Anyone who has been following hockey season with the Detroit Red Wings knows that the team is not doing so well thus far. This is concerning, seeing as their season is almost over. They are ¾ of the way through, having only 22 games left to play, and have hit something of a road block. Namely, in their past two games, they have only scored 2 points.
The Red Wings are not showing their concern publicly, calling these two points something of a step in the right direction. The good news is that they still hold the first wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. Trepidation, however, grows at the realization that many teams are not far behind. This basically means that every player needs to be at the top of their game during every game from now on. There is no room for mistake, as one misstep could cost the Red Wings their entire season. The Red Wings have a long way to go, but that’s not to say our boys haven’t been trying.
On Sunday, the Red Wings faced off against the New York Rangers. It was a tough game, but goaltender Jimmy Howard seemed to be back on top of his game. Having suffered a 9 game losing streak, it was great to be able to see the old Jimmy Howard return. He made 29 saves during the game, and prevented any further points being scored against the team. I hope he continues this performance for the rest of the season.
While picking up their defense is an admirable tactic, the Red Wings really need to focus on offense. Scoring 2 goals in 2 games is surely a step in the right direction, but it is not what the team needs to really come out on top.
So, what should Detroit Red Wings fans be on the lookout for in the future?
The Red Wings will meet with Columbus for the first time this season on Tuesday (there are two more games with Columbus to go,) which could bring in some very necessary points for our team. Another interesting thing to keep track of is if the second line is kept intact, or altered to fit the format of previous weeks. It is no secret that Nyquist and Tatar have been struggling for over five games now, so perhaps splitting them up is the best course of action. Another thing that we’re all looking forward to is next Friday’s Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche game. It will be a rematch between former (or perhaps still current!) rivals, and no doubt quite thrilling.
The hockey season is almost over, so let’s hope the Detroit Red Wings strengthen their defense and have a great rest of the season!