The Detroit Red Wings need a spark—anything to jumpstart their game—before they slip too far down the Eastern Conference standings. After going 2-8-0 in their last 10 games, they’ve gone from the conference’s hottest team before the 4 Nations Face-Off to its coldest.
And last night was another low point. Fans witnessed yet another disappointing showing. Sure, they were up against the powerhouse Washington Capitals, but where was the urgency when it was needed most? Okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh, considering Washington only outshot Detroit 26-24.
The Red Wings did have some bright spots—they dominated in the faceoff circle, dished out more hits, and seemed to anticipate the Caps’ plays well, racking up 18 blocked shots. Plus, Washington turned the puck over 18 times. So, it’s not like the Wings weren’t working. The effort was there—it just wasn’t enough.
The Detroit Red Wings may have looked okay on paper, but…
Still, it was clear the Red Wings let their guard down at times, something head coach Todd McLellan didn’t hesitate to point out after the game. In Helene St. James’ postgame article for the Detroit Free Press, McLellan addressed the issue bluntly:
“Give your teammates a chance to use the six minutes, to pull the goaltender. We’re either going to overtime at 2-2 or we’re losing 3-1. But we look up with three minutes left and it’s 4-1. That can’t happen. You still have to check for chances—you can’t just open up. You can’t pout and get lazy, and maybe that’s exactly what we did. Maybe that’s the lesson we’re learning.”
“Lazy.” That’s a tough word, but it sums up how the team responded late in the game. And McLellan isn’t wrong. After falling behind 1-0 on a Dylan Strome goal, Dylan Larkin answered back to tie it in the first period. But the scoring dried up until midway through the third, when Pierre-Luc Dubois made it 2-1.
Still, the game was within reach—until it wasn’t. Tom Wilson extended Washington’s lead to 3-1 at 14:21, and Connor McMichael sealed the deal less than a minute later, making it 4-1. That’s where the issue lies again: the Red Wings let things unravel. Maybe McLellan’s choice of words will hit home this time.
If so, credit him for holding the team accountable and refusing to sugarcoat the situation. This is a playoff-caliber team—or at least, it was. But their lackluster effort lately suggests they’re not doing themselves any favors. The uninspired play needs to stop, or they’ll keep sliding.
Red Wings still need to learn a basic fundamental to hockey
It’s almost unbelievable that this is still an issue, but until the Red Wings realize that every hockey game lasts a full 60 minutes, consistency will continue to elude them. At the very least, if they can play hard through the final whistle, they might just string together the wins they desperately need.
Somehow, they’re still only three points out of reclaiming a wild card spot. But with just 14 games left in the season, their opportunities are quickly running out. This is Detroit’s moment of truth—they’re either going to battle their way to a respectable finish, or keep stumbling as they try to finally leave this playoff drought behind.
