Detroit shutout for third time in 11 games
Other than the final outcome, there was plenty to like about the performance of the Detroit Red Wings in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.
“You want to win every game but ultimately what you’re looking for is to play the game the right way and to just bring your best and have a good effort,” Detroit goalie Alex Lyon told Bally Sports Detroit.
“It felt like we had that tonight, in a hostile building against a good team that’s obviously playing really well right now.”
On the one hand, he’s right, but here’s the thing – during a late-season playoff race, the bottom line is that the outcome is all that matters. A team isn’t looking to make a point with their play. They’re looking to gain two points in any manner possible.
The Red Wings needs wins. Instead, they are starting a rugged five-game road swing with their sixth successive loss away from the friendly confines of Little Caesars Arena, where they’ve won three in a row.
Detroit is going into Washington for a massive Tuesday showdown clinging to a one-point lead over the Capitals for the NHL’s second Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot. And that could evaporate prior to game time. The Capitals are playing host to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
Much Improvement In Red Wings Performance
There were indded some positive developments for the Red Wings in defeat. It was the first time in six road games that that margin of defeat wasn’t by multiple goals. Detroit held a road opponent under two goals for the first time in seven contests.
“I think we just played a real solid 60 minutes,” Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider said. “I think we deserved a little more tonight but we’ll definitely recover from that, come back stronger.
“We’ll be prepared for the next couple of games.”
That being said, Detroit’s sudden lack of offense is a major concern. Play as well as you want. If you don’t illuminate the red light behind the other team’s net, you’ll never win. And this was the third time in 11 games that Detroit has been shutout. Over the last eight road games the Red Wings are averaging 1.75 goals per game.
The latest goose brought to a halt point streaks for defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (seven games) and forwards Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane (six games each). Meanwhile, 23-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat was failing to dent the twine for the 12th successive game.
Dylan Larkin (first period) and Joe Veleno (second period) were robbed on point-blank chances by Predatords goalie Juuse Saros.
Forsberg The Decider
It was a third-period goal by Filip Forsberg that would extend Nashville’s team point streak to 17 games (15-0-2). The goal came from a tire fire of a shift by the Red Wings in their own zone.
Somehow, Lyon kept the puck from crossing the goal line during a wild goalmouth scramble. Following up, the stickless Detroit netminder was making a desperation blocker save on a Roman Josi shot. Recycling that rebound to Forsberg, his high wrist shot finally would beat Lyon on the glove side.
“I think we lost a little bit of our composure and then, it’s on a stick, it’s off a stick and it’s in the back of the net,” Seider said.
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