Red Wings-Sabres quick take: Unsustainable trends yield a 5-3 ‘learning experience’ loss

The 4-and-3 Detroit Red Wings headed to Buffalo for a one-game road trip against the 3-4-and-1 Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon, smack dab in the middle of a slate of 3 games to be played over the course of 4 days.

Detroit hoped to build upon a 3-game winning streak; Buffalo aimed to win a 3rd straight game after defeating the Blackhawks and Stars.

On Saturday afternoon, the Red Wings surrendered 2-0 and 3-1 leads to the Buffalo Sabres, but rallied to tie the game 3-3…And the Wings ultimately lost to the plucky Sabres, who won their 3rd straight 5-3.

Tage Thompson was excellent for the Sabres, with 2 goals and an assist; Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen stopped 22 of 25 shots against, and for Detroit, Raymond (1G, 1A), Rasmussen (1G), DeBrincat (1G) and Seider (2A) all had big games, while Alex Lyon stopped 34 of 38 shots.

This was the kind of “learning experience” game where the Red Wings both a) gave up too many shots and b) gave up a crucial early PPG that put them behind the eight-ball early, while going 0-for-2 on their own power play.

There were bounces that went against the Wings for sure, and some calls that went against them, but you earn your luck, and the big, physical Sabres out-competed Detroit today.

These teams will meet again next Saturday, and the Wings will have to be sharper, more physical, and better.

Detroit has been able to play “Big and Heavy” like Buffalo at times, but they’ve got to be able to defend “Big and Heavy” against, too, and they need to generate more zone time in the offensive end of the ice here.

Continue reading Red Wings-Sabres quick take: Unsustainable trends yield a 5-3 ‘learning experience’ loss

Red Wings-Devils quick take: Out-shot, out-special-teamed, but Detroit defeated the Devils anyway

The Detroit Red Wings tried to sustain a 3-game winning streak on Thursday night, hosting the 5-3-and-1 New Jersey Devils as Detroit kicked off a slate of 3 games to be played over the course of 4 days and nights.

The Devils were slated to employ the services of both Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce as injury returnees on Thursday night, and they hoped to rebound from an 8-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday;

The Red Wings had defeated the Predators and Islanders over the past week, so while the team’s 3-and-3 opening start wasn’t overwhelming, the Wings were hoping to hit their stride they closed out their October schedule with 3 of their 4 remaining games at home.

On Thursday night, the Red Wings may not have deserved to win, but they won nonetheless.

The Devils went 3-for-5 on their power play, scoring the game’s first goal and tying the game 2-2 and 3-3, but Detroit went 2-for-4 on its power play, Christian Fischer, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane and Michael Rasmussen (ENG) scored and Cam Talbot stopped 38 of 41 shots en route to a rousing 5-3 victory where the process mattered a little less than the result.

Continue reading Red Wings-Devils quick take: Out-shot, out-special-teamed, but Detroit defeated the Devils anyway

Red Wings-Islanders quick take: Wings put the Islanders (and the rest of us) to sleep with a 1-0 victory

The Detroit Red Wings kicked off a slate of 4 games to be played over the course of 6 nights against the New York Islanders.

For the 2-and-3 Red Wings, the next 6 days are particularly consequential as the Islanders, Devils and Sabres all stand as potential Wild Card rivals; earning points against teams that may battle the Wings for playoff spots is an essential task.

On Tuesday night, the Red Wings won a particularly ugly 1-0 decision over the New York Islanders thanks to a 29-save shutout for Alex Lyon, Patrick Kane’s first goal of the season on only 10 shots for Detroit, and a 3-for-3 PK by a sleepy Red Wings team that played a sleep-inducing effort in front of an Islanders team that was booed out of its own rink.

It was ugly as hell, but an ugly win at that. Detroit’s now 3-and-3, including 2-and-1 on the road.

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders quick take: Wings put the Islanders (and the rest of us) to sleep with a 1-0 victory

Red Wings-Predators quick take: Wings keep the Predators winless thanks to a big bounce-back win

The Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators faced off on Saturday afternoon in a battle of struggling teams. Detroit came into the game with a 1-and-3 record, while Nashville was facing significant pressure to earn its first win at 0-and-4.

Today, the Red Wings won a remarkable game to keep the Predators winless, sweeping the season series by a 5-2 tally. Nashville actually opened the scoring, but Vladimir Tarasenko (assisted by Marco Kasper), Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp (2) and Simon Edvinsson scored for Detroit, and Alex Lyon stopped 37 shots, including this one:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators quick take: Wings keep the Predators winless thanks to a big bounce-back win

Red Wings-Predators mini preview: Kasper to make his 24-25 debut in a battle of struggling teams

The 1-and-3 Red Wings will try to extend the 0-and-4 Nashville Predators’ misery today (2 PM EDT start on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM).

Nashville most recently lost a 4-2 decision to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, while the Red Wings lost a 5-2 decision to the New York Rangers on Thursday.

As MLive’s Ansar Khan notes, both teams’ starts have been disappointing, but the Predators may be facing more pressure heading into today’s game:

“I’m sure they’re desperate, but we’re desperate, too,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “This does not feel good. It’s sporadic play. It’s frustrating where we are with our results. I think it’s two teams that are going to be playing very desperate in an important game early on.”

The Red Wings are coming off back-to-back losses to the New York Rangers while trying to navigate through a tough early season schedule.

Nashville had high hopes after its summer spending spree. First, the Predators locked up franchise goaltending Jusse Saros to an eight-year, $62 million extension. Then they went hog-wild in free agency, inked longtime Lightning center Steven Stamkos (four years at $32 million), right wing Jonathan Marchessault (five years at $27.5 million) and defenseman Brady Skjei (seven years at $49 million).

Stamkos has no points in four games. Saros is 0-3 with a 3.83 goals-against average and .878 save percentage.

The Red Wings’ stats since defeating Nashville 3-0 last Saturday aren’t any better, as the Free Press’s Andrew Birkle notes:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators mini preview: Kasper to make his 24-25 debut in a battle of struggling teams

Kasper stayed positive when assigned to the Griffins

Marco Kasper told DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills that he didn’t take being sent down to Grand Rapids too personally…

Kasper said he wasn’t disappointed that he was assigned to Grand Rapids after Training Camp, pointing out the talent at the top of and within the Red Wings organization.

“We have a really good team now,” Kasper said. “We have a lot of young players pushing each other to develop. That’s really good. Just trying to give my best to get the call back up here and to work hard.”

Proud of the work he’s put in to earn this opportunity, Kasper said he feels more confident and prepared for the NHL than ever before.

“I had a way better preseason this year,” Kasper said. “It helps, obviously. Always fun to score some goals. I think just trying to build on preseason. The first game in Grand Rapids was good, we won that. Just trying to build on stuff like that and be ready for the games up here now.”

Kasper felt the excitement of his NHL debut on April 2, 2023, then the disappointment of a lower-body injury he sustained in that game, which sidelined him for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign. Since his initial NHL experience was so brief, the young forward admitted this “feels like a debut.”

“Knowing that I’ve played one game takes the nerves out of it a little bit,” Kasper said. “Trying to do my best now.”

Continued

Larkin offers praise for Marco Kasper

Marco Kasper received praise from none other than the captain of the Red Wings today, as MLive’s Ansar Khan noted:

“He worked his tail off for it,” Larkin said. “He was one of the few that stood out like he wanted a job. We’re kind of in a spot where we need him now.”

Larkin said Kasper has a good tool set.

“He’s a good skater,” Larkin said. “Probably the thing I like the most is how competitive he is. He uses his body really well. He’s a worker. It’s impressive to see. He plays with an edge. He plays hard every night. It’s something we need right now.”

Kasper (6-1, 197) embraces the gritty side of the game.

“Just trying to play with some urgency, win some battles, make some stuff happen,” he said. “That’s part of my game, just getting in there winning battles, going to the net, trying to do my best with it.”

Kasper was home in Grand Rapids eating breakfast, preparing for Griffins practice and their game tonight when he got the call. He quickly packed for the two-game trip (they play at the New York Islanders on Tuesday), hopped in his car and made it to Little Caesars Arena 20 minutes before practice.

“It feels a little bit like a debut but still knowing that I’ve played one (NHL) game takes the nerves out of it,” Kasper said.

Continued