Red Wings loss to Blue Jackets was less damaging than it could have been
The Red Wings missed a golden chance to stack up a pair of valuable points in the standings, but thanks to some outside help, the loss wasn't as damaging.
Despite taking a 1-0 lead 30 seconds into last night's 2nd period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it was all downhill from there for the
Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
The Blue Jackets scored 4 times after
Alex DeBrincat's early goal en route to a 5-2 win in what was the 1st of a home and home series against the Blue Jackets that concludes tomorrow in front of an expected 90,000+ fans at Ohio Stadium.
Even though the Red Wings failed to pick up even a single point in the standings, the loss wasn't quite as damaging as it could have been thanks to some outside help.
The divisional foe Boston Bruins are quickly fading into the background with a 3-5-2 record in their last 10 games; they lost 2-1 in regulation to the New York Islanders and remain 4 points behind both the Red Wings and Blue Jackets in the standings.
There are several games of consequence on Saturday. Not only are the Red Wings and Blue Jackets once again playing one another, but the Bruins, as well as the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers are all in action.
The Canadiens and Flyers are 5 and 6 points behind the Red Wings, respectively.
Todd McLellan called out Dylan Larkin after the loss to Columbus
The argument can be made that last night's loss to Columbus was the worst game that Larkin has played this year, and coach Todd McLellan was
not shy about calling him out.
I can't beat around the bush, he was missing. He was one of the players that I'm talking about and he's a big boy. He can handle hearing that. He's going to hear it from me tomorrow. Just a lot of mishandles, unsure plays that he usually makes.
I'd like to think that the 4 Nations is so far past us already. We've had enough rest. I'm not using it as an excuse, so I'm not even going to go there. We're playing big games. We need our big players to play big games. And we'll need more from not only him, but from some others.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
POLL |
FEVRIER 28 | 150 ANSWERS Red Wings loss to Blue Jackets was less damaging than it could have been Can the Red Wings maintain their Wild Card postseason spot well into March? |
Yes | 123 | 82 % |
No | 27 | 18 % |
List of polls |