The Detroit Red Wings concluded December on a disappointing note with a 5-3 loss against division rivals, the Boston Bruins, at Little Caesars Arena.
The team’s struggle to secure victories when scoring three or fewer goals persisted, extending their record to 0-17-1 in such games this season. Despite this, head coach Derek Lalonde considers this statistic as “misleading.” Lalonde addressed the concerning trend, specifically focusing on the absence of wins with scores like 3-2 or 2-1, stating that this statistic doesn’t offer a complete context or a comprehensive view of the team’s performance.
Lalonde acknowledged the need for defensive improvement while challenging the notion that the team’s struggles can be solely attributed to the inability to score more than three goals. Despite a more solid defensive effort against Boston, it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Expressing his perspective, Lalonde mentioned that he felt the team’s effort in the game was perhaps their most complete from start to finish in a while, despite the disappointing result. He emphasized the slim margin of error against a team like Boston and noted that the lone chance in the third period resulted from a missed face-off assignment, leading to a goal.
Bottom Line: Detroit must start accumulating points
Irrespective of Lalonde’s sentiments regarding the statistic, the undeniable truth is that his team has not emerged victorious in any hockey game this season unless they manage to score a minimum of four goals. Although Detroit’s offensive performance has seen an uptick this season, their defensive strategies and goaltending must see improvement for a genuine chance at making it to the postseason.
The Red Wings are currently gearing up for a three-game road trip that commences on Tuesday night at SAP Center against the San Jose Sharks. The match is set to begin at 10:30 PM EST and can be viewed on Bally Sports Detroit, while radio coverage is accessible on 97.1 The Ticket.
