The Detroit Red Wings began the season on an enormous hot streak. It appeared as if the team had taken a step forward following a near-decade-long postseason drought. Nonetheless, Detroit has once more fallen off a cliff. The Red Wings have lost 4 of their last five games. And so they have lost their grip near the highest of the Atlantic Division.
The Red Wings haven’t played since Sunday. That game was not the team’s best effort. Detroit lost 5-1 on home ice to a Chicago Blackhawks team led by former Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill. Blashill’s latest team didn’t give the Red Wings much in the best way of possibilities. And there is only a technique the team can fix this issue, in accordance with Alex DeBrincat.
“We have to be a more physical and harder team to play against,” the Detroit forward — and Michigan native — told the team’s official website. “We’re giving up an excessive amount of too easily, so we got to win our 50-50s within the O-zone and D-zone. Really, all around the ice. Just getting back to that work ethic and playing easy goes to be what’s best for us.”
Detroit did make the most of their rare prolonged off time. Head coach Todd McLellan put his team to work in practice on Tuesday. It’s all in an effort to play more within the dirtier facets of the sport.
“We have now some length, some guys who’re long and tall. We have now some girth. Those players have to offer us more of that. The smaller players can even do this too. They’ll roll around,” the Red Wings coach said, via the team’s official website.
“Sometimes, they’re the hardest to handle in and across the blue paint because they’ve a low center of gravity, are quick and need to dart out and in. We’re just not seeing enough of it without delay.”
Detroit returns to the ice on Thursday night to tackle the streaking Anaheim Geese at home.