The Detroit Red Wings, with a pair of games against Nashville this week, had an opportunity to close the gap on the team ahead of them in the Central Division, in an effort to avoid finishing in last place.
Instead, two losses later, they are further buried in the basement.
But losing wasn’t the issue Thursday as much as the way they lost. Poor puck management, defensive breakdowns and, according to coach Jeff Blashill, too many no-shows translated into a 7-1 loss at Bridgestone Arena.
The smallest player on the ice, 5-6 Rocco Grimaldi, enjoyed a career night with four goals.
“It’s obviously totally unacceptable,” Blashill said. “You can’t have nights where you give away easy goals.
“I just thought we had too many no-shows. Too many guys that didn’t bring their A or B or C game. When you have that many no-shows, it’s hard. We had a few guys going. I thought our first three shifts were great, exactly what we wanted to do, and then all the sudden we give up a two-on-one goal out of nothing.”
That was Grimaldi’s first goal at 5:34 of the first period. Just 2:34 later, Grimaldi had completed the hat trick and Nashville led 4-0.
The only positive thing the Red Wings took from this game – and it wasn’t much – was ending a scoreless drought that lasted for exactly 150 minutes on Bobby Ryan’s power-play goal at 19:05 of the first.
The Red Wings (10-20-4) have lost three in a row after decent stretch (6-5-1) during which they competed hard consistently, except for a few bad periods.
“There’s a lot of emotions in the locker room right now, not many good,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “No one is feeling good about themselves. We have to find a way to come out of this together. We don’t have an answer, but we have to practice (Friday) and get better, be ready for Saturday and Sunday and play for each other, play for our goalie, not give up chances like we did tonight, and not manage the puck through the neutral zone like we did tonight.”
They face Columbus Saturday and Sunday in a pair of 3 p.m. games at Little Caesars Arena.
“If we don’t work hard, we’re going to be in for some trouble, because they work and compete,” Larkin said.
Thomas Greiss, making his third consecutive start in place of an injured Jonathan Bernier, was pulled 7:39 into the game after allowing three goals on seven shots. He dropped to 2-14-4.
Unless Bernier makes a quick recovery from his soft-tissue lower-body injury, Greiss likely will start both games.
“He’s got to find a way to shake it off, he has no choice. We have no choice,” Blashill said. “Has it been hard? Absolutely. Can it be defeating? Absolutely? Can it be frustrating? Absolutely. We’ve got to dig in as a team, he’s got to dig in as an individual and focus on what he can control, and that’s tomorrow (practice).”
Blashill said bouncing back begins with checking much better.
“We don’t score, I get it, but this is the result when you don’t check,” Blashill said. “If that game is 2-1, you’re giving yourself a chance to win, but giving up seven goals, you have zero chance. So, we better start by figuring out tomorrow how we’re going to check better.”
More: Red Wings don’t doubt integrity of officiating following controversy
The Link LonkMarch 26, 2021 at 05:05PM
https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/03/too-many-no-shows-for-reeling-red-wings-in-defensive-collapse.html
Too many ‘no-shows’ for reeling Red Wings in defensive collapse - MLive.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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