Red wings are aiming to put last contact on hot streak before the start of long break

On February 9, 2025By Littum

Detroit – This is like the last day of school before the Christmas break, or the end of classes before winter break by knowing sunshine and fun times are hours away.

But there is still work that needs to be done. And with the red wings, it means a crucial game on Saturday against Tampa Bay before the NHL schedule becomes sleeping for 4 Nations Face-off Tournament.

The wings are on their second win in seven games over 20 games since coach Todd McLellan has been responsible. It would leave a bitter taste with the wings, it seems to go into the break with something less than earning more points in the position.

In order for this to happen, they will have to focus on the current task. Sunshine and warm weather trips will be there afterwards.

“I don’t like the last and first games that come out of all-star breaks or Christmas breaks or whatever,” McLellan said. “Because it can get rid of you. One at 1 pm afternoon game (Saturday), so they will probably wake up in the morning and their wives have the bags packed for the kids already and the like.

“We have a task ahead of us and we expect a lot from each other. So while there will be distractions, expectations are high from player to player and from coach to player and back and forth that we give each other everything we have.

“Let’s focus and get it done.”

Forward Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond do not get much break as both will compete in 4 Nations Face-off; Larkin for Team USA and Raymond for Sweden.

But both feel that the wings will be clear mentally to finish this part of the regular season plan in the right way.

“All games are important,” Raymond said. “Against division opponents it always means more, especially the way the position is right now. But at the same time for us we have to play our game and the way we have done it in the last seven matches and just keep that momentum .

Regardless of Saturday’s results, the wings will still be on their way into the break in a significantly better mind, knowing that they are in the thick of the final game and the season has been transformed by the 15-4-1 record since McLellan has taken over.

“With the way we’ve played and how our line plays before Christmas, I remember I was just thinking to try to get there (in the schedule), grind mentally to get there and something to look forward to, “Said Larkin. “The way guys have reacted after Christmas and the way things go, you will hardly stop when you get on a roll like this one.

“The break will be good for guys, but when you play this well you will keep it going and continue to play.”

The way the wings have played and won has been impressive.

“I saw the other day with the two seven-game-winning stripes, it’s been like a tale of two different teams,” Larkin said. “The first was (predominantly) the game of power and a few guys who really take responsibility. This one we are on now, it’s been of the committee and it feels sustainable.”

There is plenty on the line on Saturday, with Lightning and Wings, which both throw themselves into the position in the position and stay in the playoffs. Then there is fuel from the last game between these teams when Tampa Bays Nikita Kucherov stumbled Michael Rasmussen as Rasmussen skated against the net to score a clustering empty network. Rasmussen rolled dangerously into the net and escaped from any damage.

But McLellan wants his team just to focus on this one game.

“I want to see us playing well, hard hockey,” McLellan said. “Ras is fine. We can think that everything we want but what we have achieved for this point we have to move the team forward. The focus must be on playing hard and playing well over 60 minutes.

“It takes everyone to beat them and that’s what our focus will be.”

Lightning by Red Wings

FACEOFF: 13.00 Saturday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

TV/radio: ABC/97.1 FM

Outlook: Wings (28-21-5) take Tampa Bay (29-20-4) in the last game before the NHL gets dark for two weeks with the 4-nations Face-off tournament. The teams have shared two games this season, each winning at home. The wings have won seven consecutive matches and Tampa Bay has won three of four. JT COMPHER (upper body) is expected to return to the wing set up. Nikita Kucherov (54 assists, 79 points) has another MVP caliber season.

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