michigan State;

And Cooper Moore finished at +1 with a penalty taken in the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks’ 5-4 loss to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Red Wings-Panthers Game 1 post-game videos: Larkin, Redmond, and highlights

After the Red Wings’ 3-2 OT loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dylan Larkin spoke with the media, and Fox Sports Detroit posted a short clip from his Zoom call due to running into a broadcast from the Pistons at 10 PM EST…

They also posted a short clip of Mickey Redmond’s post-game takes…

Sportsnet shared Sergei Bobrovsky’s staggering save on Mathias Brome….

And Sportsnet posted a highlight clip as well:

Update: Here’s more of Larkin and Blashill from the Red Wings:

Continue reading Red Wings-Panthers Game 1 post-game videos: Larkin, Redmond, and highlights

HSJ: Bertuzzi questionable for Sunday

The Red Wings lost a 3-2 OT decision to the Florida Panthers on Saturday, and they also lost Tyler Bertuzzi to an upper-body injury. The news regarding Bertuzzi was murky post-game:

Jeff Blashill doesn’t have much update on Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi (upper body) yet, but said he’s questionable for Sunday.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 31, 2021

Red Wings-Panthers Game 1 quick take: Wings blow it in OT thanks to self-inflicted mistakes, rematch vs. Florida on Sunday

The Detroit Red Wings hoped to snap an 0-4-and-1 streak opposite a difficult opponent on Saturday night, hosting the Florida Panthers for 2 weekend games.

Florida possessed a 6-game winning streak in Detroit heading into Saturday night’s affair…

And they extended it to 7 games, with Aleksi Heponiemi breaking a 2-2 tie in overtime to give the Florida Panthers a 3-2 OT win that was frustrating, deflating, exhausting and cost the Wings Tyler Bertuzzi in the 3rd period due to an upper-body injury.

Now Detroit is 0-4-and-2 over its past six games, its power play is inept, its penalty-kill was 1-for-3 on Saturday, and the opportunistic Panthers appeared to earn every damn break in the book, both rule-wise (see: Glendening smeared by Weegar) and puck-wise (see: Brome’s “Forsberg” move toed away by Bobrovsky).

Thankfully, the teams get to rematch tomorrow at 5 PM EST, and perhaps (perhaps!) the Wings will have learned from some of their self-inflicted mistakes–those were the ones that cost Detroit the game–enough to win the second of 6 games to take place between these teams over the next three weeks.

Continue reading Red Wings-Panthers Game 1 quick take: Wings blow it in OT thanks to self-inflicted mistakes, rematch vs. Florida on Sunday

Kulfan: Stecher, Wings want to stop losing streak

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a pre-game notebook in which defenseman Troy Stecher weighs in on the Wings’ struggles as an 0-3-and-1 team of late:

The Wings entered Saturday’s game against Florida winless in four games — all on this recent four-game road trip. They face a good Panthers team twice, then go on a lengthy six-game road trip through Stanley Cup champion Tampa, Florida, and another good Nashville team. So, you see why a win, or wins, at home are important this weekend.

“We have an opportunity, we’re at home now. We’ve got to take pride in playing at home,” defenseman Troy Stecher said. “This is a good opportunity to change the page.”

Especially in a short season like this one, a long losing streak early is likely to knock a team out of contention (the top four teams in the eight-team division qualify for the playoffs) quickly.

Getting a victory would build some confidence, said Stecher, who added the Wings’ locker room wasn’t pleased with the recent road trip.

“Anytime you’re on a losing streak, guys are upset,” Stecher said. “We didn’t get the results we wanted but it was definitely a good learning curve for our group, understanding we’ve got to play a certain way if we want to have success. When you get away from that, you’re going to get exposed, and especially at this level.”

Continued

Prospect Round-up: Raymond, Veleno add helpers in SHL

Of prospect-related note from Europe:

In Belarus, Kirill Tyutyayev finished even with 1 shot in Yunost Minsk’s 1-0 win over Dynamo Molodenko;

In the SHL, Jonatan Berggren finished even with 1 shot in 14:15 played as Skelleftea AIK won 2-0 over the Moritz Seider-less Rogle BK;

Albin Grewe finished even in only 1:21 played as Djurgardens IF lost 3-2 in a shootout to Leksands IF;

Lucas Raymond had an assist, finishing even with 3 shots in 14:46 played, and Elmer Soderblom scored a goal on 2 shots, finishing at +1 in 7:44 played as the Frolunda Indians won 7-3 over Brynas:

Joe Veleno had an assist on former Griffins teammate Matt Puempel’s goal, finishing even in 15:49 as the Malmo Redhawks lost 6-3 to Linkopings HC:

Albert Johansson finished even with 4 shots in 20:50 played as Farjestad BK won 4-3 over Orebro in a shootout.

Inside AHL Hockey: players, owners moving toward resolution regarding CBA modification

Inside AHL Hockey’s Tony Androckitis has an update regarding the AHL’s proposal to the Professional Hockey Players’ Association regarding modifying the CBA for the shortened 2020-2021 AHL season:

The Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA) approved the American Hockey League’s (AHL) latest proposal Friday, moving things one step further toward a resolution.

The approved changes to the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by the PHPA also needs approval from the league’s Board of Governors, which is set to meet on Monday.

A source with direct knowledge of these changes provided InsideAHLHockey.com with plenty of insight on what was reportedly a three-page document sent from AHL President/CEO Scott Howson to PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon last Saturday with terms of a decision requested by Thursday at 11 a.m.

This document stated that, if accepted, it would supersede and replace the agreement made between the PHPA and AHL on June 2nd, which InsideAHLHockey first reported on earlier this week.

The document from Howson to Landon also said that in the event the proposal wasn’t approved that the AHL would operate under the terms of the June 2nd legally enforceable agremeent or not operate during the 2020-21 season as well as reseving all other rights available at law.

Continued