The Malik Report

The Detroit Red Wings lost a 5-3 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and they head to Dallas to battle the Stars on Tuesday night (8:30 PM EST on ESPN+/hulu/97.1 FM), and here’s hoping that the Red Wings take out their frustrations on Dallas, because damn, was Monday’s loss frustrating.

Detroit blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads over the course of this game, and between a bad 2nd period and struggles to hang on in the 3rd, the Wings were growling after Monday’s result…as were the fans.

Which is a good thing. Last year, the Red Wings blowing a 2-goal lead, rallying to take a 3rd-period lead and then losing that lead was disturbingly and deflatingly routine. This season, both the players, the coaching staff and the fans feel that the kind of loss that the Red Wings experienced Monday is below expectations, if not completely unacceptable, and that’s refreshing (albeit in a weird way).

As you might imagine from our survey of the Red Wings and Blue Jackets’ recaps, Columbus was delighted with its 2nd and 3rd-period performances, as Zach Werenski told the Columbus Dispatch’s Bailey Johnson:

Continue reading Red Wings-Blue Jackets wrap-up: when ‘not good enough’ is ‘a lot better than it used to be’

Former Red Wing Luke Glendening spoke with the Dallas Stars’ press corps about facing the Red Wings on Tuesday night:

Update: Here’s a bit more from the Dallas Morning News’s Matthew DeFranks:

Glendening will play his first game against his former team on Tuesday night when the Stars host the Red Wings. Glendening spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career in Detroit before signing a two-year contract in Dallas over the summer.

Save for one year of boarding school, Glendening is a Michigan lifer: born in East Grand Rapids, went to college at Michigan, played for Grand Rapids in the AHL and then Detroit in the NHL.

“I grew up a [Red Wings] fan,” Glendening said. “I got to live out my dream of playing for them for eight years. I have a ton of respect for the people in the organization. It’s a big game for this team. I don’t want to take anything away from that. We need the two points, and that’s the goal for tomorrow.”

Glendening has scored four goals this season, tied for second-most on the team behind Tyler Seguin’s five tallies. He said his relatives “were the biggest Red Wings fans when I was there, but they might be the biggest Dallas Stars fans in Michigan now.”

Very appropriate:

Ken Holland receives his Honoured Member plaque from Steve Yzerman and is welcomed to the Hall#HHOF2020 | ? Dave Sandford/HHOF pic.twitter.com/t3ixtB3Tz8— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) November 16, 2021

Also classy:

Nicklas Lidstrom presents Marian Hossa with his Honoured Member plaque#HHOF2020 | ? Dave Sandford/HHOF pic.twitter.com/nzlIau9e4U— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) November 16, 2021

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to begin their 4-game road trip with a victory opposite the pesky Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Detroit Red Wings lost 5-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, in an incredibly frustrating fashion. Detroit had a 2-0 lead, blew it, got a 3-2 lead, blew it, and Columbus scored consecutive goals at 15:42 of the 3rd (a Chinakov breakaway) and 18:41 (a Werenski floater) to un-break the tie and take a 4-3 lead that was salted away by a Texier empty-netter.

It didn’t feel fair, frankly, because Lucas Raymond scored 2 goals, Thomas Greiss was wonderful for two periods, and the Red Wings had a fabulous 1st period, a terrible 2nd period, and a good 3rd…But the Blue Jackets capitalized on their chances, and that was that.

BUMMER LOSS for a team for whom expectations have changed.

Continue reading Red Wings-Blue Jackets quick take: Wings lose late to opportunistic Blue Jackets. It’s a disappointment (this year)

As an FYI, from the Dallas News’s Matthew DeFranks, Tuesday’s Red Wings-Stars game will air exclusively on ESPN+ and hulu:

The Stars’ game Tuesday night against the Red Wings can only be watched on ESPN+ and Hulu, subscription-only streaming services. The game will not be televised on Bally Sports Southwest.

Leah Hextall will handle play-by-play duties and Kevin Weekes will serve as the analyst. John Buccigross, Ryan Callahan and John Tortorella will be in studio for intermission reports. The game will also be available in Spanish on ESPN+, with play-by-play announcer Toño Valle and analyst Ethan Benezra on the call.

…

The inclusion of ESPN+/Hulu is new this season during the first year of the television deal between ESPN and the NHL. ESPN+/Hulu will exclusively carry 75 games throughout the NHL season, and also airs every out-of-market game.

Ken Kal and Paul Woods will still call the game on 97.1 the Ticket if you want a hometown call.

Via Paul Kukla of Abel to Yzerman comes the following: The Athletic’s Sean Shapiro posted the attendance numbers for each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams, and the Red Wings are having some concerns:

Detroit Red Wings: 16,469; 84.4%

There are COVID-related concerns in these markets. The Penguins and Red Wings, for example, didn’t put in COVID-related protocols for fans when it comes to tests and vaccinations out of fear they would push away certain parts of their fan base.

Detroit also has a season-ticket holder contingency based in Canada that hasn’t been able to cross the border as easily because of the COVID-protocols. With a more relaxed border, it’ll be interesting to see how that impacts the number at the gate for Detroit moving forward.

Continued; I know that the Canadian fan issue has been a big concern because the Red Wings are offering $75 PCR COVID tests for their Canadian fans so that they can cross the border and go back home. Those tests usually cost $185-200.

Of note from the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s Monday notebook is the following tidbit regarding Troy Stecher:

Defenseman Troy Stecher (upper body) was on the ice for Monday’s morning skate, but it remains to be seen if Stecher will be able to return to the lineup. Stecher hasn’t played since Nov. 4 in Boston, and Monday’s game was to be the sixth consecutive game he’s missed.

Being able to practice was a positive step. But whether Stecher can play over the pain is the key question. 

“He’s trying to work through the injury and see if he can not have to take significant time off,” Blashill said. “If he chooses either of the other routes (surgery), he’s going to have to take significant time off. The fact he’s out there is a good sign. The big step would be shooting (the puck), so we’ll see.”

Continued

Of charitable note from DetroitRedWings.com’s Jennifer Rogers:

2022 Pucks for Paws Calendar available now

Seven fan-favorite dogs return for this year’s calendar, including 2020 NHL Fan Choice Award nominee, Aspen Bertuzzi

The Detroit Red Wings and our friends at PetSmart are excited to announce that the Pucks for Paws Calendar is back! The fan-favorite wall calendar features your favorite Red Wings players with their four-legged friends.

Calendars are on sale now through January 31, 2022 for $20 apiece. This year’s calendar is available for online purchase only. In addition, a limited number of exclusive Pucks for Paws-branded collars, leashes and bandanas are available to purchase for just $3 per item. Proceeds from this year’s calendar and merchandise sale will benefit PetSmart Charities and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation.

Pucks for Paws features several returning pups and some new faces. This year’s edition features Red Wings players Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Marc Staal, Alex Nedeljkovic, Vladislav Namestnikov, Jordan Oesterle, Michael Rasmussen, Adam Erne, Troy Stecher, Thomas Greiss, Robby Fabbri, and Red Wings TV’s Daniella Bruce and Carley Johnston and their furry friends.

The Detroit Red Wings Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, is committed to providing funds and resources to worthy causes that contribute to the growth of the sport of hockey.

PetSmart Charities is the leading funder of animal welfare. Their grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, wellness resources and emergency relief.

The Red Wings have recalled Joe Veleno to substitute for the injured Mitchell Stephens in the lineup, and MLive’s Ansar Khan took note of coach Jeff Blashill’s game-day remarks regarding Veleno’s likely status as “earning a long look” on the ed Wings’ NHL roster:

“I think Joe had moments of playing real good hockey,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think Joe’s a good transporter from one end to the next, so that’s important. I think Joe’s got some physical tools. He can beat you one-on-one, he can shoot the puck, and I think he’s accountable defensively. So, we just need him to be a good player for us, all 200 feet.”

Blashill could opt to slot Veleno into Stephens’ fourth-line center spot but might be more inclined to play him at wing on the third line, centered by Michael Rasmussen, to utilize his offensive potential.

“He’s too young in his development to say what his ceiling is going to be, but I do think he’s a guy who can come in and play those types of third- and fourth-line role-type minutes because I think he’s accountable defensively,” Blashill said. “He knows how to manage the game, knows how to manage risk and when he’s done that he’s been really good. I certainly wouldn’t put a ceiling on him, but he’s going to get a chance to get back in the lineup, and every time you get back in you got to show that you can help us win hockey games.”

Stephens has no goals, four assists and a minus-5 rating in 16 games. He suffered a lower-body injury Saturday during the second period of a 3-2 overtime victory over Montreal.

“He’ll miss some time, I don’t know how much time,” Blashill said. “He’s going to see a specialist tomorrow. I don’t know that I’ll have an exact timeline then either.

“He brings speed and energy on a pretty consistent basis. He’s had nights where he’s been good on the right side in the face-off circle. I also think Carter Rowney is a guy who hasn’t played a ton but has played pretty well when he’s played and gotten better and better, from the preseason until now. He’s a guy who can win face-offs on the right. I think we’re in position to hopefully utilize the depth to replace him.”

Continued

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media for five-and-a-half minutes after today’s morning skate (ahead of tonight’s game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets, which starts at 7 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit Plus/Bally Sports Ohio/97.1 FM):