Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde issues positive declaration after California road swing
Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde is facing heavy scrutiny from fans and media in the wake of their winless California road trip, but he believes there's reason for optimism.
All eyes are on Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde, especially amidst Detroit's sluggish start to the season.
But as they continue preparations to face the New York Islanders on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena, Lalonde shared a more optimistic outlook on Detroit's season, which he believes can still easily be turned around.
The Red Wings have struggled mightily in both 5-on-5 play and their penalty killing, the latter of which is ranked 32nd overall in the NHL at 66.7%.
They're also not getting the depth scoring they need from players like first-year Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who is only two years removed from a 34-goal season with the St. Louis Blues.
However, Lalonde is hoping to jump-start Tarasenko by placing him on the Red Wings' top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
The Red Wings, who are 7-9-2, are tied for last place in the Atlantic Division with the Montreal Canadiens with 16 points apiece.
But the good news is that the season is still relatively young, and only five points separates the Red Wings from the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning.
Thursday's game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM with coverage on FanDuel Sports Detroit and 97.1 The Ticket FM.
| POLL | ||
Which Red Wings player needs to step up their game the most? | ||
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 77 | 65.8 % |
| J.T. Compher | 13 | 11.1 % |
| Joe Veleno | 13 | 11.1 % |
| Michael Rasmussen | 14 | 12 % |
| List of polls | ||
