Detroit Red Wings goes west with faith after evil on last road trip

On January 31, 2025By Littum

Detroit – After a trio of the home wings, Detroit Red Wings comes back on the road when January ends, hoping for better results than the last road trip.

Detroit (24-21-5) hit the last road from 16 to 21 January and went 1-2-1 during that time, played four games in six days and cooled the hot strip that the red wings had been on since Todd McLellan was installed as a head coach just over a month ago. After three straight wins at home, Detroit holds up a trip out west that will again watch the red wings play four games in six days, the group is hungry to prove that the phrase is not the gold of the fool.

Detroit opens Road Trip on Thursday at Edmonton (32-15-3), where McLellan previously coached. And while he will see a successful road trip at all, his focus is reset by starting the trip victorious.

“There’s not a easy road trip,” McLellan said recently. “Everyone made a lot of the last and the tip we went through and we do it again. I don’t like to think about the whole, I just want to look forward to practicing and let’s get to Edmonton. “

Specifically, Detroit will have to fight one of the best offensive duos in the league: Edmonton in the future Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

In Wednesday’s game, the draisaitl was number two in the league in points with 75 and McDavid was fifth with 66.

To Stymie the Duo and Edmonton at McLellan that it will require a strong defensive performance but also help from the rest of the lineup. Goaltending has to play well, the red wings should avoid giving up power play, and keeping the puck on offensive in long stretches can all play a role in reducing the influence that McDavid or Draisaitl can have.

“The two of them are elite separately and they are super elite together,” McLellan said. “They play a completely different game. One quick, one brakes it with transient and vision. They remind me of the Sedins (formerly Henrik and Daniel, former Vancouver Canucks Greats), but they are not twins. They share kind of a same thought process. “

Faith is growing in Wings’ dressing room

After starting the year 13-17-4 under Derek LalondeThe wings have rolled an 11-4-1 mark under McLellan. And behind the increase in the position of Detroit has been a rising tide of the belief in Wings Locker Room, even after the recent roadside.

Center Andrew Copp Said that some of the faith began to manifest in practice, signaling the team that the team took from their intensity and pace. But all that would probably have made up a bit if victories did not start flowing.

“We had a few bad games; It will happen, ”Copp said. “We’ve been playing really well since Christmas, and I think it’s a really important trip to get a little more momentum to go into the break and feel good about ourselves and get ready for the sprint at the end of the season. ”

And while Detroit is still on the outskirts of the playoff image in the position, the atmosphere among the team has changed with the season about halfway done, and the middle season break for 4 Nations Faceoff sets until early February.

“I don’t think we’ll sneak on teams,” McLellan said. “I think we get their attention. And the players have earned that respect. But with that respect comes a great responsibility to play properly. “

Kane should take a trip but don’t play Thursday

After recently to place the wing Patrick Kane At the injured reserve, Red Wings had a shiny of good news on Wednesday, which Kane Skating with the team. However, he did not fully participate in practice.

After the morning skate, McLellan said Kane will take the trip out west with the team but will not be available on Thursday against Oilers. Kane is considered day to day with a upper body injury despite his IR designation.

“He skates with us, which is a good sign, but probably not ready,” McLellan said.

Forward JT COMPHER Is in a similar boat like Kane, McLellan said as he takes the trip. His status of Thursday against Edmonton is not ready. And defender Jeff Petry Don’t take the trip, McLellan said as the veteran deals with an injury,

However, there are good health news for Detroit Vladimir Tarasenko expected to return to the lineup on Thursday after treating an illness, McLellan said.

Red wings at Oilers

FACEOFF: 21.00 Thursday, Rogers Place, Edmonton

TV/radio: FSN/97.1 FM

Outlook: The wings (24-21-5) go back on the road after winning three right at home, this time on the way to the west to start a four-match stretch against the Pacific Division leaders Edmonton (32-15-3). Detroit struggled on his last road trip and wants the challenge of playing two of the top point-gettes in the NHL in Oilers Forward Connor McDavid (21 goals, 45 assists) and Leon Draisaitl (35 goals, 40 assists).

Andrew Graham is a freelance author.